Entertainment and Showbiz! » K. Kumar

Jacko treats his kids to a glimpse of his past

admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:00:36 +0000

Michael Jackson took his three children to his hometown in Gary, Indiana, to show them where he spent his childhood.

The ‘Thriller’ hitmaker flew into Chicago, Illinois for a night at the luxurious Gold Coast hotel.

And the next morning, he allegedly took Prince Michael I, 11, Prince Michael II, six, and Paris, 10 around the rough neighbourhood where he grew up.

Later, the family flew off in their private jet, reports Contactmusic.

The 50-year-old pop star’s father Joe, recently announced plans to open a museum in the town of Gary, to honour the famous Jackson family. (ANI)

ShareThis

Heather Mills getting private business lessons from Branson

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:49:00 +0000

Heather Mills is taking private coaching from Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson, as part of her preparation for her appearance on ‘Celebrity Apprentice‘ in the US.

Sir Paul McCartney’s ex-wife is apparently so determined to win the competition that she has already started taking business lessons from Branson.

“She has decided to get a head start by picking the brains of one of the most famous businessmen in the world, who also happens to be one of her good friends,” the Daily Express quoted a pal, as saying.

“They’ve had in-depth chats about business tactics and strategies,” the pal added.

Mills, who is due to appear on the series this September, recently stayed at Necker Island, Branson’s British Virgin Islands retreat.

She is also said to be constantly leafing through piles of business books, including a tome written by the show’s host Donald Trump – Lessons From The Apprentice: Secrets To Success From The Boardroom To The Business World.

“She’s preparing for this show endlessly. She’s very dedicated and serious about winning this,” the pal added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Amy Winehouse’s dad says she is doing ‘fine’

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:47:44 +0000

Amy Winehouse’s father Mitch insists all is fine with the troubled singer after she punched a wall and burst out crying.

The 24-year-old’s fist was bleeding and one of her nails ripped off in the act. She also lashed out at her own security guards.

After the incident, she went out partying with ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace.

Winehouse is reportedly suffering from lung disease Emphysema and her face is also showing marks of a skin disease called impetigo.

“With her pale face and smeared make-up, she looked like something out of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video. It was really sad to see,” The Sun quoted an onlooker, as saying.

However, Mitch said: “Amy is doing fine.” (ANI)

ShareThis

Connie Francis’s high BP lands her in hospital

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:34:17 +0000

The ‘Where the Boys Are‘ singer Connie Francis was recently hospitalized with precariously high blood pressure, forcing her to call off her performance in New York.

Connie, was scheduled to perform with singer Neil Sedaka at the Capital One Bank Theatre in Westbury, but had to call it off.

She was admitted to Long Island Jewish Medical Centre’s coronary care unit, where she is said to be recuperating.

“She’s doing well,” E!Online quoted Connie’s agent Mike Church, as saying. Connie Francis has had a pretty successful career with 40 hits, four no. 1 singles to her credit/

She stopped recording in 1969 but has continued with Live Performances including her 2004 gig in Las Vegas. (ANI)

ShareThis

Hamilton nervous before every race

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:21:16 +0000

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he is a bag of nerves before every race. The McLaren star, 23, said: “I am only human. There are nerves, but I’m never thinking I might fail. ‘They are nerves of excitement.”

Hamilton heads into Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim leading the drivers’ championship on count back after his home win at Silverstone, The Sun reported.

But the Brit insisted: “There are still nine races to go and I have to focus on them.”

German Sebastian Vettel will join Red Bull next year from Toro Rosso as successor to David Coulthard, who retires at the end of the season. (ANI)

ShareThis

English teenager hits 11 sixes in 12 balls

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:17:07 +0000

Teenager Jamie Lee smashed an incredible 11 sixes in two overs, making himself a big hit with his cricket team.

In the first over, 18-year-old Jamie hit all six deliveries from a spin bowler over the boundary. For the next over, Jamie again faced a spin bowler. But this time he swiped at the first ball – and missed.

But he middled the next five, chalking up 66 runs in just 12 balls.

Jamie, who scored a further five sixes in his 132 not out, said: “I smashed most of the sixes straight over the bowler’s head. It was a brilliant feeling.”

“There were some polite claps when I got my first six and then the excitement mounted. People were cheering on the boundary and when I got my sixth six in a row, they just went mental,” he added.

Jamie admitted that he got carried away as the second spinner came up to test him.

The Mirror quoted Jamie as saying that spinner’s first ball came down to the leg side he went forward to whack it, but missed the delivery.

“I just decided to carry on hitting and I knocked the next five for six,” he said.

His batting led the second XI of Suffolk’s Mildenhall cricket club to a swift victory when they scored the 208 runs made by Walsham-le-Willows in a mere 13 overs.

Jamie usually turns out for the First XI as a bowler but was supposed to be taking it easy because he had a shoulder injury. (ANI)

ShareThis

Why the veggie burger tastes just as good as a non-veg one

admin — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:25:13 +0000

While a scrumptious non-veggie burger may be treat for your taste buds, the taste for meat could be based in part on expectation rather than reality, says a new study led by an Indian researcher, which shows that personal values deceive taste buds.

The study conducted by Richa Gupta from University of Nashville and colleagues has been published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

The research team conducted a series of studies that examined the symbolic meaning of foods and beverages.

They found that when it came to tasting meat or soft drinks, what influenced participants was what they thought they had eaten rather than what they actually ate.

The team notes that meat has an association with social power, and people who scored high in the authors’ Social Power Value Endorsement measure believed that a meat-containing item tasted better than a vegetarian alternative, even when both products were actually identical (one was mis-represented).

Similarly, participants who supported the values symbolized by Pepsi (Exciting Life, Social Power, and Recognition) gave a more favorable rating to the product they thought was Pepsi-even though they were drinking the low-price Woolworth cola.

Participants were told that they would taste either a beef sausage roll or a vegetarian alternative roll, and that they would drink either a Pepsi or a Woolworth Homebrand cola.

Some received the item they were told they would receive and some were given the similar-tasting item. Then they filled out a questionnaire about values and taste, along with their current food and soft drink consumption.

“Our present findings may have implications for efforts to promote better eating habits. Heavy meat eaters claim that they eat meat because it tastes better than other foods, such as meat substitutes,” the researchers said.

“Our results challenge that claim. Participants who ate the vegetarian alternative did not rate the taste and aroma less favorably than those who ate the beef product.

“Instead, what influenced taste evaluation was what they thought they had eaten and whether that food symbolized values that they personally supported … strategies that might persuade heavy meat eaters to change their diet include changing the cultural associations of fruits and vegetables to encompass values that meat eaters endorse (e.g., power and strength), or challenging heavy meat eaters’ assumptions about what tastes good by using in-store (blind) taste tests or showing them results of studies such as this one,” they added. (ANI)

ShareThis

One in five Brit pupils drinking six pints a week

admin — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:14:34 +0000

Most of the schoolchildren in Britain are downing six pints of beer a week, shows an official report.

The report published by the NHS Information Centre reveals that one in five 11 to 15-year-olds in England – 640,000 school pupils – had drunk alcohol in the past week.

