LINCOLN, R.I. - One-hit wonder Tommy Tutone made the phone number 867-5309 famous in the band’s 1982 hit single, which uses the digits over and over in its catchy refrain.
Now, a Rhode Island company and a national firm are battling over the right to use the number, which doesn’t reach the “Jenny” that Tutone sings about, but could find callers a decent plumber.
Two years ago, Gem Plumbing & Heating of Lincoln, R.I., trademarked the phone number in the early 1980s hit, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Gem acquired the number in Rhode Island when its original owner, Brown University, gave up 867-5309 after growing weary of the constant prank calls.
Gem’s number works in the 401 area code in Rhode Island and the 617 area code in southern Massachusetts.
But Florida-based Clockwork Home Services, also a plumbing company, uses a toll-free version of 867-5309 in New England. They argue a company can only trademark a vanity number, like 1-800-FLOWERS.
Gem won round one in its legal fight over the number when a federal judge in Boston recently barred Clockwork from using the number in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, effective this week. But Clockwork’s lawyers said they would fight on.
Tommy “Tutone” Heath told The Boston Globe that he’d prefer if neither company used the number.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Heath. “If I wanted to get into it, I could probably take the number away from both of them.”
source: msnbc.msn.com
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May 19, 2007
Two plumbing firms fight over 867-5309
May 18, 2007
May 17, 2007
Vince, Stephanie & Aurora
Vince McMahon received an honorary doctorate degree from Sacred Heart University last weekend. He also gave the commencement address. Here is a link to his speech and a picture of Stephanie and Aurora who were present in the audience.
Speech
Stephanie & Aurora
Casting the Soul Calibur Movie
Triple H as Rock
Paul Tassi, a fan of fighting-game based films, decided to cast the Soul Calibur movie as he saw fit. He wrote this concerning Triple H: What do you mean Triple H isn’t an actor? Have you seen Blade III? He’s a vampire with a pet vampire Pomeranian! Besides, it’s hard work keeping a straight face filming wrestling promos every week when you’re staring at Shawn Michael’s super-tanned face half an inch in front of your nose. Triple H would look the part (and not have to talk much) as the brawny brawling American, Rock.
source: apps.michigandaily.com
May 16, 2007
May 15, 2007
Jerry Falwell 1933 - 2007
One less right-wing, ultra-conservative, hypocritical, republican. Yeah!!!
source: tmz.com
May 14, 2007
WWE looks back to '80s in effort to go mainstream
BY BLACKJACK BROWN
It is time once again for WWE to reinvent itself, and it sounds as if wrestling fans could well be heading back to the '80s if the bosses in Connecticut get their way. WWE will start heading in a new direction that will be more acceptable to mainstream America -- a group that Donald Trump and movies such as ''The Marine'' have brought to the company.
The suits have taken a long, hard look at the product and, according to some sources, they believe fans want the wrestling glory days of the 1980s and will bring back a more simple story-driven, good-vs.-evil way of promoting the business. Vince McMahon has said that wrestling shows should be 90 minutes, not two hours, and that all wrestler promos should be condensed to a few short lines that immediately get to the point.
Fans have been begging WWE to get rid of the 30-minute, microphone-only openings for ''Raw'' and have indicated they just want the wrestlers in the ring. They might get their way. In particular, The Undertaker could be making the change as McMahon wants the Dead Man to become more mysterious, and will accomplish that by keeping his appearances to a minimum.
source: suntimes.com
UFC Faces Tough Competition with BodogFight
Sports911.com had an opportunity to cover the taping of BodogFight's third season Mixed Martial Arts reality series and as a media organization that has followed the Bodog Entertainment Group since practically Day One of its emergence, we can say without a shadow of a doubt, the UFC better watch closely.
What impressed us most during taping in Costa Rica this past weekend? The joy in nearly every fighter's eyes when discussing the BodogFight concept. They all expressed absolute gratitude for the opportunity afforded them and the belief that BodogFight will become a leader in the Mixed Martial Arts arena. Those close to the sports already concede that BodogFight is a pivotal player.
"They are already huge in the world of MMA," confessed one marketing guru we met with Monday night while in Costa Rica. "Their name is out there and BodogFight is really going to emerge as a major brand in the Mixed Martial Arts market."
The proof is in the pudding.
BodogFight is about to be seen in more households then SpikeTV can provide via the ION Cable Network which reaches more US households than SpikeTV and any UFC event...More?
source: gambling911.com
