New iMacs coming soon? Sounds ’bout right.  

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Apple has informed retail partners that iMac availability is going to be strained in the coming weeks which might mean the company is slowing down production of the current lineup ahead of announcing new models. The iMacs are anything but outdated, but the model line definitely isn’t cutting edge either. Intel’s low power, quad-core CPUs should replace the Core 2 Duo processor along with an NVIDIA GPU architecture that the company seems infatuated with lately. A Blu-ray drive would be nice too, but that likely will not happen due to Apple’s stance on physical media in general.

It’s hard to tell exactly when Apple will launch the new models - if there are new models to launch - now that Macworld isn’t the soapbox of years past. The company is sure to send out invites to a cleverly named special event where the new lineup will be announced. And yes, we will be there.

Google Toolbar in Firefox: a personalized new tab page  

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Montastic.com - Monitor Your Websites At No Cost  

Posted by: shilpz

Montastic is a new website monitoring service that works by checking your site or sites at a given frequency, and then sending you an e-mail whenever anything goes amiss so that you can fix things up before calls from your customers or (worse still) your boss start pouring in. An e-mail is also sent out automatically when the site is up again.

Built with Ajax and Ruby on Rails, this web-based application is available at no cost whatsoever. Some of the most remarkable features of Montastic include support for https (a feature that was actually just implemented) and the ability to read statuses through RSS and widgets.

The team responsible for Montastic is Metadot, and it is clear they exerted themselves to come up with a solution that is not only easy-to-use but also as accurate as possible. Given that the service is provided for free and that it is so instantly accessible, chances are it will come in quite handy for more than internaut out there. Find out if you are part of that group by setting your browser at www.montastic.com and putting it to the task for yourself.

Song.ly - Sharing Music The Twitter Way  

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Can you be defined as a bit of a tweetaholic? Are you keen on listening to music while online? That is quite a common combination, and the solution this review revolves about is geared towards people with these two likes.

In general terms, Song.ly makes for sharing links leading to online audio files via Twitter. That is, you submit the link in question and the same will be transformed into a short link for micro-sharing that you can put across by tweeting.

The one thing you must understand is that the track itself must be hosted online – Song.ly does not offer the option to download the audio file to your computer. It does, however, include a built-in player that will let your friends listen to the song on the spot.

This service is still in its formative stages, and it will be interesting to see where it heads to from here. I think that full incorporation with other browses besides Firefox should top the list of priorities. What do you think?

Hordit.com - Store Anything Then Share It  

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Most are saying that the cloud is the future. You know, the theory that you can keep all of your information online, in order to access it from any computer. Well, if you’re a believer in the cloud, then you’re going to love Hordit.com. With the site’s service, you’ll be able to store anything, be it pictures, spreadsheets, PDF files, links, articles, etc.

What does this mean? Well, that you’ll be able to keep track of your online life no matter where you are, all you need is an internet connection. Setting up the service is easy, all you have to do is sign up and start uploading things. Links and files are all neatly organized, allowing you to find them when you need to bring them back.
The downside to this? The download speed seems to be a little slow for our taste, making downloading big files a bit of a hassle.

In no way should this deter you from using the service, as it’s one of the few sites that allows you to keep everything in store, without differentiating from files, links, and videos.

1Click2Destiny.com - Social Bookmarking Mashup  

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What do you get when you mix Google’s “I’m feeling lucky” button with the most popular social bookmarking tools? You get 1click2destiny.com. With the site, you’ll be able to come across some of the most shared and highest rated articles in the web, with one click.

It is a mashup, so you know it uses some of the most popular social bookmarking APIs, which in turn will allow you to know what’s popular in Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit. The site adds an aura of mysticism to the whole “random article” thing. You might stumble into something that changes your life, but chances are you’ll find a very interesting article to read.

If you’re a sucker for mysticism and luck (some call it serendipity), then you’re going to love this site. If you’re not into that kind of thing, you’ll find a new way to read interesting articles in this site. Take it for a spin, who knows what you’ll find?

Toshiba in talks with NEC unit on merging chip operations  

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Toshiba Corp. is in talks to merge part of its chip operations with the semiconductor unit of NEC Corp., a person with knowledge of the negotiations said, as they struggle with slumping demand and prices.

The talks will likely focus on Toshiba spinning off its system chip operations and merging them with NEC Electronics Corp., a semiconductor maker owned 65 percent by NEC Corp., the person said, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are not public.

Semiconductor makers have been hit by fierce competition and tumbling prices, while the global recession has added to their woes by weakening demand.

A Toshiba spokesman declined to comment.

Toshiba's chief executive, Atsutoshi Nishida, said on Thursday that too many chip makers, especially those who make system chips, are fighting it out in Japan and that they need to consolidate to win globally.

He said Toshiba, which is facing a record operating loss this business year, would consider spinning off its system and discrete chip operations.

NEC Electronics said in a statement that each company must prioritize operational reforms for the revival of the chip industry, and that it would push forward with its own restructuring steps including cutting costs by $890 million over two years and eliminating 1,200 contract jobs..

The Nikkei business daily said NEC has been talking with Fujitsu Ltd. as well about a merger of their chip-making operations.

Fujitsu has been looking for partners and other ways to turn around its chip operations, but a spokesman said nothing had been decided. He said he was checking on whether talks with NEC were being held.

In early trade on Friday, Toshiba shares were awash with sell orders at ¥350, down 9.1 percent from Thursday's close. NEC dropped 5 percent to ¥249 and NEC Electronics was up 0.3 percent at ¥608.

Fujitsu shares were down 4.5 percent at ¥422.

Mitsubishi Makes Its Cute EV "Sporty"  

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Mitsubishi's iMiEV is a sweet little electric runabout that's fun to drive, but no one would ever look at it and think "sporty" or "cutting edge." It's just too cute. Mitsubishi clearly hopes to change that with the iMiEV Sport Air concept, which takes the jellybean-shaped EV and throws it, oh, about 15 years into the future. The concept has been the subjected to the kind of now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t speculation normally reserved for software rollouts and Dean Kaman projects, and now Mitsubishi says it'll unveil it at the Geneva auto show in March. So what's the Sport Air got that the regular iMiEV - which hits the road in Japan this year, Europe the next and America, well, eventually - doesn't? Mitsubishi goes out of its way to stress the “sport” part of the little EV's ponderous name, which is odd for something that bears more than a passing resemblance to the BMW Isetta and Messerschmitt KR-200.

(We love the look, by the way, but then we're suckers for post-war microcars.) Says the company, "The i MiEV Sport Air explores the future possibilities for zero-emission vehicles, placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure."
Wait, what was that? "Placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure." Exhilarating driving pleasure is not a term generally associated with EVs - or at least not for very long, given the constraints battery range puts on your ability to really flog a car. Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive are among the companies changing that perception, but the guys making urban commuters like the iMiEV typically slant their ad copy toward, "It's cute. How can you not love it?" That's what makes EVs such tough to sell to the gearheads.

Mitsubishi teases us with a line about "the balance between environmental and dynamic performance implied in the tagline Drive@earth," whatever that is, and spells out the benefits of its electric drivetrain:
Powerful, instant torque from a beefed-up electric motor. Stable driving and handling and a low center of gravity, due to the in-floor lithium-ion battery. Zero on-road CO2 emissions. What? That’s it? This is a sport model, no? Why not at least tease us with some specs or performance benchmarks? Thank you, Mitsubishi, for telling us your electric car will offer great torque, a low center of gravity and zero emissions. (We can hear you back there, skeptical reader, muttering that most electricity is generated from coal. Guess what? It's still cleaner than burning gasoline in our cars.)

All electric cars offer great torque, a low center of gravity and zero emissions. Even the iMiEV we drove last fall.
You say this is going to be a “dynamic performance” experience? How dynamic? How quick and for how long. C’mon, let us know that, and then we can talk more. A test drive would be nice too.

Norway or the Highway: Poo Powers Oslo Buses  

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The city of Oslo is converting 80 municipal buses to run on biomethane captured from human waste, a novel, if somewhat disgusting, approach to cutting CO2 emissions and meeting Norway's ambitious plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Beginning in September, the two sewage treatment plants in Norway's capital will collect methane, a byproduct of the microbial process that breaks down sewage, and pump it into city buses. City officials say the switch will cut fuel costs and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by both the treatment plants and the buses.

"Oslo aims to be one of the most environmentally sustainable capitals in the world," project manager Ole Jakob Johansen told the Guardian. "Using biomethane makes sense. Not only would the biomethane otherwise be wasted, but the reduction in emissions per bus will go a long way to achieving our carbon-neutral target." Biomethane advocates say using the wonder gas — keep those jokes to yourself, please — for fuel not only improves air quality, it can turn rural communities into alt-fuel producers. California's pro-biomethane camp claims collecting methane from the state's 1.7 million dairy cows would produce eight billion cubic feet of methane a year, the equivalent to more than 150 million gallons of gasoline. Of course, that's less than half the 390 million gallons of gasoline the United States sucks down each day, but it's still nothing to sneeze at.

Poo-to-pump fuel may sound gross, but it isn't like there are guys in hazmat suits shoveling raw sewage into gas tanks. Biomethane is produced during a four-phase process called anaerobic digestion that uses microorganisms to break down everything from human waste and leftover food to lawn clippings and stuff swept from the slaughterhouse floor.

Until now, much of the methane produced by Oslo's sewage treatment plants was flared off into the atmosphere, releasing about 17,000 tons of CO2. But with the city concerned by a big jump in transportation-related air pollution, which has climbed 10 percent since 2000 and contributes to more than half of the country's annual CO2 emissions, officials decided to capture the stuff and burn it in buses. It's a net-zero carbon equation because the carbon originally came from the atmosphere, city officials say. Even when you account for the electricity used to make the gas, the switch will save 44 tons of CO2 per bus per year.

Setting up the initial infrastructure required for biomethane production ain't cheap, but the gas that gets produced is. Bean counters in Oslo say that on average biomethane gas will be €0.40 ($0.50) cheaper per liter than diesel, while conversion will require only minor modification to the buses.

And it turns out Oslo has more than enough sludge to work with. The city's two sewage plants can crank out enough biomethane to power all 80 of the buses involved in the trial. Should the program succeed, it will be expanded to all 400 city buses by producing methane from household and restaurant food waste.

Soviet-era Passenger Ferry is One Boat-Ugly Luxury Yacht  

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Illinois residents, take heart: there are places on earth with governors more outlandish than yours. Blago might have had the ethical fortitude of Boss Hogg, but at least he traveled in tasteful private planes and chauffeured SUVs. Apparently, such relative restraint is unheard of in one Russian Federal District just north of the nation of Kazakhstan.

An unnamed Siberian governor decided it would be a good idea to convert a 1970s Soviet high-speed ferry boat into a personal luxury watercraft. "The time of reconstruction, including the development of the project was just six months!" gushes exoticboat.ru, a build time that's a tremendous feat considering what the boat used to look like when it was a passenger ferry.



Exterior modifications were extensive: The bow appears to have been inspired by the nose of a first-generation Oldsmobile Toronado, while the decks were festooned with those glass sunrooms they advertise on daytime TV. Still, nothing beats the interior -- which can only be described as the physical manifestation of an Isaac Hayes album.



The vessel started life in the 1970s as a Metor hydrofoil, the most famous model of passenger ferry to operate behind the Iron Curtain. With legendary reliability and a top speed of 40 mph, numerous other Meteors remain in service in former Eastern-bloc countries. This particular boat was taken off ferry duty and converted for private use in 2005. Before and after floor plans show that the boat's passenger seats and snack bars were replaced with sitting areas, a full kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and a swimming platform. The only non-cosmetic renovations were new "de Laval" style exhaust nozzles meant to increase the boat's top speed.

Even with that added thrust, this boat can't escape good taste. The public areas are stylish enough for an evil genius in search of a chic hideout, but that's where the design philosophy begins to crumble. Animal skins, white leather couches, and shag carpeting reveal a fantasy of a Soviet teen who, after reading smuggled copies of Playboy, built his boyhood dream of what a Nixon-era American bachelor pad looked like. Judging by that cat-astrophic leopard-print master bedroom, we think the boat's new name of "Faithful" is meant to be ironic.

New Brands for Spring 2009-eLUXURY launches new designers  

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an Francisco, California-As spring fever approaches, eLUXURY is adding a bevy of new designers to its luxurious lineup. Some of the 2009 spring collections to be featured on eLUXURY have been created by industry standbys, new to eLUXURY but, among the fashion world, seasoned talents. Maria Cornejo, for instance, the designer behind Zero + Maria Cornejo, has been designing since the ’80s. With a sculptural sensibility and minimalist approach, Maria Cornejo creates wearable art-as-fashion. Her unpretentious designs like this Concave Lapel Coat, have earned her a dedicated fan base. Another industry favorite among shoe enthusiasts is Repetto, founded by Rose Repetto over 60 years ago. The Parisian footwear label is now coveted by fashion’s elite.

