Russia recognises Georgian rebels

President Dmitry Medvedev has declared that Russia formally recognises the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The move follows a vote in both houses of parliament on Monday, which called on Moscow to recognise the regions.

The move, in defiance of a specific plea from the US president, provoked a wave of protest from Western countries.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war this month over the provinces, which already had de facto independence.

Analysts say the move is likely to further escalate tensions between Russia and the West.

“I have signed decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia,” Mr Medvedev said in the announcement.

“That was no easy choice to make, but it is the sole chance of saving people’s lives,” Mr Medvedev added.

He blamed Georgia for failing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the problem and called on other states to follow Russia’s example.

Violation

Georgia’s deputy foreign minister Giga Bokeria responded angrily, saying: “This is an unconcealed annexation of these territories, which are a part of Georgia.”

Western countries, including the US, Germany, Britain and France immediately condemned the move.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking from the West Bank city of Ramallah, said the decision was “regrettable”.

Late on Monday, the US state department had warned that recognition of the two provinces’ independence would be “a violation of Georgian territorial integrity” and “inconsistent with international law”.

In a statement, Mr Bush had called on Russia’s leadership to “meet its commitments and not recognise these separatist regions”.

In the two breakaway regions, however, Moscow’s move was warmly welcomed.

Residents in Abkhazia took to the streets to celebrate the news, firing into the air, Reuters reports, and in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali there were scenes of jubilation.

“We feel happy. We all have tears in our eyes. We feel pride for our people,” said Aida Gabaz, a 38-year-old lawyer in the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi.

‘New understanding’

Earlier on Tuesday, Russia cancelled a visit by Nato’s secretary general, one of a series of measures to suspend co-operation with the military alliance.

Russia’s ambassador to Nato said the trip would be delayed until relations between the two were clarified.

Dmitry Rogozin said a “new understanding” needed to be reached between Russia and Nato.

The BBC’s Humphrey Hawksley, in Moscow, says the recognition is bound to dramatically heighten tensions in Russia’s already fragile relationship with the West.

He says this and a series of other announcements indicate that Russia is preparing itself for a showdown.

Although most of Russia’s forces pulled out of the rest of Georgia last Friday, it is maintaining a presence both within the two rebel regions and in buffer zones imposed round their boundaries.

Port control

Some Russian troops also continue to operate near the Black Sea port of Poti, south of Abkhazia, where Russia says it will carry out regular inspections of cargo.

The US said on Tuesday that its warships would deliver aid to Georgia’s port of Poti, which is under Russian control. The move could mean US and Russian forces coming face-to-face.

Earlier, the head of European security organisation, the OSCE, Alexander Stubb, accused Russia of trying to empty South Ossetia of Georgians.

Speaking to the BBC’s Europe Today programme, he said: “They are clearly trying to empty southern Ossetia from Georgians, which I don’t think goes by any of the books that we deal with in international relations”.

At a checkpoint in South Ossetia, the BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse said a South Ossetian commander said many Georgian civilians had already left of their own accord, because they were scared of the guns.

From : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7582181.stm

Climbers struck by Alps avalanche

Ten mountaineers are missing after an avalanche swept down part of the Mont Blanc range in the French Alps.

 

They were among a party of climbers who were hit by a wall of snow 200m (600ft) long and about 45m wide while roped together on Mont-Blanc du Tacul.

At least eight people are reported to have been rescued and taken to a hospital in Chamonix.

The search for survivors, involving helicopters and rescuers with dogs, has been hindered by new avalanche threats.

Officials told AFP news agency the missing included five Austrian and two Swiss climbers. The nationality of the others is not yet known.

Those brought to safety are reported to include five French climbers and three Italians, aged between 26 and 37 years.

Some were dug out from the snow by rescuers, while others managed to free themselves.

The avalanche is believed to have happened at about 0300 (0100 GMT) after a fall of large block of glacier ice broke off higher up the mountain. The group of climbers had been bivouaced on the slope below.

The BBC’s Hugh Schofield said search had to be suspended for a while because of fears of a new avalanche.

France’s Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie is expected to travel to Chamonix to visit the injured.