The study found that the average amount consumed by teenagers who had drunk recently was 12.7 units a week, equivalent to six pints of beer or almost a bottle and a half of wine.

The shocking report also disclosed that a quarter of children have taken drugs at least once, and that one in three have smoked cigarettes.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has paved the way for a ban on anyone under 21 buying alcohol in some parts of the city to tackle the crime and antisocial behaviour linked to binge drinking.

“Where we have got particular problems in particular areas, off-licences and supermarkets should stop the sale of alcohol to the under-21s,” Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrats’ Shadow Health Secretary, added: “These are shocking figures, reflecting a culture where binge-drinking is truly out of control.

“A child drinking an average of six pints a week is likely to suffer dreadful health consequences later in life.” (ANI)

ShareThis

Scottish family loses Narnia domain name fight to C S Lewis’ estate

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:54:50 +0000

A Scottish couple has lost the battle in a property dispute with the estate of the author C.S. Lewis over a Narnia Internet domain name that they purchased for their 11-year-old son as a birthday gift.

Richard and Gillian Saville-Smith, from Edinburgh, paid 70 pounds for the domain name narnia.mobi in 2006 so their son could have it as an email address.

They were asked to return the domain name to the C.S. Lewis company but the couple refused.

The family was then slapped with a 128-page legal complaint filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Switzerland.

In the ruling, it was given that the domain name should be transferred to C.S. Lewis (Pte) Ltd.

Mr Saville-Smith’s wife Gillian said she was shocked by the decision.

“It should have been pretty straightforward,” BBC quoted Fergusson as saying.

“They had to prove that we had made a bad faith purchase, that we had been using it to make money.

“We provided very clear statements from the internet registration company saying that we had not tried to make any money and yet somehow it has just simply ignored the evidence,” she said.

She further added that they had not done anything illegal or wrong and that they we were perfectly entitled to have this domain name. She said she thought the WIPO had decided to transfer the domain name because the company has other Narnia trademarks.

“It did not really matter what we said,” Ms Fergusson stated.

“They should have to prove it but unfortunately they ignored the evidence and did not accept that an e-mail address for a child was a legitimate use,” she said.

In 2006, companies had a three-month period to express interest in .mobi website names before they were made more widely available.

“We have not done anything illegal or wrong, we were perfectly entitled to have this domain name,” Ms Fergusson said.

“There was three months in which they could have registered this. There was a private period for any trademark holder to register any .mobi domain name when they went on sale in 2006.

“We did not buy ours until after that three-month period had expired and it was open for public sale,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Madame Tussauds immortalizes Amy Winehouse in wax

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:53:58 +0000

A waxwork model of singer Amy Winehouse has been unveiled at London’s Madame Tussauds wax museum.

The waxwork has the Rehab singer dressed in the same outfit that she wore to the Brit awards – a yellow mini-dress and black high-heels.

Her parents, Mitch and Janis, unveiled the model, ‘complete with trademark beehive and sailor tattoos’.

Mitch said that the wax figure of his 24-year-old daughter was an ‘absolutely incredible’ likeness. “It captures her totally… but she’s not that skinny anymore,” BBC quoted him, as saying.

“I can’t get over the tattoos. They are perfect,” he added. (ANI)

ShareThis

The Marriage of Christian Bale is ‘rock solid’

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:52:52 +0000

Dark Knight star Christian Bale’s eight-year-old marriage to wife Sandra Blazic is ‘rock solid’. Apparently the actor’s much hyped spat with his mother Jenny and sister Sharon came after the former passed derogatory remarks about Sandra.

“Bale flew off the handle after his mom, among other things, made a disparaging remark about his wife,” E!Online quoted British Daily Mail, as saying.

According to the grapevine, marital troubles were just being brought in to explicate Christian’s arrest following his alleged row with his mother and sister.

In contrast the good news is that Warner Bros. the makers of ‘Dark Knight’ have announced that within mere 5 days of the release the movie has already made 200 million dollars at the box office – an all time record.

Bale, who was pictured with wife Sandra by his side at ‘Dark Knight’ premier in Spain, avoided any questions about his alleged family tiff.

Bale, who has a three year old daughter Emmeline with wife Sandra would be heading to New Mexico to resume shooting of his new movie Terminator: Salvation.

Purportedly the ‘Dark Knight’ star had a hissy fit during a shot but the whole drama did not affect the film production schedule either on or off the sets.

As for the bitter situation with the family, Bale’s attorney has denied any wrongdoing on his client’s part. (ANI)

ShareThis

Ozzy Osbourne to be honoured with Living Legend Award

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:51:18 +0000

Rock Legend Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured this year with the Living Legend award in the Classic Rock Roll of Honour.

Alice Cooper, who is a previous recipient of the honour, revealed that Osbourne would get the award at November’s Classic Rock awards where Whitesnake, Led Zeppelin and Def Leppard are also nominated for three awards.

As for Ozzy himself, well he’s over the moon.

“I couldn’t be happier to know that Classic Rock haven’t written me off!” BBC quoted Ozzy, as saying.

“Seriously, it’s a great honour and I’m looking forward to going to my first Classic Rock Awards in November. Can’t wait to see you there,” the singer added.

Led Zeppelin’s famous guitarist Jimmy Page, whose broken finger was the hot topic of the evening, was last year’s recipient of the living legend award.

The event would also see rockers Def Leppard and David Coverdale’s Whitesnake performing.

On the other hand Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Black Crowe, Alice Cooper as well as Big Linda, Stone Gods and four others have been nominated in the category of Album of the Year.

Ozzy Osbourne would be awarded with others winners at the gala ceremony, which would be held at London’s Park Lane Hotel on the 3rd of November. (ANI)

ShareThis

Frozen lips leave Gillian Anderson speechless!

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:16:02 +0000

American actress Gillian Anderson was at a loss for words while filming her new movie, because her lips froze from the cold. Anderson, 39, lost total functionality of her mouth while filming of ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe‘ movie in Canada, when she got frostbite.

“There were scenes where we had a lot of dialogue. And when you’re in that kind of weather and the wind is blowing and the snow is coming down, your lips actually do freeze. My mouth wouldn’t work at all,” Daily Star quoted her as saying.

Anderson previously admitted that she found the physical demands of the new X Files movie extremely taxing.

Anderson, back as Agent Dana Scully for the film, admitted that she was nowhere as agile as her athletic co-star David Duchovny.

“It was hard work, I’m too old for this. David’s in the best shape of his life and did most of the work. He’s climbing and jumping off cliffs.

“I was more exhausted by the end of it than he was. I’m a wimp,” she added.

The movie hits theaters this August. (ANI)

ShareThis

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince on holiday to save relationship

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:15:04 +0000

In a bid to save their shaky relationship, English supermodel Kate Moss and her rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince have flown to a secret location to iron out their differences.

There had been rumours going around that the duo’s relationship was on the rocks, with Hince moving his possessions out of the supermodel’s plush home.

But after a brief reconciliation in London, they decided to take a quiet break to talk things over.

“Jamie and Kate are mad about each other,” Daily Mirror quoted a source as saying.

“But they’ve been a bit edgy lately and a little break on their own is just what they need to get things back on track,” the source added.