Repetto has evolved into an entire line of chic and comfortable shoes. The Perforated Ballerina, included in eLUXURY’s spring collection, is a fresh spin on the classic ballet flat.
Melissa Plastic Dreams’ shoe line will also be included in eLUXURY’s new spring collection. The phenomenal popularity behind Melissa footwear rests in its lineup of prestigious design partners, including fashion designer extraordinaire Vivienne Westwood. The Lady Dragon Slingback Sandals, made in collaboration with Westwood, are one of the many styles made from Melissa’s signature eco-friendly plastic.

Four more designers complete the 2009 spring collection. Hussein Chalayan, appropriately dubbed fashion’s "mad scientist," fuses fashion with art, architecture, and technology in unlikely yet visually enchanting ways. His neoprene Bonded Jersey One-Shoulder Dress, is sure to be a show stopper.
French designer Sophie Théallet brings her runway-awing looks to eLUXURY. In our new spring collection, a sophisticated yet bohemian element can be seen in Théallet’s Silk Chiffon Cocktail Dress, with its complex pleating and cascading silhouette. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s ultra-cool label, Elizabeth and James, is sure to be a contemporary favorite with eLUX fashionistas.

Combining a downtown edge with uptown aesthetics, the duo’s spring collection of menswear-inspired pieces, like the James IV Blazer, has a distinctly feminine touch.
Finally, no It Girl’s closet would be complete without at least one piece from fashion’s hottest newcomer, Alexander Wang. His elegant riff on the "off-duty model" look captured the industry by storm in 2007. Must-haves from the collection include silky tees and the Slinky Goddess Dress, a sleek white staple for spring.

Launched in June 2000, eLUXURY.com is the premier online fashion retailer, featuring the hottest designers, must-have trends, online exclusives, accessories, beauty and children’s collections, and an exclusive Louis Vuitton boutique. eLUXURY boasts a prestigious brand line-up that includes Dior, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Maison Martin Margiela. eLUXURY is owned by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s leading luxury goods group.

Motorola ZN300 looks possibly okay, sort of  

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We knew the name, but when it comes to phones, it's not really the name we care about, now is it? (Is it?) Looks like we now have the first totally unofficial shot of Motorola's upcoming ZN300 slider, said to feature a QVGA display and 3 megapixel cam around back.

Unless this puppy runs Android through some comical error in communication between Moto's executive and engineering teams, the glossy front, generous bezel, and rockin' offset "M" logo aren't enough to do it for us -- but we're sure they'll manage to sell a few for a song on contract when it's finally announced. Go, sk8r boi, go!

Why fear is no reason to ban Google Earth  

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By its very nature, communications infrastructure is general. It can be used to plan both legal and illegal activities, and it’s generally impossible to tell which is which. Last year, a US army intelligence report worried that terrorists could plan their attacks using Twitter, and there are unconfirmed reports that the Mumbai terrorists read the Twitter feeds about their attacks to get real-time information they could use. British intelligence is worried that terrorists might use voice over IP services such as Skype to communicate. Terrorists may train on Second Life and World of Warcraft. We already know they use websites to spread their message and possibly even to recruit.

Hotels.com launches its India website Hotels.co.in  

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Global hotel specialist Hotels.com has launched its India website Hotels.co.in, catering specifically to the needs of Indian travellers. The Hotels.com India site has a local interface, including pricing in Indian Rupee. There is also enhanced map functionality and the ability to subscribe to newsletters with hotel offers.

UK-based Hotels.com claims to offer search and booking option for about 80,000 hotels located across the world. According to the company, users can search by amenities, hotel star rating as well as by specific geographic locations and neighbourhoods. The company also plans to offer an increasing amount of localised hotel content and also enable travellers to post and read Indian user reviews.

'Sex and the City' movie sequel close to a green light  

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EW spoke to a source close to the Sex and the City movie sequel and learned that the project is getting "Ever closer, every day." Although none of the four stars -- Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis -- has signed their deals yet, all are on board to start shooting this summer with a release date set for summer 2010. Likewise, while creator and uber-fast screenwriter Michael Patrick King has yet to complete a script, he apparently does have an idea he wants to pursue. "It's going to be more comedic, and shorter, than the first," says the insider.
But, in this economy, will it be as centered on the fabulous clothes, shoes, and other expensive accessories? To an extent, yes, because no one wants to mess too much with the SATC brand that is beloved by millions. But there will be care taken to not flaunt the Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Louboutin gear as much as before. And what about Mr. Big? Did he lose all his cash in the stock market? Uh, that would be a no. '


'Twilight' stars, Dakota Fanning talk 'New Moon'  

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Summit Entertainment's newest film, Push -- starring Dakota Fanning (pictured) -- may have been the main event at its premiere last night in Los Angeles. But the studio still trotted out several Twilight actors to walk the red carpet, and the upcoming sequel New Moon was definitely on everyone's mind -- including whether Fanning would slip on evil Jane's fangs. "Dakota Fanning would be great as Jane," said Ashley Green (goodie vamp Alice Cullen). "I really hope that rumor becomes reality." Fanning, however, said she wasn't quite ready to bite. "I think it is too soon to say for sure whether I will or won't be in [New Moon]," she told EW.com. "But it would be really cool to do it. I am a very big fan of the books. I read them all and Jane is an interesting part. We haven't really sat down and talked about it. So we will see. It was a good experience working with Summit. I guess I now have an in at the company."

Meanwhile, Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) told EW.com that much like future werewolf Taylor Lautner, he's been hitting the gym in preparation for the April shoot. "Bring on the wolves," grinned Lutz. "Emmett can take 'em." Lutz also says he's read the New Moon script, and it's "amazing." Fellow Cullen clan member Greene also said she'd just gotten her hands on the script. "I felt like a spy reading it," she said. "It does come very close to the tone and the events that are in book 2. There are a couple of things that were changed which I think make it more interesting for the visual medium but nothing that will upset fans of the books. I think it is safe to say that it will make everyone happy."

