Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank may introduce a bill to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act as early as this week. The bill was signed and passed in 2006 as the US government hurried to combat illegal online betting operations, many of which were based in Europe. While many of these operations now exist in countries like Antigua, Barney Frank's bill would change the law and tax online gambling at the Federal level.
Facebook is set to allow third-party developers the opportunity to build applications to access users media and other Facebook related information. The developer tools, which will be available for free and will be "open", will enhance Facebook much as a similar allowance has given rise to over 3,500 Twitter applications. The only thing left to do is to figure how to monetize Facebook.
Sony Screen Gems' Obsessed took in $28.5 million to top the box office this weekend. The thriller, which stars Beyonce, was able to hold off Zac Efron led 17 Again, which took in $11.7 million in its second weekend, a 50% decline from its opening weekend box office take. Meanwhile, Disneynature's Earth, narrated by James Earl Jones, amassed $8.6 million in the biggest opening ever for a nature film.
With CD sales down, Best Buy has decided to restock vinyl LP's. The nationwide consumer electronics chain plans to carry as many as 200 titles per store. Scratching is alive and well at your local Best Buy.
Donald Trump fired Melissa Rivers last night triggering an extremely expletive and entertaining exit. Not to be outdone, her mother, Joan laced into Melissa's team mates and walked off the show as well. Just when you think you've been there and done that, Mark Burnett always finds a way to keep it fresh.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press) and the upcoming, Get Digital: Reinventing Yourself and Your Career for the 21st Century Economy (2009, Lake House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars