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'Jurassic World' breaks Pixar's streak
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The Indominus rex dominates all creatures in her path in "Jurassic World". Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking "Jurassic Park" series. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure, and Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers. - photo by Jeff Peterson

It turns out they don’t call it the Indominus rex for nothing.

After blowing away expectations with the biggest opening weekend in U.S. history, “Jurassic World” has pulled off another unexpected feat.

Even after dropping 51 percent from weekend to weekend, “Jurassic World's” hybrid T. rex-raptor-cuttlefish still proved a big enough draw to end what was, up until now, an unbroken box-office streak for Pixar, surpassing “Inside Out's” $90.4 million debut by more than $15 million, according to Box Office Mojo, and ending the perfect run of No. 1 hits Pixar had managed to churn out ever since “Toy Story” first took over the box office in 1995.

However, while Pixar may have lost some bragging rights, it’s not nearly as bad as it might sound at first. As mentioned by Forbes, the $90.4 million for “Inside Out” is still the fourth-highest opening weekend box office for an animated film, the second-highest opening for any Pixar film (after “Toy Story 3”) and the biggest ever for any film — animated or otherwise — not based on pre-existing material.

By the same token, the $106 million haul for “Jurassic World” in its second weekend was the largest non-debut weekend ever (beating out $103 million for “The Avengers”). In other words, both films performed remarkably well. The fact that “Jurassic World” has turned out to be as massive a hit as it has — exceeding even the most optimistic projections by tens of millions of dollars (Variety, for instance, reported in May that it was tracking to earn, possibly, as much as $100 million; it ended up earning $208 million) — is just unlucky scheduling for Pixar, but not a sign, as some might be tempted to interpret it, of the studio’s decline.

In fact, “Inside Out” also grossed tens of millions more than estimated. Predictions before it came out had it in the neighborhood of $60 million, according to Business Insider. It’s also garnering rave reviews, so far, and seems, for many, like a return to form for the studio. Pixar’s last few outings like “Cars 2,” “Brave” and “Monsters University” — while successful and, with the exception of “Cars 2,” generally well received by critics — were viewed by many as a warning sign that the studio was losing its mojo.

“Inside Out's” Rotten Tomatoes "fresh" rating is currently hovering at an almost unheard of 98 percent — well, unheard of for studios other than Pixar, anyway — and it already seems like an obvious contender for Best Animated Feature come awards season. Given director Pete Docter’s track record (“Monster, Inc.,” “Up”), that’s not altogether surprising.

Meanwhile, among the other records "Jurassic World" is setting, Universal announced on Monday (via the Los Angeles Times) that it had crossed the billion-dollar line at the international box office, making it the fastest movie ever to hit that number, doing it in just 13 days. The previous record holder, “The Avengers,” took 14.

All in all, it’s a good sign for the vitality of the Hollywood summer movie season that two movies with overlapping audiences can both have such a strong weekend.

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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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