The fight between the two is said to have arisen from Moss’ jealousy over his band mate Alison Mosshart.

Moss had been jealousy of Hince spending too much time with his band mate Mosshart and his excluding her from his rock life. (ANI)

ShareThis

Anne Hathaway sings away the blues with karaoke

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:14:29 +0000

Instead of feeling blue after her split from Italian businessman Raffaello Folleri, American actress Anne Hathaway was busy belting out karaoke songs.

The incident took place at Cape May, N.J. on July 21 night, and Hathaway, 25, was seen taking turns behind the microphone at a karaoke session.

The actress, who felt the need to sing Journey, had arrived at the Martini Beach restaurant on the Jersey shore with friends and family.

“She was the life and soul of the party,” People magazine quoted karaoke host Terry O’Brien as saying.

Even with the split, she was all smiles and was even one of the first singers of the evening crooning Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Hathaway danced around the tables during other songs before retaking the microphone for K.T. Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” (a song featured in her movie The Devil Wears Prada.

“Don’t put this on YouTube,” she told O’Brien. (ANI)

ShareThis

Radiohead and Robert Plant nominated for Mercury Prize

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:13:21 +0000

English alternative rock band Radiohead and Led Zeppelin frontman, Robert Plant have been nominated for this year’s Nationwide Mercury Music Prize.

While Radiohead has been nominated for ‘In Rainbows’, Plant and bluegrass singer Alison Krauss are nominated for ‘Raising Sand’, the album on which they collaborated last year.

Music critic Neil McCormick gave his verdict on the Mercury shortlist.

“It marked a change of direction for Plant and was described by The Daily Telegraph as “a haunted, trembling, otherworldly collection of country-flavoured darkness,” Daily Telegraph quoted McCormick as saying.

Also on the shortlist is Alex Turner, the Arctic Monkeys singer, nominated for the third time in as many years – this time with his side project, The Last Shadow Puppets, and their album The Age of Understatement.

Turner won the prize with the Arctic Monkeys in 2006, and their follow-up made the shortlist in 2007.

There are 12 albums on the Mercury Prize shortlist, awarded annually for the best album by a British or Irish artist.

Estelle, who has been on the music scene for a decade but is only now finding mainstream fame, and Adele, a Brits School alumnus, are nominated, alongside folk singer Rachel Unthank and teenager Laura Marling.

Aged 18, Marling is one of the youngest artists ever to be nominated for the prize.

A singer-songwriter in the Lily Allen mould, she began writing material at 15 and uploaded songs onto her MySpace site. She swiftly came to the attention of record bosses, who signed her up at 16. The teenager was once refused entry to one of her own gigs for being too young, and ended up busking outside.

The other acts on the shortlist are Elbow, Burial, British Sea Power, Neon Neon and Portico Quartet. The winner of the 20,000 pounds prize will be announced in September.

Nationwide Mercury Prize 2008 Albums of the Year

Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead – In Rainbows
British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
Burial – Untrue
Estelle – Shine
Adele – 19
Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim
Rachel Unthank and The Winterset – The Bairns
Neon Neon – Stainless Style
Portico Quartet – Knee Deep In The North Sea
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of Understatement (ANI)

ShareThis

Sean Connery’s rags to riches story

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:12:19 +0000

Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and no one knows this better than Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery, who’s lived the rags to riches story.

Connery was born in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, to poor parents, and a house that had no bathroom, only a communal toilet outside.

The actor, the youngest in the family, slept in the bottom drawer of a wardrobe until he was eight. Things only got worse when World War II broke out.

“I was nine when the Second World War broke out. We were living in Edinburgh in real poverty. We didn’t have the luxury of worrying about our inner selves,” Daily Express quoted him as having revealed.

He had limited education, leaving school at 13 to go to work as a milkman with St Cuthbert’s Co-operative Society.

“I educated myself, which may be why I still sometimes feel just like a little boy when I meet intellectuals,” he has said.

Employment records from 1944 show that aged 14, Connery earned 21 shillings a week as a barrow pusher. By 16 he had his own milk cart, making him the envy of every teenage milkie in town, but at 17 he joined the Royal Navy as an able seaman.

Two years later he was discharged on medical grounds because of a duodenal ulcer and returned to Edinburgh where he worked in a steel mill, delivering coal and polishing coffins at a cabinet makers.

In late 1951 he landed a part-time job as a stagehand at the King’s Theatre. He was also in demand as a model at the Edinburgh College of Art after taking up bodybuilding.

It was his impressive physique that provided him with a route out of working-class life, for in 1953, at the age of 22, he came third in the junior section of the Mr Universe contest in London and while in town heard a report that young men were being auditioned for a production of South Pacific at the Theatre Royal.

“How much am I getting?” was his first question on being chosen.

“That doesn’t concern me,” sniffed the producer.

“Well,” said the gruff Scotsman, “it concerns me.”

Connery revealed that there had been one time when he had been offered to play football by Matt Busby, the manager of Manchester United, with a contract worth 25 pounds-a-week, but refused, as it was not a long lasting job.

“I realised that a top-class footballer could be over the hill by the age of 30 and I was already 23. I decided to be an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves,” he had stated.

Regarding how he became James Bond, he recalled how he almost lost the role, as his broad shoulders and Scottish accent, led the creator of 007, Ian Fleming, to insist that the burly Connery was not at all the Bond he had envisaged.

They met in the early Sixties after the young actor won the career-defining role following his fledgling career on stage and television, including a part in a BBC production of Anna Karenina.

“I thought we were getting Commander Bond, not an overgrown stuntman,” Fleming is said to have mused as he analysed Connery’s muscled 6ft 2in frame.

But Connery had the requisite mix of sexual attraction and aggression needed for the part and eventually won over Fleming.

He attributed his success to his upbringing and to his inner strength.

“What I do know is that I’ve had an extraordinary life. What’s more, I started out with no qualifications. And however good life is to me, I never forget that. I never forget where I came from and that’s my strength,” he said.

The Scot says of the influences that shaped him: “I got my education in the great school of life. I started so low I could only go up. My experiences have made me the man I am today,” he added.

Connery provided the whole fascinating insight while discussing his long-awaited memoir Being A Scot, due to be published next month. (ANI)

ShareThis

Heidi Montag desperate to perform for US troops in Iraq

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:10:34 +0000

‘The Hills’ star Heidi Montag is desperate to go to Iraq along with boyfriend Spencer Pratt to perform for the US troops based there.

Montag, whose music is not exactly a hit in the U.S.A. despite three pop songs being released, has taken inspiration from her late brother Eric’O'Hara, who once fought in Afganistan and Iraq.

The star plans to pay tribute to the American troops fighting there.

“It’s very important to me and important to Spencer to support the troops and go over there,” New York Daily News quoted Montag, as telling Extra.

Apparently Meghan McCain, the daughter of Republican Presidential candidate John McCain is making every effort to organize the trip for the couple.

“I think Meghan McCain is helping organize Heidi and our Iraq trip, her dad definitely has some pull with the military,” Heidi’s boyfriend Pratt said.