Our correspondent says it has been a lethal summer in the Alps with about 100 climbers killed since 1 June in France, Italy and Switzerland – about 20 of them have died on Mont Blanc.

from : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7579702.stm

Avril Lavigne Concert Deemed ‘Too Sexy’ Now Back on in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —  Malaysian authorities have reversed their decision to cancel a concert by Canadian pop-rock star Avril Lavigne, saying Saturday that she can perform next week despite complaints her act is “too sexy.”

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry sparked an outcry among music fans when it decided earlier this week not to permit Lavigne’s show. The ministry said then that the show was unsuitable for Malaysian culture and could not be held on Aug. 29, two days ahead of independence day, because it might disrupt patriotic celebrations.

The ministry’s secretary-general, Muzahet Masruri, said Saturday that authorities decided after talks with the concert organizers that Lavigne “can do the show” next week, even though the government would still have preferred a different date.

Muzahet declined to give a specific reason for the decision, but he said organizers told the government that they had already sold thousands of tickets and that the cancellation could hurt tourism.

The youth wing of a fundamentalist opposition group, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, has called for the show to be canceled, saying Lavigne’s performances were “considered too sexy” for this Muslim-majority nation. But officials denied the party influenced their decisions.

The 23-year-old Lavigne, whose hits include “Complicated” and “Girlfriend,” is planning to launch her monthlong Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur.

The show’s promoter, Galaxy Group, began advertising the Grammy-nominated singer’s concert this month, even though it had yet to obtain a government permit, which is mandatory for all foreign music shows. Galaxy officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Saturday.

The flap over Lavigne’s concert is the latest in a string of troubles confronting foreign artists seeking to perform here. Last year, R&B singer Beyonce moved her show from Malaysia to Indonesia, and Christina Aguilera skipped the country on an Asian tour after a controversy erupted over a dress code for foreign artists.

Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and to be covered from the chest to the knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage.

Still, conservative Muslims often protest against Western and even Malaysian music shows that they consider inappropriate.

The Malaysian organizer of a Pussycat Dolls concert in 2006 was fined $2,857 after the U.S. girl group was accused of flouting decency regulations.

From : http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409401,00.html

DNA tests for Madrid air victims

DNA tests will be needed to identify many of the 153 people killed in Wednesday’s plane disaster at Madrid airport, the Spanish government says.bedroom furniture | cheap dvd movies | buy dvd uk | buy gps uk | buy cheap guitar | cheap laptop
Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said experts had so far only been able to identify 59 people using fingerprint analysis.

The air disaster, in which a departing jet caught fire after veering off the runway, was Spain’s worst in 25 years.

Vigils were held on Thursday to remember those who died.
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Spanish media reports suggest an as-yet unreleased video taken by Spain’s Civil Aviation Authority (AENA) shows the plane taking off and then crashing moments later just past the runway at Madrid’s Barajas airport.

AENA officials quoted in El Pais newspaper suggest the jet may have suffered a chain of faults, and only caught fire after it hit the ground, contradicting witness accounts that an engine was ablaze during take off.
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See details of the crash site

It will be weeks, maybe months, before the truth is known about what caused the plane to crash, the BBC’s Johnny Dymond reports from Madrid.

There has been much criticism of the flight operator, Spanair, but there is little to back it up at present, our correspondent says. Until the contents of the flight recorders are analysed, the final minutes of the flight will remain a mystery, he adds.

Nineteen foreigners

The remains of the dead have all been taken to a mortuary at Madrid’s Ifema congress centre, which was used to collect victims of the Madrid train bombings of 2004.

“All of them have undergone autopsies,” said Ms Fernandez de la Vega. “The investigation commission is working very intensively, and hand-in-hand with foreign experts.”

Of the survivors of the Spanair flight JK 5022 crash on Wednesday, several remain critically ill. Four are in a “very serious” condition, with another listed as “serious”, Spanish media reported.

But five of six people classed as “serious” showed signs of improvement on Thursday, according to Spanish news agency Efe. Eight of the injured remain under observation with one only slightly injured, Spanish media said.

Harrowing reports of the crash have been emerging from among the survivors.

“The plane was rocking from one side to another,” said Ligia Palomino, who survived with leg injuries and cuts to her face.

“I don’t know what happened next. I saw people, smoke, explosions – I think that is what woke me up because I had lost consciousness.

