Mammoth Sound & Vision Welcomes New York Visitors to SHI's Cloud

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Burbank, CA, USA (September 27, 2012) -- SHI International Corp. is going back to the future with its imaginative New York City Briefing Center, recently unveiled in the heart of Manhattan at 1 Penn Plaza. The Briefing Center’s focal point is a 3D animated tour of SHI’s innovative cloud architecture woven through the history of computing beginning with the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Produced by George Johnsen, founder of Mammoth Sound & Vision, this 22-minute video presentation provides an immersive and engaging “edu-tainment” experience, offering clients and partners a rare look inside SHI’s next-generation data center and cloud solutions. This sci-fi journey is led by SHI’s cloud computing mascot, HA-NA, also created by Johnsen. She provides the voice of the customer and she ultimately points them to the best fit for their organization’s cloud computing needs.

“One of the main things that we wanted to do here is to create a memorable experience,” stated Henry Fastert, Chief Techologist, SHI International Corp. “We also wanted to create a very positive view of the future. The cloud has created so much change in such a short period of time that people are very concerned about how it all impacts their companies and their careers. So we went back to a period of time – between 1955 and 1965 – where the future was viewed as a completely positive thing – we believed it would solve all our problems and it was really something that we all looked forward to.”

“Our plan was to meet Henry’s vision,” said Johnsen. “It’s our first briefing center, and it’s been a pleasure and a challenge to put a theme park in an office building. This kind of experience is usually reserved for places like Disneyworld or Universal Studios, where we often work. It’s a total immersion 3D film that puts the viewer in the middle of the cloud technology that SHI has developed. We looked backwards to look forward to a time where the future was really, really cool and took it from there.”
The Briefing Center is a futuristic office that delivers an interactive experience to give visitors a comprehensive view of SHI’s innovative cloud services, technologies, and capabilities. Designed in conjunction with Spin Design, the 5000 square foot center features bright white walls reminiscent of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and automatic glass doors that can transition from clear to opaque and even display images.

About Mammoth Sound & Vision
Mammoth Sound & Vision is a multi-continent production company based in Burbank, California, specializing in animation, visual effects, audio and video post-production, interactive programming and 3D stereoscopic production. Founded by digital pioneer George Johnsen, Mammoth SAV is on the leading edge of creating award-winning productions for themed entertainment and live venues as well as film and television. More information is available at http://www.mammothsav.com.

About SHI
Founded in 1989, SHI International Corp. is a $4 billion+ global provider of technology products and services. Driven by the industry's most experienced and stable sales force and backed by software volume licensing experts, hardware procurement specialists, and certified IT services professionals, SHI delivers custom IT solutions to Corporate, Enterprise, Public Sector, and Academic customers. With over 1,900 employees worldwide, SHI is the largest Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) in the U.S. and is ranked 18th among Everything Channel's VAR 500 list of North American IT solution providers. For more information, visit http://www.shi.com.

Molly Deese Named VP and General Manager of Wild Adventures

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Valdosta, GA, USA -- Wild Adventures Theme Park (WA) has  named Molly Deese the park’s new vice president and general manager. Deese was previously WA’s operations director, joining the South Georgia park in 2008. In her new role, Deese oversees all guest and business functions for the area’s largest theme, water and animal park including supervising more than 600 full-time and seasonal employees. She takes over immediately, just as WA is readying for its Halloween events, including the September 28 opening of the new nighttime eventTerror In The Wild. The park also plans to announce new plans for the 2013 season later this week.

“Molly was a natural choice for this position as she has such a well-rounded theme park background. Wild Adventures is the area’s number one attraction and one of the biggest employers, and Molly has always shown a commitment to creating a fun and safe family experience and equally as important, making Wild Adventures a great place to work,” said Jane Cooper, president of attractions for Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE), parent company of WA.

Deese takes over from Greg Charbeneau, who will continue to work with the HFE corporate team in Norcross, GA on other business ventures.

A nearly 20-year theme park veteran, Deese has worked with some of the industry’s most well-regarded and popular attractions including Carowinds in Charlotte, NC, and Kings Dominion in Richmond, VA. Over the course of her career, she has worked in increasingly senior roles in the food and beverage area and later in retail. Most recently, Deese worked as WA’s operations director, overseeing all of the park’s attractions, including the water park, and business operations. In her new post, she now adds oversight of marketing, entertainment, safety and finance to her responsibilities.

“I love that Wild Adventures is part of the fabric of this community. Since moving to Valdosta four years ago, I’ve met many families who ‘grew up’ with Wild Adventures and have wonderful stories to share. I’m committed to having their kids grow up with this park too, making new family memories. All of us at the park look forward to having everyone out for our Halloween fun and scares this September and October,” said Deese.

“Stay tuned for some announcements regarding new rides and new season pass benefits coming later this week,” she added.

Wild Adventures is a 170-acre theme park, water park, and animal park all in one place for less located in Valdosta, Georgia. The park features one of the largest ride collections in the South, more than 500 wild animals, Splash Island Water Park, the region’s largest water park, shows, festivals and all-star concerts. The park is owned and operated by Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE), a company specializing in family entertainment.

Chance Rides Introduces Sunliner II

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Wichita, KS, USA -- The latest addition to of Chance Rides people movers is now on the market. Chance Rides first introduced the Sunliner™ series of trams in 1977. They were known industry wide for smooth reliable transportation for guests at all attractions.

Thirty-five years later Chance Rides has brought the Sunliner™ name back to the tram industry with the completely redesigned Sunliner™ II. It is built with the reliability that Chance is known for including features like air-ride suspension and air-over-hydraulic brakes, a low deck entry of 13” for easy access. And because the Sunliner™ II is built on the chassis of a Ford E-350 you have the flexibility to have repair service completed by any Ford authorized dealer as well as a reliable warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles. The Sunliner™ II gives you a total capacity of up to 116 people with 3 trailing units. The easy to use hitch system allows for quick connecting and disconnecting of trailing units as needed.

Throughout September and October the Sunliner II will be making its way across the country on a demo tour. If you would like to see what the Sunliner II could do for your attraction contact Chance Rides and they'll be happy to arrange a tour for you. Chance Rides will have the Sunliner™ II on display at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, FL, booth #4824, November 12-16th, 2012.

Chance Rides, Inc. is a family owned business located in Wichita, Kan. For more information about Chance Rides products, visit chancerides.com.

Wild Adventures Announces Two New Attractions for 2013

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Valdosta, GA, USA -- Wild Adventures Theme Park (WA) announces the addition of a duo of family rides for the 2013 season. For thrill seekers, the park introduces TailSpin, a rocking and spinning ride on a half-pipe which takes riders more than four stories high while facing outward on a motorcycle-like seat. For littler ride enthusiasts, the park is adding Wacky Wheels, a whirling teacup-like ride of funky cars. The new rides were announced by Molly Deese, WA’s newly-appointed vice president and general manager.

“We’ve had great response to the improvements we’ve made in the past few years, but families told us they wanted more thrill rides and rides for younger kids. The boardwalk location of TailSpin and Wacky Wheels creates a new lakeside hub for kids, teens and adults alike,” said Deese in making the announcement.

Deese also announced the park has introduced new season pass benefits for 2013 passholders including a risk-free concert guarantee, up to five Bring-A-Friend tickets for each passholder and early water park entry on Saturdays.

Next year, WA is bringing up to 20 new entertainment elements to park, including concerts, special events and shows. The park plans to reveal the full line-up in February 2013.

“Our goal is to always provide families with memorable fun at a great value and this upcoming season is no exception,” said Deese. “In addition to the rides, water park and animals, we know that many of our guests enjoy seeing concerts at Wild Adventures. With the new risk-free concert guarantee, families can take advantage of the lowest season pass price right now, knowing that if they’re not completely satisfied with the 2013 concert and entertainment schedule when it is announced in February, they can get their money back on any unused passes.”

In addition to the risk-free concert guarantee, next year’s season passes include two new added benefits: early entry to Splash Island Water Park on Saturdays and up to five Bring-A-Friend Free Days.

“Families told us they wanted even more convenience and flexibility and these new benefits provide just that. For less than the price of a single day admission to other theme parks you can purchase a WA season pass and visit as much as you want, all season,” said Deese. “At Wild Adventures visitors find major coasters, rides, a complete water park and great family-friendly entertainment, including concerts, in a relaxed atmosphere, but pay less,” said Deese.

For more information on Wild Adventures, visit www.wildadventures.com.

Wild Adventures is a 170-acre theme park, water park, and animal park all in one place for less located in Valdosta, Georgia. The park features one of the largest ride collections in the South, more than 500 wild animals, Splash Island Water Park, the region’s largest water park, shows, festivals and all-star concerts. The park is owned and operated by Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE), a company specializing in family entertainment. For nearly half a century, HFE has owned, operated or partnered in 21 properties across nine states, including Branson, Missouri’s Silver Dollar City; operating partner with Dolly Parton in Tennessee’s Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country; operating partner in Atlanta’s Stone Mountain Park and owners of Ride the Ducks amphibious tours in six cities.

FORREC Continues Work On New Phases of Scream Land FEC in Dominican Republic

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Toronto, Canada -- FORREC, a global leader in the planning and design of themed entertainment environments, recently provided complete design services for Scream Land, a jungle-themed entertainment centre in the Dominican Republic that offers an active environment of climbing, jumping, sliding and spinning .

Scream Land, located on the fourth floor of Agora Mall in Santo Domingo, is Acego Group’s third family entertainment centre (FEC). The group owns and operates two existing HappyLand FECs. Where the existing projects are aimed at two– to twelve-year-olds, Scream Land has been conceived as the next generation of entertainment centres, targeting a slightly older market.

“Being in the business of fun we needed to work with a team like Forrec who understands the value of fun!” said Tino Miyar, Partner of Acego Group.

“Engaging toddlers and tweens is not an easy feat, but we believe that the blend of rides and activities at Scream Land, will captivate toddlers and tweens alike.” said Mr. John Plumpton, Principal and Senior Director of Entertainment Centre Design at Forrec Ltd.

The project encompasses three phases, the first of which contains eight attractions. Ballocity is a three-storey 100-square-metre play area manufactured by Prime Play. Zamperla attractions include Crazy Surf and Kite Flyer 8. From SBF Visa comes the five-truck Convoy, Midi Dance Party, the 12-metre Drop ‘n’ Twist and the 11-metre Balloon Wheel. The Go Kart track with 18 cars is manufactured by Eurogames.

The second phase, scheduled to open at the end of 2012, will be located on the Centre’s mezzanine level. It will feature a 500-square-metre arcade, a 300-square-metre laser tag arena, four reduced-size bowling lanes and 50 games, divided into 75% redemption and 25% video/simulation. The entire experience will be capped off by a six-pole Sky Trail.

For the third phase, Forrec is already designing a spinning coaster with a 250-metre track that will sweep over the go-kart track.

The jungle-inspired environment takes advantage of abstracted and simplified elements, oversized shapes, bright colours and bold patterns to create an exciting tropical experience that has already made it a major Santo Domingo attraction.

The innovative children’s attraction, which opened in August 2012, is expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors each year. It received more than 10,000 guests in the first four days of operations.

About Forrec Ltd.
Forrec is a global leader in the planning and design of themed attractions, entertainment facilities and themed environments. For more than 40 years, Forrec has been creating design solutions for projects all over the world – anywhere that people and their experiences come first. For information please visit www.forrec.com

About Acego Group
Acego Group is a holding company in the Dominican Republic with leading operations in entertainment, telecommunications, quick service restaurants, retail and the printing industry.

St. Petersburg, here I come!

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My Baltic Cruisedeparture date finally approaches and I wanted you to know my schedule. My lastday at work will be Thursday July 19, and I won't be back at my desk untilMonday August 6. If you anticipate any travel needs, please get in touch assoon as possible so I can help you before I go.

Don't worry: I'll havemy laptop with me so I can access reservations and answer questions (althoughthe time difference and busy itinerary may make it difficult), I will have acolleague available to assist you while I'm away and the 24-hour hotline isalways available if you have a travel emergency.


