March 27, 2005

TiVo and video-on-demand allow television viewers to skip commercials, but some of same technology will soon be used to permit creation of commercials that behave more like smarter version of direct mail: customized not just by neighborhood, but ultimately by household and perhaps even by viewing habits; host of companies, including Invidi Technologies, Visible World, Navic Networks and OpenTV, are selling their technology and services to cable operators and satellite providers whose set-top boxes afford them direct access to viewers; ultimate goal is to make ads more relevant to lives of viewers, who might be even eager to watch them; photos (L)

Denny Lee travel article on rebounding of tourist industry on Bali, which was devastated by 2002 terrorist bombs that killed 202 people; nearly 1.5 million people, including 40,000 Americans, reportedly visited island in 2004, 47 percent increase from 2003; luxury hotels, fancy restaurants, first-class spas and hip nightclubs have cropped up on island once known as backpackers' paradise; photos; map (L)

New York International Auto Show ends with many industry experts bemoaning lack of exciting new products and innovative design and calling 2005 lackluster; photos (M)

Darin Kosmak, railroad section director in Texas Transportation Dept, has recently admitted that his sworn statements unintentionally misrepresented what he knew about federal funding for warning signs at rail crossings where accidents occurred; affidavits were mostly drafted by rail industry and used to dismiss claims brought by victims, because state law bars victims from pursuing claims against railroads when federal funds were used; Texas case comes amid criticism of how government oversees rail safety, as well as increase in number of grade-crossing deaths last year; photos (M)

Fitness experts agree that Americans are still obsessed with sculpting and toning their abdominal muscles; there are currently 28 books on market with word 'abs' in their titles; photos (M)