Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

January 17, 2000

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 700
Chicago, Illinois 60631-3468

ATTENTION:     LAURA DEKEYSER

Reference: Conversation between Laura DeKeyser (USCC) and Tim Turk (STI),
           January 14, 2000

Dear Laura:

In response to the agreements reached in the referenced conversation, United
States Cellular Corporation (USCC) and Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI)
hereby agrees to amend the Purchase Agreement, dated August 27, 1999 as follows:

STI will select the method and common carrier for shipment unless notified by
USCC reasonably in advance of the ship date that USCC desires to select the
method and common carrier. STI will pre-pay freight charges from the place of
shipment to the designated address on the Purchase Order and bill shipment
charges to USCC. These charges will not include mark-up or administrative
charges.

Delivery terms herein are FOB STI's facility in Santa Barbara, California. Title
and risk of loss will pass to USCC upon delivery to a common carrier at STI's
facility. STI warrants that such title and good and clear and free of all liens.

STI will invoice USCC upon shipment of Systems. USCC will pay all amounts
invoiced by STI within thirty (30) days of the invoice date. However, should
USCC pay all amounts invoiced by STI within fifteen (15) days of the invoice
date, USCC may subtract one percent (1%) of the invoice amount owed.

Please indicate your acceptance of the above by endorsing a copy of this letter
and retaining it for your files.

Sincerely,
SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

/s/ E. Ray Cotten                                  Signature: /s/ Paul W. Gill
--------------------------------------------                 -------------------
E. Ray Cotten                                      Name:  Paul Gill
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing       Title: Director of Purchasing
Date 1/24/00<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                                  AMENDMENT TWO

        This Amendment Two ("Amendment") hereby amends the Purchase Agreement,
dated August 27, 1999, made between Superconductor Technologies Inc., ("STI")
and United States Cellular Corporation ("USCC"). The Parties do hereby agree to
the following:

1. Article 3, Purchase Orders, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 3.1 is deleted and the following is inserted:

3.1 In addition to purchase orders made prior to the date of this Amendment,
upon execution of this Amendment, USCC will place a non-cancelable written
purchase order with STI for $7,800,000 of SuperFilter(R) Systems for delivery on
or before December 31, 2002 at prices set forth in Attachment A. STI will
provide written acknowledgements of individual releases made against this
purchase order.

USCC will make its best efforts to evenly balance its delivery requests among
the nine (9) fiscal quarters remaining until December 31, 2002. As set forth in
Article 7, USCC's Payment to STI, Paragraph 7.1, STI will invoice for Systems
only after STI ships the Systems and USCC receives the Systems.

Paragraph 3.5 is amended by deleting the first sentence.

2. Article 4, Issuance of Warrants, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4.1 is amended by adding the following sentence:

Notwithstanding the above, the 312,000 shares associated with the $7,800,00
purchase order set forth in Paragraph 3.1, will be vested upon execution of this
Amendment.

3. Article 5, Pricing and Product, is amended as follows:

Attachment A is deleted and replaced with Attachment A hereto attached.

4.  Article 26 is amended as follows:

Delete the reference to Ms. Linda Sessler, Manager of Headquarters Sales
Administration and insert Attention: Sales Operations

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

        IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives:

<PAGE>   2

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.             UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION.

By:     /s/ Martin S. McDermut               By:     /s/ Richard Goehring
    ------------------------------------        --------------------------------

Name: Martin S. McDermut                     Name:  Richard W. Goehring
      ----------------------------------          ------------------------------

Title: Vice President of Finance and CFO     Title:  EVP Engineering and
      ----------------------------------             Network Operations
                                                    ----------------------------

Date:  September 12, 2000                    Date: September 15, 2000
       ------------------------------------        -----------------------------

<PAGE>   3

                             [ATTACHMENTS OMITTED]<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

January 21, 2000

Mr. Christopher Trunkey                     VIA FAX
28710 Darrow Avenue                         (661) 263-6996
Santa Clarita, CA  91350

Dear Chris:

This will confirm your employment at J2 Communications/National Lampoon as Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer (or Chief Administrative Officer; the
choice is yours).

The term of your employment will begin January 31, 2000 and, unless you are
terminated for cause or the term is extended by mutual agreement, will end
January 30, 2001. During that time you will work at J2 four days each week.

Your compensation will consist of:

        -       $90,000.00 in salary, paid in equal installments every two
                weeks;

        -       Health insurance for you only per the regular J2 plan, for which
                you will become eligible April 29, 2000. You may, at your own
                cost, add immediate family members to your coverage;

        -       Parking;

        -       Two weeks of vacation, which will accrue monthly during the term
                of your employment;

        -       Options on 21,000 shares of J2 Common Stock (NASDAQ: JTWO),
                which will vest in this way: 7,000 on January 31, 2001, 7,000 on
                January 31, 2002, and 7,000 on January 31, 2003. Provisions
                pertaining to this grant are contained in the Stock Option Plan
                of 1994, which governs it.