This trip will beamazing! I'm escorting a group of 85 guests sailing on the Crystal Symphony's "Journey of the Czars" from Stockholm to Copenhagen with three full days in St. Petersburg. It's myfirst time cruising with Crystal Cruises, which has been voted the World's Best Large-ship Cruise Line 17 years in a row by Travel & Leisurereaders. I'll be posting photos on Facebook and sharing trip details on my blogso please connect with me online.  

Baltic Cruise 2012

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St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia

Cruising the Baltic Sea was as wonderful as I expected.  Every destination was special, but by visitingso many in one trip I really experienced the region and learned about theirrelationships with each other and the sea. Here’s a quick summary of my trip:

• 3 days in Stockholm at the Scandic Grand Central
• 11-night cruise on the Crystal Symphony
• 3 days in Copenhagen at the Scandic Copenhagen

Crystal Cruises' "Journey of the Czars" itinerary included theseports of call:

• Tallinn, Estonia
• 3 full days in St. Petersburg, Russia!
• Helsinki, Finland
• Warnemünde, Germany

St. Petersburg was as amazing as I expected, but the Amber Room at Catherine's Palace was mind blowing. I knew I'd love Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and wandering the Old Town of Tallinn, but was surprised how much I liked the canals of Stockholm and the architecture of Helsinki. All the Scandinavian ports were clean and charming (most of themclaiming to be The Venice-of-the-North).  The people spoke English, were friendly and extremely blond.  The politeness extended to pedestrianetiquette too — folks would stand at a red light with no cars coming from anydirection and still not cross until the light changed to green.  It’s really hard to do (tick, t-i-c-k,t…i…c…k), but I got better at it as the trip progressed.

A magical evening at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark

The weather was bizarrely excellent — 60-75 degrees andmostly sunny every day. All the guides swore it was cold and raining all summeruntil I arrived. The trip definitely challenged my linguistic skills, which arenotoriously terrible even in the few languages I studied in school. By theend, I was the Great Pronouncer — confidently reading street signs withphonetic American-English, give or take afew letters. Or syllables. 
FYI: I won the flights on SAS Airlines and the Scandic Hotel stays from Cruise Baltic while attending a CLIA cruise conference in April 2011. I took several of the Cruise Baltic educational seminars at the conference, but this trip taught me so much more about this beautiful and fascinating region. And I was hosting a Signature Travel Network group of 83 guests on the Crystal Symphony. Don't I have the best job?!

Baltic Cruise: Stockholm, Sweden

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Stockholm's charming harbor

My Baltic Cruise aboard Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony began in Stockholm, Sweden. Departed from Newark on SAS’ non-stop flight to Stockholm. Thetrans-Atlantic flight leaves early (around 5pm) and arrives early the nextmorning. Plane was reasonably comfortable (2-4-2 configuration) and there was a personal entertainment system for each seat in all classes (but no plugs orinternet access). The meal was OK (chicken in red wine sauce both coming andgoing) served with complimentary wine. It was an 8-hour flight made painless bytaking a 4-hour Ambien immediately upon being seated, so I slept most of the waythere and arrived feeling halfway decent.
While the Arlanda Express is an easy way to get into theheart of the city (and there are even less-expensive buses available), I doprefer to arrive as effortlessly as possible, so I took a taxi ($60, 30-minuteride). Happily, the Scandic Grand Central had the room ready so I couldsettle in and jump into the shower immediately. I liked the room’s modern vibe and eco-features (finally — recycle binsin a hotel room!). Wandered out into the city center on a self-guided walkingtour and visited Strindberg’s apartment. Had dinner at Den Glydene Freden in Gamla Stan (the restaurant was established in 1722, and their herring was amazing).

Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval center

Traveled by tram to the island park called Djurgärden. It’smost famous attraction is the Vasa Museum, which has a 17^th-centurysailing galleon with fascinating exhibits. They said “Stench, Disease and Tedium” summed up life at sea in thosedays. Good for me that life at sea has greatly improved, especially on Crystal Cruises! Couldn’t resist stopping in to the Spirit Museum to see their Absolut Art Collection (Warhol, Keith Haring, etc), since I had a Stockholm Cardgranting me free entry to all museums, public transportation and more.  The obligatory canal cruise was a very pleasantway to experience the archipelago (Royal Canal Tour is free with StockholmCard). The Nobel Museum was a yawn. Enjoyed a traditional smörgÃ¥sbord dinner at the Grand Hotel's Veranda Restaurant, especially the cured cod. 

Grand Hotel Stockholm

I was charmed by Stockholm. The ubiquitous lion statues evoked Venice more than their canals and bridges; but all the boats were beautiful, moored on every shore. Wandering around Gamla Stan (which was mobbed with tourists) and the city center (which was crowded with shopping Swedes) was a pleasure.  I was also surprised by the Swedish sense  of humor (a tapas place called Bar Celona, Primo Ciao Ciao serving Italian food, and a Scottish restaurant on the harbor called Loch & Quay). Last stop was for coffee and cake in the courtyard of Vete-Katten (the name of the pastry was MjölnargÃ¥rdsbulle, — see, I’m not making it up) before setting sail on the Crystal Symphony. Click here for my photos of Stockholm.

How would you pronounce it?

Baltic Cruise: An afternoon in Tallinn, Estonia

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Tallinn from Dome Hill

First stop on my Baltic Cruise aboard Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony was Tallinn, Estonia. This charming medieval walled city on the sea could call itself the Dubrovnik-of-the-North: narrow, winding, pedestrian-only streets with adorable cafes and shops,  and plenty of sea views to engage your camera. You could do a short walking tour of the old town so you notice all the highlights (an inexpensive shore excursion option), but it's fun to just wander aimlessly too. Architectural details catch your eye like a 17th century clock on the side of Holy Spirit Church and a dragon gargoyle. 
Unfortunately, I was not the only tourist here; the streets were crowded. Corny tourist traps abound and vendors in period costumes sell everything from spiced nuts, elk soup and elf shoes. And there are an awful lot of burlesque clubs and 'adult' entertainment on offer. But the history is interesting (I loved the story of their singing revolution), the people were friendly (unless you're Russian) and they make really good chocolate (dark chocolate with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and black pepper- so delicious). Click here to see my photos from Tallinn.

