MY CHOICE

Most Expensive Diamond

2009-09-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Diamond-owners rejoice—even in a recession, diamonds command a hefty price. In fact, the first half of 2008 saw a 32% increase in jewelry sales at Christie’s auction houses when compared to sales in the first six months of 2007. They saved the best for last, however, as the world’s most expensive diamond was sold in December of 2008.

The Wittelsbach is a 35.56-carat blue diamond mined in India. The historic diamond was chosen by King Philip IV of Spain as part of the dowry for his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa. Her suitor, Leopold I, later became Holy Roman Emperor and passed the diamond on to his heirs after she died in 1673. When the Archduchess of Austria married Bavaria’s Crown Prince in 1722, the diamond became known as “Der Blaue Wittelsbacher” (The Blue Wittelsbach) after the Crown Prince’s family.

The world’s most expensive diamond sold for $24.3 million, beating a previous record of $16.5 million for a 100-carat diamond in 1995. While the Wittelsbach is the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction—and likely the most expensive diamond ever sold, period—the world-famous Hope diamond would no doubt put the Wittelsbach to shame were it ever sold.

Harry Winston

2009-09-13T23:27:00.001-07:00

Extraordinary Diamond Drop Earrings
$8.5 million The House of Winston really knows how to dress up the extremities, as these glittering Extraordinary Diamond Drop Earrings prove. As simple as icicles, yet a lot longer lasting, each will set her lobes glimmering with two pear-shaped diamonds in a platinum setting. That’s 60.1 carats all together, and all of it stunning.

Chopard

2009-09-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace
“Price Upon Request”

There are 191-carats worth of Columbia’s most beautiful emeralds on there, completely set by 16 carats of rose-cut and drop-shaped diamonds. Though officially “price upon request,” you should figure on spending $3 million-pl

Graff

2009-09-13T23:24:00.001-07:00

Fancy Deep Blue Diamond Ring
$2 million-plus

The blue hue is the key to the diamond’s cache and price, as fancy diamonds of such deep blue color are extraordinarily rare. Chiseled with a striking emerald cut, the 2.4-carat diamond is set in platinum amidst white diamond-tapered baguettes

William Goldberg

2009-09-13T23:23:00.001-07:00

Fancy Colored Diamond Necklace
$2 million

The lovely necklace is pieced together from 45 carats of fancy colored diamonds, every last one of them natural and micro set in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold

Leviev

2009-09-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

Fancy Pink and White Diamond Necklace
Close to $2 million

Fancy Deep Pink and White Diamond Necklace, including a whopping 97.9 carats in pear-shaped and round, brilliant cuts. It took more than a year to find and piece together the rare stones in platinum–but by its looks, the piece was obviously worth the wait

Chanel

2009-09-13T23:19:00.001-07:00

D-Flawless Bracelet Watch
$1.9 million

The D-Flawless Bracelet Watch is arrayed in 18-karat white gold with 120 cultured pearls of 6 millimeters to 6.5mm diameter, and 133 diamonds for a total weight of 35.1 carats, including 32 brilliant-cut diamonds of 1 carat per

Tiffany & Co.

2009-09-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Regal Pear Shape Diamond Pendant set in platinum
$2.5 million

A 41.4-carat, pear-shaped diamond accompanied by a multitude of round and pear-shaped diamonds. Each stone is top-of-the-crust in color and clarity; of course, as is the pretty blue box it comes in.

Cartier

2009-09-13T23:16:00.001-07:00

Panther Brooch
$1.1 million

Part of the High Jewelry Collection, the piece captures Cartier’s most recognizable symbol through a gallimaufry of precious stones, including a 65.9-carat Ceylon sapphire; 102 Cabochon sapphires totaling 10.7 carats; 868 brilliant diamonds totaling 16.4 carats; and two emerald eyeballs weighing 1.1 carats, all set in 18 karats white gold and platinum.

Neil Lane for DeBeers

2009-09-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

Diamond Necklace
$1 million-plus

This elegant, Edwardian “festooned” piece, which is part of a necklace-and-earring set, includes 175 EDF flawless white diamonds for a total of around 50 carats. Another 5.63 carats per earring and all in platinum.

Most Expensive Jewelry in the World

2009-09-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

Sapphire and Diamond Necklace
$1 million-plus

Read more in Shopping
« How Retail Stores Get You to Spend More MoneyHow to Save a Bundle by Doing Your Shopping on the Internet Part Two »This stunning sapphire and diamond necklace from Bulgari is practically dripping with jewels, including a multitude of sapphires and 951 round-cut diamonds for a total weight of 66.5 carats, all of it lovingly arrayed in shimmering yellow gold. The piece is also a part of Bulgari’s High Jewelry Collection

Creating a Lab in Space

2009-08-25T00:58:00.000-07:00

Astronaut Christopher Cassidy, pictured during the Endeavour crew's third space walk, works near the Japanese Exposed Facility (JEF). Astronaut Dave Wolf, Cassidy's colleague for the spacewalk, is out of frame.

In Tandem

2009-08-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

During Monday's 4-hour, 54-minute spacewalk, astronauts Tom Marshburn (left) and Christopher Cassidy secured multi-layer insulation around the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator known as Dextre, split out power channels for two space station Control Moment Gyroscopes, installed video cameras on the front and back of the new Japanese Exposed Facility and performed a number of get ahead tasks, including tying down some cables and installing handrails and a portable foot restraint to aid future spacewalkers. The spacewalk on July 27, 2009, was the fifth and final spacewalk for the STS-127 mission.

Preparing for Flight

2009-08-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

Technicians carefully position an Orion flight test crew module to be airlifted from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The crew module will be used for the Orion Launch Abort System Pad Abort-1 flight test, the first of five planned Orion Launch Abort System Pad flight tests in NASA's Constellation program, which are scheduled for early 2010

Poised for Flight

2009-08-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

The space shuttle Discovery is poised for liftoff on the STS-128 mission from Pad 39a at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Discovery is scheduled to launch early Tuesday morning at 1:36 a.m. EDT

Kennedy Space Centre

2009-08-15T02:17:00.001-07:00

08/13/2009) --- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 3, Super Stack 5 is secured to the Ares I-X segments already in place on the mobile launcher platform. Assembly of the Ares I-X rocket is complete. The 327-foot-tall rocket is one of the largest processed in the bay, rivaling the height of the Apollo Program's 364-foot-tall Saturn V. Five super stacks make up the rocket's upper stage that is integrated with the four-segment solid rocket booster first stage. Ares I-X is the test vehicle for the Ares I, which is part of the Constellation Program to return men to the moon and beyond. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31, pending formal NASA Headquarters approval. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

Nokia N71

2009-07-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

Nokia N71

Nokia N91

2009-07-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

Nokia N91

Disney Castle

2009-07-21T04:45:00.000-07:00

Neuschwanstim Castle Wallpapper

2009-07-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

The US space agency Nasa has successfully launched the space shuttle Endeavour - at the sixth attempt.

2009-07-16T01:52:00.000-07:00

Earlier launches at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida were called off because of bad weather and fuel leaks.

The crew will spend 11 days on the International Space Station, finishing work on a Japanese research laboratory.

If the shuttle had not taken off by Thursday, it would have had to have waited until the end of the month to make way for a Russian cargo ship.

The seven crew members will spend 11 days on the space station
"The weather is finally co-operating so it is now time to fly," said launch director Pete Nickolenko. "Persistence pays off, good luck and God speed."

"We're ready to go, and we're going to take all of you with us on a great mission," replied mission commander Mark Polansky.

The orbiter is taking a seven-strong crew into space, made up of six Americans and one Canadian - Julie Payette - who will operate the shuttle's robotic arm during the mission.

Their arrival, on Friday, will bring the total crew on the outpost to 13 - a record for the International Space Station (ISS).

On the first of five spacewalks, a platform will be added to the Japanese laboratory complex, Kibo, which can be used for experiments that require materials to be exposed to the harsh environment of space.

The crew will also install new batteries to one of the solar arrays, which provide power to the space station, and perform other maintenance tasks.

Astronaut Julie Payette is to operate the shuttle's robotic arm
In addition, Endeavour will deliver a new long-stay US crew member, Tim Kopra, to the ISS and bring back Japan's Koichi Wakata, who has lived aboard the platform for more than three months.

The space station, now about the size of a four-bedroom house, has been under construction for more than a decade. It is costing $100bn, and is a collaboration between 16 nations.

This is the 127th space shuttle flight, the 29th to the station, the 23rd for Endeavour and the third in 2009.

Seven further flights to the platform remain before the shuttles retire in 2010.

2009-07-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars

2009-07-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

Most Expensive Cars In The World: Top 10 List 2009-2010

2009-07-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

Most Expensive Diamond Necklaces

2009-07-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Most Expensive Diamond Necklaces

World’s Most Expensive Watches

2009-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

World’s Most Expensive Watches

New England vacations are still about the basics: charm and relaxation

2009-07-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

New England vacations are still about the basics: charm and relaxation: "N"

World's Most Expensive Cars

2009-07-15T01:42:00.001-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, which will set you back about $495K, is known for being the fastest accelerating automatic transmission car in the world. The car boasts a 5.4L V8 with 617 HP, Associated Content reports. Read more from Associated Content's list here.
Credits: Mark Mainz/Getty
Published: 06/30/2009 15:45:56

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/galleries/worlds_most_expensive_cars/worlds_most_expensive_cars.html#ph8#ixzz0LJdcOgIp&C

World's Most Expensive Cars

2009-07-15T01:36:00.000-07:00

With its 6.5L V12 engine and 650 HP, the Lamborghini Reventon - the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini to date - will move you to your destination quickly and stylishly. The engine hood is made of glass laminate with open ventilation slits. It can reach a price of up to $3 million, though its base price is listed at $1.5 million. The company will only make twenty of these beauties each year. Read more from Associated Content's list here.
Credits: David McNew
Published: 06/30/2009 15:45:56

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/galleries/worlds_most_expensive_cars/worlds_most_expensive_cars.html#ph4#ixzz0LJd5KHHn&C

Amitabh Bachchan Thanks Fans For Their Prayers

2009-07-13T00:13:00.001-07:00

The superstar says the good wishes of his fans have already made him better.

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, convalescing from a stomach ailment, thanked his fans for their prayers and said results of all tests conducted on him have suggested nothing serious.

“Your (fans) prayers are indeed a substantial effect on my condition. Tests are all coming positive, but physical examination still have certain areas of doubt,” Bachchan wrote on his blog on Friday.

The superstar canceled a scheduled trip abroad because of his stomach pain earlier this week.

“They (physical examination) need to be cleared and until such clearance come my way, my personal physician does not permit me to travel anywhere,” Bachchan said.

The Big B experienced severe pain in the stomach on his return from London where he had gone for shooting of his home production ‘Pa’.

Upon his return, he underwent several tests and has been advised complete bed rest.

Tulipe

2009-07-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

Shah Rukh honoured to be Dr Khan

2009-07-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan can now call himself "doctor" after being honoured in the United Kingdom for his contribution to arts and culture.

Bedfordshire University conferred the doctorate upon him at a ceremony in London on Friday night.

Khan said he aimed to use the award to help educate underprivileged children.

The actor, who has starred in dozens of films, already has his own waxwork at Madame Tussaud's and has previously been honoured in France and Malaysia.

'Top' award

Khan was able to joke about becoming a doctor after frequent surgery in the past few years, most recently on his shoulder five months ago.

"Interestingly my kids don't understand this doctorate and believe I will be awarded a stethoscope," he joked at the degree ceremony.

The star was awarded the doctorate at a top London hotel instead of on university premises north of London because of the summer break.

The university received his nomination from Routes 2 Roots, an NGO that works towards people-to-people contact across the subcontinent, especially India and Pakistan.

Accepting the honour, Khan said he had received numerous awards as an actor but being given an honorary doctorate was the top achievement.

The actor left one of Delhi's top schools with the best student award - but never finished a masters degree.

So how did he feel about receiving the honour?

"I get the feeling that I should further the cause of those underprivileged children who don't get the opportunity to educate themselves,'' he said, quickly adding that he should perhaps begin with his own children who are "highly uneducated as of now".

The 43-year-old also added he was most scared of mathematics as a child, and intended to make sure his children were good at the subject.

Khan also joked that he might get to keep his university robes: "I have sweated in them - [they] can't be returned unless I dry clean them."

The ceremony was also attended by the famously barefoot Indian painter MF Hussain and British film maker Gurinder Chadha.

Other Indian stars to have been given honorary doctorates in the UK include Amitabh Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty, Akshay Kumar and AR Rahman.

Security tight for engaged star

2009-07-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has held a lavish engagement ceremony amid tight security, following the unwanted attentions of love rivals.