Perhaps there's a little Cullen clan favoritism going on at Summit, however, since actors Rachelle Lefevre and Edi Gathegi -- i.e. members of the Bella-and-Edward-hating vamp clan -- both said they hadn't seen the New Moon screenplay yet. "They are guarding the script like it is gold," said Lefevre, who added she's already planning how to get into the mindset of the vengeful Victoria: "I have to figure out how to channel that much hatred and grief healthily because that is a pretty dark place to go." There may be another reason, meanwhile, that Gathegi's in the dark on New Moon: He recently told producers he'd signed on for a spring Broadway production of the August Wilson play Joe Turner's Come and Gone. "When I told [Summit] I was going to the stage," said Gathegi, "they said, 'No you're not.

We need you.' And I said, 'Cool. Let's try to do both.' We start the play in February and go until June. They are in, like, day 3 of negotiations to figure out if I can do both." But don't worry; Gathegi says he's committed to playing Laurent. "Worst case scenario," he says, "I get to hang out with my vamp friends and be in what is destined to be a huge movie released [on] Nov. 20.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 tested in every way imaginable  

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Lenovo's IdeaPad series of notebooks is quite different than the company's popular line up of ThinkPads. Ideapads are currently available in three series of products. The "U" series designates an ultraportable style with 11.1" or 13.3" widescreen displays and Intel Core 2 Duo processors. The "Y" series is for family entertainment and is available with up to a 17" screen and Intel 2.8GHz Core 2 duo processors. And finally, there is the super mobile "S" series netbook with its Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and 10.2" display. Within the "U" and "Y" series there are a lot of models to choose from.
The Lenovo IdeaPad lines differ quite a bit from the Thinkpads we have reviewed in the past, such as the Lenovo Thinkpad W700 Mobile Workstation or the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Ultraportable Notebook as you'll see in the pages ahead.
In this article, we'll be showcasing the Ideapad Y530 specifically, which offers a competitive array of features at a reasonable price point. With multimedia capabilities being a focus these days, we thought this model would more than cover the bases with its generous yet rather portable 15.4" display and Intel Core 2 Duo processor packed inside.


Philips' 56-inch Cinema 21:9 HDTV: not for Americans  

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Oh, bollocks! If one particular spokesman who opened up to ZDnet today is accurate, Philips' totally sweet 56-inch Cinema 21:9 HDTV won't ever be sold on American soil. Quite frankly, we're wondering what's up with Philips and its apparent disdain for the US market. It farmed out its Blu-ray / DVD and TV operations in North America to Funai, it didn't even bother showing up in Vegas for CES, and anything even remotely swank that it produces seems to be reserved for those overseas. What happened to the worldwide love, Philips? Did someone give you the impression that Yanks wouldn't buy one of these completely mesmerizing new panels? Sigh.

Britney gets restraining order for Lufti, Ghalib  

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Britney Spears has obtained a restraining order against former manager Sam Lutfi and ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, TMZ.com reported. Access Hollywood has learned that Spears’ lawyers had a Monday court date but went in early to acquire the reported injunction.

A source reportedly told TMZ.com that Spears has told her conservators to “protect” her from the two men, who were associated with the star during her tumultuous breakdown over a year ago. Spears is currently rehearsing for a tour in support of her latest album, the chart-topping “Circus.”

Dustin Hoffman Says There's Something Unnatural About Marriage  

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Dustin Hoffman thinks marriage is "unnatural." The 71-year-old actor - who married second wife Lisa Gottsegen in 1980 - struggles to accept the concept of spending your entire life with someone.


He said: "There is something unnatural about marriage. These two people are not going to be the same people in a few years. The trick is to live your own life while sharing the same space."

Despite having his doubts about matrimony, Dustin - who has four children with Lisa and raised two daughters with ex-wife Anne Byrne - thinks it is important to be in a loving relationship.

He said: "I always wanted to just find the girl that I could be with."

The veteran actor is blissfully happy with Lisa, who launched a successful skin care range in 2007, and jokes she will soon be better known than he is.

He said: "I can brag about her. She's in stores in New York, London, Paris, and Hong Kong. I'm still the focus, but I'm losing ground rapidly."

Lomani to launch Big B’s signature perfume  

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More than film Big B is busy in endorsing brands these days. He is gearing up for the launch of his second signature perfume by French brand Lomani. It is believed that Amitabh went to meet the designers in Paris recently. He is believed to have discussed the marketing strategy for the launch, which is due in nine months. Reportedly his last Lomani perfume, floral-spicy blend was introduced in 2002. It was a huge hit.

The other Paris connection of Big B is that he was recently featured on the issue of L’Officiel Hommes. Designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla styled him in Louis Vuitton and well known photographer Ian McKell shot him in the beautiful city of Paris.

Happy birthday Priety Zinta  

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Bollywood’s charming and adorable girl Preity Zinta celebrated her birthday yesterday. Since we are all aware that she has always been known to lend a helping hand to social matters this time around too she has a list of priorities through which she will step forward and make changes in the country and city. She will support a campaign called Light a Billion Lights where one can sponsor electricity to a whole village in India.

This electricity will be generated by using solar energy. This campaign is the India’s first 24 hour GREENATHON where one can sponsor electricity through solar energy. She also feels that we as citizens of India should stop thinking about social matter and start implementing them in our own way rather than depending on others. One major problem she feels that as citizens of Mumbai we need to confront is the problem of illegal immigrants.

She feels that the city is bursting to its seams and yet people keep pouring into the city. So to tackle this problem we need to get Citizen Identity cards. She feels that especially after Slumdog Millionaire Mumbai or rather India will be portrayed as a slum altogether. She also wants to sponsor education to under privileged children. She’s also very busy these days with her IPL team and her KXI Punjab Cup which is currently on in Chandigarh and Mohali. She wishes for two gifts for herself for her birthday, “Firstly she wants to spend a little time with her close friends and also for her Kings XI Punjab team to win the IPL Cup. And especially as the IPL Cup has diamonds on them and diamonds are a girls best friend she is hoping for the best. These new talents would be given a place in the KXI Punjab side which would make the team even stronger.”

We wish Preity a warmest Happy Birthday, and wish that her dream to win the IPL comes true this Year. We also wish her that she has a great year ahead

Konkona Sen paired opposite Ranbir Kapoor  

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Konkona Sen who has been paired opposite Farhan Akhtar in Luck By Chance is also paired up wit Ranbir Kapoor in their forthcoming film Wake Up Sid. She looks quite good with Farhan but people find Konkona and Ranbir pair odd. “I didn’t think it was odd. But I guess it’s because we come from completely different schools. It’s like mixing two very different things.