“I lifted my head and all I saw were scattered bodies,” added the 41-year-old doctor. “I thought that if help did not arrive soon I would die.”cheap watches | citizen watches | digital camera | discount watches | cheap earrings | engagement rings
Two babies and 20 children were on board the flight, which was heading from Madrid to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, according to Spanair, which released the official passenger manifest. Three children survived the crash.
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Nineteen foreigners from at least 11 countries were on the plane, the Spanish government said. The countries include Germany, France, Sweden, Mauritania, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Italy, Colombia and Gambia.

Spanish leaders met relatives of the victims on Thursday as the country observed national mourning.

The Spanair flight, bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, took off on Wednesday at lunchtime with 172 people on board, including 10 crew members.

Engine theory

Initial reports suggested a fire had broken out in one of the MD82 plane’s engines during take-off, and the plane ended up in a field.

Spanish Transport Minister Magdalena Alvarez said the plane had earlier begun taxiing to the runway, before turning back because of a technical problem, which had caused an hour’s delay in take-off.

The pilots had reported a fault with a temperature gauge, Spanish media reported, but it was thought to have been fixed before take-off.

El Pais newspaper quoted experts as saying that fault was unlikely to be responsible for the crash.

“The fault fixed by Spanair’s maintenance technicians could not have had an influence on the crash,” Jose Maria Delgado, the head of Spain’s Association of Aeronautic Maintenance Technicians told the newspaper.

Manuel Batista, the head of the AENA, told El Pais there was “more than one breakdown”.

He added that engine failure alone would not have been enough to bring the plane down.

“I am not so sure that the engine failed,” said Mr Batista.

El Mundo newspaper suggested parts of the engine may have broken off and damaged the plane’s tail.

A special independent commission has been established to investigate the cause of the crash.

Speaking on Thursday, Ms Alvarez said the investigation would examine flight recorders and available pictures, but added that it was very early to draw conclusions about the crash.

The plane which crashed was a 15-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD82 plane previously owned and operated by Korean Air. Reports said it was serviced regularly and had been pronounced fit to fly.
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The MD82 is known as a versatile and reliable aircraft, with some 432 planes currently in service around the world, Efe said.

Christine Ohuruogu wins stunning 400m gold

Christine Ohuruogu has completed one of the most sensational comebacks in sporting history by winning the women’s 400 metres final at the Olympic Games.

The 24-year old from Stratford, East London, was allowed to compete in Beijing only after a British Olympic Association rule banning athletes who have failed strict drug-related guidelines was overturned in the High Court.

Ohuruogu missed three out-of-competition tests and incurred an automatic lifetime ban from the Games, and even when the ruling was rescinded many commentators criticised her attendance.

Today she has had the last word – and then some. After allowing Sanya Richards and Shericka Williams, of the US and Jamaica, to set the early pace, she kicked spectacularly at the final turn and edged past her rivals in the final few metres, coming home in 49.62 seconds. Richards, the pre-race favourite, got her tactics badly wrong and looked leaden-footed in the home straight as she trailed in third.

“As I crossed the line I was thinking ‘Oh my gosh, I think I’ve won,’” said Ohuruogu. “I thought it was just a dream and now it’s become a reality.

“I am just so proud of myself. I know I can perform when I need to. I may not have a good season but, like at the World Championships, that’s what I train all year for.”

Ohuruogu returned from her ban with an against-the-odds victory in the World Championships in Japan last year. Richards missed that race after failing to qualify and many suspected the 23-year-old American would be too good today, but she blamed her bronze medal on a mid-race injury.

“I’m not well. I worked so hard for this and it is so devastating for me,” she said. “The gold would have been mine if it weren’t for a hamstring grab.

“I was in control for half of the race – by the 320m mark I felt my right hamstring. I pulled my leg through and it got tighter and tighter.”

Second-placed Williams admitted she failed to recognise the threat posed by Ohuruogu.

“I was thinking too much about passing Sanya and didn’t give Christine too much focus,” she said.

It is the fourth gold medal of the day for Great Britain – and 16th overall – in what has become the most successful Olympic Games for the country since 1908.

In the velodrome, Chris Hoy made Olympic history by becoming the first British athlete in a century to clinch three golds at one Games.

The powerful 32-year-old achieved his feat by beating his team-mate Jason Kenny 2-0 in the final of the men’s individual cycling sprint, reaching speeds in excess of 70kph as the two riders threw themselves into a high-octane battle.