Ms Mirza was officially betrothed to family friend Sohrab Mirza.

The five-star hotel where the glittering traditional ceremony took place was surrounded by policemen.

They wanted to ensure there was no attempt by "stalkers and lovelorn youths" to disturb what was a glamorous occasion with few expenses spared.

Security was tightened after two men allegedly tried to barge in to Ms Mirza's home over the last week demanding she marry them. Both allegedly claimed to be smitten by her beauty and said they had fallen in love with her.

As part of the security arrangements, police only allowed 300 guests carrying individual invitation cards into the hotel. The media were not welcome inside the venue.

Diamond ring

According to the family sources, Sohrab Mirza, son of local businessman Adil Mirza, put an exquisite diamond ring - worth $205,000 - onto Ms Mirza's finger and also offered family jewellery as a mark of his affection.

Ms Mirza, 23, wore a traditional Hyderabadi bridal dress in golden and pink colours bought by the groom's family.

She was accompanied by her mother Naseema Bano, father Imran Mirza and younger sister Anam.

Imran Mirza, Sania's father, has said that the marriage was arranged by the families who knew each other for a long time.

Sohrab, who has graduated in commerce and has plans to go to London to pursue his further education, said he was immensely happy.

His family will present a total of 11 different dresses to Ms Mirza, in keeping with local custom.

Mr Mirza appeared unfazed by recent unsavoury incidents outside the home of his fiancee in which the two men professed their love for her.

"It is natural given the popularity Sania enjoys," said one of his acquaintances.

All the excitement generated by the engagement notwithstanding, both sides are in no hurry for the wedding.

Imran Mirza said the marriage would take place only after two years.

"Sania will continue to play tennis until then," he said.

There has been huge media excitement about the event, with teams of camera crews and reporters gathering outside the hotel.

In a career often hit by injuries, Sania Mirza touched a high of 34 in world rankings and is currently placed at 85.

Japan's PM 'to call August vote'

2009-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Japan's embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, is to call an election for 30 August, officials from his party said.

His office said he had agreed the date with his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner, if bills already before parliament were passed first.

The Kyodo news agency reported that Mr Aso had told party lawmakers parliament would be dissolved on 21 July.

The move comes after Mr Aso's ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.

The opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) won 54 seats to 38 for LDP, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly.

Mr Aso has approval ratings of around 20% and has been facing open rebellion from within his own party.

He had widely been expected to dissolve parliament following the Tokyo election defeat on Sunday.

He could also now be under increasing pressure to quit as LDP leader before the national poll, which must be held before October.

The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says it appears that Mr Aso has jumped before being pushed.

Election call

Earlier, a senior LDP official, Nobuteru Ishihara, said the party was afraid the results would have a significant impact on the general election.

The leader of the DPJ, Yukio Hatoyama, had called on Mr Aso to "ask for the people's voice by dissolving the lower house and calling a general election".

"In the Tokyo assembly election, people strongly showed their dissatisfaction as a result of how national politics and state politics are being run," he said.

"The voters are saying no both to metropolitan politics and to national politics."

But many in Mr Aso's party fear that calling a snap election would be political suicide, says our correspondent.

They would prefer he resigned and a new leader be chosen for polls closer to the October deadline.

Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the last election to the more powerful lower house in 2005.

His LDP party has governed Japan for the past half-century, except for a break of less than a year in the 1990s.

But the DPJ has promised to break the grip of the bureaucracy on policy making and increase social welfare measures.

Its support, however, has been eroded by fundraising scandals - Mr Hatoyama recently had to apologise after it emerged that the names of dead people were included on lists of party donors.

Ordinance on petroleum levy challenged in SC - GEO.tv

2009-07-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

Ordinance on petroleum levy challenged in SC - GEO.tv: "d"

Akshay teams up with Bohemia for a song in 8x10 Tasveer

2009-07-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, March 6, 2009 - 11:28 IST

Click above for more movie stills
Akshay Kumar, it seems, has taken a fancy for international singers of late. After Chandni Chowk To China, the actor has again teamed up with US-based desi hip-hop and rap star Bohemia for a peppy song and music video for his forthcoming film 8X10 Tasveer . Apart from this Akshay had earlier teamed up with Snoop Dogg in Singh Is Kinng and has recently also tied up with Kylie Minogue in Blue .

Navin Shah, CEO of Percept Picture Company, says, "The music video encapsulates the personality of the film. The intrigue and thrill elements form an integral part of the video. Bohemia is a very popular rap artist and we are very happy that he has given his music for our film."

A source says, "Bohemia has lent his voice for the title song of Percept Picture Company's 8X10 Tasveer. The feel of the song is a mix of grunge underground meets hip-hop. The camera work is exceptional. But it is Akshay Kumar who is the eye candy in the video from minute one. It's an addictive track."

8X10 Tasveer has been directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and slated for April 3, 2009 release. Akshay plays the character of a man of Indian origin who becomes a forest ranger in Canada. It also stars Ayesha Takia, Vinod Khanna and Sharmila Tagore.

Shahid Kapoor wallpapper

2009-07-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

wallpapper Neil Nitin Mukesh

2009-07-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

John Squire swaps music for art

2009-07-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

Music reporter, BBC News

John Squire devoted himself to full-time art five years ago
As a parade of recharged rock bands try to recapture past glories, former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire has not only refused a reunion, he has turned his back on music completely.

Twenty years ago, he helped make one of Britain's greatest albums, the Stone Roses' debut.

But now, Squire, whose Jackson Pollock-styled album sleeves were as memorable as his signature guitar lines, has devoted himself to visual art.

He has just opened his largest solo exhibition to date, his first in a public gallery. For Squire, art really is the new rock 'n' roll.

Early artistic talent saw him start out working for children's TV animators Cosgrove Hall, making props for Wind in the Willows and Cockleshell Bay.

He then produced band artwork, before moving on to his current abstract, self-contained works.

The tipping point between music and art came in 2004, after his last solo album Marshall's House, based entirely on paintings by American realist Edward Hopper.

"That wasn't intended as a finale," he says. "But in retrospect I think that might have been a turning point.

The Stone Roses, with Squire left, released their debut album in 1989
"I didn't decide to stop doing one thing and start doing another, it just seemed to happen organically. Initially painting became more important, more interesting, more challenging, and gradually took over."

Around the same time, he converted a barn at his home near Macclesfield to an art studio and staged his first exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.

Art allows him to work faster and without other people, he says. But the most important thing is the richer relationship with the audience.

"I don't have a great amount of musical knowledge and technical ability, but I find that the structure of the business cycle of popular music quite narrow and limiting," Squire says.

"Whereas in this world, you can do anything you want. And it's more open to interpretation than a pop song. It can mean more things - maybe to a smaller audience, but I think ambiguity is the key.

"The relationship that somebody might have with one of these pieces is likely to be more varied than a relationship they'd have with a song I've written."

The exhibition, at Gallery Oldham, has seen Squire fill two large rooms. One contains half a dozen large free-standing rusty steel boxes that have been picked apart and opened up.

Squire left his steel boxes in his garden to rust
They are large-scale versions of cardboard boxes found in shops, reflecting a concern about modern packaging.

The largest, 8ft tall, is based on a tiny box that once contained a small tube of paint. "Now it resembles a shower booth or a telephone box," Squire explains.

To make them, Squire taught himself to weld, which turned out to be an arduous process. "It's filthy, noisy and dangerous," he says.

"I burnt my arms and my scalp on a daily basis, I set fire to my hair, the studio [and had] two visits to A&E to have shards of metal removed from my eye.

"I couldn't wait to get back to painting to be honest. But I think the results justify that torture."

The second room houses wall-hung pieces along the same theme, made from a variety of materials, including sheet lead, beeswax, rust, salt and old-fashioned oil on canvas.

Many incorporate the box shape, while others just use the outline of the narrow hole typically found at the top of small boxes to hang them from rails on shop walls.

Stories of a Stone Roses reunion were buried with this statement
It turns out that these holes are called Euroslots and they have become the motif of the exhibition. A couple of large pieces just feature silhouettes of hundreds of Euroslots, scorched into the canvas with a blowtorch.

When rumours of a Stone Roses reunion reached fever pitch earlier this year, Squire turned to his art to send a message to the world.

On a photo of one of his rusty boxes, he superimposed a message: "I have no desire whatsoever to desecrate the grave of seminal Manchester pop group The Stone Roses."

"I was becoming more frustrated as the rumour grew," Squire explains. "I kept getting calls - is it true, is it not? The wife was getting calls and my cousin's kids were asking me for tickets.

"It needed laying to rest and that seemed like quite a novel way of doing it. It seemed to do the trick."

The question of whether he sees himself returning to music in the foreseeable future is met with a simple answer: "No."

He even has an unfinished, unreleased third solo album gathering dust.

"I was playing some of the best guitar I've heard myself play," he offers. "But just the thought of packaging it for public consumption, touring it, putting a band together, didn't appeal to me."

If one of my kids wants to watch me on telly on one of the satellite music channels, I leave the room

There is one similarity between music and art for Squire. He loses interest in all of his creations once they are completed.

"I don't listen to any music I've made," he says. "I don't listen to the Roses or [later band] The Seahorses or the solo stuff.

"If it comes on the radio, I turn it off. If one of my kids wants to watch me on telly on one of the satellite music channels, I leave the room.

"I'm not interested in what I used to do. Just what's on the easel, what's on the workbench at the moment. I find revisiting work quite tedious actually, and stagnant."

Does he never go back and appreciate what he has achieved, even if not to wallow in it?

"Probably, yeah, if I had a reason," he replies. "But there are only so many hours in the day.

"What's the point in dwelling on things you've signed off? You can't affect them any more. They are dead.

"So why not move on and put your energy into something that's current and alive?"

John Squire: Heat, Light, Death and Industry is at Gallery Oldham until 9 September.

Obama urges shift in Russia ties

2009-07-07T02:05:00.000-07:00

US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to turn from the past, emphasising the common goals the US shares with its former Cold War rival.

He told young graduates in Moscow they were the "last generation" to be born in a "divided world".

Mr Obama sought to reassure the country that the US sought a "strong, peaceful and prosperous" Russia.

The speech comes on the second day of Mr Obama's visit to Moscow and followed his first meeting with Vladimir Putin.

During the breakfast talks he told the former president turned prime minister that he had done "extraordinary work" leading Russia.

'United'

In his speech, Mr Obama said both Russia and the US had shared common goals in, for example, preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

"It is not for me to define Russia's national interests, but I can tell you about America's, and I believe that you will see we share common ground," he told the audience at the New Economic School in Moscow.

He added: "Partnership will be stronger if Russia occupies its rightful place as a great power."

Mr Obama said that neither the US nor Russia would benefit from a nuclear arms race in East Asia or the Middle East.

"That is why we should be united in opposing North Korea's efforts to become a nuclear power, and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," he said.

On Monday, after meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he signed eight separate agreements with Russia.

These, he said: "will substantially reduce our warheads and delivery systems".

Among the deals was a pact to negotiate a new arms control treaty to replace the 1991 Start I pact which expires in December.

A new agreement could see the two countries reducing their nuclear warheads by up to a third, to below 1,700 each within seven years of the treaty's signing.

Neil Nitin Mukesh: In real life I don't really want to know

2009-07-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

Neil Nitin Mukesh played an anti-hero in his debut flick 'Johnny Gaddaar' where he managed to make heads turn in spite of his film not really setting the box office on fire. He was noticed though and soon signed 'Aa Dekhen Zara' [which was known as 'Freeze' earlier with Bipasha Basu. Now as the film gets ready for release with Kabir Khan's 'New York' and Sudhir Mishra's 'Tera Kya Hoga Johnny' being laid out for release later this year, one is tempted to ask Neil about his career choices and what exactly does he look for in the films that he does.
What are you looking at in the films that you work on?

The kind of films should be character oriented. Also, they should all be different from each other. If in 'Johnny Gaddaar', my character was busy killing as many as five people, in 'Aa Dekhen Zara', I play the role of a young boy who is much simpler but lands in a situation from where it becomes tricky to get out. Then in 'New York' again it's an extremely character oriented look and a role that is truly different. So, as you see, I am working in films across different genres.

In 'Aa Dekhen Zara', your character Ray Acharya has a camera that allows you to look into the future. What if you actually get such powers where you could see the future?

The fact remains that whenever I talk to Jehangir Surti (the film's director), I say that 'Hey, in real life I don't really want to know about the future'. I mean what's the point? I am happy the way I am and I would rather look forward to the future rather than know about in advance.

Talking about Jehangir, this is his first film. Weren't you apprehensive?

