A few surprises - including bad words - at the Oscars

The host was the youngest ever. The winning screenwriter was the oldest ever. The ceremony was hipper than usual - and a bit more vulgar.
The 2011 Academy Awards came with a few surprises in the early going, which started by honouring the boxing drama The Fighter for its supporting performances.
Christian Bale, whose portrayal of a crack addict almost overwhelmed the boxing movie, was named best supporting actor, and Melissa Leo - whose self-promoting ads caused consternation in Hollywood - overcame the controversy to win the Oscar as best supporting actress.
Leo won for her excoriating portrait of the mother and manager of "Irish" Micky Ward, the real-life junior welterweight who overcame the odds (and his family) to win a title.
The actress had taken out ads in trade publications featuring glamour photos of herself, superimposed over the word "Consider." While the campaign did not hurt her chances, she ignited a second controversy during her speech when she said, "When I watched Kate (Winslet) two years ago, it looked so f---ing easy."
Bale said he wasn't going to drop the "f-bomb," but the slip of the tongue promoted co-host Anne Hathaway - at 27, the youngest host of the show in history - to say, "It's the young and hip Oscars."
Young and hip was a big part of the 2011 Oscar story. It was set up as a battle of Old vs. New Hollywood, with the veterans being given the edge. Old Hollywood was represented by The King's Speech, a piece of royal history with established star Colin Firth - an overwhelming favourite for the best actor award - as King George VI, the stammering ruler of England at the start of the Second World War, who has his stutter corrected by an eccentric speech therapist played by supporting actor nominee Geoffrey Rush.
The champion of the New Hollywood was The Social Network, a more modern sort of biopic. It tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg (played by best actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg, 27, part of the new generation of stars) who founded Facebook. That was a different kind of watershed event, one that may turn out to be no less earth-shaking than the war.
Aaron Sorkin won the award for adapted screenplay for his smart, fast-moving original screenplay for The Social Network. He paid tribute to legendary screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, who won the Oscar "for another movie with Network in the title;" that is, Network (he also won for Hospital and Marty). The movie also won the award for best original score.
David Seidler, who wrote The King's Speech, won the Oscar for best original screenplay. "My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer," said Seidler, 73. He noted that he is the oldest person to ever win the award, which he accepted "for all the stutterers throughout the world."
With its front-running 12 nominations, and already winner of prizes given by the influential Directors Guild, Producers Guild and Actors Guild, The King's Speech led the pack.
Old vs. New also came up in another of the most hotly contested categories, best actress. Natalie Portman, 29 - playing a ballerina whose persona is slowly shattered when she has to find her dark side to dance Swan Lake - was the favourite almost from the time her film, Black Swan, had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. But there was some late momentum for Annette Bening, 52, for her role as a workaholic doctor in The Kids Are All Right. Bening has been nominated three times before without a victory, and this might have been her last chance.
The Danish film In a Better World - a story about friendship between two families - won the Oscar for best foreign-language film, beating the Canadian entry Incendies, Denis Villeneuve's shattering film about a Montreal woman who returns to the Middle East to learn secrets about her family.
The Australian film The Lost Thing won the award for animated short film, beating the favoured Pixar entry Day & Night. Nevertheless, Pixar bounced back by winning the award for best animated feature for Toy Story 3.
Two Canadian animators - Dean DeBlois, co-director of How to Train Your Dragon, and Paul Dutton, animation director of The Illusionist - had also been nominated for that animated feature award.
In addition, Montreal effects artist Adrien Morot was nominated for the Oscar for best makeup for his work on the Canadian film Barney's Version, which went to The Wolfman, and Craig Berkey was nominated for the sound design of True Grit, an award that went to Inception.
Alice in Wonderland won the first award, for art direction, and Wally Pfister - director Christopher Nolan's favourite cinematographer - won the award for Inception, upsetting the favoured Roger Deakins from True Grit, who has now been nominated nine times without a win. The sci-fi epic also won the awards for sound mixing and editing. The Inception winners all gave special thanks to Nolan, who was snubbed in the best director category, even though the movie itself was nominated for best picture.