“I think she’s going to put that together for us,” he added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Jennifer Connelly is the new face of Revlon

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:47:57 +0000

Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly has been chosen as the new face of Revlon.

Connelly will not only be the face of 76-year-old world-renowned brand’s the beauty products but will also represent Revlon in its multifarious fundraising efforts, including the annual Revlon Run/Walk for Women, a frequent celeb-studded event held in Los Angeles and New York benefiting breast cancer research and awareness.

“Connelly is an accomplished wife, mother and actress and her successes complement the spirit of the Revlon brand,” E! Online quoted Revlon CEO and president David Kennedy, as saying

Connelly, 37, is delighted to be the face of the brand endorsed by many high profile celebrities like Halle Berry, Lucy Liu and Jessica Alba.

“Revlon is one of the great iconic brands of today and I am thrilled to be part of a company that has done so much for women around the world,” Connelly said. (ANI)

ShareThis

Jackman won’t give new mum Kidman ‘annoying advice’

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:47:16 +0000

‘X-Men‘ star Hugh Jackman has just one piece of advice for new parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban: ‘Don’t rock the baby‘.

Apart from this, Jackman insists he will not be giving the couple any more advice, for he finds that there’s nothing more irritating.

“I didn’t give any advice because anyone who’s actually had kids knows there’s nothing more annoying than all the advice you get on how to do it,” Contactmusic quoted Jackman, as saying.

“Actually the best bit of advice was from the guy who delivered the baby, when my first son Oscar was born, he came in and the birth happened about two minutes later and as he was leaving he said, ‘Congratulations, don’t rock the baby,” Jackman said.

“Cut to two weeks later, the baby won’t sleep and we’re rocking it,” he added (ANI)

ShareThis

Drew Barrymore ‘still in love with rocker ex-beau’

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:44:56 +0000

Drew Barrymore reportedly broke up with Justin Long because she was still in love with ex-beau The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti.

A source told the National Enquirer that even when she was with Long, the ’50 First Dates’ star could not stop thinking about Moretti, reports China Daily.

“Drew just couldn’t get Fabrizio out of her mind. She says Justin was great, but what she had with him just wasn’t as strong,” the source said.

The actress remained in contact with Fabrizio even after splitting up with him following a five-year romance.

In fact, the 33-year-old actress seems to be ready to settle down and start a family with him.

“Drew told me, ‘I want kids, and I want them pretty soon, and the more I am away from Fabrizio, the more I realise he is the one’,” said the source.

It’s believed that Barrymore has even disclosed her feelings to the rocker and he is delighted at the prospect of rekindling their romance.

“He is certainly in favour of having her back. It is only a matter of time before he and Drew are together again,” said a source. (ANI)

ShareThis

Watch Snoop Dogg’s bhangra in Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Singh is Kinng’

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:43:11 +0000

Famous rapper Snoop Dogg can be seen doing the Punjabi traditional dance bhangra with Bollywood star Akshay Kumar in the title track of the upcoming flick ‘Singh is Kinng’

Sources revealed that the rapper dressed exactly like a Sikh with a turban on his head while recording the track.

They even said that the rapper was to have his own crew and clothes, but Akshay convinced him to wear a turban.

“Snoop was to have his own crew and clothes. But Akshay convinced him to don a sardar look for the £250,000 video. It’s totally different from what you’d expect from him. With the song you get two very different styles – hip-hop with Snoop and bhangra with Akshay. Their chemistry’s well worth seeing!” the Mirror quoted a source as saying. (ANI)

ShareThis

Blame your hubby for your being fat!

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:40:58 +0000

Tried everything but can’t seem to get rid of your post-marriage love handles? Well, don’t question your determination for the failed plan, for the real culprit behind all weight worries is your hubby.

Yes, you heard it right. According to health experts, a husband is more of a hindrance than help in a wife’s battle with the bulge.

“For some women, marriage definitely can be fattening,” the Courier Mail quoted Dr Brian Steadman, a leading British authority on nutrition, as saying.

“It’s hard enough for them to stick to good eating habits when they’re single, but they can find it impossible after they’re married.

“For a start, they’ve got to prepare food for two people, and it gets worse when children come along. Suddenly, she is constantly thinking about food – buying it, cooking it, fixing snacks and meals at different times of the day.

“And if the husband doesn’t need to diet, then with all the best intentions in the world, the poor woman is going to find it very tough preparing big wholesome meals for the family and low-calorie snacks for herself,” he added.

Dr Richard B. Stuart, an American authority on slimming and nutrition, and former psychological director of Weight Watchers International, the author of Act Thin, Stay Thin, agrees.

“If a woman can’t stay on a diet, it could easily be her husband’s fault,” he said.

“In fact, a husband might subconsciously be encouraging his wife to remain fat, and make it harder for her to lose weight,” he added.

Dr B. Stuart has given some reasons as to why this could be so: if he feels in any way insecure in his relationship, then he reasons that a plump wife is less likely to leave him or make other men jealous, if he has a low sex drive then having a fat wife is a very good excuse for lack of interest or potency.

If he’s the kind who isn’t prepared to put a lot of effort into the marriage, then it will be much easier for him to keep her “fat” than “happy”, Dr B. Stuart said.

If his wife is a failure as a dieter, it “allows” him to have his workaholic schedule or an affair and there are many other ways that a husband, perhaps unwittingly, can hinder his wife’s ambitions to keep her weight down, the health expert added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Naomi Campbell slams new crop of ’super’ models

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:39:51 +0000

Naomi Campbell has claimed that most current models don’t deserve the tag ’super’, insisting that there hasn’t been a new ’supermodel’ since Gisele Bundchen.

The 38-year-old beauty believes younger catwalk stars have a lot to prove. The Brit stunner believes that the supermodel tag is handed out too easily, and that most of the models who claim the accolade don’t deserve it.

“Models need to earn their stripes – I just think the term is used a little too loosely,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

“Kate Moss is obviously a supermodel but, after Gisele, I don’t think there’s been one,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Eva Mendes strips for Calvin Klein’s new underwear line

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:37:46 +0000

Eva Mendes will soon be making men’s hearts skip a beat, as she’s getting set to pose for a new Calvin Klein underwear campaign.

The gorgeous actress will show off her perfect body wearing nothing but Klein’s classy lingerie in the label’s new Seductive Comfort line show.

The new bras will be available in stores later this year (08). Recently, the 30-year-old Mendes lavished praise for the media for not “trashing” her rehab stint.

Mendes had entered Utah’s Cirque Lodge centre in February this year. As for the reason why she entered rehab, it has been said that she had to “proactively” attend to “some personal issues”. (ANI)

ShareThis

Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke to pose nude for Playboy?

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:36:10 +0000

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke may soon be baring all for men’s mag Playboy.

Brooke, who is presently starring in her own reality show ‘Brooke Knows Best’, has become quite popular with the masses and the Playboy team is pretty eager to cast her in their magazine.

“Playboy has asked her to consider doing the cover, or at least a photo shoot,” the Sun quoted a VH1 insider, as saying.

“Every year the magazine features the girls of the WWE, but this would be Hulk Hogan’s daughter – it would be the ultimate!” the insider added.