Hoy’s achievement followed that of fellow cyclist Victoria Pendleton, 27, who won the three-legged women’s individual sprint shortly beforehand, and Paul Goodison, who won Britain’s third sailing gold in the Laser class.

Goodison just missed out on a medal at Athens four years ago, triumphed in conditions so windy he had described them as a “lottery”. “I just can’t wait to go and find my mum and give her a big hug after all the heartbreak I gave her in Athens,” he said.

The athletics team also picked up an unexpected silver medal in the high jump when the little-fancied Germaine Mason leapt 2.34 metres to equal his personal best.

From : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4566564.ece

John Terry named as permanent England captain

John Terry has retained the England captaincy with Fabio Capello preferring to keep faith with the Chelsea defender in preference to Rio Ferdinand, who has been named vice-captain.bedroom furniture | cheap dvd movies | buy dvd uk | buy gps uk | buy cheap guitar | cheap laptop
The Chelsea defender admitted he had been nervous before he was told of the coach’s decision. “I think everybody realises it means the world to me, to retain the armband,” Terry said. “To get it back is a huge achievement.buy nintendo wii | discount shoes | buy wii | cheap cameras | canon cameras | casio watches
“The manager called the squad together and told us as a whole. For me to get it above the likes of him [Ferdinand] and the other players in the squad is a great honour.”cheap books | cheap cameras | cheap computers | cheap dvd movie | cheap furniture | cheap glasses
Terry admitted his surprised at being selected ahead of the Manchester United defender. “I’d never given up on the armband and never will do,” he said. “I’d heard the whispers Rio got the armband so I was a little bit shocked, but I’ve got to make the most of it.”cheap golf clubs | cheap gps | cheap guitars | cheap laptop | cheap lcd tv | cheap printers | cheap shoes
Capello revealed that it was Terry’s “big personality” that was the deciding factor in his decision. “Rio, when he was captain, played very well – the same level as John,” the Italian said. “It was not easy for me to choose because they are very good players. The big personality of John was the reason I chose him, but Rio is very important to the team.”
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Terry will lead England in their World Cup qualifying campaign starting in Andorra on September 6. “We need to concentrate on qualifying and we have got the squad to do that,” he said. “We just need to do it on the pitch.”discount watches | cheap earrings | engagement rings | furniture london | garden furniture | discount garmin | guitars for sale | ladies shoes | mens shoes
Capello agreed that the team can make a fresh start after the disappointment of not qualifying for Euro 2008. “I think the season just starts for us. For the national team, it’s a very important season,” he said. “We have to work and play every game like a final.”cheap microwave | cheap nintendo wii | cheap running shoes | timberland boots | timberland shoes
Steve McClaren named Terry captain once David Beckham stepped down after the 2006 World Cup, but his position was put in doubt when Capello took charge and delayed naming his on-field lieutenant. Steven Gerrard, Ferdinand and Beckham – as well as Terry – were all given one game each to demonstrate their credentials and Ferdinand appeared to be the favourite.watches uk | cheap webkinz | discount webkinz | wedding ring | wii for sale
That Capello decided to persevere with Terry is a big lift for the Chelsea defender, who was distraught after missing the crucial penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out against Manchester United in May.

From : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4565496.ece

Apple launches App Store in time for iPhone

APPLE today threw open the virtual doors of its online App Store brimming with independently created mini-programs promising to make the iPhone even more coveted.

The online shop’s opening comes as the 3G iPhone makes its international debut in a launch expected to boost both Apple’s fortunes and its share of the booming “smart phone” market.

In March, when Apple chief executive Steve Jobs announced plans for an App Store stocked with programs crafted by third-party developers, he expected 100 programs to be available by opening day.

The shop, accessible through Apple’s online iTunes store, opened with five times that many mini-programs. More than 125 of the applications are free.

Mini-applications include games, photo-sharing programs and mobile versions of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and eBay.

“Facebook is even cooler on the iPhone 3G, with the ability to discover friends nearby, or to effortlessly take pictures and upload them instantly to Facebook,” said the social networking website’s founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Game makers are capitalising on the iPhone’s touch screen and motion sensing technology.

“The touch and tilt controls are natural and easy to learn, making gaming even more inviting, creative and rewarding,” said Sega product development vice president David Cobb.

