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Confessions of a Shopaholic FUN FACTS!

FUN FACTS

• The film shot inside of some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques in New York, including Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue, Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue, Scoop and Catherine Malandrino in the Meat Packing District, Alessi (upscale housewares) in Soho, and Kleinfeld (elaborate bridal shop) in Chelsea. 

• The film also shot inside some of the most historic buildings in the city, including legendary British architect Lord Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower (the only film to ever be allowed to shoot there) on 57th Street and 8th Avenue; 45 Rockefeller Center (the building that features the statue of Atlas holding up the world at its entrance); the Grand Salon inside of the 1931 Jumeirah Essex House hotel on Central Park South; inside and out of St. James Church (1884) on Madison Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets; inside of the Beaux Arts and Art Nouveau styled Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank Building (1908-12) on Chambers Street in the Wall Street district; utilizing the exterior of St. Anthony of Padua on Sullivan Street at the intersection of Greenwich Village, Tribeca and Soho, founded in 1866.

• The production spent two all-nighters dressing the beautiful atrium of Henri Bendel with a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed design, as well as the aviator-themed window displays.  They also created window displays for the Hearst Tower with faux stores by Valentino, Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino and Alberto Ferretti.  Excited New Yorkers thought that actual stores had opened on the ground level of the Tower and were sorely disappointed to discover that they were only for the movie.

• Across the street from St. James Church, windows were re-dressed in actual Yves St. Laurent, Asprey and Sonia Rykiel stores for the film’s climax.

• In the film, costume designer Patricia Field selected clothing and accessories to adorn Isla Fisher’s Becky Bloomwood, including Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Christian Dior, Todd Oldham, Gucci and Matthew Williamson, among others.

• To create a lavish display in Henri Bendel’s six-story atrium, as well as window decorations, production designer Kristi Zea and supervising art director Paul Kelly had to bring in a full complement of their department to pull an all-nighter with military precision, as they only had enough time between the store closing its doors to the public and reopening them again in the morning to pull off the impossible.  Mission was accomplished, with legions of New Yorkers admiring the results before the cameras began rolling later that day.

• Filming in New York City gave the filmmakers access to the pool of local actors perhaps better known for their work in the theatre than on film, including Christine Ebersole (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “Grey Gardens”), LaChanze (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “The Color Purple”) and Kaitlin Hopkins (star of the upcoming touring company of “Dirty Dancing: The Musical”). 

• Ed Helms of “The Office” is seen only on videotape in the movie as self-help money management guru Garrett E. Barton.

• A bank loan officer is portrayed by Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotel Chairman and CEO; and in a publishing reception scene filmed in Chicago, another banker is played by Andy Serwer, managing editor of Fortune Magazine.

• Robert Stanton, who plays ruthless debt collector Derek Smeath, drew upon the only other job he ever had besides actor: a skip tracer for a student loan company, finding people who had defaulted on their debts.  Stanton admits that he wasn’t good at harassing people, since he would always burst out in laughter instead.

• Sophie Kinsella was on the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” set nearly every day as associate producer, consulting and watching her beloved creation of Rebecca Bloomwood come to life.  Not so coincidentally considering the massive international sales of the “Shopaholic” novels, Kinsella was often approached by excited fans on New York, Connecticut and Miami locations as if she were more of a movie star than an author.

 
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Fear comes CALLING – Hudson Soft introduces a new line in horror

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in partnership with NAMCO BANDAI Partners Australia has unveiled a terrifying new take on the horror genre, in the form of Hudson Soft’s CALLING for Wii. Using unique interaction elements, the Wii game features an innovative adventure concept and is driven by its terrifying story and many traps and mysteries. It will be distributed by NAMCO BANDAI Partners in early 2010.