However Hulk’s say on the whole issue is unclear. (ANI)

ShareThis

Coming Soon: ‘The Simpsons’ big screen sequel

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:34:18 +0000

Fans of the hit comedy ‘The Simpsons’ can rejoice as Homer and his family are heading back to the big screen.

Creator Matt Groening decided to create the sequel seeing the phenomenal box office reception of the first Simpsons movie last year. The movie raked in a whopping 250 million pounds.

However the 54-year-old cartoonist hasn’t specified as to when the movie will be ready to release. “It will happen at some point, but I have no idea when,” the sun quoted Matt Groening, as saying

“The first one took us four years, mainly because we don’t like to work any harder than we usually do. It’s going to be a while but we’ll get to it, I’m sure,” he added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Take a look at Peaches Geldof’s drugs shopping list!

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:31:29 +0000

British socialite Peaches Geldof’s was caught in the red when a drugs shopping list allegedly believed to be hers was found on a pub table on July 22.

The list, which is believed to have been written by Peaches herself, contained the name of some drugs, including cocaine and viagra, and it also had her name scribbled on it.

The A4 paper found in the pub read: “Peaches: 30 pounds, weed. S Paul & Peaches and Vanessa 30 pounds weed, 1 coke (both for 85 pounds),” the Sun reported.

It also listed 60 pounds Diaz, thought to mean Diazepam, used by druggies to bring themselves down from a high and, bizarrely, Peaches’ name next to 2 Viagra, the anti-impotence drug.

The note had been found by Jayd Kent, 25, who was at trendy Old Blue Last bar in Shoreditch, East London, when she spotted Peaches, wearing a huge leopard print fur coat, sit at a table with pals.

After Peaches and heroin OD victim Paula Yates left the pub, they left the paper behind and it was picked up by Kent, who said it looked like a list for drugs for the night.

“It seemed to cover drugs they wanted for the night,” computer worker Kent said.

“It detailed some pretty hardcore drugs,” she added. A spokesman for the star insisted that the list does not proof that Peaches had written it.

“We cannot speculate on a list when there is no proof that Peaches wrote it,” the rep had said. (ANI)

ShareThis

Natalie Portman to star in boyfriend’s Bollywood spoof video

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:26:58 +0000

Devendra Banhart has recruited his girlfriend/actress Natalie Portman to star in the video for his new single ‘Carmensita‘.

The 27-year-old actress portrays a princess who must be rescued from an evil king by a bearded prince, played by Banhart. The video spoofs Bollywood films and includes dancing, sword play, subtitles and special effects.

Portman met Banhart in March (08) and the couple has been virtually inseparable ever since.

“He’s funny, scary-smart and in love with her. This is a serious one, and they seem to be in it for the long haul,” Contactmusic quoted a source, as saying.

“I’ve never seen her so in love or connected to somebody. I definitely wouldn’t be shocked if he popped the question (of marriage) soon,” the source added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Steve Bartman video: Making sense of the foul ball catch! (updated)

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:23:37 +0000

So the entire hullabaloo surrounding Steve Bartman is because “he denied his team the chance of a winning catch against the Florida Marlins. During that game, he stuck his hand out just as a Cubs fielder was poised to catch an out ball. He blocked the catch, and the shaken Cubs proceeded to drop from a 3-0 lead to an 8-3 defeat. Really?

Check out the video and you would realise that Moisés Alou would not have able to take that catch anyways. It was just a co-incidence that Steve Bartman extended his hand without seeing Moisés Alou and the rest is history. He said “”I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball the entire time and was so caught up in the moment that I did not even see Moisés Alou much less that he may have had a play.”

In April 2008, even Moisés Alou was quoted as saying, “Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, ‘Bartman is a douche bag!’ I feel really bad for the kid….You know what the funny thing is? I wouldn’t have caught it, anyway.” “It’s time to forgive the guy and move on.”

The incident has been revisited as a sports collectibles company is giving away $25,000 for a signature to Steve if he signs on the photograph showing that infamous catch.

ShareThis

Megan Fox is no fan of nude scenes

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:21:55 +0000

American actress Megan Fox has revealed that doing nude scenes is not really her cup of tea.

Even though Fox, 22, may seem to be free-spirited, she insists that having to do a number of nude scenes in her latest movie “Jennifer’s Body” was not enjoyable.

“I have a few love scenes. I eat and seduce everyone – boys and girls. There’s a lot of kissing and craziness. It was awkward, it’s always awkward and it’s never fun,” Daily Telegraph quoted Fox as telling Fox news.

“Johnny Simmons and I got really close and became really good friends, so it was hard not to just laugh hysterically and endlessly.

“So I’m kissing him and he’s like my brother – it was really awful. He got spit in my mouth and it was gross,” she said.

The other thing that Fox is not comfortable with is her status as one of the world’s most beautiful women. “I’m not comfortable with it at all. It annoys me,” she revealed.

“I don’t leave my home ever. If it do, it’s to go to KFC, so I’m not involved in Hollywood at all. I don’t ever read anything about myself – people that I know that have Google alerts on themselves are all crazy.

“My mom tells me a nice thing once in a while, but she weeds out all the negatives to spare me. But I don’t care,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Celebrating five years of Steve Bartman’s infamous foul ball catch?

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:17:14 +0000

It was in October, 2003 that Mr Steve Bartman unintentionally denied cubs the chance of a winning catch against the Florida Marlins. During that game, he stuck his hand out just as a Cubs fielder was poised to catch an out ball. He blocked the catch, and the shaken Cubs proceeded to drop from a 3-0 lead to an 8-3 defeat – a bitter loss compounded at playoffs on Wednesday when the Marlins won 9-6 to win the series. [source]

Now the same act has come to haunt Steve Bartman after almost five years. A sports company has announced $25,000 for Steve. The website says “All he has to do is show up on Thursday July 31, 2008 at 1:00 PM, prove that he is the Steve Bartman pictured in this photo, sign the photo and the $25,000 is his.”

Whether Steve Bartman turns up or not is still a question, but there is feeling in the people and blogosphere that his mistake has been taken advantage of once again – and this time for a marketing gimmick – which is not fair at all.

After all, Steve Bartman has apologised for whatever he did. Shortly after the incident, Bartman released a statement, saying he was “truly sorry”. He added, “I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball the entire time and was so caught up in the moment that I did not even see Moisés Alou much less that he may have had a play.”Trying to maintain a low profile, Bartman declined interviews, endorsement deals, and requests for public appearances, and his family changed their phone number to avoid harassing phone calls.

Well, even the ball and the seat have not been spared . The loose ball was snatched up by a Chicago lawyer and sold at an auction in December. Grant DePorter purchased it for $113,824.16 on behalf of Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group. In 2004, it was publicly exploded in a procedure designed by Cubs fan and Academy Award winning special effects expert Michael Lantieri.

In 2005, the remains of the ball were used by the restaurant in a pasta sauce. While no part of the ball itself was in the sauce, the ball was boiled and the steam captured, distilled, and added to the final concoction.

In the intervening years since the incident, the Bartman seat (Aisle 4, Row 8, Seat 113) has become a tourist attraction at Wrigley Field. Fans often take pictures of each other sitting in it, and it is frequently covered with Cubs stickers.