A version of the Japanese company’s Super Monkey Ball tailored for the iPhone is in the App Store.

“Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch open up the world of games to an entirely new audience,” Mr Cobb said.

Applications crafted for iPhones will also work on iPod Touch models, which are basically iPhones without the telephone capabilities, according to Mr Jobs.

Brian Greenstone, president of computer game maker Pangea Software, said the iPhone was “truly ground-breaking”.

Software creators are allowed to set their own prices, as long as figures end with 99 cents. Apple keeps 30 per cent of sales prices to pay for operating the store.

Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Philip Schiller said the iPhone “represents a new software platform for developers, combining the most advanced mobile operating system, sophisticated developer tools and a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly sell and distribute their applications”.

Apple released an iPhone kit to outside developers in March in an effort to make the hot devices even more popular and wrest market share from smart phone market powerhouse BlackBerry.

The kit lets programmers customise programs for the touch screen mobile devices which combine telephone, video, music and internet connectivity.

Apple vets software creations before making them available exclusively the App Store.

Apple stores will open early Friday to begin selling 3G iPhone models in more than 20 countries and analysts say sales could pass the billion-dollar mark within days.

Adventures in Bolivia

THE highway drops precipitously down the mountainside, and the pavement is slick with rain and hail. Cars pass in both directions, forcing me to pedal tight to the thousand-foot drop at the road’s edge. Fog obscures the tops of the striated olive-green and black cliffs on the other side of the valley. Below, it is raining, but at 15,000 feet our little group of adventure seekers is actually inside the cloud, freezing precipitation pelting our hands and faces as we bike downhill at patently unsafe speeds.

Bolivia Travel Guide

Multimedia

Slide Show

Bolivia’s Extremes

 

This is the first leg of a cycling day trip on Bolivia’s much-advertised Most Dangerous Road (a k a Death Road), which descends 12,000 feet over 40 miles from a mountain pass near La Paz to the balmy resort town of Coroico. It is third-world infrastructure turned into a tourist attraction.

The grim nickname comes from a report in the 1980s, when Bolivia tried to secure funding to build a replacement road for this one by touting traffic fatalities higher than anywhere else in the world — more than 300 dead in a single year. Since the new road was built, those numbers have dipped drastically but have been joined by a new statistic: cycling deaths, more than one a year.

The guides finally call us to a halt at the first shoulder to wait for the van that took us to the top and will follow us down the road in case of injuries, breakdowns or people’s coming to their senses. I try to unclench my hands from the handlebars but find them locked in position from the cold, my thin racing gloves useless. Water has begun to form icy pools in my shoes.

I ask how soon we’ll be low enough in altitude for the air to feel warm and am informed “another hour or so.” The guides go on to explain that soon after that, we will leave the pavement of the new road and turn onto the old one, a 10-foot-wide, cliff-hugging gravel track. That is the “true” Most Dangerous Road. This is just the warm-up. I look down the foggy road, uncertain if I should continue, and then back up the way we came. The van will be along shortly.

From the snowy slopes of its 20,000-foot peaks to its status as the poorest country in South America, Bolivia is a land of extremes. Over the last 10 years, this country, which for tourists was once a bothersome overland passage between Peru and Argentina, has begun to turn some of its extremes to its advantage, becoming a booming hub of adventure and eco-tourism. It has done so by appealing to the young and daring who are willing to exchange safety, comfort and convenience for thrills on the cheap.

The adventure begins as soon as you get off the plane in La Paz and try to breathe. At 13,000 feet, El Alto International Airport is among the world’s highest, and upscale La Paz hotels keep oxygen tanks on hand for their guests. Clay brick dwellings cling to the walls of the wide canyon that defines the city’s geography; the central artery runs along its floor.

Fifteen years ago, Sagarnaga Street, a steep lane ending at the city’s heart, was lined with stalls selling wool, buttons and thread. Today, a cascade of brash computer-designed signs advertises tourist agencies with names like X-Treme and Downhill Madness. Small groups of young travelers pop in and out searching for the best prices on a trip to the Amazon or a mountain climbing expedition.

The La Paz company that pioneered the Most Dangerous Road cycling tours, for example, Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking, has led more than 33,000 cyclists down the road in the last 10 years, and its business has been growing at a rate of 20 percent annually, even though about 30 other agencies now offer similar services.