CALLING brings new heights to the horror genre, with a breath-taking control system that immerses the player into its nightmare scenario. The player begins the game trapped in a strange room, with the Wii Remote doubling as the on-screen protagonist’s mobile phone. Using a torch to scour the dimly-lit area, players will also receive mysterious calls to their handset, which are answered by raising the Wii Remote to their ear. From this simple basis, CALLING then ramps up the fear, as a ghostly voice speaks directly to the user…

The story revolved around the urban legend of the ‘Page of Black’ website. Rumour has it that anyone accessing the site will die from a coma brought on by an unknown cause. The site is a simple black page with a numeric counter in the centre, but is linked to a low-key chat room. Not everyone can enter the chat room, but on doing so, the player’s psyche starts to receive calls from ‘Abyss’. They then enter a state of limbo in a place known as ‘Border’ which is seemingly located between life and death.

There are several areas in the ‘Border’, and they are inhabited by Spirits which start contacting its various feelings via the user’s mobile phone. Occasionally, these spirits will also attack the player. As such, while avoiding their attacks, the user must attempt to solve the mysteries of ‘Border’ and has to seek an escape route.

CALLING is a horror title like no other. The fear generated by the received phone calls and the eerie location serve to create a tense, nightmarish situation. A clever mix of exploration and puzzle-solving is called into play, while the claustrophobic locations hide secrets and danger within their many shadows. From the moment the first, crackling call is received, CALLING will scare the player and make them wary of picking up the phone…

CALLING will be released for Wii in 1st Quarter 2010.

 
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New playgrounds for “Halo Wars” fans with the “Historic Battle” Add-on Pack

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 14, 2009 – “Historic Battle”, the latest update for “Halo Wars”, introduces four new multiplayer Skirmish maps that highlight key turning points in the UNSC/Covenant war. This add-on pack will be available for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE from July 21st.  

“Historic Battle” expands the universe for “Halo Wars” fans with four new multiplayer maps featuring varied terrains for players to compete on. The four new maps include:

 

·         Barrens (1 vs. 1 map): Difficult terrain channels units into killing zones. The side that controls the Forerunner artifacts will have the advantage.

·         Blood River (1 vs. 1 map): Secure base locations on nearby cliffs overlook this naturally red-tinged river. The soldiers that fought over its two narrow crossings gave the river its name, which has since taken on a greater meaning.

·         Glacial Ravine (3 vs. 3 map): A snow-topped mountain range forms a natural barrier that cuts this region in half.  Control of the two energy walls at the narrow central pass often determines the outcome of the battle, though clever use of the Sentinel Factories may play a role as well.

·         Memorial Basin (2 vs. 2 map): The high ground in the middle offers good cover for infantry, while the generally open terrain transforms organized battle plans into bloodbaths.

 

“Historic Battle” also adds four new Achievements worth a total of 100 points:

·         Tour Coming Through: Hot drop 50 squads to your Covenant Leader in a single game on Memorial Basin (30 points)

·         Never Leave a Man Behind: Finish a game with 5000 net resources contributed to your teammates on Barrens (15 points)

·         Drain Cleaner: Kill 20 enemy squads with a continuous Covenant Leader Power on Memorial Basin (30 points)

·         Killjoy: Disrupt 5 active Leader Powers in a single game on Blood River (25 points)

 

“Halo Wars” is rated PG.  For more information on the “Historic Battle” add-on, visit www.xbox.com/en-AU/games/h/halowars/ or www.HaloWars.com .