" Worthy Elk Soup, full of taste"

Baltic Cruise: My day in Helsinki

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I booked a half-day city tour of Helsinki through Crystal Cruises, which was a nice introduction. The city is celebrating its 200th anniversary as the capital of Finland, so there isn’t a preserved medieval quarter here (like Stockholm and Tallinn); instead new buildings and old blend together to create a fascinating cityscape. It's no wonder Helsinki was named the 2012 Design Capital of the World. 

Monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius

I enjoyed seeing the Sibelius Monument at the waterfront park named for the composer. The monument was created by the Finnish sculptress Eila Hiltunen in 1961 (apparently, it caused quite a stir as the first abstract public monument in Finland). The famous Rock Church (also called Temppeliaukio Church) was special, but I think the Post Office thrilled me more with it's clean lines.  

The Post Office in Helsinki

After the tour, I stayed in town walking all along the narrow, cobblestone streets. Each block has such a variety of architectural styles (art deco office building next to a Soviet apartment building) that my eyes were delighted by the contrasts.  Esplanade Park offered a charming greenway between two boulevards lined with lots of shops and cafes in the heart of the city. Market Square is at the bottom of the park, on the water, with city views of Uspensky Cathedral above. Farmers, fish mongers, food vendors and craftsmen sell their wares in a lively setting, which was a perfect spot to end a wonderful day.

Here's a link to my photos.
 

Fish Monger at Market Square

projectiondesign Celebrates Five Years of Success at London Transport Museum

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Fredrikstad, Norway -- Situated in Covent Garden Market, London's most frequented tourist hot spot, the London Transport Museum utilises projectiondesign F3+ and F1+ series projectors throughout the museum’s exhibit areas to tell the story of transport within London. The projection system was installed and maintained by global systems integrator, Electrosonic in 2007 and has been working non-stop ever since.

“In 1933, Chief Executive, Frank Pick’s mantra was ‘fitness for purpose’ and he believed that good design was essential. This principle applies to the design of technology in our gallery,” explains Rob Lansdown, Chief Projects and Infrastructure Officer at London Transport Museum. “We use projection to show how this unique design culture was developed across the company's entire range, from vehicles and architecture to information signs and publicity. Our requirements in 2007 were for high-resolution projectors that would be stable over time as well as produce outstanding image quality in various ambient light levels and, which required minimum maintenance over the lifetime of the exhibit. We are very pleased with how well the projectors have performed.”

F1+ projectors are installed in a specially designed ceiling mount to project a massive 12-meter floor canvas. The exhibit takes advantage of projectiondesign’s high brightness, accurate colour capabilities and 24/7 failsafe operation. Visitors can see the collection of 5,000 posters and art collection for themselves as they walk through the exhibit.

Museum-wide projection

projectiondesign F3+ and F1+ series projectors are used to communicate the story of London in major exhibits such as Victorian transport, World’s first underground, Pioneer tube, Travel revolution, Growth of suburbia, London in the 1920s and 1930s, London transport at war, London Icons and Transport futures.

"Our museum has no moving parts, so through projection, we are able to visualise the scale, size and complexity of London’s transport," adds Lansdown.

“The building is an English Heritage grade II listed former Victorian flower market, which relies on natural cooling and heating. As with all technology, heat is an issue for us, and Electronsonic designed specially mounted projection systems.”

Anders Løkke, Marketing Director at projectiondesign says: "the London Transport Museums relies heavily on the 24/7 use and stable image qualities over time. We’re delighted that they have used our technology to showcase such an important exhibition.”

London Transport Museum welcomes thousands of visitors each week. It also hosts conferences and exhibitions for the visitor attractions industry throughout the year.

For further information about this and other leading products please visit projectiondesign.com

About projectiondesignprojectiondesign is a Norwegian company that designs, manufactures and markets a range of high performance projectors for professional, business and consumer applications. Amongst its core markets are high resolution scientific visualization, visual training and simulation, medical imaging, broadcast and post production, public media and entertainment. Numerous industry milestones that distinguish projectiondesign's award winning, innovative technology include the introduction of the world's first single-chip SXGA DLP projector in 2002, the first commercially available 1080p DLP projector in 2006, the first WUXGA resolution DLP projector, and the first portable and high-resolution active 3D stereoscopic projector in 2008. In 2009, projectiondesign introduced its first 3-chip projector and debuted LED illumination. 2010 signified the company's first image warp and blend product with the Multi Image Processors, as well as the world premiere of the WQXGA resolution (2,560 x 1,600) projector, and revolutionary patented Remote Light Source technology. The entire professional product range is warranted for 24/7 usage. projectiondesign is located in Fredrikstad, Norway, with representatives in more than 20 offices throughout the world, and regional headquarters in New York and Beijing.

Mummies of the World Opens Sept. 29 in San Antonio

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San Antonio, TX, USA -- Mummies of the World arrived at the Witte Museum under heavy security last Wednesday, traveling nearly 1,200 miles from Tampa, Florida for the exhibition's highly-anticipated debut in San Antonio. Officially opening on Saturday, this will be the exhibition's exclusive Texas engagement.

Marc Corwin, president of American Exhibitions, Inc. - producer of the exhibition - was joined by Dr. Heather Gill-Frerking, Director of Science & Education for the Mummies of the World exhibition, and Marise McDermott (pictured left), president and CEO of the Witte Museum, for the official arrival of the mummies.

"Often you have Egyptian mummies or you may have perhaps a Bog Mummy, but here is an exhibition that has all of those, so it's very comprehensive," said McDermott. "This is a truly unique opportunity to experience mummies from around the world, and the Witte is honored to be able to offer such a perception-changing and thought-provoking collection to the region."

Mummies of the World was developed by American Exhibitions, Inc., in association with the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums (REM). For more information: www.mummiesoftheworld.com.

