5 gadget trends to watch at CES
For gearheads, the holiday celebrations don't end after Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's. Many new tech toys are unwrapped not just in December but in early January, at a not-so-little event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It's the annual Consumer Electronics Show, and it's a six-day gathering (including pre-show events and news conferences) where some 120,000 tech-industry types come to see gadget makers show off their newest wares.
CES usually brings a few surprises -- like Palm's much-hyped unveiling of the Pre phone two years ago, when the technology world thought it had its iPhone killer.
But thanks to corporate leaks, enterprising tech blogs and the hundreds of not-so-subtle e-mails flooding our inboxes, we have an educated idea of what to expect in Vegas this week.
Amber Portwood: Ruined By Teen Mom!
Amber Portwood is fearing for the loss of daughter Leah, and feeling like Teen Mom has ruined her. Or just life as a teen mom. Either way ... ruined!
When Ambs emerged from the Madison County jail in Anderson, Ind., after being arrested for felony battery, she visibly shaken by the experience.
"I cannot even imagine not seeing my little baby if I go back to jail," Amber Portwood told Life & Style in its cover story. "It scares me so bad."
Putting the orange jumpsuit back on is a real possibility for Amber, who faces three felony charges for attacking Leah's father, Gary Shirley, on the MTV show.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to three years in prison and $10,000 in fines, which has her second-guessing her decision to ever appear on Teen Mom.
"I wouldn't have been in jail because nobody would have known about it," she says, blaming her quasi-fame for making the baby daddy beatdown a bigger deal.
Amber pleaded not guilty last week and was released after 24 hours in jail. Should she be sent back there, or do you think the experience will change her?Confirmed: Lamar Odom & Khloe Kardashian Reality Show
In news absolutely no one could have seen coming when they got married in 2009, Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have officially been given a reality show of their own.
Confirmed E! Executive Vice President Lisa Berger today: "Khloe and Lamar are such a dynamic couple that we just knew we had to give them their own series."
Season one of the series will consist of eight episodes and also feature the pair's quasi roommate, Rob Kardashian. You won't believe this, but cameras will capture him trying to break into the music industry.
"Lamar and I are so blessed to have been given such an amazing opportunity to take this journey together as a couple," Khloe told the network. "I know that it will only strengthen the bond we have and the love we share for each other."
Right. Because that's exactly what always happens to couples that star on reality television together.Imran's wedding will have cooks from Lucknow
Plus, when is Aamir throwing his nephew a special party?
Imran Khan's wedding is the first high profile wedding of the year and he is making sure that it is nothing less than perfect, so much so that even the cooks are being flown from Lucknow to prepare traditional non-vegetarian dishes.
"For the wedding, cooks are being specially flying down from Lucknow. These are specialists and have been cooking for the family (Nassir Hussain's) for more than five decades. This is a traditional family of cooks having a more than 200 year-old lineage," said a source close to the family.
"They are even bringing the ingredients from Lucknow. All spices, vessels and other ingredients are being flown as they are very particular," added the source.
Khyber, a North West frontier specialty restaurant, will be doing the vegetarian cuisine.
The ceremonies for the marriage will kickstart Saturday with Mehndi from 6pm at Avantika's farmhouse in Karjat, followed by a night-long party.
Invitees are essentially family, close friends and people that Imran has worked with.
On Jan 10, the registered wedding will take place at Imran's home with only close family members in attendance. This will be celebrated with a dinner at Taj Lands End hotel.
End of the month, when the newly-wed couple returns from their honeymoon, Imran's uncle and superstar Aamir Khan, along with his wife Kiran Rao will be hosting a high profile reception for the couple and the who's who of the industry are expected to be there.Anushka's poster victory
She was missing from 'Patiala House' posters until her 'Band Baaja...' success
Anushka Sharma couldn't have asked for more. The petite actress, who was missing from the first poster of her next release 'Patiala House', has now managed to get into a new one, thanks to the success of her last movie 'Band Baaja Baaraat'.
A movie about a father-son relationship, 'Patiala House' stars Akhsay Kumar in the male lead with Rishi Kapoor in a pivotal role. The movie has been inspired by the England cricket team's first Sikh player Monty Panesar, where Akshay has been shown as a British citizen who sacrifices his dream of being a pace bowler for his autocratic father's ideals.
"The filmmakers wanted to portray the same in their first key art poster for their audiences. So they finalised that the poster will feature Rishi Kapoor and Akshay Kumar in order to give an insight about the film and the relationship they share.