 
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What’s On at the Immigration Museum July to August 2009

Handing on the Key: Palestinians in Australia
For the majority of Palestinians in Australia, there is no lived experience of Palestine. Handing on the Key explores how the link to homeland is passed from one generation to the next through acts of memory. The changing identity of the Palestinian community through generations reveals the different and often emotional connections that Australians of Palestinian heritage have to Palestine.
Date: 21 August to 22 November 2009

Talanoa: Stories of the Fiji community
The name Fiji evokes a tropical paradise in the minds of many Australians, but this island nation has a troubled history. Talanoa (a Fijian word for ’story-telling’) explores how and why Fiji-born people came to Victoria, and what values, beliefs and practices they have brought with them. The diverse and growing Fiji community presents a thought-provoking account of the relationships that sustain their connection with Fiji and have shaped their settlement in a new land.
Dates: Until 16 August 2009

Cultural Diversity Quest Awards Exhibition
The Quest Awards encourage Victorian students to celebrate their State’s cultural diversity through creative expression. Announced during Cultural Diversity Week, the winning entries will be shown at the Immigration Museum in an exhibition opening for Refugee Week. Students’ works reflect their investigation of cultural diversity within their school and community, and encompass a wide range of materials, techniques and ideas.
Dates: Until 21 August 2009

Ancient Hampi: The Hindu Kingdom Brought to Life
This international exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the stunning World Heritage site of Hampi in southern India. Using state of the art digital technologies, this new experience presents stereographic panoramas of an extraordinary site, with all its mythological, archaeological, artistic and historic significance. Ancient Hampi includes animations of Hindu myths and stories, aerial and projected photography, an immersive digital interactive space showing 360-degree panoramic images of the site and is landscape, as well as stunning night photographs of the temples taken by John Gollings.
Dates: Until 26 January 2010
Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne.  Open daily 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Admission: Adult $8, child/concession FREE. More info 13 11 02 or museumvictoria.com.au/immigration museum

 
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Online Criminals Learn From Twitter, Warns AVG (AU/NZ) – E-mail spammers now using tiny URLs to better entrap victims

Melbourne, 14 July 2009 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific distributor of the award-winning AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security products, today warned that online criminals have learnt via Twitter how using small/tiny URL links can increase click-through rates and entrap more people. Twitter users should protect themselves from online spammers who have begun using the platform for criminal activities.
AVG (AU/NZ) Marketing Manager, Lloyd Borrett, said Twitter’s recent global surge in popularity has encouraged spammers and other online criminals to take advantage of the tiny URL links used within Twitter to target unsuspecting users.
 

“To some people small or tiny URL links look more legitimate than longer links. However, they can actually hide suspect links from people who know what to look for. Small URLs make scam URLs harder to spot for Twitter users, thus the criminals get more people clicking through to their malicious web pages.
 

“The cyber-criminals have learnt from this. Over the past month, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of spam e-mails using tiny URL links to camouflage links to poisoned and scam web pages. The bad guys now know they’ll get more click-throughs if they use small URL links.”
 

Borrett said AVG LinkScanner offers users the best defence against the use of small URL links to obfuscate poisoned links on Twitter and in e-mails.
 

“AVG LinkScanner provides guaranteed protection by scanning the web page of every link users click on. LinkScanner resolves the small URL and scans the final web page in real-time, instantly checking it for any potential threats before allowing the browser to display the web page. If a threat is detected, the user is warned.
 

“So AVG users can continue to click on links from Twitter and in their e-mails with confidence. Because AVG LinkScanner is already integrated into AVG’s suite of award-winning Anti-Virus and Internet Security products, existing users are fully protected,” he said.
 

AVG Technologies has a ‘neighbourhood watch’ approach to LinkScanner research, encouraging its 80 million-plus users to opt-in and feed back information to AVG. This assists AVG in warning users about suspect scammy pages.
 

AVG LinkScanner is also available as a free standalone protection layer for any personal home computer, regardless of what other security software people are using. Users can download AVG LinkScanner at www.avgfree.com.au.