Given the significant role tourism plays in the economy of many countries, one might expect growth like this to be a result of a concerted government effort. In fact, the phenomenon of rapidly increasing Bolivian adventure and ecological tourism has been driven completely by private enterprise, according to Luis Hurtado, head of tourism promotion at the Bolivian Vice-Ministry of Tourism. If anything, Mr. Hurtado says, the adventure focus overshadows the government’s own initiatives, like its promotion of indigenous culture tourism on Lake Titicaca.

Three elements have contributed to the phenomenon, all since the 1990s, according to tourism operators I interviewed: increased growth of eco-tourism in Bolivia’s Amazon Basin country to the north, which offers jungle experiences similar to Peru’s but at a deep discount; the development of tourism in the beautiful but extreme salt flats to the southwest; and the popularization of the Most Dangerous Road bicycle journey, which began in 1998.ladies shoes mens shoes cheap microwave cheap nintendo wii cheap running shoes timberland boots timberland shoes watches uk cheap webkinz discount webkinz wedding ring wii for sale

Traveling in Bolivia is notoriously fraught with difficulty, and not just because of the altitude, which can cause headaches, dizziness and in rare cases life-threatening illness. Local communities often express their frustration with the government by throwing up roadblocks that can leave travelers stranded for days or even weeks. And deficient standards of hygiene mean that gastrointestinal problems are de rigueur for any Bolivian visit.

But to the young and thrill-seeking, for whom “extreme” is a selling point rather than a warning, these traveling tribulations are simply a different sort of adventure.

“You don’t know what to expect from day to day — if you’re going to get food poisoning or if a bus or flight won’t show up,” said Fergal Lyons, 26, an Irish high school teacher who was in my cycling group on the Most Dangerous Road. “It’s great if you’ve got patience.”

I had been to Bolivia’s Amazon region in the summer of 2006. I swam in piranha-infested water, petted a wild anaconda and helped my girlfriend survive an attack of fire ants, but mostly I just swatted mosquitoes and tried to survive the oppressive heat.

From : http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/travel/10adven.html?ref=travel

Singh is Kinng – Movie Review

Singh is King (directed and written by Anees Bazmee) isn’t copied, but it has to be inspired by something, right? This one was apparently inspired by a tag line read by Akshay Kumar at the back of a truck – Singh is King! And viola! A film was born. Considering that we have many such lines at the back of trucks, rickshaws and taxis, you can imagine the fodder Bollywood script writers have to chew on. In fact it got me wondering whether Bazmee, who also directed the hit No Entry, got his idea from this rickshaw…

Script writers are also often helped along by pre-decided venues (not to mention songs). In Singh is Kinng the venues chosen were Egypt and Australia. The film is almost entirely shot in these two countries

What’s it about? (no spoilers)
The film is about a group of friends (mostly Sikhs) from a village in Punjab. Some have made it big (in Australia) while others are at the village doing nothing much with their lives. Akshay Kumar plays a rustic character at this village and his character is “Happy”, both in name and spirit. The successful munda is in Australia and is called Lucky (played by Sony Sood) but as we find out he isn’t very lucky, although he is King (of the underworld), and nor is he happy. In fact Happy isn’t lucky to have around either, although he does become King. If that doesn’t make sense, it isn’t meant to. There is no attempt at realism in the film and that results in some ludicrous situations which provide the comedy. Some hilarious moments there.
       This movie portrays Sikh culture, their bravery and their helpful and kind nature. Although this is showcased in the form of a comedy I don’t think it denigrates Sikhs in anyway. The movie was shown to some religious authorities before its release and some scenes re-shot. We don’t know which parts were re-shot but perhaps it was the scene where Happy Singh explains why he had to partially shave off his beard. Well, not everything that was demanded was re-shot and some people still have objections to the film. As a non-Sikh, but someone who has known Sikhs since childhood, I think the film is a superficial portrayal of Sikh culture, but well, it wasn’t meant to be anything else. It’s a comedy after all. But I think for those who don’t know Sikhs, it will send a positive message.
In fact there were positive messages throughout the film. Underneath the ridiculousness of the convoluted story, there is a strong message about Good vs. Evil.

The music is alright but unfortunately in the cinema hall we saw it in (PVR) the audio was on too loud. At times we had to put our fingers in our ears…I think cinema theatres in India are going to make a lot of people go deaf.

