They also believe using orangutans as entertainment undercuts public perceptions of conservation efforts.

Orangutans in the wild are on the brink of extinction, and they argue that efforts to save them are not helped by an ape in a dress.

“There’s no doubt that apes in entertainment has a negative impact on conservation attitudes and conservation action,” said Dr. Robert Shumaker, the sanctuary’s director of orangutan research. “I don’t think it’s appropriate, and I’m very pleased we’re working to end that.”

Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife, which is not affiliated with the actor Steve Martin, donated the orangutans to the Great Ape Trust after talking with Shumaker. The company, believed to be the sole provider of orangutans in Hollywood, will no longer provide the great apes for use in entertainment and has given all of its eight orangutans to the Iowa sanctuary.

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“She often said it was a dream come true for her and wanted to travel the world with her career,” the Barbara Coultish agency said. “She told us that she was happy in Shanghai and enjoyed the agency, the city and her roommates.”

Others in Shanghai’s modeling world said they thought the murder wasn’t connected to O’Brien’s work, but they worried about the risks to aspiring models drawn to the city’s growing fashion scene.

“So many agencies send girls here without really knowing,” said Marion Dorel, a former model from France who spent 13 years in the business in China. “Be careful, clients can ask for weird things — to sleep with them, to sleep with their clients, to go to karaoke. Of course you can say ‘no,’ but it’s not a nice situation.”

One Shanghai casting call asked for models to strip to their underwear and jump on a trampoline while being filmed, said Jeremy Stockton Johnson, a fashion photographer who said he also has been asked if models are available to strip at parties.

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In entertainment and shopping districts such as Hollywood, meters would operate until midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Bruce Gillman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, said the extended hours and higher rates were expected to net the city an additional $18 million annually, nearly doubling the revenue it now receives from meters. The department will need about three months to implement the changes at the city’s 40,000 or so parking meters, he said.

Los Angeles has not increased its parking meter rates in 17 years, Gillman said. Compared with other cities, he said, Los Angeles has among the lowest rates in the nation.

In Pasadena, almost all parking meters cost $1.25 an hour. Santa Monica charges 75 cents an hour citywide and $1 an hour for its downtown business district, where meters operate until 2 a.m.

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MUMBAI: Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Big Entertainment (RBE) is in the final stages of negotiations with Hollywood’s iconic director Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks, according to a source close to the development. A deal is expected to be announced within the next one month, and will entail producing 30 movies across a four-year period.

The deal size is expected to be $1.5 billion and RBE will own close to 50% in DreamWorks once the transaction is concluded, the source added. When contacted, a Reliance-ADAG spokesperson offered “no comments” as his response. DreamWorks will invest the entire $1.5 billion in film production and it will have equal amounts of debt and equity, i.e. around $750 million each. RBE is the internet, media and entertainment arm of R-ADAG.

A Wall Street Journal story dated June 19 had said R-ADAG could invest between $500 million and $600 million by way of equity.

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For 33 years, Mr. Magness was in charge of the city of Fort Worth’s entertainment venues.

“He was an outstanding public servant who always kept the interest of the city in mind,” former City Manager Bob Terrell said.

Mr. Magness died Thursday afternoon. He was 75.

Staff writer Anna M. Tinsley reports, 1B

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Actually, its full name is Jupiter Lanes Family Entertainment Center, and for good reason. A ball-rolling device and optional gutterless lanes allowed my 4-year-old granddaughter to join in the fun.

But come to think of it, maybe 122 is not so respectable. She bowled a 68.

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Wander around their showroom and you’ll find home entertainment systems that look straight out of a Hollywood movie mogul’s cinema den. You’ll find televisions designed specifically for watching in steamy showers, complete with non-fogging screens. They have plasma screens that disappear into custom-designed cabinets at the touch of a button and even a fancy wall-mounted living room mirror that transforms into a TV when you want to watch a movie. They also have more sound systems than you can poke a stick at. And guess what? All these products cost a fair bit more an ipod shuffle.

Despite the fact the store has decided not to carry the MP3 du jour, somehow I don’t think they’re missing out on a great deal of revenue. Clearly, they are focusing on the higher end of the market.

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Hermanos Herrera, a Fillmore band that has gained national attention, has been added to the entertainment lineup of the Ventura County Fair.

The band will appear Aug. 3 as part of the fair’s Dia de la Familia entertainment, opening for Los Tigres del Norte. The fair runs July 30-Aug. 10 in Ventura.

Hermanos Herrera — five brothers and their younger sister — performs a variety of traditional Mexican musical genres, including son huasteco, son jarocho and norteño. The group has appeared on national television programs.

For more information on the fair, call 648-3376 or visit http://www.venturacountyfair.org.

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It’s the cheerleader from “Heroes” all grown up and launching a vamping singing career – Mail On Sunday U.K.

Are The Stray Cats ready for “The Long Goodbye?” – Orange County Weekly

Can you name the top 4 online music services? After iTunes, that is – CNET / Crave

AOL dazzles the world with an upgraded Winamp, including integration for merch as well as AOL Radio and Asian language support – AOL / Businesswire.com / press release

Sex, drugs and lobsters. Has to be The B-52’s – The Times Online U.K.

Dates, Dates & More Dates

“America’s Best Dance Crew Live” hits the road in September and runs through mid-October. Specifics include September 18 in Miami at AmericanAirlines Arena, September 23 in New York at WaMu Theater At Madison Sq.

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She eventually moved to Colorado Springs and after five years as a copy editor became the entertainment editor at The Gazette. A combination of factors led her to quit the newsroom for the nonprofit world.”I was afraid of eventual burnout,” she said. “I was also working toward my master’s degree (in public administration from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.) When this opportunity came along, it was like everything came together at once, just showing me which direction to go.”Already a regular in the Springs art world from her time at The Gazette, she found the switch from observer to advocate refreshing.”You don’t have to keep up that barrier of involvement,” she said.

TAKE ON THE SCENE: “It’s on the upswing and has been for several years,” Edmondson said.”I’m really excited by the new, younger generation of artists and arts administrators who have emerged,” she said, citing Jessica Hunter Larson at Colorado College, Christopher Lynn at UCCS, Bettina Swigger of COPPeR, Delaney Utterback at KRCC (91.5 FM), the Edifice Gallery and the Rocket Room.”There’s a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done attitude,” she said.

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