 
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24 TRACKS CONFIRMED FOR GUITAR HERO® 5’S COLOSSAL ON-DISC SET LIST

Guitar Hero today confirmed two dozen rockin’ tracks which will be featured on Guitar Hero® 5’s massive 85-song on-disc set list.  From the legendary folk rock sounds of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” to the thumping drums of Coldplay’s “In My Place”; indie darling Vampire Weekend’s memorable “A-Punk” to the Beastie Boys’ rock/hip-hop hit “Gratitude,” the game features the widest variety of today’s rock hits and classic tunes from some of the biggest names in music. Numerous bands are also making their music video game debut — Band of Horses, Darkest Hour, Elliott Smith, John Mellencamp, Rose Hill Drive, The Bronx, Tom Petty and Vampire Weekend.  Prior to its public release, Wolfmother’s first single off their upcoming album Cosmic Egg, “Back Round,” is now available for free digital download exclusively at gh5.guitarhero.com.   

When Guitar Hero 5 ships on September 16, living-room rock stars will be able to rock any way they want, to the expansive set list including to these stellar tracks: 

·         Band Of Horses – “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”  

·         Beastie Boys – “Gratitude”

·         Beck – “Gamma Ray”

·         Billy Squier – “Lonely Is The Night”

·         Blur – “Song 2”

·         Bob Dylan – “All Along The Watchtower”

·         Children Of Bodom – “Done With Everything, Die For Nothing”

·         Coldplay – “In My Place”

·         Darkest Hour – “Demon(s)”

·         David Bowie – “Fame”

·         Deep Purple – “Woman From Tokyo (’99 Remix)”

·         Elliott Smith – “L.A.”

·         Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life (Live)”

·         Jeff Beck – “Scatterbrain (Live)”

·         John Mellencamp – “Hurts So Good”

·         Kings Of Leon – “Sex On Fire”

·         Queens Of The Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”

·         Rose Hill Drive – “Sneak Out”  

·         Santana – “No One To Depend On (Live)”

·         The Bronx – “Six Days A Week”  

·         Thrice – “Deadbolt”

·         Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down A Dream”

·         Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”

·         Wolfmother – “Back Round”

For more information about Guitar Hero 5, please visit gh5.guitarhero.com.

 
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Iomega Announces New Mac Compatible eGo Portable Hard Drives

Triple Interface, Multiple Capacities, Style-to-Spare and Drop Guard Ruggedness

Give Mac Users a Winning Combination 

SYDNEY, Aust., July 13, 2009 – Iomega, an EMC company and a global leader in data protection, today announced the worldwide availability of the new Iomega® eGo™ Portable Hard Drive for Mac users, featuring multiple interface connections, a stylish new aluminum design, superior ruggedness and a robust combination of software, all backed with a three-year limited warranty.  Available in two different colours and up to 500GB* in capacity, the new Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive for Mac users provides the dependability and versatility to meet today’s on-the-go data storage needs.

 

“Featuring both FireWire and USB 2.0 connectivity, the new Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive is ideal for Mac fans that want to take their files anywhere with the assurance of compatibility no matter which interface is needed,” said Jonathan Huberman, President of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Products Division of EMC.  “Just like the new USB 2.0 eGo models we announced recently, the new triple interface eGo Drives deliver dependability and style with a compact, sleek new aluminum enclosure in eye-catching colours, as well as a collection of backup software to protect your data.”

 

Scott Zahl, vice president, vendor management for Ingram Micro U.S, one of Iomega’s largest IT distribution partners, said, “Iomega’s next generation of eGo Portable Hard Drives are well positioned to meet the increasing business and consumer demands for greater mobility, capacity and flexibility when it comes to accessing and storing their data.  Iomega’s eGo has become a channel favorite among our Apple resellers, especially as demand for portable hard drives continues to build within data-intensive vertical markets such as education, finance, and retail.  We’re pleased to be working side by side with Iomega to bring this next generation of in-demand portable hard drive technology to market.” 

 

Cool Hardware with Superior Functionality

The new Triple Interface eGo Portable Hard Drive features one FireWire 800 port, one FireWire 400 port, and one USB 2.0 port, and comes in two colours and capacities: Silver and Ruby Red models are available in both 320GB and 500GB capacities.  These drives are also formatted HFS+ for a great out-of-the box Mac experience.