Knox TV movie takes on Italy roommate slaying

A made-for-TV movie told the story of Amanda Knox, a US college student convicted of killing her British roommate in Italy, despite objections from the families of both Knox and the victim.

Knox TV movie takes on Italy roommate slaying

"Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy" leaves it to the viewer to decide her ultimate guilt and includes doubts cast on the DNA testing that convicted her, which are at the heart of an appeal lodged by her lawyers.
Knox was sentenced in December 2009 to 26 years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher in a drug-fuelled sex game that turned violent. She has repeatedly protested her innocence.
She is currently appealing the sentence, claiming that key forensic evidence used to convict her is unreliable and should be rejected. The next hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Kercher was found on November 2, 2007 -- semi-nude in a pool of blood with her throat slashed -- in the cottage she shared with Knox.
Knox's then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and a man from Ivory Coast, Rudy Guede, were also convicted of the murder.
In the movie, aired on the Lifetime network, Knox is portrayed by Hayden Panettiere of the hit US series "Heroes," who stars alongside Paolo Romio as Sollecito in a dramatic rendering that is closely based on court records.
The producers edited out some of the more graphic parts of the killing scene after the outrage set off by the film's trailer, but the families on both sides continued to object to it.
"The movie is ill-timed, since Amanda's appeal is under way," David Marriott, a spokesman for the Knox family, said.
Francesco Maresca, who represents Kercher's family, also objected to the film.
"To have a film so soon, on such a violent death and with the memory of this tragedy so fresh in the family's mind, seems totally inappropriate and unjustified," he was quoted as saying in the British Telegraph.

Netherlands make 292-6 against England

Netherlands made 292-6 against England in the World Cup Group B match at the VCA Ground here on Tuesday.

Netherlands make 292-6 against England

More to follow.

World markets slide, oil soars on Libya unrest

Global markets dived Tuesday and oil prices spiked above $108 per barrel, as sentiment was rocked by violent unrest in Libya, while the safe-haven US dollar gained ground.

World markets slide, oil soars on Libya unrest

"The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are continuing to spread across the region. It seems to be Libya's turn now. These developments cause a high degree of uncertainty," said Commerzbank analyst Ulrich Leuchtmann.
Financial markets were also rattled by news of a deadly earthquake in New Zealand and a ratings downgrade for Japan, dealers said.
Just after midday, London's FTSE 100 index of top shares shed 0.95 percent to 5,958 points, while the Paris CAC 40 plunged 1.46 percent to 4,037.59 and Frankfurt's DAX 30 retreated 0.31 percent to 7,299.74 points.
Oil prices surged past $108 as Libyan output was hit by violent protests and concerns grew over spreading unrest in the strategic crude-producing Middle East and North Africa area. Facts: Libya, Africa's fourth largest oil producer
In early morning trade, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April spiked to $108.57 per barrel, hitting the highest level since September 4, 2008.
And the European single currency sank as low as $1.3525, compared with $1.3678 late on Monday, when US financial markets were closed for the Presidents' Day public holiday.
"A trio of events have battered risky assets during the European session," said research director Kathleen Brooks at trading website Forex.com.
"Firstly, the ongoing people's uprising in Libya and the escalation of violence and casualties is weighing on the oil price; secondly the New Zealand earthquake; and lastly news that Moody's had revised lower its outlook on Japanese sovereign debt to negative from stable."
Libya denounced charges it was massacring protesters as lies Tuesday as Moamer Kadhafi broke cover over the challenge to his four-decade rule after a raft of diplomatic and military defections.
With the Middle East turmoil pushing oil prices ever higher, rulers of the Gulf state of Bahrain were confronted by fresh mass protests and governments made plans to evacuate citizens from hotspots across the Arab world.
Both the UN Security Council and Arab League were to meet to discuss the bloody crackdown by Libyan authorities that prompted the UN's rights chief to warn that crimes against humanity may have been committed.
"The ongoing tensions in the Middle East and North Africa region, in particular in Libya, are pushing the oil price higher and weighing on equity market sentiment," said VTB Capital economist Neil MacKinnon.
Asian stocks also nosedived on Tuesday, with Tokyo down 1.78 percent and Hong Kong losing 2.11 percent, as the political crisis in Libya worsened, with reports of escalating violence against pro-democracy demonstrators.
Tokyo was also hit after ratings agency Moody's said it had lowered its outlook on Japan's sovereign debt to "negative" due to concerns the state would not be able to bring it under control.
The agency said the government's policies may not be strong enough to contain the industrialised world's biggest debt.
Moody's previously held a "stable" outlook on the nation's "Aa2" rating, the third highest on a scale of 19, and analysts said the outlook change would likely lead to a downgrade.
It follows rival agency Standard & Poor's decision to cut Japan's rating for the first time since 2002.
Wellington's stock market meanwhile suffered a sell-off, falling 0.69 percent after a powerful earthquake killed at least 65 people in New Zealand's second city, Christchurch.
The 6.3-magnitude quake buckled roads and rained glass and rubble on streets packed with lunchtime shoppers.