Premier Rides Designing World's Tallest and Fastest Looping Coaster for Six Flags

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Baltimore, MD, USA (September 28, 2012) -- Premier Rides has been selected by Six Flags Magic Mountain to design and build another record-breaking roller coaster for 2013. The Valencia, California theme park chose Premier to create FULL THROTTLE; the world’s tallest and fastest looping coaster. The adrenaline pumping ride will launch riders from zero to 70 miles-per-hour three times with two forward launches and one backward launch. Not only will riders fulfill their need for speed, but they will also get a chance to enjoy a special effects tunnel and the visual of a terrain-following coaster. For the first time riders will also get to experience a rocket launch out of the tunnel, that catapults them up and over a “Top Hat” which outlines the outside of the more than 160 feet loop – the same loop the riders went around the inside of just seconds before. Adding this one-of-a-kind attraction will not only give Magic Mountain the advantage of luring riders in to experience this must-see thrill, but it will also give the park 18 total coasters; more than any other theme park in the world.

Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides, commented, “We are honored to be a part of Six Flags’ formula for success by supplying this one-of-a-kind, record-breaking coaster that is sure to be a crowd pleaser! FULL THROTTLE will incorporate the latest in magnetic launch technology combined with a cutting edge track design resulting in an intense thrill factor.”

After riders board the sleek train, they are filled with anticipation. Suddenly, the train is accelerated from zero to seventy miles per hour as riders experience their first inversion and the thrill of navigating a world record 160ft tall loop! Riders then enter into a high banked curve to the right and then to the left giving them no time to catch their breath as they approach their second inversion – a Dive Loop that drops them deep into a special effects tunnel. While there, the train decelerates and stops for a split second before the riders are launched backwards up to the high point of the Dive Loop. After a momentary pause where the riders can appreciate the height they have reached, the train drops into the station and is again magnetically launched through a high-G turn to the left. Riders then race up and over a Top Hat that traces the outside of the World Record Loop. While at the top, guest enjoy significant air time and a breathtaking view of the park before dropping back down, rapidly decelerating, and taking a final 180° turn to the left to return back to the station. It is only when the train comes to a complete stop do the riders gain an understanding of what the term Full Throttle truly means.

For more information, please visit www.premier-rides.com

ABOUT SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with over $1.0 billion in revenue and 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more than 50 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions including up-close animal encounters, Fright Fest® and Holiday in the Park®.

ABOUT PREMIER RIDES, INC.
Premier Rides is best known for its high-tech magnetic launch roller coasters. The company is also a global supplier of traditional roller coasters, observation wheels, towers, water rides and custom designed attractions. Premier’s service division offers engineering support, complete ride and train rehab, and it maintains and offers spare parts supply on a 24-hour emergency basis. The company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and has additional U.S., European, and Asian offices. 

IAAPA Attractions Expo behind Cruden's 'smaaashing' India debut

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New Mumbai-based, sports-focussed entertainment centre, SMAAASH, is the first Indian attraction to install a Cruden professional racing simulator; the SMAAASH team discovered Cruden at previous IAAPA Expos.

Cruden, the world's leading professional motion simulation company, has sold its first simulator in India, thanks to introductions made at previous IAAPA Attractions Expos. As the company prepares its all-new show booth for this year's event (November 12-16, 2012; Orlando, USA; stand 1362) – including, for the first time, a single-seater, Formula Style race simulator – it is also building a Hexathrill simulator for new, Indian leisure concept, SMAASH.

AHA Holdings' SMAASH is a new sports-centric immersive and interactive entertainment centre offering a mix of active and passive entertainment, innovative games, interactive sports and socialising and eating areas, from its location in the Lower Parel area of Mumbai. Guests can drive the Cruden simulator, play on a cricket simulator, enter into combat on an FPS simulator, play on numerous coin-operated machines and watch live sports events on large TV screens. The "high energy" venue will open in October and there are plans to roll out the concept in further cities in India.

"I have been visiting IAAPA for the last 10 years now and it is a one stop shop which inspires truly impressive and exciting entertainment venues across the world and enables the industry to learn best practices from veterans and leaders," says a spokesperson for AHA Holdings Pvt Ltd. "We met Cruden at IAAPA some years ago. We evaluated almost 15 different companies offering motorsport simulation. Finally we decided to go for Cruden and full motion because it adds the much needed entertainment component as well as helping non-sportspeople to participate in the sport. Our positioning is clearly aimed at youth and today's youth is very aspirational about motorsport."

Cruden will exhibit at IAAPA for the 11th consecutive year in 2012 with a new booth design and a specially-built Formula Style simulator in addition to a Hexatech 3CTR (three-seater). "Cruden will look quite different this year – we are offering guests the chance to try the more realistic motorsports driving position of a single-seater race car, something which is being increasingly specified by attractions customers," says Frank Kalff, commercial director at Cruden.

Cruden simulators, such as the Hexathrill acquired by AHA Holdings, use full motion or 'six degrees of freedom'. As a designer and manufacturer of professional race simulators and simulator software for the automotive, motorsport and research markets, the company is able to deliver the most realistic, premium motion experiences to attractions guests which do not compare with driving 'games' on the market.

About Cruden
Cruden is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of professional, interactive, motion-based racing simulators and a developer of motion-based rides. The company develops the most high tech, realistic and accurate professional equipment for the top levels of international motorsport, including Formula 1, as well as vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. The same package is then made available to the global attractions market and to private individuals to create a motorsport experience which simply does not compare with 'games' machines on the market. Cruden's heritage is in the development of professional simulators for the aerospace, marine and automotive industries. Originating from Fokker Aircraft Company, the company was FCS Racing Simulation before becoming Cruden in 2006. www.cruden.com

Medialon Controls Show at World's Largest Coordinated Architectural Projection Installation

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Montreal, Canada -- Medialon Show Control technology at "Quartier des Spectacles" in Montreal, Canada, the world's largest coordinated architectural projection installation ever made

The Quartier des Spectacles is a roughly 1 square kilometer area downtown of Montreal. This area of the city had historically been filled with theatres and cabarets, but in the last 40 years, it had fallen into blight and become an unfavorable, and sometimes dangerous, area of the city. The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership was formed in 2003 to revitalize this once vibrant cultural heart of Montreal. Now, it is the home of not only theatres and cabarets, but restaurants, shopping centers, and many outdoor music and art festivals every year.