 

Inside an aluminum shell little more than 16 mm thick and weighing less than 200 grams is a state-of-the-art 6.35 cm portable hard drive. Iomega’s Drop Guard™ feature protects data on the new triple interface eGo drive from drops of up to 129 cm, or 40% above the industry average! 

 

All of the new triple interface eGo Portable Hard Drives receive power from a laptop or computer’s FireWire or USB 2.0 ports, so there’s no power supply to carry around.  Each drive includes both FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 cables, as well as a USB 2.0 “Y” cable which gives users the flexibility to use two USB ports to power the drive, if needed. And with up to 500GB of capacity, the new eGo drive for Mac users can store up to 2,000,000 photos, over 9,250 hours of music or 750 hours of video**. 

 

Plenty of Software Bundled, Too

Bundled free of charge with the new eGo Portable Hard Drives for Mac users are three backup software programs, giving users added protection for their photos, videos, music and other files. 

 

The software bundle with the new triple interface eGo Drives includes:

 

·        Iomega QuikProtect: backup software for simple scheduled file-level backup of data to hard drives and network-attached storage devices (for Windows and Macintosh desktops and notebooks).

·        EMC® Retrospect® Express or Express HD: backup all of your data plus applications and settings (for Windows and Macintosh desktops and notebooks).

·        MozyHome™ Online Backup: Convenient online backup service with 2GB of online capacity for free.  MozyHome Online service allows you to restore your most important data from any computer with internet access, at any location in the world.

 

All of the software elements are accessible via easy download to new eGo Portable Hard Drive owners.

 

Compatibility

 

 

 

The new Iomega® eGo Portable Hard Drive for Mac users is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or above, as well as Microsoft® Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP, and Windows Vista™.  MozyHome software is available for Mac OS X 10.4 and above, along with Windows XP and Windows Vista.  EMC Retrospect software is available for both Mac OS X and Windows operating systems.

 

New eGo Portable Hard Drive Accessories

Available for purchase at www.iomega.com.au are two new accessories for the new eGo Portable Hard Drive: a durable black carry case that can be used for both the USB and triple interface models; and the Iomega Power Grip Belt for added durability, available in black and translucent colours (for the USB models only).

 

Pricing, Availability and Warranty

The 320GB Silver and Ruby Red models are priced at $179 and the 500GB Silver and Ruby Red models are $249.  (All pricing is AU suggested retail.)  All of the new Triple Interface eGo models include a 3-year limited warranty, and are available from online retailers, distributors including Ingram Micro Inc. resellers and select retailers, as well as at www.iomega.com.au.

 

About EMC

EMC Corporation is the world’s leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC’s products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.

 

About Iomega

Iomega Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation headquartered in San Diego, is a worldwide leader in innovative storage and network security solutions for small businesses, home offices, consumers and others. The Company has sold more than 400 million digital storage drives and disks since its inception in 1980. Today, Iomega’s product portfolio includes industry leading network attached storage products, external hard drives, multimedia drives, and our award-winning removable storage technology, the REV® Backup Drive. To learn about all of Iomega’s digital storage products and managed services solutions, please go to the Web at www.iomega.com.au.  Resellers can visit Iomega at http://www.ioclub.net/.

 
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The Second Annual Winter of Arcade kicks off on July 23

Mark your calendars: Xbox LIVE Arcade is once again bringing you the hottest downloadable blockbusters! 

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA – JULY 13, 2009 – Last year, Xbox LIVE Arcade marked a new era of quality downloadable games during the first annual Winter of Arcade program with “Castle Crashers,” which was voted Best Game of the Year in the 2008 Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards and has generated more than US$10 million in revenue to date. The imaginative and innovative “Braid,” beat out retail blockbusters to be one of the top ten Xbox 360 titles of 2008, proving that Xbox LIVE Arcade is home to the best and brightest digitally distributed games available.