Google Docs added with 12 new formats!

Google Documents, is a Google service that will help an individual to view their file saved in the system, in the browser online via Google Docs.
For instance, lets take MS word as an example. If you don’t have MS word installed in your system, then you will probably  not be able to view the downloaded  file in your system. Here is where Google offers you support.
When you just go to Google docs website , you can view the word document from there. Now that means, no need to purchase MS Office license and your system becomes more faster.
12 new formats introduced by Google in the Google Documents as reported via Google Official Blog continues below
Today we’re excited to launch support for 12 new file types:

• Microsoft Excel (.XLS and .XLSX)
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 / 2010 (.PPTX)
• Apple Pages (.PAGES)
• Adobe Illustrator (.AI)
• Adobe Photoshop (.PSD)
• Autodesk AutoCad (.DXF)
• Scalable Vector Graphics (.SVG)
• PostScript (.EPS, .PS)
• TrueType (.TTF)
• XML Paper Specification (.XPS)

Not only does this round out support for the major Microsoft Office file types (we now support DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS and XLSX), but it also adds quick viewing capabilities for many of the most popular and highly-requested document and image types.

In Gmail, these types of attachments will now show a “View” link, and clicking on this link will bring up the Google Docs Viewer.

Triple H Vs The Undertaker this Wrestlemania 27?

Are we seeing a feud building up between the game “Triple H” and  the deadman “The Undertaker” ? Yes we are!

What Triple H vs Undertaker facing each other?Are you joking?
Lol, let me tell you what happened this monday night raw aired on Feb 21,2011.
The Iconic Undertaker returned back to raw but before we see Undertaker completely getting settled in the ring, Bang! came a sound ” Its time to play the Game” followed by the dazzling entrance from Triple H.
Both   superstars stare each other and performed their own gestures. Undertaker making the throat gesture, in return Triple H giving  him the DX chop. Cool!
Lets come back to reality, its Wrestlemania around the corner and we were missing both Icons Undertaker and Triple H.
What benefit will it give Wrestlemania 27 without the presence of these stars, who have been known for Wrestlemania heroics!
As fans prayed to see these stars, they both returned which means both need a opposition to face this Wrestlemania 27.
Why not they face each other? After all it will be a perfect feud, Triple H wanting to take revenge on Undertaker for retiring his long time friend Shawn Michael’s. It makes sense.

I must admit a key factor is  troubling me. Undertaker is remained unbeaten in Wrestlemania history with 18-0. After nearly a year, Triple H has returned. If the script writers want Undertaker  to remain unbeaten then definitely Hunter has  to lose. This will make me sad.
If they want to show Hunter in the spot light then surely Undertaker’s unbeaten streak has to be broken 18-1.
Whow, this is really going a deep conversation. In the end, i just hope both the superstars not retire. I think, Its not just me thinking Undertaker retirement is around the corner. Dont you think the same???