The poster was all set to be launched but then 'Band Baaja Baaraat' released and was hugely successful," said the film's publicist.
"So after the success of 'Band Baaja Baaraat', the makers of 'Patiala House' wanted to feature Anushka in the poster as well."
Director Nikhil added, "Anushka is a great actress and we are happy that she is part of 'Patiala House'. She has proved her talent and charm in her recent hit as well... we were always planning on multiple posters which are out for the audiences."Ruling lets California police search your phone without a warrant
If you get arrested in California, better hope there are no incriminating texts or e-mails or sensitive data stored on your phone.
On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that police in that state can search the contents of an arrested person's cell phone.
Citing U.S. Supreme Court precedents, the ruling contends that "The loss of privacy upon arrest extends beyond the arrestee's body to include 'personal property ... immediately associated with the person of the arrestee' at the time of arrest." Read more...
Amber Portwood: Ruined By Teen Mom!
Amber Portwood is fearing for the loss of daughter Leah, and feeling like Teen Mom has ruined her. Or just life as a teen mom. Either way ... ruined!
When Ambs emerged from the Madison County jail in Anderson, Ind., after being arrested for felony battery, she visibly shaken by the experience.
"I cannot even imagine not seeing my little baby if I go back to jail," Amber Portwood told Life & Style in its cover story. "It scares me so bad."
Putting the orange jumpsuit back on is a real possibility for Amber, who faces three felony charges for attacking Leah's father, Gary Shirley, on the MTV show.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to three years in prison and $10,000 in fines, which has her second-guessing her decision to ever appear on Teen Mom.
"I wouldn't have been in jail because nobody would have known about it," she says, blaming her quasi-fame for making the baby daddy beatdown a bigger deal.
Amber pleaded not guilty last week and was released after 24 hours in jail. Should she be sent back there, or do you think the experience will change her?
When Ambs emerged from the Madison County jail in Anderson, Ind., after being arrested for felony battery, she visibly shaken by the experience.
"I cannot even imagine not seeing my little baby if I go back to jail," Amber Portwood told Life & Style in its cover story. "It scares me so bad."
Putting the orange jumpsuit back on is a real possibility for Amber, who faces three felony charges for attacking Leah's father, Gary Shirley, on the MTV show.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to three years in prison and $10,000 in fines, which has her second-guessing her decision to ever appear on Teen Mom.
"I wouldn't have been in jail because nobody would have known about it," she says, blaming her quasi-fame for making the baby daddy beatdown a bigger deal.
Amber pleaded not guilty last week and was released after 24 hours in jail. Should she be sent back there, or do you think the experience will change her?
Confirmed: Lamar Odom & Khloe Kardashian Reality Show
In news absolutely no one could have seen coming when they got married in 2009, Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have officially been given a reality show of their own.
Confirmed E! Executive Vice President Lisa Berger today: "Khloe and Lamar are such a dynamic couple that we just knew we had to give them their own series."
Season one of the series will consist of eight episodes and also feature the pair's quasi roommate, Rob Kardashian. You won't believe this, but cameras will capture him trying to break into the music industry.
"Lamar and I are so blessed to have been given such an amazing opportunity to take this journey together as a couple," Khloe told the network. "I know that it will only strengthen the bond we have and the love we share for each other."
Right. Because that's exactly what always happens to couples that star on reality television together.
Confirmed E! Executive Vice President Lisa Berger today: "Khloe and Lamar are such a dynamic couple that we just knew we had to give them their own series."
Season one of the series will consist of eight episodes and also feature the pair's quasi roommate, Rob Kardashian. You won't believe this, but cameras will capture him trying to break into the music industry.
"Lamar and I are so blessed to have been given such an amazing opportunity to take this journey together as a couple," Khloe told the network. "I know that it will only strengthen the bond we have and the love we share for each other."
Right. Because that's exactly what always happens to couples that star on reality television together.
Imran's wedding will have cooks from Lucknow
Plus, when is Aamir throwing his nephew a special party?
The ceremonies for the marriage will kickstart Saturday with Mehndi from 6pm at Avantika's farmhouse in Karjat, followed by a night-long party.
Invitees are essentially family, close friends and people that Imran has worked with.
On Jan 10, the registered wedding will take place at Imran's home with only close family members in attendance. This will be celebrated with a dinner at Taj Lands End hotel.