It has already been too much for Steve and should stop now. May the baseball fans come forward to save another fan who is being targeted for their selfish motive. If this harassment continues, it will be the loss of the game itself!

ShareThis

Amy Winehouse wants ‘at least five kids’ with hubby Blake

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:26:44 +0000

Troubled singer Amy Winehouse reveals that she wants at least five kids with hubby Blake Fielder Civil, while denying reports that the two are in an open relationship.

Winehouse vowed her love for her husband, who has been sentenced to a 27-month term in jail for brutally beating Jamie King a LA pub landlord and perverting justice, saying both of them are totally obsessed with each other.

“Blake and I can’t wait to have kids. I want at least five kids. I want twins. Blake is gonna be the most amazing dad. When Blake was about we talked about it all the time,” The Telegraph quoted Winehouse, as saying.

“To be honest, I think kids have got a lot more going on than adults. They’ve got their heads screwed on a lot better,” she added.

The Back to Black singer also denied allegations that the two were cheating on each other after a young blonde claiming to be Fielder-Civil’s current girlfriend sobbed in the public gallery as she saw him jailed.

“Does that mean we see other people? No way. We are absolutely obsessed with each other. We both pinch ourselves daily. It’s unbelievable that the person that you’re obsessed with is the person who loves you most in the world. My Blake is a very doting husband,” Winehouse said.

“I’m happiest with my family around me. When I see my dad smiling and laughing and all that. And when my Blake’s happy, that goes with when I’m happy,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Heath Ledger ‘was probably a drug addict’, says expert

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:25:39 +0000

Heath Ledger’s consumption of drugs before his death indicates that he was probably an addict, according to America’s best-known addiction expert.

In an interview, Los Angeles-based Dr Drew Pinsky said that the actor’s drug intake was not a secret in Hollywood.

“There were people who were very concerned about his drug use in this town before he died,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Pinsky, as saying.

Head of Los Angeles’ Las Encinas Hospital’s department of chemical dependency services and a high-profile figure on American TV said that the 28-year-old actor was another casualty of a prescription drug abuse epidemic.

“We see this all the time. We have an absolute epidemic of patients dying exactly the way he died – drug addicts,” Pinsky said.

“I don’t know him, but I’ve never seen a patient die of that kind of reckless combination of medicine that wasn’t a drug addict,” Pinsky added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Marriage woes, Ledger’s death taking a toll on Christian Bale?

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:24:35 +0000

Depression after the death of close friend Heath Ledger and marital woes have been cited as the reasons British actor Christian Bale allegedly assaulted his family.

Bale had been arrested for allegedly assaulting his mother and sister at a London hotel, and as per a source close to the 34-year-old actor, the tension has been building up in him and he has been finding it very difficult to cope and control his anger.

“He has stresses in his marriage,” News.com.au quoted the source as having told Daily Mail.

“He can have a terrible temper. Instead of lashing out at his wife, he sometimes lashes out at people around him.

“Without Ledger around he’s found it more and more difficult to communicate with those around him, especially his family,” the source said.

Bale, who had previously admitted to suffering from depression and bouts of insomnia, has been released on bail. He had to spend several hours at a London police station before being released without charge, his Los Angeles-based spokeswoman, Jennifer Allen, revealed.

“Christian Bale attended a London police station today, on a voluntary basis, in order to assist with an allegation that had been made against him to the police by his mother and sister,” Allen said.

“Mr Bale, who denies the allegation, co-operated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police,” she added.

The police were asked if Bale had been arrested and released on bail.

“A 34-year-old man has been bailed to return to a police station on a date in September,” a police spokeswoman said.

According to British media reports, Bale’s mother and sister contacted the police in London on July 20 night, a day before the European premiere of The Dark Knight.

The Sun newspaper said police did not question Bale immediately because they didn’t want to interfere with the movie’s premiere.

Bale was on the red carpet with co-stars Michael Caine and Maggie Gyllenhaal in central London’s Leicester Square on Monday night.

A spokeswoman for the film’s distributor, Warner Bros, said the police inquiry involving Bale would have no effect on the studio’s international press tour for the movie, which goes next to Barcelona then on to Tokyo.

“Everybody is continuing with business as usual,” she said. (ANI)

ShareThis

Rowling regrets not telling mom about Harry Potter book

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:23:30 +0000

British writer JK Rowling revealed that she regrets not having told her mother, Anne, about the Harry Potter book she was writing.

Rowling had started writing the book just six months before her mother died of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 45.

“I started writing Harry six months before she died. That’s obviously a real regret, because I never told her I was even writing it,” Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying in an interview for a BBC Scotland documentary.

“She knew I wanted to write – I’m not sure how seriously she took it. She never knew anything about Harry Potter at all,” she said.

The series of books has gone on to sell 375 million copies worldwide and spawn five blockbuster films, with the sixth installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due out in November this year.

Rowling, patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, also voiced frustration at the level of funding available for research into the debilitating disease.

Rowling further spoke of her pain at witnessing the gradual decline of her mother, whom she had perceived as “invulnerable”, prior to her death in 1990.

“She had me very young. She had me when she was 20, so I was 25 when she died,” the 42-year-old told the documentary.

“When I left home, she was walking unaided. By the time I graduated, she was in a wheelchair and in the house she needed a walking frame. It was awful to watch,” she added.

Rowling, who contributed to the cost of a new MS research centre in Edinburgh, has labelled MS the “Cinderella of illness” because it is under-funded and ignored. (ANI)

ShareThis

Why writing about important values helps seeing one’s own follies

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:13:31 +0000

No one likes to be told that their behavior towards others is irrational, irresponsible, or unhealthy. In fact, when confronted with evidence that their behavior is hurtful to others, most people start being defensive.

A recent research has shown that just a few minutes of writing about an important value can reduce this kind defensiveness.

This study was based on the assumption that writing about important values boosts self-esteem, or makes people feel good about themselves and this makes them less defensive.

Now, a latest research has challenged this finding by suggesting that writing about important values doesn’t reduce defensiveness by boosting the self; instead, it enables people to transcend the self by focusing on people or things they care about beyond themselves.

On the basis of two experiments, Jennifer Crocker and Yu Niiya from the University of Michigan and Dominik Mischkowski from the University of Konstanz they found that writing about important values makes people feel loving and connected, and that these other-directed feelings account for reduced defensiveness.

In the first study, the researchers asked participants to rank six values – social life, religion/morality, science, business, arts, and government. One group later wrote for 10 minutes about why their most important value was important to them, while the control group wrote for 10 minutes about how their least important value might be important to others.

Afterwards, they rated how much writing the essay made them feel love, empathy or other emotions.

In the second study, participants were smokers and nonsmokers. Like the first study, participants wrote about an important or unimportant value.

This time, however, they next read a fake article claiming that smoking increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms, a bulge in the main artery of the heart, and the quality of the research described in the article.

The results for both studies were very strong. In both studies, those who wrote about an important value felt more loving and connected after writing the essays than those who wrote about an unimportant value.