Though 'Jehangir' is a rank newcomer, his film is extremely slick and very fast paced. You run along with the narrative but you never loose out of your characters; you rather stay with them. As I have always maintained, this film is one of the simplest told thrillers that you would want to see. Beauty of the film is that you identify with the characters.

You seem to be really fascinated by this entire idea of a film being character driven...

Exactly the point. Somehow I believe that in today's time, the cinema which works is where you can relate to the characters; can identify them. This is where the film works because you understand the turmoil and angst of the characters, something which gives 'Aa Dekhen Zara' a distinct advantage.

Saif On The Dilemma Of Doing Torrid Love Scenes With Kareena

2009-07-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Doing love scenes with Kareena for Rensil d’Silva’s film was not as easy as Saif would have thought. How far to go with the comfort level? That was Saif’s dilemma. Though they’ve acted together in J.P Dutta’s LOC and Yashraj Films’ Tashan, Saif Ali Khan had so far not done intimate scenes with his lady-love Kareena.

But in Rensil d’Silva’s film, which he insists on calling Jehad, Saif finally gets up-close and personal with the love of his life.
Says Saif, “It’s a love story; a very passionate story, with a relevant and disturbing theme. And yes, there’re kissing scenes. See, Rensil is shooting a very real and contemporary film. We can’t have flowers touching one another to show intimacy. At the same time we wouldn’t do anything that would make us squirm while watching the film with our parents. So, there’re scenes of kissing and intimacy which have been done tastefully and within the limits of decorum.”

Saif says he had to be constantly conscious of the fact that it was the woman he loved; to whom, he was making love to on screen.

“Obviously having her as my co-star made it easier to be intimate. And it would be the easiest thing in the world for me to say I’ve done intimate scenes with other co-stars and doing them with Kareena was the same. But that won’t be true. Having her with me made me feel more responsible. I didn’t want to end showing off my relationship by accentuating the intimacy. So it was a double-edged sword. At the end of the day we’re all actors. But this was different. If we had to do the same scenes with other co-stars we may not have been as comfortable. Yes. Definitely I was more comfortable sharing intimacy with Kareena on screen than I was with other actors. ”

Considering the film belongs more to Saif, is he happy to see Kareena take the backseat? “It’s hard to say whose film it is. It’s her movie as much as mine. Hers' is a great role with great dramatic potential.”

Now having completed Rensil’s film Saif and Kareena are off on their mysterious holiday. “We’re flying out of New York this week, stopping over at London, a city we both love for a few days and then we’re in Italy for our holiday. …Yeah one likes to be a bit private about the holidays. But then in this day age nothing is private. And I’m not Johnny Depp to have stalkers following me to my holiday. I don’t think Indians fans are that obsessive. And if some Indian fan follows us to Italy he should be applauded for his resilience.”

Sampurn Media

Laser 'cure' for blindness tested

2009-07-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

A ground-breaking laser treatment could prevent millions of older people from going blind, experts believe.

The technique helps reverse the effects of age-related macular degeneration - the leading cause of blindness in over 60s in the western world.

Developed by pioneering eye expert Professor John Marshall of King's College London, the laser returns the back of the eye to its youthful state.

Improvements to sight were reported in early proof of concept trials.

AMD affects more than 200,000 people in the UK and attacks the central vision.

This is potentially a huge breakthrough for millions of people across the world

Tom Pey of Guide Dogs for the Blind
It develops when a membrane at the back of the eye becomes clogged with natural waste materials produced by the light-sensitive cells, which clouds vision.

In youthful eyes, enzymes clear away the debris, but as the ageing process sets in this system can fail.

The painless "short pulse" laser works by boosting the release of the enzymes to clean away the waste without damaging the cells that enable us to see.

Prevention

Early tests proved promising in around 50 people with diabetic eye disease - chosen as a model because the problems develop faster than in AMD.

What this laser is doing is trying to treat the underlying ageing process, as it were, reset the clock so that you don't have the manifestations of visual loss

Professor Marshall
Professor Marshall now plans more studies in patients already suffering from AMD in one eye with the aim of saving the sight in their better eye for as long as possible.

He said once people have advanced AMD in one eye, studies show the condition usually develops in the second eye in 18 months to three years.

"If you can delay the onset by three, four, six, seven or 10 years, it's proof of the principle," he said.

"What this laser is doing is trying to treat the underlying ageing process, as it were, reset the clock so that you don't have the manifestations of visual loss."

He said the aim was to prevent damage and preserve their sight for the rest of their lives.

Professor Marshall said he hoped the treatment would be available within two to five years and one day people in their 40s who have a family history of AMD could choose to have the treatment as a way of preventing the onset of the condition.

Tom Pey, director of external affairs for Guide Dogs for the Blind, which funded the research, said: "This is potentially a huge breakthrough for millions of people across the world."

A spokeswoman for the Macular Disease Society said: "If it is shown to work it is an extremely exciting development and potentially a real breakthrough.

"It will not sadly be useful in those who have already lost their sight to AMD, but it may have great hope for the future."

There is currently no treatment for the most common form of AMD - known as "dry" AMD - which the new laser technique could prevent.

The more aggressive "wet" form of AMD - where new blood vessels cause bleeding and scarring behind the retina - can be stabilised with drugs.

Iran frees eighth embassy worker

2009-07-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

The eighth of nine British embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities has been released, the UK foreign office says.

The last remaining detainee, an Iranian, is the embassy's chief political analyst. He has been charged with acting against national security.

UK PM Gordon Brown described the continued detention as "unacceptable and unjustified".

Meanwhile Iran's supreme leader warned the West not to "meddle".

"Some leaders of Western countries at the level of president, prime minister and foreign minister openly intervened in Iran's internal affairs that had nothing to do with them," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying on Iranian state television.

"Then, they said they don't intervene in Iran's internal affairs."

'Honourable and patriotic'

Speaking at a news conference following a Franco-British summit in the French town of Evian, Mr Brown warned of concerted action against Iran.

"The Iranian regime must be clear that if this action continues and we are forced to act, we will act together with our European partners", he said.

It is very important that my cold anger... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime

Foreign Secretary David Miliband

Protest at Iran's 'evil UK' claim
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said earlier that every effort would be made to secure the remaining detainee's release.

He said he had learned the "good news" of the eighth release during his daily telephone conversation with Britain's ambassador to Iran.

"[The ambassador] was told by the deputy foreign minister that the eighth person would indeed be released today, that the papers had been signed, that there would not be a court process or charges," Mr Miliband said.

"That leaves one more in custody and all of our efforts are now directed towards getting that person out."

On Saturday, the man's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi, said he had been unable to meet him in Evin prison in Tehran where he is being held, or see the text of the indictment.

Mr Miliband said the man was "an honourable, patriotic Iranian, who has been working in a completely open and transparent way for the UK".

"The allegations of improper conduct have absolutely no basis," he said.

Nuclear question

Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after June's presidential election, amid claims the vote had been rigged in favour of the incumbent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers, especially Britain and the US, of stoking unrest after the election - something they deny.

The embassy workers, who are all Iranian, were arrested last weekend amid accusations they had been involved in the demonstrations.

On Friday, Ahmad Jannati, leader of the Iran's supreme legislative body the Guardian Council, said: "The British Embassy had a presence and some people were arrested.

Protests have taken place outside the British embassy in Tehran
"Well, inevitably they will be put on trial. They have made confessions too."

Mr Miliband said he was angry, but would try not to inflame the already sensitive situation further.

"It is very important that my anger, my cold anger, about the way our staff have been treated... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime, because that doesn't do anything either for our people or for reform in Iran," he said.

"What's important is that I turn my anger into determination to see that justice is done by our people."

Fourteen more terrorists killed: ISPR

2009-07-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

Updated at: 2039 PST, Monday, July 06, 2009

SWAT: Fourteen terrorists were killed and few were apprehended while 4 soldiers were injured in Swat and Bunnu, during last 24 hours.

According to ISPR, security forces during search operation at Banjut recovered 50 mules loaded with arms and ammunition, medicines and ration items and also apprehended few terrorists.

Security forces conducted search operation at Thana, due to an IED blast, 1 soldier was injured.

Security forces carried out search operation at Tahirabad, Mingora and recovered surgical equipment, 9 hand grenades and office furniture from the house of a terrorist.

Security forces conducted search at Dadhra and recovered 1 hand grenade and high altitude sleeping bag.

Security forces secured area Tighak Banda and Gakhe Banda. During exchange of fire with terrorists 2 soldiers were injured at Pir Patai ridge.

Security forces conducted combing operation around Uchrai Sar- Ziarat Khapa - Datpanrai and recovered 2 Small Machine Guns and 1 gas mask.

Security forces engaged terrorists hide outs at Tiligram. 14 terrorists were killed in exchange of fire. Large quantity of ammunition and explosives, 4 IEDs, one 14.5 gun barrel and 26 detonators were also recovered.

Security forces confiscated 2,156 rounds of Small Machine Gun, 9,728 rounds of Light Machine Gun, 7 grenades, 8 magazines of Small Machine Gun, from a Single Cabin Hilux at Kharkhanai Chowk.

An IED planted by terrorists exploded near a civil vehicle at village Sarati Sherangal, Upper Dir. Resultantly 1 child died and 10 civilians were injured.

Security forces conducted search operation at Rajgae Kandao, Buner and apprehended 2 terrorists alognwith 5 Kgs explosives.

Terrorists fire raided at Jani Khel Fort in Bannu with mortars and small arms fire. Resultantly, 1 policemen and 1 soldier was injured

MTV India Sweeps 17 awards at Promax India

2009-07-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

MTV India Sweeps 17 awards at Promax India: "MTV India Sweeps 17 awards at Promax India
02 June 2009 12:23pm 21 Comments"

Beauty tips-Ayurveda herbal beauty tips

2009-07-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Beauty tips-Ayurveda herbal beauty tips: "Beauty Tips"

Prawn in Garlic Sauce Recipe | Easy Prawn in Garlic Sauce Recipe | Recipe for Prawn in Garlic Sauce

2009-07-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Prawn in Garlic Sauce Recipe Easy Prawn in Garlic Sauce Recipe Recipe for Prawn in Garlic Sauce:
"RELATED RECIPES Prawn Surprise Spinach Cups Cream of Spinach Soup Cold Mint Soup Rice, Macaroni and Lentils with Tomato Topping"

SBP achieves IMF set targets

2009-07-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

Updated at: 1843 PST, Friday, July 03, 2009

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has achieved the targets set by International Monetary Fund (IMF) in connection with its assistance to the government besides those relating to the local and foreign assets of the banks.

According to a statement issued by SBP, the IMF had asked the government in the previous financial year to bring the debts down to Rs1181 billion. The government has not only achieved this target but it even succeeded in bringing the debts down to Rs1126 billion.

The IMF also set a target of cutting down the banks’ local assets to RS1314 billion which the SBP has managed to bring down to Rs1181 billion. The foreign assets of the banks were to be raised to Rs2.78 billion dollars which has been enhanced to 4.50 billion dollars.

British embassy staff in Iran 'face trial'

2009-07-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

British embassy staff in Iran 'face trial'

UN begins Bhutto killing inquiry

2009-06-30T23:51:00.000-07:00

A United Nations inquiry into the assassination of former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto begins on Wednesday.
It is headed by Chile's ambassador to the UN, Heraldo Munoz, and includes a former Indonesian attorney general and a former senior Irish police officer.
The inquiry will last six months and investigate the "facts and circumstances" of Ms Bhutto's killing.
She was killed in December 2007 as she left a rally of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters in Rawalpindi.
The three-member inquiry team will arrive in Pakistan later this month and submit its report to the UN Secretary General in six months, reports say.
Apart from Mr Munoz, the other members of the probe team are Marzuki Darusman, the former Indonesian attorney-general, and Peter Fitzgerald, who had headed an early inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, told the BBC that his government thought the UN investigation was necessary to find out who was behind the attack.
We think this was a big international conspiracy
Rehman Malik, Pakistan interior minister
"We want to know who was behind this, who had conspired it, who has financed it. And we think this was a big international conspiracy," he said.
"Obviously, there might be some actors within in Pakistan or within region, but we want really expose the whole conspiracy, because we think that this was a kind of a beginning of an attempt to Balkanise Pakistan."
These are challenging times in Pakistan to carry out such an investigation, says the BBC's World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad.
That is not least because the Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, accused by the last government here of being behind the assassination, is the target of a two-month-old military offensive and his militant network has hit back with retaliatory suicide attacks.
The Taliban commander has denied having anything to do with Ms Bhutto's killing.
'Rogue elements'
Her assassination left questions unresolved for many people here, but especially her own party, which is now in government.