End of the month, when the newly-wed couple returns from their honeymoon, Imran's uncle and superstar Aamir Khan, along with his wife Kiran Rao will be hosting a high profile reception for the couple and the who's who of the industry are expected to be there.
| Imran Khan's wedding is the first high profile wedding of the year and he is making sure that it is nothing less than perfect, so much so that even the cooks are being flown from Lucknow to prepare traditional non-vegetarian dishes. "For the wedding, cooks are being specially flying down from Lucknow. These are specialists and have been cooking for the family (Nassir Hussain's) for more than five decades. This is a traditional family of cooks having a more than 200 year-old lineage," said a source close to the family. "They are even bringing the ingredients from Lucknow. All spices, vessels and other ingredients are being flown as they are very particular," added the source. Khyber, a North West frontier specialty restaurant, will be doing the vegetarian cuisine. |
Invitees are essentially family, close friends and people that Imran has worked with.
On Jan 10, the registered wedding will take place at Imran's home with only close family members in attendance. This will be celebrated with a dinner at Taj Lands End hotel.
End of the month, when the newly-wed couple returns from their honeymoon, Imran's uncle and superstar Aamir Khan, along with his wife Kiran Rao will be hosting a high profile reception for the couple and the who's who of the industry are expected to be there.
Anushka's poster victory
She was missing from 'Patiala House' posters until her 'Band Baaja...' success
The poster was all set to be launched but then 'Band Baaja Baaraat' released and was hugely successful," said the film's publicist.
"So after the success of 'Band Baaja Baaraat', the makers of 'Patiala House' wanted to feature Anushka in the poster as well."
Director Nikhil added, "Anushka is a great actress and we are happy that she is part of 'Patiala House'. She has proved her talent and charm in her recent hit as well... we were always planning on multiple posters which are out for the audiences."
| Anushka Sharma couldn't have asked for more. The petite actress, who was missing from the first poster of her next release 'Patiala House', has now managed to get into a new one, thanks to the success of her last movie 'Band Baaja Baaraat'. A movie about a father-son relationship, 'Patiala House' stars Akhsay Kumar in the male lead with Rishi Kapoor in a pivotal role. The movie has been inspired by the England cricket team's first Sikh player Monty Panesar, where Akshay has been shown as a British citizen who sacrifices his dream of being a pace bowler for his autocratic father's ideals. "The filmmakers wanted to portray the same in their first key art poster for their audiences. So they finalised that the poster will feature Rishi Kapoor and Akshay Kumar in order to give an insight about the film and the relationship they share. |
"So after the success of 'Band Baaja Baaraat', the makers of 'Patiala House' wanted to feature Anushka in the poster as well."
Director Nikhil added, "Anushka is a great actress and we are happy that she is part of 'Patiala House'. She has proved her talent and charm in her recent hit as well... we were always planning on multiple posters which are out for the audiences."
Ruling lets California police search your phone without a warrant
If you get arrested in California, better hope there are no incriminating texts or e-mails or sensitive data stored on your phone.
On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that police in that state can search the contents of an arrested person's cell phone.
Citing U.S. Supreme Court precedents, the ruling contends that "The loss of privacy upon arrest extends beyond the arrestee's body to include 'personal property ... immediately associated with the person of the arrestee' at the time of arrest."
Celina Jaitly is engaged, not married
Her fiancé is Dubai-based Peter Haag
Wedding bells are in the air for Celina Jaitly, who recently got engaged to her Dubai-based boyfriend Peter Haag. Peter, a hotelier, and Celina started dating about 10 months ago, and are believed to have met through their families. Celina had wanted to keep the news under wraps for as long as was possible but finally revealed the relationship after rumours surfaced that the two were already married. Her publicist confirmed the engagement today (January 4), adding that the wedding date is yet to be announced.
The couple got engaged at Celina's house in Mumbai during Durga Puja with both families present.
So will Celina move to Dubai? What plans for her marriage? Watch this space for updates!
Manisha's marriage in trouble again?
 | Manisha Koirala's marriage to Samrat Dahal is just about six months old but has had more than its share of upheavals. And it does seem like the issues facing the star and her hubby are not going to go away in a hurry. Apparently it's been about two months since Manisha saw her husband, during which time she has been busy on the festival circuit promoting her movie 'Electra' and also thinking about making her mark as a filmmaker. Manisha is said to be unsatisfied just looking after a home and wants to get back to acting as well as become more involved with directing movies. This means she has been spending little time in Nepal, and instead has been travelling quite a bit. It's been speculated that Samrat is not happy with this and wants Manisha to spend a lot more time at home in Nepal. |
Rob Damiani: Dating Kelly Osbourne!