It makes things more interesting,” she says matter-of-factly.
Obviously, it’s the same reason why Konkona has never worked with the big stars like the three Khans and Akshay Kumar. “Firstly, I’ve never been offered a role opposite them. That’s because I usually do the arty/realistic cinema while they mostly do the mainstream masala entertaining films. When I signed a film with Ranbir, people were stunned. I think they’ll die of a heart attack if I do a film with the Khans.” She has worked with several female directors like her mother Aparna Sen and Mira Nair before, but she disagrees that women can add a different perspective to a film. “There’s no difference between men and women directors. I have met some obnoxious women and overly sensitive men. Gender doesn’t matter too much,” she stresses.

Tell her that people feel she’s uncomfortable with her profession and interaction with the media and Konkona dismisses it. “I’m very comfortable being in this profession. I speak to the media when I have to talk about a film. When I’m not doing a film what will I talk to the media about? Yes, it’s not like one loves everything about one’s job 24/7. Some interviews are stimulating and interesting while some ask the same old stupid questions. Then you have to show good grace to answer them,” she says. Does too much attention get to her? “Sometimes it can test your nerve.

I don’t need attention. I’m quite easy and comfortable. I roam around in my pajamas everywhere and do my own thing. It’s not like I have Hrithik Roshan’s kind of stardom. So I don’t have any crazed fans. They don’t bug me. What’s the point if you can’t live the way you want to.”

 

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The 2010 911 GT3 might seem like more of the same from Porsche, but that's hardly a bad thing. The combination of a high-revving flat-six combined with excellent handling and boy racer looks has never been so appealing.

Since its official unveiling yesterday, Porsche released even more gorgeous high-res photos of the car, along with a video of the new GT3 on track with legendary rally driver Walter Röhrl behind the wheel. Check out the new pictures in the gallery below, and watch the video after the jump.

Facebook Pushing Early Virtual Birthday Gifts  

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If you thought Facebook birthday notifications were helpful reminders of your friends’ big day, then you’ll love the new feature Facebook added today. You can now send a virtual birthday gift to your friends up to seven days in advance of their actual (listed) birthday. Facebook is offering two options for the new early birthday gift delivery: directly from your friend’s wall or via Facebook birthday e-mail reminders, which contain a direct link to send your friend an early birthday gift.

The new feature is being launched today, but it’s being rolled out in increments so I haven’t been able to check it out first hand. But based on the screen shots provided by Facebook’s engineering team, the new early delivery options look to be an extension of the birthday virtual gifting push initiated by the social network a few weeks ago. If you recall, Facebook began promoting the giving of birthday greetings to friends by placing a rather blatent “Give Gifts” box on their profile page, which you’ll see when you visit their profile on their big day. This looks to be the same box that will be available to you for early birthday gift delivery, which has been given some extra time to hang around people’s profiles. What’s interesting, and perhaps frustratingly enticing, is the fact that your friend will see that you’ve given them a virtual birthday gift, but they won’t be able to open it until their big day.

That should ensure that the birthday gal returns to Facebook ON their birthday, right? No matter which way you look at it, Facebook is taking a few extra steps to encourage more virtual gift exchanges on its social network. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Virtual gifting has not only become a point of interest for Facebook, but for retail brands as well. Not to mention, a series of third party developers have made some lucrative virtual gifting applications that reside on Facebook. Some of these apps do allow things like early birthday reminders and other scheduling options, so in some regards they compete with Facebook’s latest gifting enhancements.

this is just one concern third parties have to deal with when creating an application for a platform that’s part of a larger social network with its own powerful native apps.
There are also other social networks that have taken to virtual gifting, such as hi5. The potential for generating additional revenue through virtual gifting and virtual goods is something social networks seem anxious to explore right now, as it’s worked for virtual worlds and the micro-payment model can really help supplement any advertising-based revenue that a social network earns

"American Idol" Wannabe Goes Postal!  

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It's a good thing this chick's singing is better than her acting -- because "Idol" wannabe Jackie Tohn, the chick who auditioned when the windows collapsed Thursday night, has line delivery more rigid than Simon's critiques.

Check out this clip of Jackie from Uwe Boll's "Postal." The director will be awarded "Worst Career Achievement" at this year's Razzies. From here, Jackie's career can only go up.

Condoms for bikes  

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Looks like germophobes everywhere will appreciate this one. They’re condoms made for bicycle handlebars.

These were originally made for Gym bikes, but they have found themselves being used on publicly shared bikes in Barcelona. Since 130,000 people have signed up for that bike sharing program, germs can be a serious issue. Made by a company called Cyclean, the bike condoms are available in Barcelona bike shops for 5 Euros for a box of 18, and are said to be made of “non-woven cloth,” whatever that means.

Sure this may help save some people from contagious illnesses, but what about the environment? Aren’t there better alternatives? Anti-microbial handlebars? Gloves?

How to Go Around the World on One URL  

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If you've ever tried to book a multi-destination airfare online or a round-the-world ticket, you know that it's not as easy as a basic point to point flight. In fact, travelers often tend to book more complicated airfares through a bricks and mortar travel agency or if they do attempt to book online, they proceed by purchasing individual sectors separately, possibly paying a lot more for one-way fares and forgoing frequent flyer points.


To ease the burden and encourage travelers to stay loyal to their global frequent flyer program, Oneworld -- which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Qantas and Royal Jordanian -- has introduced a special section on its website (www.oneworld.com) to make a multi-stop trip on its ten member airlines a seamless booking experience. The round-the-world booking tool allows you to plan and/or book either a round-the-world trip or a multi-city itinerary through six continents with multiple segments and relatively few restrictions.

Before you get started, you will need to have Flash version 9 or higher installed on your computer (or be willing to download it through the link provided) and allow pop-ups/cookies (I learned the hard way. because if you don't allow pop-ups, you will lose all your research when you try to make the booking). Also if you don't think you can complete your itinerary in one session (or are browsing for a later booking date), make sure to save your itinerary, either to your computer or to the Oneworld website, if you want to access your work again later.

You can also choose to save your itinerary and send it directly to your favorite airline or travel agency if you would prefer to book directly through them.
To start, choose whether you would like a round-the-world search, round-the-world search plus booking, or a multi-city itinerary. Then, the first screen that comes up is a world map with hundreds of destination dots (unfortunately the screen isn't large enough to show the entire world so you need to know your geography a bit and scroll across, up and down). You begin by choosing your departure city and then click on subsequent cities that you want to include.

