Even With The Help Of Mario Andretti, Benelli Suffers

Even with the star power help of racing legend, Mario Andretti, promoting their line of imported motor scooters, Power Sports Factory, Inc. continues to struggle. Power Sports Factory is the exclusive importer for Benelli brand motor scooters which boast up to 75mpg economy for some models and top speeds ranging up 75mph for other models. Benelli has been a famous name in Italian motorcycles since 1911 when gas engines were first paired with bicycles.

At one time, Montgomery Ward was a major outlet for Benelli products 350cc or less. But as Japan launched entries into the motorcycle market such as Honda, Benelli watched their share of the U.S. market dramatically suffer. A few years back as Benelli once again found itself in serious financial problems, the Chinese company, Qainjiang bought the company out, however maintained the workforce in Pesaro, Italy, where European styled models are still planned. Benelli products are always very high quality products. Yet, their line of motor scooters has sold very poorly in the United States. Some dealers such as PTown Scooters in Portland, Oregon still have some unsold 2008 Benelli models sitting on their showroom floor despite several price cuts or specials.

Power Sports Factory hoped that a August 2009 strategic partnership with Boyesen Engineering, a leader in motor scooter parts, engineering and technology, would keep their company on the cutting edge. However, a few months later a scooter industry online business site reported about the dire financial situation at Power Sports Factory where the company had around $1.6 in assets and around $6 million in liabilities. Power Sports Factory would also like to enter the electric scooter market, yet a spokesman admits that little cash is available for such a move.

Power Sports Factory has proven several things here. For one, motor scooters have yet to gain much traction among American buyers like the way they sell in Asia and Europe. And even with much higher gas mileage and fun potential than automobiles, motor scooters a hard sell in the United States. Further, more restrictive motorcycle licensing laws only work to deter many from seeking out motor scooters as an option in the United States. And some states Oregon have only made things much worse for new motor scooter sales by requiring all riders to eventually pay to enroll in a motorcycle riding education course. This will only deter many from even bothering to think about motor scooters or motorcycles as an option.

I've always liked interesting transportation choices myself, so I guess being one of the first to buy a new Benelli back in 2008 also makes me one of the only persons to be driving one here in Portland. But, of all the vehicles I own, or have owned, the little Benelli is the most fun of them all in many ways.

Oscar Audience Up Sharply; Kathryn Bigelow Breaks The Directing Glass Ceiling

The audience for this year's Oscars was up by a sharp 14% this year to over 41 million viewers. Apparently, the move to nominate more films for best picture paid off handsomely as more viewers wanted to see how their favorite films would do this year. ABC couldn't have been happier.

But, the biggest news from the 82nd Oscars this year was the triumph of female director, Kathryn Bigelow and her film THE HURT LOCKER, which won six awards. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman ever to win the directing award. Three women had been nominated in the past. And THE HURT LOCKER also became the lowest grossing movie ever to win the best picture category. The film only grossed a little over $14 million at box offices, compared to AVATAR, which was the largest grossing movie ever at over $2 billion for international box office receipts. AVATAR cost a staggering $230 million to produce, while THE HURT LOCKER cost just $11 million. The Oscar win might just give the independently-produced Iraq War drama a major shot in the arm and bring in fresh DVD sales, rentals or even a theater return.

Who's The Man! Who's Your Oscar Daddy?

The last couple of days, just for the fun of it we polled the predictions of Roger Ebert, movie critic extraordinary, the fine Strippers from Rick's Cabaret, and myself to see who would could the closest to picking the Oscar winners. Well, Roger, you're the man! You got all five top winners for best picture, best actors, best supporting actors and director right on the money! Good job!

But, well, the strippers from Rick's Cabaret definitely aren't men, or the man, here. They got just one right. They correctly picked Mo'Nique to win best supporting actress. Maybe they should stick to their day job, which they are definitely very good at.

And as for me, well I did fairly good, with the exception of missing the biggest award, the best picture prize. Even worse, I went with this picture to post.

Roger Ebert's Oscar Predictions

Severe Cancer surgery might have robbed Roger Ebert of his natural voice. But working from his home office, the great film critic continues to write reviews and remains one of the most influential movie critics of all time.

Recently, Roger Ebert put together his Oscar winner prediction list, which he claims can help you to win Oscar office pool contests.

Here's Roger's top picks: Best Picture, THE HURT LOCKER

Best Actor, Jeff Bridges(CRAZY HEART)

Best Actress, Sandra Bullock(THE BLIND SIDE)

Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Waltz

(INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS)

Best Supporting Actress, Mo'Nique(PRECIOUS)

Director, Kathryn Bigelow(THE HURT LOCKER)

Here's to you Roger. Stay healthy and keep writing. You're a legend.