                Should there be a change in control of J2 (that is, should any
                person or group acquire more than fifty percent of J2 Common
                Stock), all remaining unexercised shares will vest immediately.

                Should J2 acquire significant additional capital or engage in a
                merger, acquisition or some other combination with an outside
                entity that results in a material increase in its cash position
                and/or cash flow, your salary will be increased to $120,000.00
                per year and you will work at J2 five days each week.

Please indicate your agreement with these terms by signing below.

All of us at J2 Communications are looking forward to working with you.

<PAGE>   2

Cordially,

/s/James P. Jimirro
--------------------------
JAMES P. JIMIRRO
President and CEO

JPJ/DM/cva

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

/s/Christopher M. Trunkey
--------------------------
Christopher M. Trunkey<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7

                            FIRST AMENDMENT OF LEASE

        THIS FIRST AMENDMENT OF LEASE is entered into this the 21st day of April
2000 by and between AVCO CENTER CORPORATION ("Lessor") and J2 COMMUNICATIONS a
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION ("Lessee").

                                R E C I T A L S :

        WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee entered into a Lease dated August 4, 1995 for
that premises known as 10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000 consisting of
approximately 3,912 rentable square feet.

        WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee entered into an Addendum to the Lease dated
September 26, 1995 for that premises known as 10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite
1000 consisting of approximately 3,912 rentable square feet.

        WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee desire to further amend the Lease as
hereinafter set forth;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein
and the mutual benefits to be derived therefrom, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Lease, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

        1.      Lessor shall amend said Lease to extend for Five (5) years
                commencing on October 1, 2000 and expiring on September 30,
                2005.

        2.      The rental rate for the extension term shall be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Month               PSF             Monthly rate
                      -----               ---             ------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
                      1 - 3               $2.70           $10,562.40
                      31 - 6              $2.90           $11,344.80
</TABLE>

        3.      Change Additional Rent Base Year to the year 2001.

        4.      Tenant Improvements as follows: replace wall covering in
                conference room, change out ceiling tiles and light fixtures,
                replace carpeting (Tenant has the right to choose two (2) carpet
                colors/patterns.) and top set and paint suite. Tenant has the
                right to choose 2 colors of paint, 1 color per office. All
                materials are to be building standard.

        5.      Broker commission 2% to West Mac Commercial, James K. Stanfill.

        6.      Tenant shall be notified of space available on the 10th floor.
                If the Landlord elects not to use such space and if Tenant is
                not in breach of any terms of the Lease, then Tenant shall have
                the right to Lease such space on terms and conditions to be
                agreed upon by the parties. If Tenant intends to exercise its
                right then Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing within five
                (5) business days of notification by Landlord.

<PAGE>   2

        7.      Lessee shall have one- (1) five- (5) year option to extend said
                Lease. Tenant shall provide six- (6) months prior written notice
                of its intention to extend the Lease. The rent for the option
                period shall be ninety-five percent (95%) of the then prevailing
                market rate.

        8.      All monetary obligations for said Leased Premises shall be paid
                on the same terms as set forth in the Lease.

        9       This First Amendment of Lease will be binding on the parties
                hereto, their respective successors and assigns.

        10.     Except as amended by this First amendment of Lease, the Lease
                will remain in full force and effect.

        11.     All capitalized terms herein, which are not defined, herein will
                have the same definitions given such terms in said Lease.

        12.     In the event there is a conflict between the terms hereof and
                said Lease, this instrument shall control for all purposes.

        13.     It is expressly agreed by Lessee, as a material consideration
                for the execution of this Agreement by Lessor, that this
                Agreement, with the specific references to written extrinsic
                documents herein, is the entire agreement of the parties; that
                there are, and were, no verbal representations, warranties,
                understanding, stipulations, agreements or promises pertaining
                to this written Agreement which are not incorporated in writing
                in this Agreement. It is likewise agreed that this Agreement may
                not be altered, waived, amended or extended except by an
                instrument in writing executed by both Lessee and Lessor.

        EXECUTED, the day, month, and year set forth above.

AVCO Center Corporation              J2 Communications a California Corporation
 ("Lessor")                          ("Lessee")

By: /s/Kam Mateen                     By: /s/James Jimirro
    ----------------------------          --------------------------------------
          Kam Mateen                            James Jimirro

Its:    Vice President               Its:   President
     --------------------------           --------------------------------------

Date:   04/25/00                     Date:         04/25/00
     --------------------------           --------------------------------------

                                     J2 Communications a California
                                     Corporation
                                     ("Lessee")

                                     By: /s/Christopher M. Trunkey
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                            Christopher Trunkey

                                     Its:   Chief Financial Officer
                                          --------------------------------------

                                     Date:      04/25/00
                                          --------------------------------------

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