7.4 Earthquake in New Zealand

7.4 earthquake іn Nеw Zealand occurred іn thе September 3, 2010 South Island аѕ a result οf strike-slip faulting within thе crust οf thе Pacific plate, near thе eastern foothills οf thе Southern Alps аt thе western edge οf thе Canterbury Plains.

Thе earthquake struck approximately 50 km tο thе west-northwest οf Christchurch, thе Ɩаrɡеѕt population center іn thе region, аnԁ аbουt 80-90 km tο thе south аnԁ east οf thе contemporary expression οf thе Australia:Pacific plate boundary owing tο thе island (thе Alpine аnԁ Hope Faults). Thе earthquake, though removed frοm thе plate boundary itself, liable reflects rіɡht-lateral shift οn one οf a number οf regional faults related tο thе overall relative shift οf thеѕе plates аnԁ mау bе related tο thе overall southern propagation οf thе Marlborough fault system іn contemporary geologic time.
A 7.4 earthquake struck Nеw Zealand’s south island thіѕ morning, causing widespread hυrt. It struck near thе city οf Christchurch whеrе around 400,000 public live. Sο far, thеrе аrе nο reports οf casualties, reported thе Associated Press.
Today’s earthquake occurred approximately 50 km tο thе southeast οf a M7.1, surface-rupturing event іn Authur’s Pass, οn March 9th, 1929, whісh caused 17 fatalities. More recently, two earthquakes οf M6.7 аnԁ M5.9 occurred іn June 1994 approximately 40 km tο thе northwest οf today’s event, bυt ԁіԁ nοt cause аnу known fatalities οr significant hυrt.

Several feared dead in New Zealand quake; emergency declared

Several people were feared dead as a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand's southern city of Christchurch early today, damaging buildings and sending thousands of panicked people rushing into the streets. New Zealand media reported that there had been "multiple" fatalities at several locations after the quake hit around 12.51 pm local time five kilometres from the city at a depth of just four kilometres.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said there were fears of deaths after the quake which caused widespread damage, and residents are being warned to expect aftershocks.
Christchurch's mayor declared a state of emergency, saying it was a "black day" for the city. Live video footage showed parts of buildings collapsed into the streets, which were strewn with bricks and shattered concrete. Footpaths and roads were cracked and split, and hundreds of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens blared throughout the city.
The TV footage showed onlookers clinging to each other and others bleeding and limping, many searching for loved ones and trying to reach trapped people. People fled the city centre as emergency services rushed to the area to evacuate those trapped in buildings.
Local police said that there were multiple fatalities in the city, including an accident in which two buses had been crushed by falling buildings. A police statement said there were reports of fires in the city and people being trapped in buildings. The airport was closed and Christchurch Hospital was evacuated. Power and telephone lines were knocked out, and pipes burst, flooding the streets. Some cars apparently parked on the street were buried under rubble.
Some reports suggested that the trembler should be considered as an aftershock to the 7.1 magnitude quake that struck Christchurch on September 4 last year, damaging 100,000 homes.
Amid chaotic scenes and the wail of sirens in the city centre, one Christchurch worker Julian Hogday said he was lucky to survive as his apartment store was severely damaged. "It was just unbelievable, it was so strong, nothing like I've ever experienced before, just horrible," Hogday told TV3.
"It was just horrific", Christchurch resident Sean Scanlon said, adding it was by far the biggest shake since the original September four quake. New Zealand sits on the Pacific "ring of fire", an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching from Chile in South America through Alaska and down through the South Pacific. It records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year but only about 150 are felt by residents, and fewer than 10 a year do any damage.

Silvio Berlusconi 'entertained women at Roman castle'

Silvio Berlusconi allegedly entertained young women two or three times a week at a historic castle he rented last summer outside Rome, it has emerged.