A great feature that I particularly like is that you can actually identify whether you wish to fly between sectors or will travel by surface, for example you may want to fly from Boston to London, then to Prague but want to drive to Paris before flying to Spain and then home.
You then choose your flights based on airline (if multiple airlines service that route) departure time and flight time. Check seat availability and type of aircraft you'll be flying -- even your terminal departure and arrival locations appear so you can be fully informed.

You search for flights by dates but if you'd like to change the date, you don't need to scroll back or enter all the information again -- just a simple click on the calendar and you can change your dates for any sector. You can click on the "Fare Estimate" tab at any time to gauge the cost of each sector of a multi-city itinerary or the total. Prices are obviously the same as those offered on the individual airline's websites, in fact when you click on "make a booking" at the end of your search, you will be taken to your local country's Oneworld alliance member's website (in our case, American Airlines) to complete the booking.


The multi-airline, round-the-world ticket, or Explorer as it is known, is Oneworld's most popular product. The Explorer generated the largest portion of the $725 million earned by the alliance last year. There are certain restrictions with this ticket, but the website walks you through the process with ease. Cities on the map that are valid appear as green dots, whereas cities that are invalid (not part of the fare regulations) appear as red diamonds. You will notice that once you have chosen a "green" city, it will turn red as you cannot visit the same city twice.
If a direct flight is not available between two cities chosen, the website will route you through a central hub automatically.

The Explorer allows you 16 stops traveling to at least three Oneworld continents, or four from the Southern Hemisphere and Africa. Your route from one continent to another must move forward in a continuous westward or eastward direction, however, there are no backtracking restrictions so you are free to roam locally at will within a continent as long as you don't go back to your point of origin.
I chose this (dream) sample itinerary and the entire process took me approximately ten minutes to complete: Los Angeles to Honolulu, Honolulu to Auckland, Auckland to Sydney, Sydney to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to New Delhi, New Delhi to Amman, Amman to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Rome, Rome to Madrid, Madrid to New York and then back to Los Angeles.

A four continent trip like this one in economy class is priced from $4, 400 plus taxes (this actual itinerary, traveling in April and May 2009 totaled $4,922 including taxes), a three continent itinerary is priced from $3,900 plus taxes, five will cost you $5,100 plus taxes and the big daddy of them all -- the six continent adventure will set you back around $6,000 plus taxes -- a bargain considering that it the ticket is valid for a year and you can fly in and out of 16 cities around the world.
All up I found the research and booking process using the Onworld round-the-world- tool rather simple, once I played around with it for a while.

My only hiccup on the above itinerary is that I needed to forgo one of my desired destinations (Tahiti) as it was not covered on the route I was taking, and a few cities I chose within Europe required flying through London and I could only fly through London once so I had to remove them. Otherwise, the world was at my fingertips and within a reasonable budget. It seems that the "Oneworld" alliance is living up to its name, creating one website that gives you world access.

Phone Booths Learn to Adapt in the Cellphone Era  

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Miss Vista's Taskbar Or Quick Launch? Here's How You Get It Back  

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The taskbar in Windows 7 is a revamped combination of the previous Quick Launch and Vista's taskbar, but if you really, really miss Quick Launch, then keep reading.

1. First, right-click on the taskbar and turn off "Lock the Taskbar."

2. Right-click the taskbar, hover over Toolbars, and select New Toolbar.


3. When it asks you to select a folder, enter this string: %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

4. Find Quick Launch (it may be on the right side of the taskbar), right-click the divider and disable "Show Text" and "Show Title." Make sure "Small Icons" is enabled.

5. Drag the divider to rearrange Quick Launch on your taskbar (using left-click).

6. Right-click and lock your toolbar again.

Sony Ericsson's Premier 3 Walkman Phone Rips Directly From CDs  

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If you can get past the hot pink, Sony Ericsson's Premier 3 Walkman phone has a really cool look. Plus it has some interesting features—including the ability to rip music directly from a CD.

The Premier 3 is part of Japanese phone company KDDI's Spring 2009 line-up and it features a beautiful 3" (480×854l) display, 3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, GPS, Infrared and a dedicated remote control. If you want to rip music from a CD, all you need to do is plug the player into the remote via a 3.5mm plug and you are good to go.

With such a large screen and MP3 capability, you would think that the Premier 3 has the potential to be an awesome portable media player—but Sony Ericsson inexplicably shot themselves in the foot with a MicroSD slot that can only handle 2GB cards (there is only 50MB onboard). What a waste. Pricing and release information have not been announced.

Asus Rings Up a Skype Videophone  

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Skype gets ahold of Asus's re-branded videophone, which can handle audio and video Skype calls, and can connect to the Internet via Ethernet or 802.11g Wi-Fi.


VoIP service Skype has millions (and millions!) of subscribers worldwide because it enables users to engage in free computer-to-computer voice and video calling via the Internet—and, of course, users with paid accounts can connect to landlines and mobile phones. But Skype still has a few barriers to entry for the non-tech-savvy crowd who are intimidated by setting up microphones, Web cams, and software applications. So, now Skype has gotten ahold of Asus's Eee Videophone, re-christened it the Asus AiGuru SV1, and is touting it as a standalone videophone solution for folks like grandparents who might want to engage in VoIP voice and video calls, but don't want to be fussing with a computer to do it.

The Asus AiGuru SV1 features a 7-inch 800 by 480 pixel LCD display, an integrated VGA-resolution Web cam, and integrated Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity to hitching on to a household's existing Internet connection. The unit also sports microphone and headphone jacks, and its software can be updated from a PC via a USB connection—other than that, no computer is needed. Users don't have to have a Skype account to use the device—they can create one right from its interface—and both Skype and Asus tout the AiGuru SV1 as being simple to set up and use. The device also has a rechargeable battery, so (if users are using Wi-Fi) the unit can be picked up and moved around while in use.

The Asus AiGuru SV1 is priced at $299.995.

Nissan turns to technology to keep folks from driving the wrong way  

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As is becoming increasingly clear, Nissan seems to be intent on having cars do everything short of drive themselves, and it's now taking yet another step in that direction with a proposed system that would prevent drivers from going the wrong way. While it's all still in the planning stages at the moment, the system would apparently make use of a cellular-connected GPS unit that would not only be able to be able to warn the driver if they're headed into the wrong lane, but alert them if they should be slowing down on a downhill stretch, or if they're approaching an area prone to congestion.