Between Tweeting nasty insults about her ex-fiance and posing like Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne has found time to meet a new man.
An insider tells Us Weekly that Osbournce spent "most of the holidays in the UK lying in bed depressed until her friends finally dragged her out to a club." Once there, she met Rob Damiani, who fronts a band called Don Broco.
"She was standing against a wall not having fun and not really talking to anyone and out of no where a boy came up to her and started chatting her up," a source says. "They were pretty inseparable from that point on."
Now?
"It's like the old Kelly is back," says the friend. "She's happy and glowing!"
Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 January 2011 18:39 An insider tells Us Weekly that Osbournce spent "most of the holidays in the UK lying in bed depressed until her friends finally dragged her out to a club." Once there, she met Rob Damiani, who fronts a band called Don Broco.
"She was standing against a wall not having fun and not really talking to anyone and out of no where a boy came up to her and started chatting her up," a source says. "They were pretty inseparable from that point on."
Now?
"It's like the old Kelly is back," says the friend. "She's happy and glowing!"
Kate Gosselin, Tired Kids Go Down Under
Despite Jon's bid to stop her, Kate Gosselin and her eight kids arrived at Brisbane Airport in Australia, Tuesday. The kids? Absolutely thrilled!!!!
Not.
Fresh off their trip to Alaska, the 35-year-old dragged the brood thousands and thousands of miles away from home again for Kate Plus 8 ...
MISGUIDED PRIORITIES: So many behavioral issues, so little time to work on them when there are continual global trips to plan. [Photo: Pacific Coast News]
As she continues living the privileged life of a diva, Kate was recently quoted as saying that her New Year's resolution is to find a new man.
Hopefully that poor soul makes her pull the plug on this nonsense.
Not.
Fresh off their trip to Alaska, the 35-year-old dragged the brood thousands and thousands of miles away from home again for Kate Plus 8 ...
MISGUIDED PRIORITIES: So many behavioral issues, so little time to work on them when there are continual global trips to plan. [Photo: Pacific Coast News]
As she continues living the privileged life of a diva, Kate was recently quoted as saying that her New Year's resolution is to find a new man.
Hopefully that poor soul makes her pull the plug on this nonsense.
Internet TV sales up - but no one uses it
Internet-connected TVs made up 21% of all television sales in 2010, according to a recently released report by NPD Group's DisplaySearch. Shipments are expected to more than double by 2014.
The only problem is hardly anyone is using them to surf the Internet. Just 45% of those who say they have an Internet-connected TV use that feature, NPD Group found.
"It's not something they're looking for, but it's there," said Paul Semenza, senior vice president of NPD Group's DisplaySearch. "It's being included more and more as a standard feature in high-end sets."
In other words, people are picking up Internet-connected TVs without knowing it or caring. It's kind of like buying a car with rain-sensing wipers.
It doesn't help that accessing the Internet on TV is a maddening experience. There are a bazillion different options, from Wal-Mart's (WMT, Fortune 500) Vudu to Hulu Plus-ready TVs, to, yes, Linux-based Nokia (NOK) MeeGo TVs.
None allow the user to just kick back and zone out like they want to.
Only 57% of those that use the Internet features said they found the experience on their connected TVs "satisfying."
The latest attempt, Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) TV, has been criticized so much for difficulty of use that Google reportedly pulled its new TVs from appearing at the annual Consumer Electronics Show next month.
Internet-connected set-top boxes have had some degree of success, including Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) TV, which reached the 1 million sales milestone last week. But stand-alone connected TVs are expected to be a big part of the coming CES showcase.
"It has got to be easy in order to broaden adoption," Semenza said. "What's most crucial is that TVs automatically detect a wireless connection and quickly guide the user through the process."
For those that do use the features, 57% are using it to access Netflix, and 47% view videos on YouTube. To top of page
The only problem is hardly anyone is using them to surf the Internet. Just 45% of those who say they have an Internet-connected TV use that feature, NPD Group found.
"It's not something they're looking for, but it's there," said Paul Semenza, senior vice president of NPD Group's DisplaySearch. "It's being included more and more as a standard feature in high-end sets."
In other words, people are picking up Internet-connected TVs without knowing it or caring. It's kind of like buying a car with rain-sensing wipers.