British detectives conclude a lone attacker fired the shots
After she had narrowly escaped a double suicide bombing on the day of her arrival back in Pakistan from self-imposed exile in October 2007, she accused what she called "enemies" and "rogue elements" in the then-government led by President Pervez Musharraf and in the intelligence agencies of plotting to kill her.
The UN inquiry cannot itself launch criminal proceedings, but can apparently apportion blame if it chooses to do so.
Officials say the inquiry will work "fairly discreetly".
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had blamed an al-Qaeda-linked militant for the attack and refused to seek a UN inquiry.
He invited police from London's Scotland Yard to assist in the inquiry into her death.
In their report the British detectives said they believed she died due to a severe head injury sustained as a consequence of a bomb blast.
The Pakistani investigation into her death concluded that a lone attacker fired shots at Ms Bhutto before detonating explosives, but said that bullets were not the cause of death.
Wider enquiry
Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) rejected both these versions, claiming adequate security had not been provided for Ms Bhutto, and called for a wider inquiry by the UN to establish the identity and motives of the assassins.
A PPP-led coalition defeated Mr Musharraf's allies in general elections last year.
Ms Bhutto, twice prime minister of Pakistan, lived in self-imposed exile after Mr Musharraf assumed power in 1999.

Mr Musharraf had refused to seek an UN probe
In October 2007 she returned to Pakistan to campaign for the PPP in parliamentary and provincial elections - the first to be held since President Musharraf resigned as head of the army and became a civilian leader
Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in Karachi that killed more than 100 people.
But Ms Bhutto continued to campaign and was assassinated on 27 December at a PPP rally in Rawalpindi.
She was standing upright in her armoured vehicle, with her head exposed above the open roof escape hatch, waving to the crowd when an attacker opened fire.
Seconds later, a bomb was set off at the scene which left some 20 other people dead.
Do you believe the UN inquiry is the correct way forward? What do you think it will achieve? Send us your comments on the form below.

'Katrina Kaif' Barbie at Bloomingdale in New York

2009-06-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, June 1, 2009 - 18:51 IST

They say 'For every Taj Mahal, there's a Qutub Minar, and for every India Gate, there's a Gateway of India'. Likewise, for every Madam Tussauds museum, there's a Bloomingdale. If the name doesn't register (read 'ring a bell') in your mind, then, trust us that it soon will. For starters, Bloomingdale is the official domain for the world famous Barbie Doll and that it even has a museum dedicated to the same! And the desi touch to this videsi story is that our very own Katrina Kaif, who, after being recently chosen as the 'Indian face' of Barbie Doll' will now be seen moulded into Barbie, the world's famous doll. An excited Katrina said that the customized Barbie that's being made for the American museum will just be like her. With this, Kats joins the likes of international celebrities like Beyonce Knowles and Diana Ross, no less.With so much going for this young actress, one wonders what she would be honoured with next. Any guesses?

Terrorism claimed over 3,000 lives in tribal areas: report

2009-06-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

Updated at: 1204 PST, Wednesday, July 01, 2009 PESHAWAR: Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) secretariat has issued the report of monetary and human losses done by terrorism and extremism in the tribal areas.A 21 pages report revealed that more than $2 billion damages were done by terrorism in tribal areas.Tribal areas suffered most as compared to other parts of the country. More than 3,000 people were killed in tribal areas during terror activities. Bajaur Agency was the worst hit area where 600 people were killed. The wake of terrorism claimed five hundred lives Kurram Agency, South and North Waziristan. The number of people wounded in terror incident is over 3,000.According to report, the initial property losses is estimated up to $103 million whereas the losses estimated in economic and social sectors are $119 million and $109 million respectively. Extremism takes its toll in agriculture sector also in the form of $188 million losses. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) expenses estimated $572 million.The report disclosed that militants are equipped with latest weapons whereas in contrast of this, Khasadar Force have outdated arms insufficient for retaliatory action against militants.The personnel of Khasadar and Levies getting Rs.3,500 salary per month while militants getting Rs.10,000 to 15,000 per month. The report termed this major inequality as the basic reason of unrest in these areas. The estimated $two billion is needed for reconstruction and rehabilitation of tribal areas, it added.

Money for the Taliban

2009-06-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

One must welcome the realism shown by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia in recognising drug trafficking as a major source of funding for terrorists. Meeting in Trieste on Friday, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi and his Afghan and Russian counterparts, R. D. Spanta and S. Lavrov, agreed to cooperate in a number of fields, including terrorism, drug production and trafficking, regional stability and sustainable development.

According to a statement the three decided to explore the potential of cooperation in areas of border control, exchange of information on terrorist activities and organisations, training anti-terrorist and anti-drug police personnel and promoting tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue. Expressing the belief that terrorists could not be defeated merely by law enforcement, they called for the affected region’s socio-economic development. One harsh reality seems to have made the three ministers focus on the drug trade — Afghanistan has returned as the world’s largest drug producer.

More regretfully, powerful elements in the Kabul government are allegedly involved in drug smuggling, and the Karzai government has been unable to act against them. This was a godsend for the Taliban. In fact, as Richard Holbrooke told Congress recently “hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars” have gone waste in destroying crops without achieving the desired results, for this only served to drive the peasants into Taliban hands. The various Taliban factions run billion-dollar empires. They need — and manage to get — big money for sustaining military operations, which require not only an uninterrupted supply of sophisticated weapons but also a modern logistics system, besides an underworld that runs recruitment, brainwashing and training centres. The point to note is that not all this money comes from the drug trade, for there are other sources of funding available to the Taliban, including from those who have misguided concepts of philanthropy.

While the activities of the drug barons can perhaps be tracked if not totally crushed, detecting the flow of non-drug money to the terrorists is a truly difficult job, because this system is more subtle. This makes us wonder whether the plethora of intelligence and security agencies we have possess the skills and investigative techniques needed to intercept and break up the infrastructure of this source of funding for the rebels. While the tripartite cooperation is welcome, the onus perhaps is on us in Pakistan because of the subtlety of the challenge and its effect on the current military operations against the Taliban.

Say Goodbye to Pimples with Easy-to-Learn Home Remedies

2009-06-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Pimples have been the all-time problem of adolescent, teenager, and even adults. And though pimples are only temporary, the mere sight of them scattered all over your face is really unpleasant. But worry not. There are several easy to follow steps, procedures, and ways to get rid of pimples courtesy of the product available at your home.
One of the best and certainly a very effective product to eliminate pimples is garlic. Garlic contains antibiotic properties that are proven safe and effective in treating pimples as well as acne. To use it: get whole garlic, mash it and apply it on the face with extra caution on the area rear the eyes. Let the garlic take effect for 10-15 minutes. Then wash it off with warm cloth.
But if you don't want the smell of the garlic penetrating your nostril.
Here are more home remedies to cure pimples:
Combine 1 tsp. of cinnamon powder and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Apply it to the affected area.
Combine cinnamon powder with honey and form it into paste. Right before sleeping, apply the mixture to your face and wash it the next morning. Do this every night for about 2 weeks and you will no longer worry about pimples.
Mixing grind nutmeg with milk will work to remove pimples instantly.
Applying an orange peel paste on the area of your face with pimples is another effective way. The orange peel should become a paste by grinding it with little water.
For additional protection from the formation of blackheads, combine 1 part fresh lime juice with 1 part groundnut oil. Apply the mixture to your face.
Blend raw papaya fruit to create a juice. This includes the seed and the skin. Apply it on swelling pimples.
Use boiled milk combined with fresh lime juice as facial wash for cracked skin, blackheads, and pimples.
Combine 1 part of rose water to 1 part of lime juice and apply it in the pimples. Leave it for about 20-30 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
Apply on the affected area for at least 1 hour the pulp of ripe tomatoes. Wash it off with water.
Potatoes grated and applied on affected area can cure pimples. It is also effective on curing boils, whiteheads, blackheads, and other skin blemishes.
A powdered pomgranate skin & roasted paste mixed with lime juice can treat pimples effectively. This mixture could also treat whiteheads, blackheads, and boils.
Ground radish seeds formed into paste and mixed with water remove blackheads.
Mix lime juice with ground drumstick pods and leaves. Apply it on the pimples.
Mint juice when applied on every evening can treat pimples as well. It also effective in treating scabies, insect stings, skin infections, and eczema.
Combine ground sesame seeds paste with water. Apply it on the affected area. It is also effective in treating skin rashes and allergies.
To prevent pimples, apply on the face mixture of fresh fenugreek leaves and water. Wash it on the next day with warm water.
Mix an equal amount of groundnut oil and fresh lime juice. Apply it on the affected area. Wash it off after about 10-15 minutes. It also prevents blackheads.

Acne Home Remedies

2009-06-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

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All home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water & fresh juices. Water is excellent at flushing out toxins and restoring health.
Put toothpaste on your pimple before you go to bed, should help reduce swelling overnight. Make sure it is the paste not the gel. One of the most popular acne home remedies.
Extract juice of one lemon and mix with equal quantity of rose water. Apply this mixture on the face and let it stay for about half an hour. Wash the face with fresh water. About 15 days application helps cure acne, pimples and reduces blemishes and scars.
A couple of garlic cloves, crushed and dabbed on the face 1-2 times a day. One of the smellier acne home remedies!
Grind orange peel with some water to a paste and apply on affected parts.
Aloe Vera juice applied twice a day can greatly speed up the healing of acne lesions.
Mix sandalwood paste with rosewater and apply on the face. Rinse off after 30 minutes.
Mix mint juice with turmeric powder and apply on affected area. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.
Ice down the acne before bed, by morning it should be noticeably less swollen. Works best on larger pimples that have not yet formed a head.
Mix some vinegar and salt in a bowl. Pour a little bit in your hand and rub it on the pimples. Soak a face towel in it and dab it on the bumps. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off.
10.Blend cucumber and make a paste. Apply this as a mask on your face and leave it for 1/2 hour and then rinse. This refreshes your skin and prevents acne.
Mix the paste of tender neem leaves with turmeric and apply of affected area. An eastern approach in curing acne.
Make a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. Repeat for two weeks, pimples will disappear forever.
For mild acne patients, it is recommended that they clear their face of the excess oil. Sebum, or the oil produced by the skin oil glands, is recognized as the main cause of acne outbreaks along with other internal body system factors. Ideally, the face must be washed twice a day with mild soap or cleanser. Excessive washing may be more harmful than good as this action may spread the infection to other parts of the skin.
Acne is a skin disorder for which medical science has not yet developed any treatment for complete cure. However, there are quite a number of acne treatments and medications available in the market. Also, many acne sufferers exercise the use of home remedy for acne.
Before anything is said about home remedy for acne, let it be first established that science has already found evidences to counteract the stand of many acne myths and fallacies. Take for example the excess consumption of chocolates, peanuts and oily foods. In actuality, these foods, though rich in oil, are not consequential to acquiring acne. Additionally, dirt or foods neither cause acne.
Acne is brought for by several internal actions in the body, the most significant of which is the excess sebum produced by the oil glands termed as sebaceous glands. Consequentially, bacteria will thrive on the skin pores due to the extra oil. This then will be acted upon by the white blood cells, which will trigger the natural inflammation. Once this occurs, the skin disorder will trigger the onset of acne. But beyond this factor, there are still a number of indirect causes to acne such as hormonal imbalances, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and naturally oily skin.
The most common home remedy for acne is the skin oil removal through frequent washing. It is recommended that washing of the face as a part of a home remedy for acne is done only twice a day, once in the morning and later I the evening. In line with this, an alternative home remedy for acne is the complete cleaning of the body. Remember that when this home remedy for acne is performed, it is essential that the face is not rubbed too rigorously as this may spread the infection throughout the entire face surface. Also, only mild soaps and not scrubs, must be used.
Another common home remedy for acne is the use of benzoyl peroxide. This topical treatment (some may call it homeophatic treatment) works wonders for many mild acne patients. Majority of over the counter acne medications contains a certain level of benzoyl peroxide. This comes in forms of lotions, soap, gel and creams. Obviously, it is applied on the surface of the skin.
Basically, it is used to dry the skin so that the excess sebum can be eliminated. This home remedy for acne may dry your skin if too much solution is applied. However, this can be resolved through reducing the frequency and quantity of application.
Another frequently used home remedy for acne is the use of ice cubes. Some acne sufferers wash their faces with ice cubes for ten minutes. This home remedy for acne relieves the pain of inflammation for some but this process naturally closes the skin pores so that the skin penetration of the acne-causing bacteria is prevented.
Additionally, a housewife who has an acne patient husband discovered an unusual home remedy for acne. She related that one day, she just decided to pick a bottle of Head and Shoulders while shopping and had it used by her husband to treat the acne prone parts of his skin. Amazingly, within 3 days the acne inflammation her husband was suffering for many years subsided.
Moreover, herbs, teas and spices are also useful as home remedies for acne. More specifically, included in the selection of nature's home remedy for acne are garlic, rosemary, and herbal teas. The basic principle for all these herbal home remedies are to apply them on acne infected areas. Leave them for some minutes and you will see that in days, your skin may arrive to smoother, healthier and evenly toned texture. For garlic however, it is essential that you do not leave it on your skin for too long as it may burn the skin surface.