 

 

 

Anti-Government Protests Break Out in Libya

Libyan protesters clashed with police Wednesday in an anti-government demonstration inspired by the uprisings that brought down the rulers of Libya's neighbors, Egypt and Tunisia.

Opposition activists, organizing through social media, rallied against the country's long-time leader, Moammar Gadhafi, in the country's second-biggest city, Benghazi.

Local media reports say protesters threw stones at police, who fired rubber bullets to contain the crowds. Hospital officials say 38 people have been injured in the clashes.

Witnesses said the protests started following the arrest of a human rights defender representing the victims of a 1996 shooting at Libya's Abu Salim prison.

Libyan state-run media initially ignored the protests and later reported that groups of government supporters were holding rallies in Benghazi, the capital city of Tripoli, and other cities.

Libyan opposition activists have been using the social networking website Facebook to call for "day of rage" protests on Thursday, drawing encouragement from uprisings that ousted authoritarian rulers in Egypt and Tunisia in recent weeks.

Gadhafi has been in power since 1969, when he led a coup against a Western-backed monarchy.

Anil Ambani meets CBI officials, clarifies stand

New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) Reliance Communications chairman Anil Ambani met officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here Wednesday to clarify some issues on telecom matters, the company said.
'No summons of any kind have been issued by the CBI to Mr. Ambani,' the company said in a statement, adding that such an interaction was also not specific to an individual or company.

The company said the meeting with the CBI officials came about during Ambani's weekly visit to New Delhi.

The statement also reiterated thet neither Reliance Communications, nor any individual from the group held a single share in Swan Telecom when it was granted a licence and spectrum in 2008 or thereafter.

Swan is among nine telecom firms being probed as part of the investigation into the allotment of second generation (2G) spectrum, or airwaves, between 2001 and 2008 the CBI.

'Neither Reliance Telecom, nor Reliance Communications, nor any Reliance ADA Group individual, company or affiliate has obtained any monetary gain or other benefit, directly or indirectly, from the grant of 2G license to Swan Telecom in January 2008,' said the statement.

'Contrary to reporting in a section of the media, the enquiries by CBI and other authorities are by no means specific to RCOM, and instead, have already reportedly covered more than 50 people from across a large number of telecom operators,' the statement added.

Manitowoc featured in USA TODAY

With a circulation of nearly 2 million, USA TODAY is the most widely distributed newspaper in the nation. Its news section's cover story Tuesday was on how one "Wisconsin town (Manitowoc) reflects challenge in U.S. rebound."
USA TODAY, the Herald Times Reporter and 80 other community newspapers are owned by Gannett.
MANITOWOC — Business is picking up for retailer Renee Charlton in this small manufacturing city on Lake Michigan, but that may not be a good omen for residents. She sells secondhand clothes.
Residents who waved flags as President Barack Obama sped through their eastern Wisconsin community last month have been shopping at consignment and thrift shops out of necessity, says Charlton, owner of On Second Thought, which sells women's clothes, purses, shoes and jewelry. Her sales rose 20 percent in 2010.
She's glad to have the business, but concerned that middle-class folks in Manitowoc have yet to recover from the worst recession in decades, despite Obama's efforts during his first two years. Her 27-year-old son, a computer whiz, is a prime example: Unable to find full-time work, he has enrolled in a two-year criminal justice program at a nearby technical college.
"People are still cutting back," Charlton says. "They're still watching what they spend."
Manitowoc's struggles are a microcosm for much of the nation. As Obama promotes his proposed budget for 2012, the vast middle class he vowed to help during his 2008 presidential campaign is crawling — not bouncing — back.
Obama made helping the middle class the focus of his presidential race from the day he announced his candidacy on Feb. 10, 2007, in Springfield, Ill.
"As our economy changes, let's be the generation that ensures our nation's workers are sharing in our prosperity," he said.
Ten days after coming to office, Obama created an interagency Middle Class Task Force and put Vice President Joe Biden in charge. It has acted as a think tank for economic policies and a sounding board for the public on topics ranging from education and training to workplace safety to retirement security.