This year, Xbox LIVE Arcade is at it again. No matter what kind of games you enjoy, the second annual Winter of Arcade turns up the dial with original Xbox 360 exclusives like the award-winning “Shadow Complex,” the fresh and ridiculously funny award-winner “Splosion Man,” and remade classics like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled.”

 

“The second annual Winter of Arcade continues our legacy of delivering popular downloadable games right to your Xbox 360,” said Andrew Jenkins product marketing manager, for Microsoft Game Studios software and Xbox LIVE. “Last year’s program introduced blockbusters that changed the face of Xbox LIVE Arcade. This year, we’re excited to take Arcade to a whole new level and deliver on our promise of quality yet again with all-new smash hits like the highly-anticipated ‘Shadow Complex’ and ‘Trials HD.’”

 

The second annual Winter of Arcade begins July 23.

 

July 23: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-shelled | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Ubisoft Singapore®/Ubisoft®): Marking the franchise’s 25th anniversary, everyone’s favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is back with a brand new look in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled.” The arcade classic has been revamped with all new 3D graphics, but the same classic beat ’em up gameplay.

 

July 30: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Backbone Entertainment/Capcom): One of the most popular fighting games of all time, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2,” arrives worldwide on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Choose from 56 legendary characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom history, including Ryu and Wolverine. With online multiplayer over Xbox LIVE and enhanced HD graphics, decide your own dream team in the ultimate tag-team fighting experience.

 

August 5: Splosion Man™ | 800 Microsoft Points

(Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft): Fools they were, to tread where knowledge should stay forbidden.  For what emerged was not a man – it was a Splosion Man. “And all who saw him were sploded, for he was the fire and they were but meat.” Able to splode himself at will, the Splosion Man launches his way through levels as an uncontainable force.  From Twisted Pixel Games, developer of the award winning The Maw™, Splosion Man will keep you on your toes as you play through more than 50 single-player levels and 50 multiplayer levels. Nominated by GameSpy, Gamespot, IGN, and 411mania, this meat-riddled splosion-fest took several Best of E3 awards including Best Platformer and Best Downloadable Game.

 

August 12: Trials HD | 1200 Microsoft Points

(RedLynx/Microsoft): Nominated for GameSpy’s Best Downloadable Game of E3 award, “Trials HD” is guaranteed to get our heart racing.” Put on your helmet, and rev your way through “Trials HD,” a full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing platformer in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customise your rider to fit your personality.

 

August 19: Shadow Complex | 1200 Microsoft Points

(Chair Entertainment and Epic Games/Microsoft): Winner of numerous Best of E3 awards including Best Downloadable Game from 1UP, IGN, GameTrailers and G4TV, “Shadow Complex” is the next evolution in downloadable games. “Shadow Complex” marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the stunning visuals of Epic Games’ industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, and a classic side-scroller. Set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire,” Shadow Complex provides more than 10 hours of in-depth gameplay and introduces a compelling universe in which you collect items and power-ups, and evolve your character into a force of destruction.”

 

More detailed information about Winter of Arcade can be found by visiting: http://www.xbox.com.au/winterofarcade/

 
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Explore National Science Week at Museum Victoria

Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks are celebrating National Science Week from 15 – 23 August 2009 with a variety of special events and activities. These include behind the scenes tours, a chance to meet inspiring scientists, an astronomy lecture, chemistry workshops for kids and more.

For further information visit museumvictoria.com.au or phone 13 11 02.