It doesn't help that accessing the Internet on TV is a maddening experience. There are a bazillion different options, from Wal-Mart's (WMT, Fortune 500) Vudu to Hulu Plus-ready TVs, to, yes, Linux-based Nokia (NOK) MeeGo TVs.
None allow the user to just kick back and zone out like they want to.
Only 57% of those that use the Internet features said they found the experience on their connected TVs "satisfying."
The latest attempt, Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) TV, has been criticized so much for difficulty of use that Google reportedly pulled its new TVs from appearing at the annual Consumer Electronics Show next month.
Internet-connected set-top boxes have had some degree of success, including Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) TV, which reached the 1 million sales milestone last week. But stand-alone connected TVs are expected to be a big part of the coming CES showcase.
"It has got to be easy in order to broaden adoption," Semenza said. "What's most crucial is that TVs automatically detect a wireless connection and quickly guide the user through the process."
For those that do use the features, 57% are using it to access Netflix, and 47% view videos on YouTube. To top of page
10 million Galaxy S phones sold
Selling 10 million units of any product in its first six months of initial release is nothing to scoff at. In the world of smartphones, it's certainly a number to notice.
That's why our eyebrows perked up when we read Samsung's e-mail this morning, announcing that the company's Android-based Galaxy S model has sold more than 10 million units worldwide since its debut in late June.
It's an admirable number, although not quite in the same league as Apple, which sold 14.1 million iPhone 4 phones during the third quarter of 2010.
And it definitely gives RIM reason to worry: RIM sold 12.1 million phones in the third quarter, down 2.8% from the previous quarter, according to Comscore data released in November.
The battle for operating system share has been heated between the big three contenders: Apple's iOS, Android and RIM's Blackberry OS. But Android has seen a surge in attention in 2010.
More than 40% of U.S. customers purchasing smartphones over the last six months have chosen Android-based phones, according to a recent report released by Nielsen, beating out the percentage of people who chose Apple, which rests at 26.9%.
But in the same Nielsen data, Apple shows its slight (if dwindling) edge in the overall number of phones out there. Apple's iOS has an overall U.S. market share of 28.6%, edging out Android, which rests at 26.1%. RIM's Blackberry OS comes in only slightly behind Android at 25.8%.
There's been a steady upward trajectory of Android-based phone sales over the past two years. Motorola's Droid sold an estimated 100,000 units over the weekend of its release in late 2009. It took the Droid 74 days to reach the 1 million mark, according to research firm Flurry Analytics.
But it took Samsung a month less to reach the same point with the Galaxy S. The company said it had sold 1 million in the first 45 days since launch.
Pete Postlethwaite Passes Away
Veteran actor Pete Postlethwaite, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1990, passed away yesterday afternoon. He was 64.
The movie star will likely be best remembered for his role of Kobayashi in The Usual Suspects. Most recently, he played key parts in such hits as Inception and The Town.
Postlethwaite was nominated for an Oscar in 1993 and was once described by Steven Spielberg as "the best actor in the world."
Our thoughts go out to Postlethwaite's wife, Jackie, and their two children: William, 21, and Lily, 14.
The movie star will likely be best remembered for his role of Kobayashi in The Usual Suspects. Most recently, he played key parts in such hits as Inception and The Town.
Postlethwaite was nominated for an Oscar in 1993 and was once described by Steven Spielberg as "the best actor in the world."
Our thoughts go out to Postlethwaite's wife, Jackie, and their two children: William, 21, and Lily, 14.
Katy Perry With No Makeup: Revealed on Twitter!
Katy Perry's a cute girl any way you look at it, but she apparently wasn't a huge fan of this Twitter photo posted by husband Russell Brand.
An image of Mrs. Brand that's not altogether flattering appeared online (and appears below) this weekend. It has since been taken down.
Not a bad way to get on your wife's bad side, fellas ...
He may be in the doghouse, but props to Russell Brand. Like an album announcement courtesy of Lady Gaga with no pants, this was quite entertaining and gave us genuine insight into their lives, not just what some publicist tells us.
That said, we hope the couch is comfortable tonight.
Aamir can't get enough of Salman
Here's how Sallu gets a salute in 'Dhobi Ghat'
It seems Aamir Khan is quite fascinated with the idea of using Salman Khan's style statements in his productions. Keeping up the trend, the Bollywood perfectionist has made visible references to the star in his upcoming movie 'Dhobi Ghat'.