Eight main sites and many more to come have transformed buildings into canvases for architectural projection artwork. One of the rules of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is that the artistic projects should only be used for public art, not for commercialism, so advertising and logos are not allowed as part of the building projections. Many businesses have joined in the fun and added architectural lighting elements of their own to really make the neighborhood lively.

The projection installations are not all simply playback of rendered content. In some cases, interactive elements allow the public to interact with the projections, using game technology and sensors of various types to make the projections truly unique.

Each architectural projection installation has custom made projector housings sitting on rooftops of adjacent buildings that contain not only the high powered projectors but also the media servers, networking gear, show controllers, IP cameras, temperature and humidity sensors, and climate control (for heating, air conditioning, dehumidifying, etc.) The projections run every night year round, so the equipment inside the projector housings must be in a climate-controlled environment for optimum performance. The local show controller (Medialon Showmaster ST) controls and supervises the equipment, schedules playback of shows, controls the temperature and humidity inside the projector housing, manages remote reboot of unresponsive devices, and sends e-mail alarms of any malfunctions , failures, or unusual humidity or temperature readings.

The larger buildings require multiple projector housings all linked together. These linked housings are managed by a single Showmaster ST, but each housing contains a local media server connected to the projectors in that housing.

The technical production team of Quartier des Spectacles has devised a standard set of equipment used in all of the projection installations. This allows for easier stocking of spare parts, easier maintenance, and faster installation of new sites or changes to shows at the permanent sites. Some of the installations are temporary and the equipment is only installed on a temporary basis, allowing flexibility to add new sites for special events.

The Showmasters at each site are connected to the main Quartier des Spectacles headquarters at the Place des Festivals by dedicated fiber optics, microwave radio transmission, or through a virtual private network on the Internet. The main system can control and monitor all the remote sites and even pull up camera views from each site's IP cameras. The system can even be controlled and monitored remotely from system administrators' iPhones.

The main installation at the heart of Quartier des Spectacles is the Place des Festivals. This square is where the many festivals take place in the Quartier. There are fountains and lights embedded into the sidewalk. In the summer, fountain and lighting shows accompany the adjacent building projections. The street lights can even be turned off by the show control system during the shows. Since all the systems are tied to the main control system, all sites can be coordinated and synchronized together.

Quartier des Spectacles is the world's largest coordinated architectural projection installation, made possible by Show Control technology from Medialon.

For further information, please visit: www.facebook.com/quartierdesspectacles, www.quartierdesspectacles.com, www.medialon.com

About Medialon
Medialon designs user friendly yet powerful, IT based audiovisual control solutions, for simple to mission critical applications such as Museum Media Control, Theme Park Wide and Attraction Control, Live Entertainment Show Control and Corporate Showrooms to name just a few.

Our products range includes Show & Media Control Software, Embedded Controllers, Digital Audio Servers, Scheduling Software, and Redundant Control Servers.

With offices in the USA and Europe and international distributors, Medialon solutions are available worldwide.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

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Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan and the capital of the province of Sindh has been much adored since the British times for its economic potential. Today, Karachi is the most populous city in the world and a major shipping seaport to the otherwise landlocked country of Pakistan. The love meted out by the people of Karachi to Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and Father of the Nation is visible in various monuments, building and landmarks associated & named after him. Karachi is also well-known for its archaeological sites at Thatta, Mohenjodaro and KotDiji. The city knows well how to blend the past with the present to protect its heritage for the future generations to come.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

Getting Around in Karachi
The cheapest way to get around in Karachi is to use the buses. But on the flip side, they are dangerous because of reckless driving and overflowing passengers. Rather than endangering your life, its better to hire a taxi or car in Karachi. If you are travelling alone, wave for an auto rickshaw that is comparatively cheaper to a taxi. Though noisy, these three wheelers can easily steer through traffic jams and narrow lanes to help you reach the destination quickly. If you intend to travel to other parts of Pakistan then Karachi is linked by rail to the rest of the country by the Pakistan Railways. The Karachi City Station and Karachi Cantonment Railway Station are the two main railway stations of departure/arrival.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – St. Patricks Cathedral

Bus SystemLocal people in Karachi use minibuses, coaches, and large buses as means of transport to travel within the city. Tourists should be aware that these buses are often overflowing with people. Although not advisable, travelling in a bus could provide an insight into the daily lifestyle, tradition and culture of the locals. Travel at your own risk.TaxisThe best way to traverse Karachi using public transport is to simply wave a taxi. However, before you start off with the taxi ride, make sure that the cab meter is working and if not, negotiate the fair for the destination beforehand. Yellow cabs are quite popular in Karachi but for slightly lower fares you can hire the bulky black & yellow taxis that have larger seating & luggage capacity.Car RentalHiring a taxi in a busy town as Karachi can be quite frustrating. They are often expensive and inaccessible in crowds. Also, there is big chance of getting ripped off if you fail to notice the cab meter. However, if you own the confidence to navigate the roads of Karachi behind the steering wheel, then hiring a car is the right choice. Driving a car in Karachi is a dare devils job considering the roads and traffic sense. Essentials like stopping at signals and positioning your car for turns is not necessarily followed. But the safety and independence derived from rental car driving is one of its kind. Best is to hire a car with a driver.RailwaysAlmost all parts of Pakistan are well-linked by rail operated by Pakistan Railways. Karachi is home to two important railway stations - Karachi City Station and Karachi Cantonment Railway Station. Tourists can travel to various Pakistani cities such as Multan, Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad by rail.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

Fast FactsAirportKarachi Airport, commonly known as Jinnah International Airport is a strategically located gateway to the Far East and Europe. The airport provides facilities for almost 6 million passengers, with over 50,000 annual aircraft movements and contributes Rs. 3 billion in economic benefits to the region.
VisasAll foreigners coming to Pakistan need a valid passport. Tourists from the following countries do not need visa to enter Pakistan for the period specified as under;1. Iceland, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Zambia and Mauritius, for 3 months.2. Hong Kong, Nepal and Western Samoa, for 1 month.3. Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, for unlimited period Landing permit/transit visa for 30 days shall be given at entry points/airports, by Pakistan Immigration, free of cost, to genuine tourists/ businessmen.