And specifically in the second study, writing about an important value made smokers less defensive – they were more accepting of the article’s claim that smoking harms health if they wrote about an important value instead of an unimportant value.

“These studies raise the prospect that reminding people what they love or care about may enable them to transcend the self and may foster learning under difficult circumstances,” the researchers said in the July issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

The researchers speculate that the love and connection people feel after writing about important values could affect hormones related to care giving, such as oxytocin.

Because oxytocin increases trust, it might account for reduced defensiveness in people who take a few minutes to reflect on their important values. (ANI)

ShareThis

JLo laughs off ‘diva’ tag

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:11:23 +0000

Jennifer Lopez has laughed off the tag that she’s a ‘tantrum throwing diva’. The ‘Waiting for Tonight‘ hitmaker blamed the media for exaggerating such reports.

The new mommy had previously been said to demand an all-white dressing room and hotel accommodation, decked out in white lilies or roses.

Other requests allegedly included grapefruit or lime blossom scented candles from beauty firm Jo Malone, humidifiers and a preferred room temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.

But Lopez has insisted that the demands that have earned her a reputation as a diva are completely baseless, and any peculiar requests are probably down to her personal assistants who do their best to make her feel at home while she’s abroad.

“I think it’s easier to make up this type of story rather than tell the truth. Like everybody in this profession, I have a list but I haven’t seen mine in years,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

“I’m sure it’s got (sic) longer without me knowing it. Really, I don’t have any special requests, it must be my team’s doing. They know my likes and they just want me to be comfortable, but believe me, I’m a nice guest at hotels!” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Miley Cyrus to bare all for new film role?

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:10:25 +0000

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus may be making headlines for all the wrong reasons once again, after it was revealed that she’s keen on doing a new movie role that could require her to strip.

The news comes just as the controversy over her topless Vanity Fair pictures were dying down. According to a source, Miley is pretty eager to star in the ‘Undiscovered Girl’ based on Alison Burnett’s novel.

“It is still early days, but Miley is really interested in the film, which follows the story of a lovable, lost suburban girl who descends into a life of reckless partying and promiscuity,” the Sun quoted a source, as saying.

Miley who has not yet landed the film role is totally enthusiastic to act in the movie, which would certainly have nude scenes.

“If she does get the part, you will be seeing a lot more of her than you did in the Vanity Fair photos – there would definitely be nude scenes,” the source added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Christian Bale denies assault allegations

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:09:27 +0000

Actor Christian Bale has denied the allegations of assaulting his mother and sister.

The Batman star’s mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 40, have lodged a complaint against him in UK Police station after the actor allegedly hit out at Park Lane’s swanky Dorchester Hotel – where he has a suite.

“Mr. Bale who denies the allegation, co-operated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police,” the statement continued.

“At this time, there will be no further comment by Mr. Bale,” they said. (ANI)

ShareThis

Christian Bale released after arrest for alleged assault

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:08:41 +0000

Actor Christian Bale was arrested and released following assault allegations made by his own mother and sister.

According to the reports, the ‘Dark Knight’ star lashed out his mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 40, on Sunday at London’s Dorchester hotel, where he was staying before Monday’s U.K. premiere of The Dark Knight.

Bale was questioned by London police and released after several hours. He has not been formally charged.

Meanwhile the actor has denied the allegations made by his mother and sister. Bale has to return to the station in September pending further inquiries.

According to Usmagazine.com, a police spokesman – who declined to identify Bale said: “A 34-year-old man attended a London Police Station on Tuesday by appointment and was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault. He remains in custody.”

ShareThis

Empire of the Sun had won Christian Bale the award of Best Young Actor!

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:00:55 +0000

The troubled star Christian Bale had joined the film industry at a very small age of 12 years and had done a couple of movies. Within a year he was the talk of the town with his role of Jim Graham in Empire of the Sun. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg.

The movie Empire of the Sun is based on the novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard; the film’s screenplay being adapted by Tom Stoppard and Menno Meyjes. The film was critically acclaimed, being nominated for six Oscars and winning three BAFTAs (for Cinematography, Music and Sound). Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the National Board of Review — an award specially created for his performance in Empire of the Sun.

The plot of the story revolves around a young boy Jamie Graham, who lives with his rich parents in a luxurious Shanghai suburb. The good times comes to an abrupt end in 1941 when the Empire of Japan, having more or less occupied China since 1937, launch war against United States, Great Britain and Holland.

Jamie is separated from his parents, who are evacuated. He spends some months living in his deserted house, living on the remnants of packaged food. He ventures into Shanghai and finds it bustling with Japanese troops who ignore his attempts at surrender. Eventually, he falls in with an American, Basie (Malkovich), who renames him “Jim,” and when they are captured Jim uses great ingenuity to stay with Basie. The story moves with lots of twists and turns and He is sent back to Shanghai and meets his parents.

However, this was not Bale’s first attempt at acting. His first foray into acting was a commercial for the fabric softener Lenor in 1982, when he was eight years old. He appeared in a Pac-Man cereal commercial playing a child rock star a year later and in 1984 made his stage debut in the The Nerd, opposite Rowan Atkinson.

ShareThis

Alycia Lane and her pictures: The complete Story!

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:23:34 +0000

There is a lot frenzy on internet at the moment for story related to Alycia Lane. Her famous bikini pictures can be found here. To start with, Alycia Lane is a 34 years old American television journalist and erstwhile co-anchor of the weekday evening newscasts on KYW-TV in Philadelphia.

Everything was going well until May 2007 when Lane emailed pictures of herself and friends, depicting her in a bikini, to the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen. These pictures found their way to the national media via her wife. Lane insisted that the pictures were harmless[6] and that she and Eisen have been “purely platonic” friends “for almost 10 years”, and that they “regularly exchange e-mail and photos”

Things seemed to have settled down but during December the same year, Lane was charged with one felony count of assault on a police officer.

This was followed by Lane’s release from her contract with KYW-TV. It said “The termination comes at a time when there has been absolutely no determination that Alycia is guilty of any wrongful conduct, and after KYW-TV has aired her categorical denial of the alleged charge that is pending against her. The termination is unfair because Alycia has never had an opportunity to defend against this charge, and tell her side of the story publicly, before KYW-TV has taken this unusual and unwarranted step to terminate her employment.”

Now, Alycia Lane is again in news as her ex-colleague Larry Mendte has been charged with accessing her e-mail box unlawfully and and intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization. This could lead to serious consequences for Larry Mendte.

ShareThis

Winehouse’s hubby sentenced to 27 months in jail

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:50:04 +0000

Troubled singer Amy Winehouse’s husband Blake Fielder Civil has been sentenced to 27 months in jail.

According to the grapevine, incarcerated Blake had branded the judge presiding over the case an ‘old bastard’ in a letter stating he had struck a plea bargain.

Blake who was sentenced for brutally beating Jamie King a LA pub landlord, and perverting justice on June 9.

Civil, a 26-year-old junkie, admitted to having beaten the pub landlord only after Judge David Radford signalled a guilty plea would reduce a possible 5 year sentence.