Ayurvedic Hair Care

2009-06-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Add 6-8 drops of lemon juice to an egg. Beat well and apply on your hair followed by washing with a herbal shampoo.
Use a very mild shampoo and condition your hair at least twice a week. Make sure to rinse out the conditioner thoroughly.
Amla, shikaki powder mixed with curd is a good conditioner and should be made use of.
Massaging with aroma oils once a week reduces hairfall and makes them soft and silky. Rosemary oil and titri oil can also be used.
Mix curd, lemon and mustard oil, apply gently on hair and wash your head after about half an hour.
Add few leaves Hibiscus (China rose) to a glass of water. Heat it. The juice of a lime should be squeezed in the sieved mixture and it should be applied to the hair before shampooing.
Take amla (100gm), shikaki (100gm), brahmi booti (10gm), shilajit (1/2 gm), anaarchhilka (20gm), bhringraj (10 gm). Soak them overnight in an iron utensil. Blend and make a paste. Apply well into the scalp. Keep it for 1-2 hours and wash it off with warm water.
The oil from the amla, prepared by boiling dry pieces of amla in coconut oil, is a hair tonic for enriching hair growth and prevent hair loss.
Use lavender or lemon shampoo if your hair are oily and if dry, use titri oil or rosemary shampoo too.
Rinse hair with lemon juice or vinegar
Soak a towel in hot water and squeeze lightly. Cover your hair with this for 10 minutes and do try this for almost a week.
Squeezed lemons can be soaked overnight and the water can then be used to clean the hair.
Dry peels of lemon and oranges should be used. This will maintain soft and silky hair and also removes dandruff from the scalp.
Drink 10-12 glasses of water daily and have a high protein diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
Two tablespoons of fenugreek (methi) seeds soaked overnight in water. The softened seeds should be grounded into a fine paste in the morning and applied over the scalp & left for half an hour and then washed thoroughly. This is highly affective to remove dandruff.
Mustard oil boiled with heena (mehndi) leaves is useful for the healthy growth of hair.

Ayurvedic Skin Care

2009-06-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Beauty is the perfection of what is visually perceived. If vata is predominant the skin of a person is dry, rough, cold, thin with fine pores and wrinkled. In pitta is predominant, the skin is fair, delicate and red toned with freckles, acne and burns easily. In case of kapha constitution, the skin is oily, smooth, moist and thick with a tendency towards large pores. The outer signs of beauty skin, hair and nails are the direct reflections of your overall health. Ayurveda mentions many simple natural ways to maintain healthy and for a glowing skin. Therefore, using these natural ways, one can stay beautiful and charming for a longer period without having to suffer the side effects of the chemicals.
Ayurvedic Skin Care
Healthy internal radiance is regarded by Ayurveda as the true definition of beauty. The skin is seen as the mirror of inner health. The external body is simply the manifestation of everything that happens inside, including our emotions. By addressing the components of our life, we can control our skin's health.
At the heart of Ayurveda is a detailed system of diagnosis according to constitutional types (dosha). In the aesthetics of Ayurveda, we notice stress shown on the skin in different ways. Our skin may be dehydrated, oily, acne prone, or subjected to occasional or frequent rashes, depending on our constitutional type. As we age, most of us are aware that our skin just doesn't look as good as it could-doesn't have a glow to it.
In Ayurvedic aesthetics, healing mixtures of pure herbs are often mixed from literally hundreds of possible combinations according to the condition and constitution of the client, then a therapeutic facial massage follows. Ayurvedic facials consist of varying combinations of marma points or lymphatic massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy. In general given the right support, cleansing and nourishing, skin can naturally bring itself into harmony.
Kapha, EARTH type of Skin
People with Kapha type of skin are Earth predominant and also have a strong water element. The characteristics of Kapha are oily, cold, heavy, soft, slow, dense, dull and lubricating. The skin imbalances can be identified by the following characteristics, cool, fair, oily and thick skin, large pores with proneness to cystic acne, and deep wrinkles.
Vata, AIR type of skin
These people are born with predominantly Vata, air and ether elements. The charactersics of Vata are light, dry, cold, rough, and mobile. Vata type of skin imbalance is seen as thin, dry, rough and cold, prone to premature aging. A lack of sebum occurs because the sebaceous glands are low in number and are sluggish. The small pores charactersitc of this type of skin lose water quickly. The loss of water leads to tiny superficial wrinkles. Signs of aging, therefore appear much faster for Vata constitutions than with other types of skin.
Pitta, FIRE type of skin
People with Pitta type of skin are Fire predominant and also have a strong Water element. The characteristics of Pitta are slightly oily, hot, light, mobile, sour-smelling, sharp fluid, and pungent. Pitta skin imbalance is usually warm, reddish, sensitive, with blotchy red patches, medium pores with large pores in the T-zone, and proness to blackheads and allergic reactions.
Founding Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda (Ah-yur-vay-dah) literally means science of life. The ancient science of Ayurveda has been the traditional medicine of India for over 5000 years. The primary focus of Ayurveda is to ensure longevity (Ayur) by maintaining and promoting health.
Ayurveda asserts that we are all born into an unchanging constitution known as dosha. The main doshas are based on a combination of the five universal elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three basic constitutions or doshas: Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water), Kapha (water and earth).
A person is characterized by his or her proportion of doshas present in the body. These doshas are influenced by diet, environment, state of mind, etc. Each dosha can go out of balance and Ayurveda states that by following a diet and lifestyle that corresponds to our body's inherent makeup, we can stave of illness. Restoring and maintaining a level of balance is the key to healing and managing health.
Ayurveda attempts to balance or restore these doshas through understanding each person's unique combination of elements (doshas). This is achieved through questioning, pulse and tongue diagnosis, and a physical exam. To restore balance, Ayurveda relies on dietary guidelines, herbal preparation, lifestyle, meditation and yoga.
Ayurveda is not viewed as an alternative to or substitute for western medicine. Ayurveda seeks to prevent disease by detecting the imbalances and correcting them. It can be used in combination with western medicine and western herbs. The role of Ayurveda is to rebuild tissues, strengthen the immune system and restore balance to the whole person.
As Pratima puts it: "When we follow the laws of nature, we have balance and harmony. Internal harmony brings happiness, and happiness brings health and beauty."

BBC NEWS | Health | Right ear is 'better for hearing'

2009-06-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS Health Right ear is 'better for hearing'

Light goes out on solar mission

2009-06-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

Light goes out on solar mission

Engineers expect contact to be lost with Ulysses very soon
After more than 18 years studying the Sun, the plug is finally being pulled on the ailing spacecraft Ulysses.
Final communication with the joint European-US satellite will take place on 30 June.
The long-serving craft, launched in October 1990, has already served four times its expected design life.
The Esa-Nasa mission was the first to survey the environment in space above and below the poles of the Sun.
Data from the craft, published last year, also suggested that the solar wind - the stream of charged particles billowing away from the Sun - is at its weakest for 50 years.
"We expected the spacecraft to cease functioning much earlier," said Paolo Ferri of the European Space Agency (Esa).
"Although it is always hard to take the decision to terminate a mission, we have to accept that the satellite is running out of resources and a controlled switch-off is the best ending."
Long life
Ulysses has already defied the odds several times. In its 18-year life, the mission has been extended four times.
But its protracted mission has taken its toll. Ulysses' main transmitter no longer works and its back-up systems are also beginning to fail.
Last year, the space agencies finally announced that they were finally ready to pull the plug after the satellite's power supply had weakened to the point where the craft could no longer prevent its hydrazine fuel from freezing.
Engineers believed the craft would become uncontrollable and its end of life was scheduled for 1 July 2008.
However, mission scientists came up with a short-term fix whereby the fuel could be kept circulating by performing a short thruster burn every two hours.
The ingenious fix gave the craft another year of life. But, now, scientists believe it is time to switch off the mission.
In particular, they feel the scientific return has reached a level where it is hard to justify the operational costs.
Final communication with the craft will begin at 1635 GMT and run until 2120 GMT on 30 June, after which no further contact is planned. The craft will in effect become a man-made comet.
"[It] will be a very sad day when we send the last commands to Ulysses," said Nigel Angold, Esa Mission Operations Manager.

Tortilla Chicken Drumsticks

2009-06-28T01:36:00.000-07:00

enlarge image
yield: Makes 4 (main course) servings
active time: 20 min
total time: 1 hr
Tortilla chips go well with more than just salsa, and if youre looking for crunchy drumsticks, why not start with a coating thats particularly crunchy in the first place? hide ›
var recipeIntroText = "\r\nTortilla chips go well with more than \r\njust salsa, and if you\u0092re looking for crunchy drumsticks, why not start with a coating that\u0092s particularly crunchy in the first place?";

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Ingredients
8 ounces lightly salted corn tortilla chips
4 teaspoons chili powder, divided
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 large egg
2 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 10)
Accompaniment: lime wedges
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle. Oil a large 4-sided sheet pan.
Pulse chips, 2 teaspoons chili powder, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until coarsely ground, then transfer to a shallow dish.
Whisk egg and remaining 2 teaspoon chili powder in a bowl.
Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dip drumsticks in egg, letting excess drip off, then coat with crumbs, pressing to help them adhere. Transfer to sheet pan.
Bake, without turning, until cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand, uncovered, 5 minutes.
Serve with: roasted potato wedges with cilantro-lime mayonnaise

War on terror in last phase

2009-06-28T01:28:00.000-07:00

Updated at: 1257 PST, Sunday, June 28, 2009 LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the whole nation has come to a consensus conclusion that this is time for the final decision, not for the negotiations with the extremists, adding the rule of constitution would be established in the country, Geo News reported Sunday.Addressing the media outside Jamia Naeemia after offering condolences to the bereaved family of Dr Sarfraz Naeemi, he said the terrorists have no boundaries or religion, adding the efforts to uproot terrorism completely will continue.Commenting on the statement given by Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding negotiations with Taliban, he said the whole nation gave consensus verdict against Taliban and nation’s opinion is against Maulana’s, adding the war against terrorists is in last phase.Replying to a question regarding water issue among provinces, the premier noted that there is no conflict of water apportionment and 1991 pact will be implemented in this regard.He said he suggested to the National Assembly for giving Civil Award for Dr Sarfraz Naeemi.The jawans and military officers are giving sacrifices in the ongoing operation and the security forces are fighting against the enemies of the country, he said adding the terrorists are weakening the country and working on foreign agenda.‘The NWFP people are patriot and our brothers and they supported Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah for the creation of Pakistan,’ the premier said.Replying to a question regarding the formation of new provinces, the PM said this issue can be debated in the national assembly.Ulema and masha’ikh played a vital role in the establishment of Pakistan and they are still doing so for the stability of the country, he added

'Shift needed' in Afghan combat

2009-06-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

The new commander of US and Nato-led troops in Afghanistan has said troops must shift from conventional warfare to protecting Afghan civilians.
Gen Stanley McChrystal is expected to release new combat rules aimed at reducing the number of civilian deaths.
A US military report has found that US air strikes in May in which Afghan civilians died had breached guidelines.
The Afghan government has repeatedly called for measures to cut the number of civilian casualties.

If our operation causes them to lose property or loved ones, there is almost no way somebody cannot be impacted
Gen Stanley McChrystal
Profile: Gen Stanley McChrystal
Voices from the 'danger zone'
Speaking during a visit to a new US marine base in southern Helmand province, Gen McChrystal said that US and Nato troops must make a "cultural shift" from conventional warfare to protecting Afghan civilians.
"Traditionally American forces are designed for conventional, high-intensity combat. In my mind what we've really got to do is make a cultural shift," he said
"When you do anything that harms the people you just have a huge chance of alienating the population. And so even with the best of intentions, if our operation causes them to lose property or loved ones, there is almost no way somebody cannot be impacted in how they view the government and us, the coalition forces."
Rising tensions
Gen McChrystal, who took command of the 56,000 US troops and 32,000 Nato-led forces in Afghanistan last week, is due within days to release new guidelines on minimising civilian deaths.
They are expected to advise troops to break off from firefights with the Taliban rather than call in air strikes that might kill civilians.
The deputy commander of Nato-led forces in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, said a "fundamental mindset change" had been taking place for some time and was now being reinforced under Gen McChrystal.
"If you are in a situation where you are under fire from the enemy... if there is any chance of creating civilian casualties or if you don't know whether you will create civilian casualties, if you can withdraw from that situation without firing, then you must do so," he told the BBC.
The changes come amid increased tension between Kabul and Washington over the number of civilian casualties.
The deadliest recent US air raid was in western Farah province in May.
The US has admitted that at least 26 people were killed, but the Afghan government and human rights groups say the toll was more than 100.
A US military report blamed the civilian deaths on a failure by US forces to follow procedures in air strikes.
The UN says US, Nato and Afghan forces killed 829 civilians while fighting Taliban insurgents last year.