CurrencyBasic unit of currency is Pakistani rupee which divides into 100 paisa. Currency notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees are in use.
Credit CardsAmerican Express is the most widely accepted card. Master card and Visa are also good. Dinner club and other cards have more limited use.
TippingGenerally hotels and restaurants add on a 5 – 10% service charge to the bill, but tipping or what is locally known, as baksheesh is an accepted norm.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

Useful NumbersPolice: 15Ambulance: 115Fire: 16Hospital: (92-21) 7729719Time: 14Weather: (92-21) 4572811
Electricity220 V, 50 Hz AC.
Health RisksYellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers arriving from endemic zone. Vaccination against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and polio is recommended. Malaria risk exists in Pakistan throughout the year. All foreigners coming to stay in Pakistan for over one year, require AIDS free certificate.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

Time ZoneStandard Time is GMT plus 5 hours.
Business HoursOffice Hours: 9 am to 5 PM with one hour break from Monday to Thursday and with two hours break on Fridays, Saturday is half working day from 9 am to 1:30 PM without break. Sunday is off.
Holidays200819 Jan Ashoura.20 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).23 Mar Pakistan Day.14 Aug Independence Day.2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day.9 Dec Eidul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice).25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam's Birthday.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

20097 Jan Ashoura.9 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).23 Mar Pakistan Day.14 Aug Independence Day.20/21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day.27/28 Nov Eidul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice).25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam's Birthday.
ClimateKarachi has a sub-tropical and temperate climate, with sunny, blue skies expected most of the year (occasional monsoon rains in summer).
ClothingLight woolen in winter and light tropical in summer.Women, in public places, should wear long skirts or pants and full sleeve blouses.
GDP Growth Rate5.5%
Inflation2.9% (2000 est.)
ImportsMachinery, petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains, pulses, flour.
ExportsTextiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn)
Trading PartnersHong Kong, UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UAE, US, Japan, Malaysia
IndustriesAir Conditioners, Chemicals, Cement, Ship-Building, Shoe Making, Printing Paper, Tyre& Tube, Hosiery, Oil Refining, Textiles.
GovernmentPakistan is an Islamic republic with its capital at Islamabad. It has four provinces: Balochistan, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab and Sindh. Their respective capitals are Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. In addition to provinces, are the Federal Administered Northern Areas (F.A.N.A) and Federal Administered Tribal Areas (F.A.T.A). Pakistan has a federal structure. Parliament consists of National Assembly and the Senate. Members of the National Assembly are directly elected on the adult franchise base and there term of office is five years. The National Assembly determine the major policy issue and passes annual budget and legislation. It elects the Prime Minister from among its members. The Prime Minister forms his / her cabinet from among members of the Assembly and Senate. Provinces have their own elected legislative Assemblies and Chief Ministers. Majority of the members, of the upper house are elected by the Provincial Assemblies.

(Pakistan) – Karachi – Fast Facts

GeographyKarachi, the largest and the most popular city of Pakistan presents an interesting and colorful combination of the old and new. The narrow twisting lanes and alleys of the old city throb with life alongside wide metallic roads and elegant modern buildings. Within the city, talented artisans with age-old skills produce handicrafts of exquisite beauty. Karachi offers a variety of pleasant attractions: wide sunny beaches, deep-sea fishing, yachting, golf and horseracing all year round. It restaurants cater to a wide choice of Pakistani and western cuisine. Its markets and bazaars offer an endless variety of exciting shopping including indigenous handicrafts, particularly rugs and carpets of rare design and beauty.
PopulationPakistan: 164.7 million
Ethnic GroupsPunjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
LanguagesPunjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy42.7%
ReligionMuslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and several other minorities.
(Karachi)Phoebettmh Travel

LEGOLAND California Previews Final Room Decor

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Carlsbad, CA, USA -- As construction on North America’s first LEGOLAND® Hotel continues and anticipation builds, LEGOLAND® California Resort offered a sneak peek into a LEGO® themed room that is already complete. Decorated in Kingdom theme, the finished room features LEGO models and décor fit for a prince and princess. Guests can also enjoy their stay in Pirate and Adventure themed rooms. All rooms are themed after three popular areas in LEGOLAND California.

Opening the summer of 2013, LEGOLAND hotel is now accepting reservations for guests wanting to be among the first to book a stay at the 250 room hotel. Vacation packages for stays starting May 2013 include four 2-day resort hopper tickets for entrance into LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE® Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Water Park; breakfast for up to four people and early admission into the family theme park on both days.

The three-story LEGOLAND Hotel, located at LEGOLAND California Resort, is designed to give guests the interactive family experience that has brought success to LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE®Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Water Park. Created to bring children’s imaginations to life, the LEGO® themed hotel will feature brightly colored, interactive LEGO décor, a pool and lounge area, patio, event space and buffet restaurant. For more information and to book a reservation, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (877) LEGOLAND.

LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® Aquarium and LEGOLAND Water Park, all geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. LEGOLAND California features more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland and the all new Pirate Reef. SEA LIFE incorporates LEGO® models into a child’s voyage to the depths of the ocean and features play zones, fun facts and quiz trails and the all new Claws exhibit. LEGOLAND Water Park opened in 2010 as the world’s first LEGO themed Water Park and features seven slides, interactive water play features and the exclusive Build-A-Raft River. 

About Merlin Entertainments
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates more than 90 attractions, seven hotels/two holiday villages in 21 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 18,000 employees. Among Merlin’s attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND®, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND®Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative –and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Merlin currently has 17 attractions in the USA including the stunning LEGOLAND Florida theme park which opened in October last year; LEGOLAND California theme park with its exciting Water Park, and SEA LIFE Aquarium (a hotel will also open in 2013); Madame Tussauds attractions in New York, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Hollywood; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth; and SEA LIFE Aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas/Fort Worth; the Mall of America in Minneapolis, underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator. Four more Merlin attractions opened in the USA in 2012 - a SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Kansas City; Missouri; LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Water Park in LEGOLAND Florida.