“I was obviously guilty anyway and thought three to four years would be be a result! So anyway my Little Lissy, guess what the old b*****d said my maximum was? . . . are you in suspense yet?. . . 27 months! What do you think of that my delicious baby?” Blake wrote to friend Melissa Goldstone reports the Sun.

While Winehouse was missing at the court hearing, model Sophie Schandorff was there.

“Blake’s mum says I’m the only person he wants to see,” the Sun quoted the model, as telling a pal.

However Winehouse’s father Mitch revealed the sentence was quite what he expected and even Amy had prepared herself for Blake’s stay in prison.

Georgette Blake’s mother termed the sentence to be pretty harsh and as for the survival of her son’s marriage she said a lot of support may help the marriage survive.

“If I’m really, really honest, if Blake was away from Amy, I’d have every faith that Blake would never go back to drugs,” georgette said.

“It’s absolutely imperative that Amy for the first time realises the misery and the heartache that these drugs have caused. It has to stop,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

No heartbreak for Salma Hayek over split

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:44:23 +0000

Mexican actress Salma Hayek is so optimistic about life that even her split from her fiancé François-Henri Pinault has not pulled her down.

Hayek’s close pal, Felipe Fernandez Del Paso revealed that the actress is doing well despite the split from her daughter Valentina’s father.

Del Paso insisted that even though the media had suggested that the split was shocking to Hayek, it was not so.

“It came as a shock to you, but not to those who know her, and my friend is not depressed,” Contactmusic quoted Del Paso as saying.

“They’re (Hayek and Pinault) both very intelligent; they have a daughter together and they’ll be able to work it out,” he added.

Hayek’s publicist confirmed the split last week (18Jul08). (ANI)

ShareThis

The arrest of Christian Bale : How could he assault his mother and sister?

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:33:12 +0000

The ‘Dark Knight‘ star Christian Bale has been reportedly arrested by the police after being accused by his mother and sister of assault. Bale’s mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 40, lodged a complaint against him in UK Police station after the actor alleged hit out at Park Lane’s swanky Dorchester Hotel – where he has a suite.

“We can confirm we have received allegation from another force in relation to an alleged incident in central London,” news.com.au quoted a Met Police spokesman, as saying.

Earlier this year Hollywood actor Heath Ledger who plays the arch-villain in the movie died of drug over dose and prior to the star’s death a special effects technician was killed in a stunt accident.

While The rumour has it that the movie Dark Knight is jinxed as some or the other controversy keeps on surrounding it, it is difficult to belive that a family oreinted person like Bale would assault his mother and sister.

His mother Jenny James was a circus clown and performer and has played an important role in shaping the career of Christian. Bale has described his childhood, with respect to his mother being in the circus, as interesting. He recalled his first kiss was with an acrobat named Barta. As a child, he trained in ballet and guitar.His sister Louise’s work in theatre also influenced his decision to become an actor. Furthermore, in an interview Bale speaks of his grandfather being a stand up comedian, ventriloquist, and magician. Bale’s father David was very supportive of his son’s acting, resigning from his job as a commercial pilot to travel and manage Bale’s burgeoning career.

Christian Bale’s father David Bale was an activist for environmental and animal rights causes. He served as a board member of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Ark Trust, which in 2002 became the Hollywood branch of the Humane Society of the United States. He also served as a board member for World Education, Inc., an international non-profit organization known for its work in educational development, located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Like his father, David, Christian Bale is known as an activist, and is a supporter of activism and animal welfare groups such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund. He has been a vegetarian since age six when he read Charlotte’s Web and made the connection between animals and meat.

Fans of Christian Bale are hoping that the situation will be alright before it goes out of control.

ShareThis

Jessica Simpson turns emotional at country music festival

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:03:55 +0000

The country music festival in Wisconsin on Saturday July 19 night saw Jessica Simpson turning tearful and emotional.

Simpson was playing to a crowd of several thousand, including her boyfriend Tony Romo, at Country Thunder USA.

“This is my first time being onstage in three years. Coming out tonight makes me extremely emotional, I’m so thankful for all of the personal struggles and all of the tabloids and all of the people that talk s—,” People magazine quoted her as saying.

“I’m so happy I went through that because it makes life so much more beautiful,” she continued, choking back tears.

Simpson even dedicated a song to Romo titled “You’re My Sunday.”

“Tonight there’s this guy here, he throws a football and he’s really good at it, he’s my better tomorrow and I wrote this song for him,” she told the crowd.

She further addressed the difficulties surrounding her fame.

“Any man that is going to date me has to put up with a lot,” she said.

“I don’t know what your perception is of Jessica Simpson or what tabloid you buy, but I just want you to know that I’m just a girl from Texas; I’m just like you. I’m doing what I love and dating a boy,” she added. (ANI)

ShareThis

Big Brother couple go ‘all the way’ live on telly!

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:49:35 +0000

Big Brother odd couple Bex Shiner and Luke Marsden set the TV screens on fire after a live all-night romp on the show.

The couple dived beneath the covers and the cameras caught the duvet moving up and down.

Microphones near the bed picked up some bizarre moaning and grunting, and after they had finished a scruffy Bex came out of the covers to straighten her top.

However, the reality show’s bosses refused to confirm the romp, which has triggered a buzz. “You will have to ask them what they did when they leave the show,” Daily Star quoted a spokeswoman as saying.

Luke had once said, “I don’t fancy Bex. She smokes, she drinks, she swears. She is everything I hate. “If you offered me £100,000 or Rebecca, I’d take the money. She is bonkers.” (ANI)

ShareThis

Megan Gale loses modelling assignment to hottie Elle McPherson

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:40:40 +0000

After being replaced by supermodel Miranda Kerr in the David Jones assignment, Megan Gale has lost another project to model Elle ‘The Body’ McPherson.

Gale has been sidelined to make way for McPherson as the face of sunscreen Invisible Zinc.

After much media speculation it has been confirmed that McPherson has been selected to launch the top-selling brand into the US market.

“Our new range combined with Elle’s involvement will help us take our message to a much wider audience,” Daily Telegraph quoted founder Andrea Horwood-Bux, as saying. Megan, who was the brand’s Australian ambassador in 2004, chose not to comment. (ANI)

ShareThis

US court axes Janet Jackson wardrobe ‘malfunction’ fine

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:35:51 +0000

A US appeal court has axed the 275,700-pound fine imposed on US television broadcaster CBS by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for screening Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during 2004’s ‘Super Bowl’.

Three judges presiding over the hearing ruled that the watchdog “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” in levying the fine.

The incident took place while Janet was performing alongside Justin Timberlake, and about 90 million TV viewers were said to have seen it.

CBS was flooded with complaints as soon as the footage was screened, and the fine imposed on the network in September 2004 was the largest ever handed to a US television broadcaster.

The court observed that the FCC had traditionally fined broadcasters for indecent material only when it amounted to “shock treatment” for viewers, and that the footage in the present case was too brief to merit such a penalty.

“The FCC cannot impose liability on CBS for the acts of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, independent contractors hired for the limited purposes of the half-time show,” the BBC quoted the chief judge on the panel, Anthony Scirica, as writing.

No statement on the ruling has yet been issued by CBS or the FCC. (ANI)

ShareThis