There's not much else in the way of details just yet, unfortunately, but Nissan has apparently enlisted the help of the West Nippon Expressway Co. (or West NEXCO), and it's promising to demo the system for the press as soon as they have something ready.
The R&D is for an "IT-assisted road information system." As is becoming de rigeur these days, it uses your cell phone to detect situations in which a warning might be needed before a dangerous situation. The GPS component would come into play in a wrong-ramp situation, while telematics could be used to warn drivers of long downhill stretches. The efforts join Nissan's bumblebee-and-crash-avoidance research aimed at halving incidents in Nissan vehicles. Hit the jump for the press release.


PRESS RELEASE January 26, 2009 West NEXCO and Nissan Begin Joint Research on IT-Assisted Road Information System - Research Alliance to Build a System for Accident Prevention and Road Information - West Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. (West NEXCO) and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a cooperative effort to research systems to help prevent accidents and furnish road information to drivers. West NEXCO, which operates expressways in western Japan, and Nissan will enhance and complement existing information systems using information technology (IT) to provide road and traffic condition information to help improve safety and driving comfort on expressways.

The joint project will take advantage of the widespread use and multi-functionality of today's cellular phones. The system will use the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a detailed map database to warn drivers about a number of potentially dangerous situations and conditions - including driving the wrong way on expressway ramps, which frequently causes serious accidents. Responding to frequent occurrences of wrong-way driving with the increase in senior citizen drivers, West NEXCO set up a project team in May 2008 to address this issue as it considered the possibility of joint research with automakers and others using information technology.


The IT-assisted road information system will also employ telematics to help warn drivers about unintended speed changes on ramps and long downhill stretches to help prevent accidents and congestion. Nissan and West NEXCO will also undertake research to assist drivers with probe data on traffic jams, part of West NEXCO's goal of working to help establish total road safety and comfort.
For its part, Nissan has been working extensively with its Intelligent Transportation Systems to halve the number of fatal and injury accidents involving Nissan cars between 1995 and 2015.

Through its SKY project it is developing a vehicle communication system linked with traffic infrastructure to help reduce accidents at intersections. Nissan has been conducting large-scale testing of an information system that furnishes drivers with information on pedestrians using communications between vehicles and GPS cell phones held by pedestrians. It has also established a service that warns drivers of icy conditions ahead.
An outline of the joint research project follows: Joint R&D Using GPS A new computer application and detailed map data in the car navigation system will be combined with GPS data to help give the driver audio and visual warnings when the car is going the wrong way on a ramp near a service area or interchange.

Joint R&D Using Telematics
Text warnings will appear on the car's navigation display: "Beware of speeding" on long downhill stretches where accidents are common, and "Beware of slowing" near ramps prone to congestion. Driver Assistance Using Probe Data Probe data from road-control centers will be better utilized to provide value-added information to vehicles on expressways. Press Demonstration on Wrong-Way Driving Detection Using GPS and Car Navigation System The team will conduct experiments to test detection and reporting of wrong-way driving by reprogramming the existing Nissan navigation system and simulating driving the wrong way on a rest-area exit ramp.

The experiment will also be open to the press, along with a driving demonstration. The details will be informed later.

Could this be the ‘American Idol’ final 36?  

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The full list of “American Idol” contestants ready to compete for your votes in Hollywood may have arrived.

A list of 36 contestants was posted on Friday on “Idol” fan site VoteForTheWorst.com and corroborated by JoesPlace, a blogger and message board contributor who has leaked similar, and quite accurate, information in past seasons.

Contestants will be competing for a spot in the top 36 in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi in the coming weeks, with the final announcement to be made in the Feb. 11 episode. In the following weeks, viewers will have the chance to start voting for their favorites as the show goes live. However, fans antsy to find out who might make the cut may want to peruse the list below — of course, take it with a grain of salt

Are surgeons using video games for training?  

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Dr. James Rosser Jr. takes an innovative approach to daily surgical training. At Beth Israel hospital in New York, he keeps an Xbox and a PlayStation 2 for his personal use.

But the video game systems aren't for getting in a little fun during downtime -- or at least not primarily. He uses them to prep for laparoscopic surgery.
Rosser has always been an avid gamer, and he's the driving force behind a 2002 study that goes a long way toward proving what he's always believed: There's a significant correlation between video-game skill and surgical skill.

He first noticed the two were connected in medical school, when he realized that his fellow students who didn't play video games at all had more trouble with fine surgical skills than he did. And Rosser has been thinking about it since then. The study, published in the February 2007 issue of the journal Archives of Surgery, reports some pretty interesting results.
The surgeons who participated in the study first played the video game Super Monkey Ball.

They then took a series of tests to assess their laparoscopic surgery skills. Laparoscopic surgery requires intensely fine finger movements to remotely guide surgical instruments inside a patient. In Super Monkey Ball, players move a monkey who's inside a ball through what amounts to an amusing obstacle course. But with plenty of surgical simulators out there, why practice rolling a ball containing a monkey? It's simple, really

Actress Emily Blunt Says Queen Victoria Lived As If She Was In A Well  

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Britain's Queen Victoria was so stifled it was as if she "lived in a well." Emily Blunt - who portrays the monarch during her early years in upcoming biopic "The Young Victoria" - says the royal's life was so controlled she felt like she was in a deep hole with no way out.

Emily said: "She was sort of living at the bottom of a well, not allowed to think for herself. It's amazing she fell into the role of queen as well as she did."
The 25-year-old actress has also revealed how she discovered the former ruler's firey temper, especially towards her husband Albert - played by Rupert Friend in the movie. Emily added to Britain's The Daily Mail newspaper: "Their relationship was very tempestuous in their first year." "

They had blazing fights. I've read the letters written by ladies-in-waiting who told of her screaming reverberating around the castle and Albert following her around as she bellowed."
"Her temper came from her father, but she also had a great capacity to love - although she was slightly obsessive about Albert. He saved her and she never forgot it." "The Young Victoria" opens in the U.K. in March

SimilarWeb shows you sites like the one you're on  

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I stumbled upon a useful site earlier today that's worth sharing. Called SimilarWeb, this small Firefox (and soon Internet Explorer) add-on sits on the side of your browser and pulls up sites that are similar to the one you're currently on. It works remarkably well--at least with major sites. For example, visiting YouTube brings up a long list of other video hosts. The same went for social news sites like Digg, Reddit, and Delicious. You can scroll through these and open them up in new tabs, or pick from one of the tags SimilarWeb believes to be related to that page.

This will pull up an entirely new list of pla
ces it thinks you should visit. What makes the service shine is that users can re-arrange the lists and submit new sites that are not yet in SimilarWeb's index. There are thumbs up and down buttons which can raise or lower a site's standing on the list. Down-voting any site will actually remove it from the list. As a result, if users continue to vote the list gets more accurate. There is a notable downside to using this extension: your browsing performance will take a hit.