Disney's "Brave" rides to box office win

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Disney's new animated movie, "Brave," about a rebellious, red-headed princess battled to the top of movie box office charts over the weekend, scoring $80 million in ticket sales around the world.
The fairy tale from Disney's Pixar studio pulled in $66.7 million at domestic theaters from Friday through Sunday, plus $13.5 million from international markets. "Brave" easily topped new historical/horror mashup "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," which finished the weekend in third place.
The 3D "Brave" is set in the ancient Scottish highlands and centers around horseback-riding teen princess Merida, who defies her mother and her kingdom's traditions. Merida, voiced by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald, must then use her courage and archery skills to undo a curse.
The movie brings the 13th consecutive No. 1 opening to Pixar, which has become Hollywood's most reliable studio during its 17-year history of making films. Starting with "Toy Story" in 1995, its 12 films before "Brave" have generated more than $7.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales, according to Hollywood.com.
Its 2010 film "Toy Story 3" was the biggest selling film that year, with $415 million in U.S. ticket sales and nearly $1.1 billion worldwide.
"Brave" is a departure for Pixar, and is its first film to feature a strong female as the lead character, following a long Disney tradition with female heroines that in recent years have included "Mulan" and "Pocahontas." "Brave" cost about $185 million to make.
Ahead of the weekend, industry tracking suggested "Brave" would secure between $55 million and $60 million in domestic ticket sales, putting the film line with most of Pixar's recent debuts, but the film topped expectations.
"Brave" knocked another animated family film, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," to No. 2 after its two weeks in the top spot. The movie about a pack of escaped zoo animals took in $20 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters over the weekend, and the worldwide total since its debut rose to $157.6 million.
HONEST ABE BATTLES VAMPIRES
In third place on domestic charts, thriller "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" rung up a solid $16.5 millhon. The movie imagines the 16th U.S. president fighting creatures of the night that are plotting to take over the country. Benjamin Walker stars as the axe-wielding Lincoln in the $70-million 3D production.
The movie rung up another $8.1 million in international markets.
Distributor 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp, had projected domestic sales would hit around $15 million for the weekend.
In fourth place, "Alien" director Ridley Scott's movie, "Prometheus," about explorers searching for the origins of mankind added $10 million in domestic sales to bring its global sales after three weeks to $108.5 million.
Another new release, "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" pulled in $3.8 million, for a disappointing 10th place. The dark comedy starring Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley tells the story of a man who goes on a road trip as an asteroid speeds toward Earth.
The film, which cost less than $10 million to make, played in 1,618 theaters, fewer than the 3,000-plus for the weekend's other big movies.
The fifth spot went to Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman," which took in $8 million domestically to bring its four-week global total to $137 million.
"Madagascar 3" was produced by Dreamworks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. News Corp movie studio 20th Century Fox released "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Prometheus." Focus Features, a unit of Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, released "Seeking a Friend."

Demi Lovato Gets Personal With 'Rowdy' New Jersey Crowd

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'X Factor' judge talks breakups and goes 'old school' on the latest stop of her summer tour.  Demi Lovato performs at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on Friday
 
HOLMDEL, NEW JERSEY — Not even rain showers could scare away the Lovatics who crowded the PNC Bank Arts Center to catch the latest stop on Demi Lovato's summer tour Friday night. The star, who's fitting in the trek between her judging duties on the "X Factor," brought out some of New Jersey's most devoted Demi fans.
The star swaggered out to a killer guitar riff before busting out the night's first song, "All Night Long." She shimmied all night in red shorts, a black-and-white blazer and a sheer top, never once stumbling in her sky-high platforms.
She displayed her rock-star bravado when she teased and flirted with her band during tracks that were hardly audible over all the screams.
"Thank you so much for coming," she told the crowd, "You guys are amazing. Let me just tell you guys, I love being in Jersey. It is one of my favorite places. You guys are the rowdiest fans." Several tracks in, Demi displayed her musicianship by strapping on an acoustic guitar for "Catch Me," only to switch over to a yellow electric one mid-song, proving that a '70s rock goddess lurks inside the 19-year-old. Soon though, it was time to slow it down and she showed off her R&B princess side for the Unbroken ballad, "My Love Is a Star," her vocal pyrotechnics mirrored by the lightning and thunder taking place just feet away from where the singer was performing.
"This next song is a pretty personal song for me," she told the room. "How many of you guys have been through a breakup? As you all know I've been through a few. I've been there and I made it through. I love you and I'm always there for you."
She then launched into an emotional version of her track, "Fix a Heart." The intense moment, in which Lovato looked as though she was struggling to hold back her emotions, was met with cheers. She followed it with her now famous cover of Lil Wayne's "How To Love."But, things didn't stay slow for long. "Who's That Boy" picked up the pace followed by "You're My Only Shorty," "Here We Go Again," and "La La Land."And then came the perfect time for her big (albeit fleeting) plug of the night when she reminded room, "Recently I've been working on a show 'X Factor' [and I get to sit] next to Britney Spears ... I'm gonna slow it down a little bit. Basically I just want to see you guys," she added, requesting that the room hold up a cell phone or glow-stick or lighter if "you're old school." The firefly effect only made the impact of her slow jam, "Lightweight," more grand.
Next she sat at the piano and said, "Before my concerts I get to do a meet-and-greet with some of my fans, and some are brave enough to share some of their stories," however as she got personal a guitar fell and she joked, "Well there goes that moment. ... You don't realize I got through my issues and my problems [because of you guys]." That was the perfect set-up for her defining power ballad, "Skyscraper."Then, in an interesting twist, she went into the cover of Chris Brown's "Turn Up the Music." And to wrap up the first act of the show she did her own tracks "Together" and her rock-tinged "Remember December."She came back out for her encore to deafening screams where she kept the energy turned up to a big 10 thanks to her disco anthem "Unbroken" and her current single, "Give Your Heart a Break."
Lovato will be on the road through September 1, with her special guests Hot Chelle Rae. The tour wraps up just in time for the premiere of "X Factor" September 12.