Characters and actors
There is a plethora of characters in this movie, but ofcourse Akshay Kumar is the hero. He is certainly not one my favourite actors, but he does alright as a comic. It is also difficult to deny his screen presence and charisma. Ditto Katrina Kaif. If she had nothing much to do in this film but play the pretty (though spirited) girl-friend Sonia, it wasn’t a surprise. Om Puri, who plays Rangeela, a childhood friend of Happy’s, does a good job, but Ranvir Shorey has a much smaller role which as usual he does justice to.

There are two other women in this movie: Julie, played by Neha Dhupia and the Rose Lady by Kirron Kher. It was refreshing to see Julie not portrayed as a moll, but as one of the “gang” members. She is as trigger happy as any of the boys. Kher was resplendent in her overacting.

Is the movie really all that funny?
Well, the situations are ludicrous enough to be funny although the audience didn’t really go ballistic with laughter, except once. It was nice to see that there were no sexist jokes in the movie! Perhaps that was why I found this comedy very relaxing. Overall, I found the audience enjoying the movie and people were actually reluctant to get up when the movie ended!

So is it worth a see?
I see a movie from the entertainment point of view, not a critic’s point of view, although I am critical if one reads between the lines. And when it comes to entertainment, a lot depends on your own preferences (for genre), and also whether you are able to tolerate the main actors in the movie, or whether you have a tight schedule, whether you are a student and prefer to save the theatre experience for special movies, or whether you like to see movies at all. This certainly isn’t one of those special movies that one saves to see in a theater…it’s okay for time-pass.

(The picture of the rickshaw is copyrighted to me (taken in Agra) and the second is a movie poster)

How To Effectively Pick A Modern Kitchen Furniture For Your Miami Residence

There might come a time in your life that you want to give your Miami home a kitchen remodeling project to give it a new and modern look. But aside from the change on the architectural structure of your kitchen to accommodate modern concepts, you need to choose kitchen furniture design that will fit perfectly with the style that you have in mind with your kitchen.

Determine Your Needs

Before you actually purchase kitchen furniture for your Miami home, you first need to determine your requirement for it so that you will be able to get the best one available.

1. Measurements

First, you need to determine the right measurement of your kitchen so that you will be able to purchase furnishings that will fit perfectly with the size of the room. In fact, many homebuyers regretted some of their furniture, since they were having problems installing it on their kitchen due to the incorrect measurements. Avoid this by measuring your floor area before purchase.

2. Design

Since you won’t be starting a kitchen remodeling project if you don’t have a specific design in mind, then you might as well purchase kitchen furniture that will fit perfectly with it. Try to browse around furniture shops in Miami or on the Internet to observe furniture designs available. While you’re at it, you might want to fit the color and theme with the rest of the area to avoid a slapdash look.

3. Budget

You might want to determine your funding in advance before you purchase furnishings for your Miami kitchen. If you want to avail of the best deals, then you might want to visit furniture shops and department stores in the city and look for discounted prices on kitchen furnishings.

You can also wait for one of these stores to go on sale to avail of discounts with the furniture you want to purchase. Also, if one of these stores is going on sale, then other are surely going to follow suit. The Internet is also a good place to window shop for cheap kitchen furniture. Compare the offers of each site and try to look for the lowest price possible.

Don’t Rush On Your Purchase

It is very important that you don’t rush when picking out kitchen furniture for your remodeling project. You need to exhaust all the possibilities of your search for the perfect furniture design that will accentuate the beauty of your new kitchen style, as well as the overall beauty of your home.

From : http://miamibusiness.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/how-to-effectively-pick-a-modern-kitchen-furniture-for-your-miami-residence/

The Aristocats

An enjoyable mix of fine animation, catchy songs, and outstanding voice characterizations, THE ARISTOCATS concerns an eccentric, wealthy Frenchwoman who leaves her fortune to her cat Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her three kittens. The woman’s butler is next in line for the inheritance should anything happen to the cats. Determined to get rid of the animals., he drugs the felines and dumps them in the countryside hoping they won’t find their way home. The cats meet up with a tough alley cat (Phil Harris) who helps them regain their fortune. On the way they meet a wide variety of animals and even stop to listen to the Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers) and his jazz band. Maurice Chevalier came out of retirement to sing the film’s theme song..

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