Aishwarya Bachchan

2009-06-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Viewpoints: Pakistan's extremist threat

2009-06-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS South Asia Viewpoints: Pakistan's extremist threat: "Pakistani journalist and author of Taliban"

Pulao and Biryani Egg

2009-06-25T02:06:00.001-07:00

By : Lavanya DyapaCategory : Egg, Pulao and biryani, Egg Recipes

Servings : 2Time Taken : 45-60 minsRating :
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Method
Wash the basmathi rice and half boil with a large amount of water with whole garm masala and 4 to 5 green chillies (slited vertically) and little salt.
Make vertical slits on the eggs and marinate with yogurt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, powered garam masala, little salt. After it is done drain the water and keep it aside.
Make thin round slices of onions and deep fry them in the oil until golden brown and strain it on a paper towel, to this add rest of the green chillies (slited vertically), mint leaves and coriander leaves and keep it aside.
In thick bottom vessel put some oil (about 1 tea spoon) and pour the marinated mixture and then layer it with onion mixture and pour the lime juice and then layer it with half boiled rice. On the top put some little preheated oil (used for frying onion) and ghee.
Keep the lid tightly and keep it on the stove for 20 to 25 mins on a very very small flame. After it is done mix slowly and serve.
Can be served with raitha.
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Ingredients:
Basmathi Rice 4 cupsHard boiled Eggs 6 nosYogurt 1/2 cupOnions 2 medium sizedGreen Chillies 6 nosMint leaves 20-30Coriander leaves 1/2 bunchRed Chilli powder 1 tea spoonTurmeric 1/2 tea spoonSalt according to tasteOil for fryingGhee 1 table spoonWhole Garam Masala 1/2 table spoonGaram Masala powder 1/2 tea spoonLemon Juice 1 table spoon

2009-06-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

Category : Lamb, Mutton, Other recipesServings : 2Time Taken : 15-30 minsRating :
Add to Favs
Method
Wash mutton and squeeze out the water.
Add curds and 1 tsp salt and soak for 1 hour.
Extract 1 cup 1st milk and1 cup 2nd milk from coconut.
Slice onions thinly.
Lightly roast poppy seeds and fennel without oil.
Cool and powder with cashew nuts in a mixer.
Add ï¿½ cup water and grind to a smooth paste.
Grind green chilies, ginger and garlic together.
Heat oil/ghee in a pressure pan.
Add cloves, cinnamon and cardamoms.
Add onions and fry till brown.
Add chili masala and fry well.
Add mutton with the curds.
Add thin coconut milk.
Pressure cook for 15 minutes.
Cool and open the cooker.
Add cashew paste and thick coconut milk.
Add salt if necessary.
Simmer for 2-3 minutes and remove from fire.
Serve hot with pulao or paratha.
Serves: 4 to 6
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Ingredients: 1/2 kg - mutton1 cup - curds1 - coconut, grated3 - onions, medium size3 tbsp - cashew nuts2 tbsp - poppy seeds (khus khus)2 tsp - fennel (saunf)6 to 8 - green chilies3 cm - ginger6 flakes - garlic4 tbsp - oil or ghee4 - cloves2 pieces - cinnamon3 - cardamomsalt to taste

National Park

2009-06-25T01:37:00.001-07:00

Free National Park Weekends Start Saturday
Matthew Daly in Washington, D.C.Associated Press
June 15, 2009
The U.S. National Park Service is looking to stimulate summer vacations at national parks, starting this weekend.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced earlier this month that entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments—including the Grand Canyon and Yosemite—will be waived on three weekends this summer. The weekends are June 20 and 21, July 18 and 19, and August 15 and 16.

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(Related: U.S. national park guides online.)
"During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families," Salazar said at a news conference at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.
"I encourage everyone to visit one of our nation's crown jewels this summer and especially to take advantage of the three free-admission weekends."
Most Americans live less than a day's drive from a national park, Salazar said. Last year national parks attracted more than 275 million visits, generating an estimated U.S. $10.6 billion for local economies and supporting more than 213,000 jobs, he said.
For the Park Service, the free weekends will mean a loss of an estimated half million dollars a day from entrance fees that range from $3 to $25. A total of 147 parks and monuments charge entrance fees. The country's other 244 parks are already free.
Kendra Barkoff, a spokesperson for Salazar, said the lost revenue should be more than offset by an increase in park tourism. Many tour operators, hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and other vendors near national parks will offer other discounts and special promotions on the free-weekend dates, she said.
The waiver applies only to entrance fees and does not affect charges for camping, reservations, tours, or concessions, Salazar said.
Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat representing Montana, applauded the free weekends. Baucus has co-sponsored a bill that would cap park entrance fees at current rates unless approved by Congress. The bill also would limit fees on national forests and other federally managed lands.
"There is nothing better than spending a weekend in Glacier or Yellowstone, and to be able to do it without straining the budget is even better," Baucus said in a statement. "Folks should be able to enjoy our outdoor heritage without going broke."
Kitty Benzar, president of the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition, a Colorado-based group that opposes fees on public lands, said Salazar's announcement was an admission that high fees are a deterrent to park visits.
"Twenty, 25 dollars does mean a lot to people," she said.
(Related: "Global Warming Threatens 12 U.S. National Parks, Report Warns.")
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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PHOTOS: Searching for Afghanistan's Third Giant Buddha

2009-06-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

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BBC NEWS | In Pictures | Day in pictures

2009-06-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS In Pictures Day in pictures

John Abraham

2009-06-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) John Abraham, who plays an NRI Muslim in Kabir Khan's second directorial venture "New York", says the film begins where the critically acclaimed Pakistani movie "Khuda Kay Liye" ends.
"In its own strange way, 'New York' begins where 'Khuda Ke Liye' ended. That's the interesting part of the film," John told IANS here. Both films deal with the issue of how legal detainees were treated after the gruesome 9/11 attacks in the US.
Some sequences in the promos of "New York", which will be released Friday, are reminiscent of scenes in "Khuda Kay Liye".
"Each director has his own way of interpreting and researching the plight of legal detainees...that's why Kabir and the 'Khuda Kay Liye' director have different interpretations of it in their films," John said.
"But if the legal detainees were put up in a particular way and interrogated in a certain way in reality - then that can't change. So there are certain things that are bound to look similar in both the films. But obviously stories, people and characters are completely different in 'New York'," he added.
John was here Monday along with co-stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Katrina Kaif and the director for the promotion of "New York", which is about post-9/11 prejudices in the US.
Set in New York, the film's narrative is spread over nine years and revolves around three young friends whose lives take an unexpected turn after the terrorist attacks.
John, who has teamed up with Khan for the second time after "Kabul Express", predicts that "New York" will pick up "every popular award in the book".
"When we were shooting in Afghanistan for 'Kabul Express' and bullets were flying off our heads, I had told Kabir that you would get a National Award for this film. And he did get one (for best debut director). After watching 'New York', which is a very commercial film, I told Kabir that he will walk away with every popular award that exists," said John.
After having spent over half a decade in the film industry, the 36-year-old supermodel-turned-actor, who was seen in a completely different avatar in Oscar nominated "Water", says he is yet to achieve what he had set out for through his work.
John's source of inspiration is late Hollywood actor Heath Ledger who got a posthumous Oscar for playing the Joker in "The Dark Knight".
"When Heath Ledger's parents came up to collect the Oscar award on his behalf after his death, they said that Heath would be really happy because there was always this silent determination to be accepted by all of you as a fraternity.
"For me, there is a silent determination to be accepted by everyone in the audience as a complete person and also a complete actor. I believe with the kind of roles and films that I have done, I have probably reached 70-80 percent of what I had to. But the rest of crucial 30 percent is very important."
Now John hopes to do something "radically different that it affects and alters people's mind positively".
After "New York", which is produced by Yash Raj Films, John will be seen in David Dhawan's comic affair "Hook Ya Crook", Nagesh Kukunoor's "Aashayein" and Abbas Tyrewala's "1-800-Love".

Tom Cruise

2009-06-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

Biography forTom Cruise More at IMDbPro »