MELBOURNE MUSEUM

Inspiring Scientists
Biology? Paleontology? Find out about your favourite “ology” by chatting to inspiring career scientists. Meet scientists from a range of research and career backgrounds and talk to an expert to find out what exciting and varied opportunities a career in science has to offer.
Date: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August
Time: 11.00 to 4.00pm
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum

Behind the Scenes tour
View fascinating objects from Museum Victoria’s science collection that have not been on public display. See deep sea fish, unusual crystals, ancient fossils and more in this rare opportunity to tour some of Museum Victoria’s science collection.
Date: Saturday 15 August
Time: 11.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm & 3.30pm
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum. Places limited, sign up on the day

Bring in a…
Ever come across something while bushwalking or gardening that has stumped you completely? Bring in a bug, bone, fossil or feather that you have found and make use of Museum Victoria’s expertise and free identification services at the Discovery Centre, Melbourne Museum.
Date: Saturday 15 August
Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Location: Melbourne Museum, Discovery Centre

Walking with Dinosaurs
Look out for the dinosaur puppets that roam the galleries of the Melbourne Museum. Beware – who knows when they will be right behind you!
Date: Saturday 15 August
Time: Daily
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum

Make a Dino Mask
Make your own Styracosaurus mask and wander through the Dinosaur Walk amongst some of the other fierce-looking armoured dinosaurs.
Date: Saturday 15 August
Time: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum

Meet the Expert
Come along and meet a museum curator, scientist or researcher. Find out about their exciting work and the latest research at Museum Victoria.
Date: Saturday 15 August
Time: 11.15am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 12.45pm, 1.15pm, 1.45pm, 2.15pm & 2.45pm
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum

SCINEMA
In National Science Week 2009 we invite you to discover the talent across Australia with SCINEMA – exploring science through film. Sit back and relax with SCINEMA in the Discovery Centre and find out about all things science and the great Science Week events in the coming week.
Date: Saturday 15 August and Sunday 23 August (Scienceworks only)
Time: Daily
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks

SCIENCEWORKS

Discover the Night Sky: Milky Way Galaxy
We are just one planet, orbiting one star, among the 400 billion-odd stars of our Milky Way Galaxy. It is truly magnificent; a swirling mass of stars, gas and dust. But what do we know of our home galaxy? And how did we come to discover it? Evening includes a planetarium experience, complimentary wine and cheese and stargaze through telescopes (weather permitting).
Date: Thursday 20 August   Note: Discover the Night Sky lectures also run Thursday 6, 13 and 27 August
Time: 7.00pm
Cost: $25
Location: Melbourne Planetarium at Scienceworks. Bookings essential, call 9392 4819

BASF Kids’ Lab
Experience the fascinating world of chemistry! Run by BASF chemists, the chemistry workshops introduce chemistry to children in a fun and exciting way through simple and interactive hands-on experiments.
Date: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August
Time: 11.00am, 1.00 & 3.00pm
Location: Scienceworks. Bookings essential, call 9392 4819

Australian Skeptics
The Australian Skeptics will be explaining the science behind the paranormal at Scienceworks. See magic illusions, try out a bed of nails and many more surprising demonstrations.
Date: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August
Time: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Cost: Free with venue entry
Location: Scienceworks
This initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.

 
formats

Capcom launches support system for socially-inclined Monster Hunter groups

Does your site/forum/newspaper/band of wandering nomads have a small but dedicated group of people who play Monster Hunter that have nowhere to congregate? Then this is the scheme for you! If you want Capcom to reserve an entire floor of the Gathering Hall (London’s dedicated Monster Hunter space) for your band of savvy hunters for a one-off evening where your attendees will enjoy our hospitality, a goodie giveaway or three and maybe a few beers if everyone’s over 18 then please contact Leo Tan ( leo.tan@capcomeuro.com ) for further details.
 
Only a stone’s throw away from Tottenham Court Road tube station in central London, the Gathering Hall is the ultimate destination for Monster Hunters. Recreating the social gaming environment enjoyed by Monster Hunters in the east, people will be able to meet other players easily, download exclusive quests, learn how to play on dedicated tutorial nights and meet the developers when they visit the UK on August 16th. The Gathering Hall is open seven days a week and entrance is free and exclusive to anyone with a PSP and copy of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.