For some reason it needs to load its own results before it loads the actual page, which in my case meant waiting an extra few seconds when visiting a new site. That might be a deal killer for some, although it can easily be avoided by learning the keyboard shortcut that dismisses it from running in the sidebar.

You can also pull up the results from a drop down menu next to your browser's address bar. SimilarWeb would make a good companion for the now toolbar-free StumbleUpon, which actually learns from your browsing habits to give you pages it thinks you'll like. Combined with this you'd get another avenue of exploration.

Evan Rachel Wood Denies Hooking Up With Mickey  

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Evan Rachel Wood says she and Mickey Rourke never hooked up. Rumors circulated after the filming of The Wrestler that Evan and Mickey had swapped saliva after the SAG Awards last week. Not true she says, although she dated Marilyn Manson, Mickey Rourke is “too old” for her.

"I’m not attracted to him, he’s too old for me. Nothing ever happened and nothing ever will. I’m upset because I feel disrespected by the press and by Mr. Rourke . . . Just because I’m single doesn’t mean that you can take advantage of me."


Wow, you know you’re doing something wrong if the girl who used to sleep with Marilyn Manson finds you too old and not attractive. That being said, I think it’s fairly obvious the two definitely have a past of some sort.
Don’t you think? Denial just isn’t a river in Egypt.

Amy Winehouse Was Robbed  

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Amy Winehouse’s London flat was robbed. Amy had £15,000 worth of musical equipment, a flat-screen TV and five guitars. Amy is still “on holiday” in St. Lucia but is expected to come back to London this weekend to work on her third album. Amy is “devastated” says a source.

Amy is devastated. Some of the guitars are irreplaceable due to their sentimental value. The flat i
s in a real state. It had been cleaned up in preparation for her return. Now she will have to start from scratch to replace what has been stolen.” Wow. Poor Amy. This is actually a misfortune she didn’t put upon herself. Let’s hop the guilty parties are arrested.

Victory Review  

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Vijay Shekhawat (Hurman) a Jaisalmer boy after a lot of struggle manages to fulfill his father’s (Anupam Kher) dream of making it to the Indian cricket team. With a great debut he wins not just fans but a lot of endorsement deals and lucrative contracts. Success begins to spoil and distancing him from his lady love (Amrita Rao) back home. Blinded by success and the taste of the high society life he losses both focus and form.

He is then understandably dumped by the selectors. Following which, his father gets a heart attack. Vijay then decides to mend his mistakes and fight his way back to the team. In final match, despite a severe head injury he manages to get India a near impossible win.
A sports film is always crippled with a same storyline that of a underdog, his rise then fall and subsequent rise back to gain the impossible victory. This film is no different. But one expects atleast some sense of creativity wherein the interest is kept alive throughout.

Twenty minutes into the film and one somehow senses whats in store. So full of cliches and melodrama is the film that sometimes you begin to wonder did the makers intend to take the viewers for a ride. If the melodrama was intended to bring in that emotional connect with the audience then the writer-director have clearly failed as throughout the film the emotional impact is clearly missing. Also nowhere does the lead character’s passion for the game comes across. Also one fails to understand the need of Hurman’s character using swear words for his opponents. Wear is your sporting spirit dude is what we wish to ask him! His character therefore fails to evoke any sympathy from the audience.

The biggest high point of sports films are games shown in the film. But here they are biggest drawbacks. Not only there are just a very few games but also what are shown are simply thanda! There is total lack of edge of the seat excitement which was very much needed. Also homework by the makers is clearly lacking if they intended to show the ‘real’ behind the scenes happenings of the cricket match for example the dressing room interactions etc.

Just putting in famous national-international cricketing names don’t necessarily give the film authenticity.
One feels really sad for Hurman Baweja whose tremendous hard work is noticeable in every single scene but is mightily let down by a pathetic script and listless direction by debutante Ajitpal Mangat. Amrita Rao reprises her typical simple small town girl act for the nth time. She looks very pretty though. Anupam Kher after a point of time starts grating on your nerves with his screeching over melodramatic act. Gulshan Grover is just about okay.

The music doesn’t really register any impact as there are no full songs as well. The Balla Utha number mostly keeps playing in the background during the match sequences. But thankfully the songs are less. The film is a complete let down in many departments and instead of wasting time on this film it is a better option to watch a re-run of any Indian cricket team match on TV or best spend your time watching the current India v/s Sri Lanka one day series. -

SRK to undergo surgery again  

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SRK is in pain, this time its his shoulder that is the cause behind all his troubled. SRK has previously had a surgery for his knees and back. SRK injured his shoulder during an action sequence for Dulha Mil Gaya. He was undergoing regular physiotherapy sessions before he left for LA to shoot for My Name is Khan. Doctor’s have strictly advised SRK to undergo surgery immediately, as he is delaying it because of his filmy commitments and to top it all his home production Billu Barber is on the verge of release. A source says, “Now he has to decide whether to go for the surgery before or after the release.

Anyway the amount of pain he is in, won’t permit him to promote his film, the way he wants to.”
However SRK unlike his previous surgeries which took place in London is thinking to get operated in India itself, he says, “I am in a lot of pain. I may do the surgery in India I haven’t decided that as yet.I wanted to finish shooting for MNIK and also wait for the release of Billu Barber (February 13). But surgery is imminent, so I may have to go in for the operation before the film releases, which is sad… Though I do wish I could have it post-13th, I may have to do it earlier.

The doctors feel that it should be done immediately, so I am not sure.”
“I have torn my tendons and it hurts only when I laugh. Insha Allah, all will be well post-surgery after a couple of months of immobility. Right now, it’s very painful to shoot or even move around but I have a few promises and commitments to keep.” Well that’s SRK for us, always on the move. We wish you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!!!

Angelina Jolie advices Freida Pinto  

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The latest Indian face on international arena, Freida Pinto recently met Hollywood glam doll Angelina Jolie and the latter had some good advice for our pretty Pinto.
Talking in an interview about her meeting with Angelina Jolie, Freida says, “I didn’t’ say much. I was just like staring in awe for a bit. “She was really wonderful to talk to and very supportive of newcomers. She was just like, ‘Embrace it. Enjoy it and keep it real. Don’t get affected by all this. Enjoy every moment.’”

Now that’s some really great advice for our young Pinto!!!

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