Strippers Pick The Oscar Winners

Howard Stern always manages an odd and funny take on things. This year he decided to pole the pole dancers from Rick's Cabaret. And the girls picked the following winners: Best Picture, AVATAR, Best Actor, George Clooney, Best Actress, Meryl Streep, Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Plummer, Best Supporting Actress, Mo'Nique.

By the way, Rick's Cabaret is a fine upstanding, and I do mean really upstanding, NASDAQ traded company. But are Rick's girls any better than Roger Ebert at picking the Oscar winners?

You Pick The Oscar Winners

Here's your chance to pick the Oscar winners here. Which movie wins best picture? Best Actor? Best Actress? Etc. ----Here's the nominees and my own picks. What do you think?

Best Picture Nominees: AVATAR, THE HURT LOCKER, UP IN THE AIR, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, THE BLIND SIDE, DISTRICT 9, AN EDUCATION, UP, PRECIOUS, A SERIOUS MAN.

My pick is AVATAR to narrowly win over THE HURT LOCKER.

Best Actor Nominees: Jeff Bridges(CRAZY HEART), George Clooney(UP IN THE AIR), Colin Firth(A SINGLE MAN), Morgan Freeman(INVICTUS), Jeremy Renner(THE HURT LOCKER).

My pick to win is Jeff Bridges who might narrowly lead Jeremy Renner's strong performance from THE HURT LOCKER. But, Jeff Bridges put in the best acting performance in his entire life in CRAZY HEART and probably deserves the Oscar voter respect for that fact.

Best Actress Nominees: Sandra Bullock(THE BLIND SIDE), Helen Mirren(THE LAST STATION), Carrey Mulligan(AN EDUCATION), Gabourey Sidibe(PRECIOUS), Meryl Streep(JULIE & JULIA).

My pick to probably win is Sandra Bullock , because she's a sentimental favorite because her role in THE BLIND SIDE is easily her best performance ever. However, Meryl Streep was quite good in JULIE & JULIA as well.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Matt Damon(INVICTUS), Woody Harrelson(THE MESSENGER), Christopher Plummer(THE LAST STATION), Stanley Tucci(THE LOVELY BONES), Christopher Waltz(INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS).

My pick for likely winner is Christopher Waltz for his creepy portrayal of a fiendish Nazi officer in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, however Woody Harrelson could surprise everyone with a upset win.

Best Supporting Actress Nominees: Penelope Cruz(NINE), Vera Farmigo(UP IN THE AIR), Maggie Gyllenhal(CRAZY HEART), Anna Kendrick(UP IN THE AIR), Mo'Nique(PRECIOUS).

My pick to win is heavy favorite Mo'Nique. Her acting and story is too important for Oscar voters to turn down. Maggie Gyllenhal is a distant second in likely Oscar voting. Mo'Nique is the clear leader here.

Best Director Nominees: James Cameron(AVATAR), Kathryn Bigelow(THE HURT LOCKER), Quentin Tarantino(INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS), Lee Daniels(Precious), Jason Reitman(UP IN THE AIR).

My pick would be Kathryn Bigelow. THE HURT LOCKER likely will miss for Best Picture, so expect Oscar voters to make up this by giving some smaller awards like this to the film.

The Bottom Line: Expect AVATAR to do the best at the awards tomorrow, but expect Oscar voters to spread around a few awards to THE HURT LOCKER and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS to recognize those great films as well. There won't be an clear cut winner this year, but Oscar voters will try to recognize these three favorite films. While UP IN THE AIR is a very good film, it probably won't win many awards this year.

What do you think? Who do you think will win?

Newly Remastered EXILE ON MAIN STREET Due Soon

A newly remastered version of EXILE ON MAIN STREET by The Rolling Stones is due out May 10 with at least 10 additional bonus tracks and deluxe packaging. While the classic rock album has been offered many times before as an Lp, cassette, 8track and Cd, the latest addition of higher quality remastered sound as well as the bonus tracks should give fans of The Stones reason enough to buy the album one more time.

When first released as a double album set in 1972, the album met mixed critical reviews. However, over the years, critics now consider this album to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The album had two singles including "Tumbling Dice" and "Happy", with Keith Richards on vocals. The album was also an eclectic mix of songs with rock, blues, country, gospel and soulful influences. The album even included one religious themed song, "I Just Want To See His Face".

Strangely, the album wasn't a conventional album in the sense of STICKY FINGERS or other studio recorded albums, but a collection of leftover material outtakes and other songs that didn't make it to other Stones albums like STICKY FINGERS, recorded between 1968 and 1972. And the odd mix of unrelated tracks with no common themes took some fans and critics by surprise. Yet, over time the album grew in support by both critic and fans.

The new 2010 version of the album with even more songs than the original double Lp looks like a great new item. However, some fans might grow weary if every year a new remastered version of albums replace last years model.