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Date of Birth3 July 1962, Syracuse, New York, USA
Birth NameThomas Cruise Mapother IV
Height5' 7" (1.70 m)
Mini Biography
In 1976, if you had told 14 year old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be considered one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to become a priest. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, was destined to become Tom Cruise, one of the highest paid and most sought after actors in screen history. The only son (among four children) of nomadic parents young Tom spent his boyhood eternally on the move and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the US and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences.Though below average height and not particularly handsome in the traditional sense, within 5 years Tom Cruise was starring in some of the top grossing films of the 1980s including Top Gun (1986); The Color of Money (1986), Rain Man (1988) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989). By the 1990s he was one of the highest paid actors in the world earning an average 15 million dollars a picture in such blockbuster hits as Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996) - for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for best actor. In 1990 he renounced his devout Catholic beliefs and embraced The Church Of Scientology claiming that Scientology teachings had cured him of the dyslexia that had plagued him all of his life. A kind and thoughful man well known for his compassion and generosity, Tom Cruise is one of the best liked members of the movie community. He was married to actress Nicole Kidman until 2001. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV has indeed come a long way from the lonely wanderings of his youth.IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom McDonough
Spouse
Katie Holmes
(18 November 2006 - present) 1 child
Nicole Kidman
(24 December 1990 - 8 August 2001) (divorced) 2 (adopted) children
Mimi Rogers
(9 May 1987 - 4 February 1990) (divorced)
Trivia
Cousin of actor William Mapother and Amy Mapother.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#41) (1995).
Ranked #3 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list (October 1997).
Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world (1997).
Voted Best Dressed Male Movie Star (1997).
Stopped to help a hit and run victim and paid her hospital bills. The victim was aspiring Brazilian actress Heloisa Vinhas (1996).
Caused a stir in the medical community when he claimed, in an interview, that Scientology cured him of his dyslexia (1992).
While he was working with Paul Newman in the The Color of Money (1986), he engaged in much conversation with the politically active actor. The resulting conscious raising changed him from an actor who ignored the jingoistic tone of Top Gun (1986) to a performer who chose a film with a strong anti-war tone, Born on the Fourth of July (1989) to counter his contribution to the former film.
Has three sisters: Marian, Lee Anne De Vette and Cass. Lee Anne became his publicist in 2004 after he left Pat Kingsley.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world (1991).
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world (1990).
Graduated from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey (June 1980).
At age 14, he enrolled in a seminary to become a priest. He dropped out after one year.
He took up acting after losing his place on a high school wrestling team due to a knee injury.
He has two adopted children with Nicole Kidman: Isabella Jane Cruise (born December 22, 1992) Connor Antony Cruise (Connor Cruise) (born January 17, 1995).
Is right handed when writing, but does most things left handed.
Mission: Impossible (1996) gave him a total of $70 million with percentage of gross included.
Enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, and piloting his Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane
Recently restored an older home in the township of Biltmore Forest, a town within the city limits of Asheville, North Carolina (2000).
Chosen "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine (1990).
Received the John Huston Award for Artists Rights in 1998.
Was considered for the lead in The Matrix (1999).
Cruise earned roughly $75 million for Mission: Impossible II (2000). He did this by turning down any upfront salary, for instead taking a back-end deal that landed him 30% of the film's gross for both his producing and acting duties.
Attended Packanack School in Wayne, New Jersey from first through third grade.
Filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Michael Davis, a man who allegedly offered to sell videotapes of himself having sex with the actor. The lawsuit accuses Davis of making the statements "in order to hurt the plaintiff and gain widespread publicity for himself." (May 2001).
Lived together with Vanilla Sky (2001) co-star Penélope Cruz from 2001 to 2004.
Instead of his affair with Penélope Cruz damaging both their careers, it only boosted it.
Suffers from dyslexia.
Earned his pilot's license in Toronto, Canada in 1994.
He didn't stay for the remainder of the 2002 Academy Awards after opening them because it was his turn to look after his and ex-wife Nicole Kidman's children. He reportedly left the Kodak Theatre by a back door after opening proceedings and dashed home to watch the rest of the event on TV with his adopted kids Conor and Isabella.
For 1988, he became the first actor to have the distinction of starring in both the year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, Rain Man (1988) and the year's Razzie "winner" for Worst Picture, Cocktail (1988).
Ranked #14 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #16 in 2002.
Ranked #4 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s (2003)
Born to Thomas Mapother III (15 October 1934 - January 1984), an electrical engineer, and his wife Mary Lee Pfeiffer, a special education teacher.
Has two dogs called Basil and Murray and a cat called Harvey.
First actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in the USA: A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996).
Briefly attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and was a paperboy for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Wore braces on his flashy, million-dollar smile in 2002 to correct a misaligned bite.
Announced that his relationship with Penélope Cruz had ended in January 2004. [March 2004]
Has appeared in films opposite four directors who have also directed his films. Sydney Pollack, who directed The Firm (1993), appeared in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed Magnolia (1999), appeared as an extra in Minority Report (2002). Minority Report (2002) director Steven Spielberg appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Cameron Crowe, who directed Jerry Maguire (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001), appeared in Minority Report (2002).
Will not allow his likeness to be used in video games or for action figures.
While filming Days of Thunder (1990) at Daytona International Speedway, he drove one of the Hendricks Motorsports R&D cars around the track. The best time recorded was a lap at 205 MPH.
He was voted the 31st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Lives with his sister Cass and her three children in Los Angeles (September 2004).
Spoke at his niece's, Lee Anne De Vette's daughter, graduation from the Delphian School.
Ranked #18 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties
Lost out to actor Peter Barton for the lead role in "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1982).
Renée Zellweger thanked him in her Oscar acceptance speech when she won 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role' for Cold Mountain (2003).
Attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.
Channel 4's 'Ultimate Film' show states that, in terms of UK cinema audience rather than revenue, Cruise's most successful film in the UK was Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).
While a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, he studied one of his courses under legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner.
Studied drama at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse, in conjunction with the Actors Studio, New School University, New York.
Was named the #1 top money-making star at the box office in Quigley Publications annual poll of movie exhibitors a record seven times between 1986 and 2005. Being crowned the top box office champ in 2005 put Cruise one title ahead of Tom Hanks, who has been named #1 at the B.O. six times. Bing Crosby and Burt Reynolds both were named #1 for five consecutive years, and Clint Eastwood also has been #1 five times, but non-consecutively.
He has been named to the Top 10 Poll of Money-Making Stars 18 times, as ranked by Quigley Publications' annual poll of movie exhibitors. With his 18th appearance on the B.O. list, he moved out of a tie for 4th place tie with Paul Newman (17 appearances on the list) into a tie for #3 with Gary Cooper. John Wayne is #1 on the all-time list, with 25 appearances in the Top 10, followed by Clint Eastwood with 21 appearances on the list. Gary Cooper rounds out the top three. Due to his young age and continued popularity, it is conceivable that within 10 years, he will exceed Wayne as the #1 box office champ ever.
Has donated to charities such as The Ashley Flint Fund, The Tsunami Relief Fund, Themoms.biz Diabetes Fund, Hillary Rodham Clinton's Campaign and The Church of Scientology.
Premiere Magazine ranked him as the #3 Greatest Movie Star of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).
Studied with renowned acting coach Phil Gushee at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, New York.
His character Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (1992) was based on real life U.S. Navy JAG Corp Donald Marcari, who now works as an attorney with Marcari, Russotto, and Spencer P.C. in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The name Mapother is pronounced like "MAY bother", only with a P.
Time magazine once described him as a "baby-faced Christopher Reeve".
Ranked #14 on Premiere's 2005 Power 50 List. He is the highest ranked actor on the list.
Engaged to actress Katie Holmes (17 June 2005).
Proposed to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Was the original choice for the role of Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).
Emilio Estevez served as best man at his wedding to Mimi Rogers.
Celebrated his 43rd birthday atop the holiday box office with War of the Worlds (2005).
His May 2005 appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) was named the #1 "Celebrity Meltdown Ever" by TV Guide Magazine.
Owns and operates "Montana Miss" a WWII P-51 Mustang.
He and his former girlfriend Penélope Cruz appeared together in Vanilla Sky (2001)
He and ex-wife Nicole Kidman made 3 movies together: Days of Thunder (1990), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and Far and Away (1992). They met on the set of Days of Thunder (1990)
While attending the London premiere of War of the Worlds (2005), he was squirted in the face with water during a prank interview. His reaction on camera was stern but not livid. The culprit was charged with assault.
He was in two different movies featuring the song "Iko Iko" on its soundtrack - Rain Man (1988) by The Belle Stars and Mission: Impossible II (2000) by Zap Mama.
He is a big fan of British singer Joss Stone.
Has played a soldier in six different movies. Taps (1981), Top Gun (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), A Few Good Men (1992), The Last Samurai (2003) and Valkyrie (2008).
Has worked with an impressive list of master filmmakers: Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg.
Is a vegetarian.
Tom and Katie Holmes became the parents of Suri Cruise, who was born on April 18, 2006 in Los Angeles. "Suri" weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches.
In the past twenty years since his first hundred million dollar grosser (Top Gun (1986)), only six of his films have failed to reach that status.
Was originally to star in Enemy of the State (1998), but scheduling conflicts with Eyes Wide Shut (1999) forced him to miss out on the film. His part went to Will Smith.
Wears a mask on six different movies. In all of the three "Mission: Impossible" movies and in Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Minority Report (2002), where the injection that makes his face disfigured can be considered as a futuristic mask.
Topped Forbes magazine's "100 Top Celebrities" list in 2006 ahead of The Rolling Stones and Oprah Winfrey (June 2006).
Ranked #14 on Premiere's 2006 "Power 50" list. Had ranked #14 in 2005 as well. He is the highest-ranked actor on the list.
Stepfather of his children Isabella and Connor is Keith Urban
Is talked about in the song "Though the Wire" by Kanye West.
Was ranked # 1 in Forbes Celebrity 100 Who Made Bank (2006).
On August 22, 2006, Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone announced through the "Wall Street Journal" that Viacom' Paramount subsidiary was terminating its development dealt with Cruise after 14 years. Redstone said the firm terminated its deal with Cruise due to the under-performance of Mission: Impossible III (2006) (which had been expected to gross $100-150 million more than it did), which he attributed to Cruise's "bad behavior". Movie pundits were somewhat surprised by the announcement, as Cruise remains the top B.O. draw in North America and was Paramount's cash cow. Cruise's films reportedly have accounted for 32% of Paramount Pictures' revenues in the last six years, and he was named the Top Box Office draw for a record 7th time by Quigley Publications for the year 2005. As part of its machinations before severing its connections with Cruise, Paramount leaked to the press the information that the deal was worth $10 million annually; however, the development deal actually was for $3 million per annum. At the time of the announcement, Cruise and his advisers were considering Paramount's new offer of $2 million per year in development money when Redstone dropped his bombshell. The news gave rise to speculation that Paramount has run out of cash as it reportedly has told other development partners with which it has deals to use their own cash for the rest of the year, with the proviso they will be reimbursed come 2007.
In September of 2006, he visited actress Brooke Shields at her home and personally apologized to her for criticizing her in 2005 about her use of prescription medication to overcome her post partum depression. Touched by the gesture, Brooke accepted his apology.
He once shared a record with Tom Hanks as the actor to star in the most consecutive $100 million-grossing movies (7). Both were surpassed by Will Smith who reached eight in 2008.
Resurrected United Artists together with MGM executives to produce and star in some of the company's projects (November 2006).
The years of birth of his wives are 11 years apart: Mimi Rogers was born in 1956, Nicole Kidman in 1967 and Katie Holmes in 1978.
Although they officialized their marriage in Los Angeles prior, he and Katie Holmes celebrated their wedding in the Odescalchi castle in Bracciano, Italy. The ceremony was performed by a Scientology minister in front of more than 150 relatives and friends including Hollywood superstars such as Jim Carrey, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Richard Gere, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Kirstie Alley. Italian pop opera purveyor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the newlyweds (18 November 2006).
He and Katie Holmes both wore Armani at their wedding.
He and Katie Holmes honeymooned in the Maldives.
Best Man at his wedding to Katie Holmes was his best friend David Miscavige.
Once lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada & attended the same high school as Bryan Adams.
Donated to Hillary Rodham Clinton's electoral campaign for the U.S. Senate together with his then wife Nicole Kidman (2000).
Considered for the role, in Crimson Tide (1995), that went to Denzel Washington.
Mentioned in the song 'High School Never Ends' by 'Bowling For Soup'.
Was offered for the lead of Reign Over Me (2007).
According to Forbes, for each dollar he got paid, Cruise's movies averaged $11 of gross income (December 2007).
Attended St. Raphael The Archangel Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky.
Although the shooting of Valkyrie (2008) caused controversy in Germany due to his Scientology membership, he was awarded at the Bambi Awards for "Courage", a category, newly created by the organizers to honor him for "tackling a story that had never been covered by Hollywood before". The decision was also heavily criticized by journalists and politicians (2 December 2007).
The Japan Memorial Day Association declared 10 October 2006 "Tom Cruise Day".
Due to his friendship to David Beckham, he became a supporter of Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.
When attending a Franciscan seminary in Cincinatti, he aspired to become a priest.
Has German and English ancestry from his father's as well as German and Irish ancestry from his mother's family.
Was introduced to Scientology by his ex-wife Mimi Rogers.
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year to be $31 million.
Mentioned in song "Faudrait leur dire" by French rap band "3eme oeil".
Listed at Number 7 on "The Top 10 Box Office Moneymakers of 2007".
Is the only actor to ever work with all of the following directors; Oliver Stone in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Martin Scorsese in The Color of Money (1986), Stanley Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and Steven Spielberg in Minority Report (2002).
Huge fan of professional wrestling.
Has married two actresses who played Batman's love interest. Nicole Kidman from Batman Forever (1995) and Katie Holmes from Batman Begins (2005).
Is reportedly a huge fan of The Simpsons. However, he has twice turned down guest roles; once for the part of "Tom," which was written specifically for him, in the episode "Brother From The Same Planet" (eventually voiced by regular Phil Hartman) and the other alongside his then-wife Nicole Kidman in the episode "When You Dish Upon A Star" (eventually voiced by then-couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger).
Considered for the role, in End of Days (1999), that went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Was going to play as Tom Warshaw in House of D (2004) and opted to do War of the Worlds (2005) instead.
In 1974, when Cruise was 11, his parents divorced.
He is of German, English and Welsh descent.
Has "attended" Harvard Law School in 2 movies: A Few Good Men (1992) and The Firm (1993).
He once shared a record (with Tom Hanks and 'Will Smith) as the actor to star in the most consecutive $100 million-grossing movies (7). As of 2008, Smith holds the record alone with 8 movies.
Was considered for the role of Frank Roberts in The Indian Runner (1991).
Went to an audition for the part of Howard Keach in Harry & Son (1984). He didn't get the part, but the director, Paul Newman remembered him, and decided that he wanted Cruise for The Color of Money (1986).
His acting idol is Paul Newman. Much to the delight of Cruise, they became good friends during work on The Color of Money (1986). Newman got him into racing, and Cruise ultimately raced on his team.
He became good friends with Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton during the making of Taps (1981).
Nine actors so far have got an Oscar nomination for their role in a movie co-starring Tom Cruise. Paul Newman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Holly Hunter, Cuba Gooding Jr, Ken Watanabe, Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.
From late January to early February 2009, he along with wife, Katie Holmes and daughter, Suri, spent several days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil staying at the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel. They were in town for a vacation (which included a helicopter tour over Rio) as well as to promote his film Valkyrie.
Visited Moscow, Russia for the first time. He told the press that since he was a boy he had always dreamed of visiting the city. He stayed at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton which offered sweeping views of the Red Square, Bolshoi Theatre and the History Museum. [January 25, 2009]
Personal Quotes
The thing about filmmaking is I give it everything, that's why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It's not that hard. Sign your own checks, be responsible.
[to Jay Leno regarding his topless Vanity Fair cover shoot] I don't drink but I had a beer that night and they only did one setup like that. I'm a cheap date. What can I say?
[about Eyes Wide Shut (1999)] We knew from the beginning the level of commitment needed. We felt honored to work with Stanley Kubrick. We were going to do what it took to do this picture, whatever time, because I felt - and Nic [Nicole Kidman] did, too - that this was going to be a really special time for us. We knew it would be difficult. But I would have absolutely kicked myself if I hadn't done this.
I have cooked turkeys in my day but when Mom's around I let her do it.
I was 18 when I saw Akira Kurosawa's Shichinin no samurai (1954). After about 30 seconds, I realized that this was not just a cultural thing, it was universal. Years later, I read Bushido. It talked about many things that I strive for in my own life: loyalty, compassion, responsibility, the idea of looking back on your life and taking responsibility for everything you've ever done. I'm fascinated by the samurai and the samurai code - it's one of the main reasons I wanted to make The Last Samurai (2003).
Awards are wonderful. I've been nominated many times and I've won many awards. But my journey is not towards that. If it happens it will be a blast. If it doesn't, it's still been a blast.
I believe in life. I know that life comes in at your heart and it doesn't matter if you're an actor, a filmmaker or a gentleman on the street, it comes at you. What Scientology gives me is the tools to deal with that, to better enjoy my life and to be able to contribute more.
[on his role as the hit man in Collateral (2004)] I've never played a character like this before. Vincent interested me because he is such an anti-social personality, bringing destruction and chaos with him wherever he goes. He's a force of nature.
I remember getting through high school and thinking, "Boy, I'm glad I got that behind me!" Then, when I was 19, I got Risky Business (1983), and I realized, "Ah, so this is life - it's a little bigger than I thought!"
As a young actor, people were trying to define who I was before I really knew that for myself. But I still remember thinking, "This is what I love doing, and I hope I'm going to be able to do it forever."
I've had a very interesting life. There are ways of handling the complexities. I'm willing to take on responsibilities as a father, as a producer, as an actor - and I enjoy that. I've always been changing and evolving and growing. There's no pinnacle of power where you can sit back and rest.
Because I grew up in so many different places, I was used to rumors [about me]. You know, I didn't have the right shoes, I didn't have the right clothes. I even had the wrong accent.
Nic [Nicole Kidman] and I don't talk publicly about custody but, definitely, both of us share the kids back and forth. They're amazing kids.
I would live with all of my sisters if I could. We've always been very close, my sisters and me.
The important thing with a child is that you love them, you protect them and you help them to grow and find out who they are. And as a parent, it's my responsibility to help them to become independent and get all the knowledge and a broad view of the world and life. I know that Nic [Nicole Kidman] absolutely agrees with that. And that's what's important: being there.
I'd like to be with a woman who goes [he switches into a woman's voice], "I've reviewed your schedule, and I'm going to set up this motorcycle trip for you, because you've been working really hard. And I'm going to go with you. We're going to go riding together. And I've already been working on it for a couple days so it can be special."
I don't really keep counsel with others. I'm the kind of person who will think about something, and if I know it's right I'm not going to ask anybody. I don't go, "Boy, what do you think about this?" I've made every decision for myself - in my career, in my life.
SAT (exam) scores have gone right down the toilet. The parents are blaming the teachers, the teachers are blaming the parents and the psychs are putting everyone on drugs.
[on the relationship with Katie Holmes, about other people thinking it's a publicity stunt] It's amusing at first. It's funny. But then you sit back and realize how sad it is that there are people who can't even imagine feeling like this. But my friends are happy for me. The people who know me are happy. My mom is happy. My family is happy.
I've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist, I never agreed with psychiatry. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.
I'm passionate about learning. I'm passionate about life.
[on the invasion of Iraq] Personally, I don't have all the information President [George W. Bush] has. But I believe [Saddam Hussein] has committed many crimes against humanity and his own people.
Every single time I start to do a picture, without fail, I feel as if I don't know what I'm doing.
(On his father) He was a bully and a coward. He was the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you. It was a great lesson in my life - how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang! For me, it was like, 'There's something wrong with this guy. Don't trust him. Be careful around him.' There's that anxiety.
[On Born on the Fourth of July (1989)] When I made that film people said, 'This is going to ruin your career. Why are you doing this after you did Top Gun. Why not just do Top Gun 2?'. I wanted to challenge myself.
Salary
War of the Worlds (2005)
(20% profit participation)
The Last Samurai (2003)
$25,000,000 + % of profits
Minority Report (2002)
$25,000,000+
Vanilla Sky (2001)
$20,000,000 + 30% of Profits
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
$75,000,000 (gross participation)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
$20,000,000
Jerry Maguire (1996)
$20,000,000 against 15%
Mission: Impossible (1996)
$70,000,000 (gross participation)
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
$15,000,000
A Few Good Men (1992)
$12,500,000
Far and Away (1992)
$13,000,000
Days of Thunder (1990)
$7,000,000
Rain Man (1988)
$3,000,000+% of gross
Cocktail (1988)
$3,000,000
Top Gun (1986)
$2,000,000
Legend (1985)
$500,000
Risky Business (1983)
$75,000
Taps (1981)
$50,000
Where Are They Now
(January 2003) In New Zealand filming The Last Samurai (2003).
(December 2004) Filming Paramount's War of the Worlds (2005), due out Summer 2005.
(August 2005) Filming Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Los Angeles, USA.
(November 2005) Filming Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Shanghai, China.
(January 2008) Release of the book, "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography

Katrina Kaif

2009-06-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

By Robin Bansal
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) Having already created a buzz with her 'no make up' look in the promos of her forthcoming venture "New York", Katrina Kaif says her character Maya in the movie is a reflection of what she is in real life.
"The first brief that I got from my director (Kabir Khan) was that 'it (the character) is the Katrina whom you have not seen in other films... She is not the one by whom you are intimidated when you see her'. I have just been myself in the film," Katrina told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.
"I was told 'look at yourself, the personality you have and the things you go through in real life'... Of course, the situations would be different but Maya is what Katrina is off-screen. She is what I'm in real life," she added.
Asked if it was a deliberate effort to have a deglamorised look in the film, she said: "When I hear the word deglamorised, I think of someone who has put mud on the face and is wearing dirty clothes... It's not a deglamorised role... It's a very realistic role where I bring out what I am in reality."
Portraying her real characteristics in the movie was also a "different experience" for the 24-year-old. "It was a kind of a challenge in itself, but it was the most wonderful part too," she said.
Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, "New York" is releasing June 26 worldwide.
Apart from Katrina, it stars John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh in male leads with Irrfan Khan in a pivotal role.
Set in New York, the narrative spreads over nine years. It tells the story of three young friends whose lives take an unexpected turn after 9/11.
"My brief was very clear that Maya is not a Muslim and also that 9/11 attacks are only a backdrop to the film, after which their (the three friends') lives change and take a turn... it's about their emotional journey in the film than anything else," she said.
The Britain-born model-turned-actress' career soared to heights after she gave four back-to-back hits in 2007 - "Namastey London", "Apne", "Partner', "Welcome" and the first hit of 2008 "Race" in which Katrina played a character with shades of grey. She continued the winning streak with the comedy "Singh Is Kinng".
Apart from honing her acting skills, Katrina has also begun dubbing her movies on her own with an improved Hindi accent.
"I choose to dub on my own and make the efforts. I try to make it sound correct. Where some other artist might take three days to dub, I take six days, but I am trying very hard," she averred.
Katrina also denied taking Hindi classes.
"I don't think I need to take Hindi lessons."
After predominantly juggling with comedy, Katrina has moved to serious roles with "New York" and Prakash Jha's "Rajneeti".
"I've just arrived at a point where I am being offered diverse films," said Katrina who was last seen in Subhash Ghai's dud "Yuvvraaj".
Her future projects include a bevy of big-budget ventures like "Blue", "De Dana Dan" and "Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani".
The actress is content with her career.
"Everything is given to us by god. All you can do is work hard towards something. I've always believed in that and have always tried staying professional and given my best. And I love criticism... you have to take it constructively and move ahead in life," she said.

2009-06-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) A day after a police complaint was filed against him for "hurting religious sentiments" in Islam, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh said Friday that his comments to a magazine were misinterpreted due to a "writing error".
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by the Mumbai Aman Committee (MAC) at the Bandra police station here Thursday after they read in Time'N Style-Luxury that Shah Rukh had listed Prophet Mohammad as one of the most unimpressive personalities in history alongside Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill.
But Shah Rukh said it was a "writing error" and that he had named the Prophet among the most impressive personalities in history.
"Obviously I think that there is no more important figure in history than Prophet Mohammad in the most positive way possible. Also, being a Muslim and standing up for the tenets of Islam is my most important agenda. If they (MAC) have seen my interviews on TV about Islam and Prophet Mohammad, they would know it's a writing error and not a thought or view that I believe in," Shah Rukh told IANS in an SMS message.
"For all practical purposes, Prophet Mohammad is the most important positive figure in Islam," he added.
A corrigendum from the magazine was also published across Mumbai newspapers Thursday wherein the magazine accepted the error.
The corrigendum stated: "This is with reference to the interview with Shah Rukh Khan that featured in Time'N Style-Luxury Vol-1 issue: The answer to question 'According to you (Shah Rukh) who is the most impressive figure in history?' should have appeared as: 'There are lots of them. Some negative ones like Hitler. Then Napoleon, Winston Churchill were impressive.
" 'If I can call it history then most impressive, positive figure Prophet Mohammad and from recent times there are the nice ones like Nelson Mandela, Gandhiji and Mother Teresa.' This is a clarification and the error is deeply regretted."
An official from the Bandra police station, however, confirmed that the FIR had not been withdrawn even after the corrigendum was published.

Horoscope.com: Numerology | Get your Free Numerology Horoscope

2009-06-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

Horoscope.com: Numerology Get your Free Numerology Horoscope

Horoscope.com: Free Horoscopes, Astrology, Numerology and more...

2009-06-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

Horoscope.com: Free Horoscopes, Astrology, Numerology and more...

2009-06-24T05:40:00.000-07:00

Karachi suffers power outage while on high alert
Ali Kazim
23/06/2009

KARACHI – On June 17, Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city with a population of more than 18 million people, suffered a major 21 hour power outage. With tensions already high because of threats from Taliban militants, the city’s airport and traffic signals also stopped functioning. On the same day, the Taliban threatened new suicide attacks on sensitive installations, including the holy shrine, according to the city police chief. The problem began at 5 p.m. local time when all the Water and Power Development Authority’s (WAPDA) generation, transmission, and distribution networks came to a halt. That caused disruption of electricity to all areas of the city, including installations and offices of essential services. Pumping stations were also unable to supply water to the city resulting in an acute water shortage across the metropolis.
Federal Minister for Power Pervez Ashraf said an inquiry committee has been constituted to find out the reasons behind the break down. A deadline of October was given the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to enhance power generation capacity as per contract, or else the government will take back management control.
“As a concerned minister, I apologise to the people of Karachi about this acute break down”, Ashraf said.
Muttahida Quoami Movement (MQM) leader Babar Ghouri said his organisation asked the government to take concrete steps to resolve the power crises or else MQM will reconsider its alliance with the government.
KESC Chief Naved Ismail said on June 18 that the company gets 200 megawatts from WAPDA, 600 from its own sources and 200 from Independent Power Producers (IPP) to provide Karachi with 1,000 megawatts of electrical power. The demand for power, however, is twice that amount.
“Because of serious tripping within the WAPDA transmission system at the Jamshoro and Hub area”, Naved said, “most of Sind Province was impacted by the disruption of electricity supply.” Two thermal power stations, two gas turbines, and Karachi’s nuclear power plant also stopped functioning during the outage.
.

India Forums : TV Actors Index

2009-06-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

India Forums : TV Actors Index

FLOWERS

2009-06-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

Chicken, Broccoli Rabe and Feta on Toast Recipe on Yahoo! Food

2009-06-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

Chicken, Broccoli Rabe and Feta on Toast Recipe on Yahoo! Food

Ayurveda, Ayurveda for healing/conditions, Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Natural Medicine

2009-06-23T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ayurveda, Ayurveda for healing/conditions, Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Natural Medicine

flower

2009-06-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

flower

2009-06-23T04:58:00.001-07:00

Skin Care : Your Beauty and Skincare

2009-05-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to have a glowing, shiny skin as it plays a vital role in our life, how one looks and feels mostly depends on ones skin.

Making the best choices for our bodies, and ultimately our skin, is achieved through our healthy diet, workout exercise, regular facial skin care treatments, personal home care or acne remedies, and a healthy mind.

» Read More

Kayani chairs high-level meeting to review operations

2009-05-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani today arrived from France and immediately on arrival; COAS presided over a high level meeting in General Headquarters to review the progress of ongoing military operations in Malakand and Swat.Kayani appreciated the conduct of operations and high morale of troops. He stressed upon the need to provide relief to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through an aggressive managem .... Full Story

Canada considering end to ban on military exports to Pakistan

2009-05-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked Canada to lift an 11-year ban on military exports to the country as it steps up a fight at home against the Taliban, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said here on Wednesday.

“We're contemplating that,” MacKay told reporters after meeting Pakistan's top leaders in Islamabad. “Clearly, disengagement did not work.”

Canada prohibited military exports to Pakistan in May 1998, after the country's first nucle ... Full Story