Amazon Starts Amazon Studios

Amazon.com Inc. is starting a Web business aimed at helping filmmakers get their movies onto the big screen.

Amazon Studios, which the online retailer announced Tuesday, is seeking full-length films and scripts from filmmakers and screenwriters that can be entered through its website, http://studios.amazon.com . It plans to distribute a total of $2.7 million to those who submit the best works by the end of next year. Amazon said this includes an annual award of $100,000 for the best script and $1 million for the best film it receives by Dec. 31, 2011, as well as monthly awards.  This could be the big break an undiscovered filmmaker needs.

Amazon Studios may then produce these projects as feature films through a "first-look" agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures, which means Amazon Studios is obligated to show Warner Bros. the projects first, but if the movie studio passes Amazon Studios can take them elsewhere.

In addition to the annual and monthly awards, it will pay $200,000 to the screenwriter or filmmaker behind a project that it ends up releasing as a feature film. The company will also pay an additional $400,000 if the film brings in over $60 million in U.S. box office sales. This is chump change for Amazon.

Several judges — who include Mark Gil, a producer and former Miramax and Warner Independent Pictures president, and Mike Werb, screenwriter of films including "Face/Off" and "The Mask" — will choose the best movies and scripts.

Amazon already has some experience in the film industry: It owns the Internet Movie Database, or IMDB, and holds a stake in LOVEFiLM International Ltd., which is a European subscription DVD rental company.

Dancing With the Stars: Bristol Knows the Politics of Dancing

As Dancing With the Stars finishes up the most important week of the season, three of the teams will move on to the finals and one will go home. With Jennifer's perfect routines and Brandy still in great form, it appears those two teams are advancing. That leaves one spot open, with Bristol and Kyle doing everything they can to garner votes and get that spot.

Bristol has been doing well with the fan voting and Kyle has been doing well in that area as well. Bristol is in last place after the judge's totals, can she make it up in votes. She can if the Tea Party has anything to do with it.

Brandy and Maks kicked off the show with their Argentine tango from last night.

I hadn't seen Annie Lennox in a while, but here she is on DWTS. No Eurythmics in attendance, but she sang a new Christmas song. We also got to see a little feature on hard hard the couples have worked to get to this point. Kyle stated that the mental aspects of the competition are more important that the physical challenges. No eliminations as of yet.

Jennifer and Derek are front and center. Tom tries to be dramatic, but he awards the couple with a place in the finals.

Next up some more filler. Cheryl and Derek to a Billy Joel favorite. Not much of a Macy's Stars of Dance this week.

More Annie Lennox, this time with "Little Bird." Also our pros give their opinions on the other dancers. Jennifer Grey got many props for fighting through her injuries. if she wins, that will be the story of this seasons show.

More results, up next are Kyle and Lacey. Lacey may not be the perfect performer, but she is one of the best teachers. The couple was excited to hear they made the finals.

Now a performance by Enrique Iglesias. Also a hot dance routine by the pros.

The final spot now will be either Bristol and Mark, or Brandy and Maks. The tension is so thick it could be cut with a knife. Both pairs have worked extremely hard.

The couples are on the stage. The couple advancing is Bristol and Mark. A disappointed Brandy and Maks are going home.

FBI Trying to get to Bottom of Cam Newton Case

John Bond and Kenny Rogers, two of the key players in the ongoing Cam Newton saga are meeting with Federal authorities today, as in the FBI.

In reading The Jackson Clarion-Ledger, former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond met with officials this morning and pseudo sports agent Kenny Rogers will tell his story this afternoon.

Bond’s attorney confirmed his client’s meeting with the FBI. The FBI’s involvement in an NCAA scandal, overstepping the NCAAs bounds might be because Cam's father, Cecil Newton might have laundered payments through his tax-exempt church or construction company.

Both the FBI and the NCAA appear to be moving quickly, possible to make a ruling in the next week or so. Auburn has a regular season game remaining with Alabama, and then the SEC Championship Game. Everyone looking at this wants to get a ruling so we don't have a tarnished Heisman, SEC, or BCS Championship.

The SEC may play a part in this as well, since in the SEC bylaws it states:

If at any time before or after matriculation in a member institution a student-athlete or any member of his/her family receives or agrees to receive, directly or indirectly, any aid or assistance beyond or in addition to that permitted by the Bylaws of this Conference (except such aid or assistance as such student-athlete may receive from those persons on whom the student is naturally or legally dependent for support), such student- athlete shall be ineligible for competition in any intercollegiate sport within the Conference for the remainder of his/her college career."

Cecil and Cam Newton at the very least might have violated this bylaw and Cam Newton would be immediately ineligible.

The SEC Commissioner Mike Slive can make a determination on this even though he previously stated that it's in the NCAA's hands.

I think we'll have some more news later this week.

Week 11 Fantasy Football: Buy, Sell, or Hold

What a week in the NFL! The great thing about NFL football is that from week to week any team can rise up and beat a so-called better team. This week the Dallas Cowboys rebounded to thump the New York Giants. Buffalo got their first win and Miami used three quarterbacks to defeat the Tennessee Titans.

The bye weeks are over, and your teams should be back to full strength depending on how many injuries you are dealing with.

Here's the buy, sell, or hold for week 11.

Buy:

Fred Jackson, RB Bills - Jackson has become a must start at running back. He has 133 yards rushing, and 37 receiving. He scored two touchdowns, but he did fumble twice, losing one of them. He took a shot to the knee late in the game, so owners may want to watch that.

Tyler Thigpen, QB Dolphins - He going to play and is worth putting on your roster. He didn't look rusty at all on Sunday.He went 4-6 for 64 with a TD. He also is a capable runner. He plays this Thursday night against the Bears. Keep him on your roster, but sit him this week.

Mike Goodson, RB Panthers - He was the lone bright spot on a terrible Panthers team He rushed for 100 yards, but still doesn't have a touchdown.

Troy Smith, QB 49ers - The more I see of Troy Smith, the more I like him. He ended up throwing for 356 yards and a TD.

Jermaine Gresham, TE Bengals - Tight ends are always a gamble, but Gresham put up 85 yards and a TD lat week and they play Buffalo this week. Should be a good play.

Sell:

Mike Thomas, WR Jaguars - Thomas' game on Sunday was a career game. If your league's trade deadline has not passed you may find an owner that needs a wideout and wants Thomas. My advice is to sell high.

Hines Ward, WR Steelers - It pains me to say this because I admire Hines Ward, but he no longer is the main wide receiver in Pittsburgh. Ward is a little injury prone and Mike Wallace is getting more throws than Ward. Trade him if you have someone interested.

Cadillac Williams, RB Buccaneers - His better days are behind him. Don't be fooled by the 62 yards he had, since he only had 5 carries. There are better options at running back than him.

Brett Favre, QB Vikings - You may still have Favre on your roster, but you don't need to play him. He is back to throwing interceptions and now his shoulder is tender.

Hold:

Felix Jones, RB Cowboys - Let's not get too excited yet over Felix and the Dallas Cowboys as a whole. It's one game and anything can still happen. Jones did look in good form running and catching the ball. Let's hold him for now.

17 Beatles Albums up on iTunes

Ladies and Gentleman....  The Beatles

Direct link here:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-beatles/id136975