It's believed that the hit song 'Pappu can't dance saala' in Aamir's 2008 hit production 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' was a dig at Salman and his lifestyle. Then Aamir's small-budget satirical hit 'Peepli Live' last year had an actor sporting the star's trademark bracelet with blue stone.
Now in his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut 'Dhobi Ghat', releasing Jan 14, Aamir strikes a hat-trick.
"Prateik Babbar's character in 'Dhobi Ghat' is shown to be a Salman Khan fan. Prateik is seen wearing the famous Salman Khan bracelet. He loves working out to build a body like Salman's and he wants to become an actor like him," said the film's publicist.
"Prateik's character hails from a different city and is a part-time dhobi, and a wannabe actor. He is into body-building and thinks Salman is a cool dude."
Also starring Aamir, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, Kitu Gidwani and Nafisa Khan, the movie revolves around four characters from different classes of society and how their lives are intertwined with each other.
It's believed that the hit song 'Pappu can't dance saala' in Aamir's 2008 hit production 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' was a dig at Salman and his lifestyle. Then Aamir's small-budget satirical hit 'Peepli Live' last year had an actor sporting the star's trademark bracelet with blue stone.
Now in his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut 'Dhobi Ghat', releasing Jan 14, Aamir strikes a hat-trick.
"Prateik Babbar's character in 'Dhobi Ghat' is shown to be a Salman Khan fan. Prateik is seen wearing the famous Salman Khan bracelet. He loves working out to build a body like Salman's and he wants to become an actor like him," said the film's publicist.
"Prateik's character hails from a different city and is a part-time dhobi, and a wannabe actor. He is into body-building and thinks Salman is a cool dude."
Also starring Aamir, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, Kitu Gidwani and Nafisa Khan, the movie revolves around four characters from different classes of society and how their lives are intertwined with each other.
Imran's set for a heroine reunion at his mehendi
 | Imran Khan is making sure all his female co-stars from Genelia D'Souza to Kareena Kapoor are present at his pre-wedding party Saturday (January 8) in Mumbai. Imran, who is tying the knot with his childhood sweetheart Avantika Malik Jan 10, is hosting a mehendi-cum-reception before his D-day and has invited all his friends from the industry to join the celebration. The 27-year-old has especially wished the presence of his co-stars Genelia, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif and Kareena from the movies 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na', 'I Hate Luv Storys', 'Break Ke Baad', and the upcoming 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' and 'Short Term Shaadi' respectively. |
Kareena, who is currently on a vacation with beau Saif Ali Khan, will cut short her trip to attend the bash. So will Deepika, who is on a backpacking trip in Britain but will cut short her vacation to attend the gala. Genelia is in the city and is going to be at the event.
Katrina and Sonam, however, will be skipping the bash due to work commitments.
While Katrina is shooting for 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', Sonam is flying out to start shooting for 'Thank You'.
What's all this #CES business about?
If you spend any time on the internet or with geeky friends this week, you're sure to come across an acronym that's pervasive in the world of technology each January: CES.
The Consumer Electronics Show, which officially runs Thursday to Sunday in Las Vegas, bills itself as the "world's largest consumer technology trade show." Others have called it a "gadget Super Bowl" and "Christmas morning" for nerds.
Really, just pick a metaphor and run with it.
5 free iPhone alarm clocks that work
When Apple's alarm clock app failed, letting down a multitude of users on New Year's Day and January 2 due to the bug the company still hasn't fully explained, we started looking around for alternatives.
Apple said yesterday that the failure of its clock app only happens when you set a one-time alarm, and it will somehow fix itself on January 3.
We have made a call and sent an e-mail into Apple asking why this happened. Meanwhile, we were thinking it wouldn't hurt to look around for something that might be dependable 365 days a year.
In this post, we mentioned one alarm clock app that costs $0.99 and gets the job done, but its design leaves much to be desired.
Nintendo issues warning on 3DS games for children
| The eyesight of children under six could be harmed by 3D games played on Nintendo's forthcoming handheld console, the company has warned. The games giant posted the health warning on the website devoted to the 3DS handheld. |  |
Younger children should only play 2D versions of 3DS games, said Nintendo.
Parental control
The 3DS, the successor to the hugely popular DS handheld, goes on sale in late February in Japan and in Europe and the US in March.
The new handheld has two screens like older versions of the console with the top screen being able to show 3D images without the need for special glasses.
Parents should turn off this function if the handheld is going to be used by a child under six years of age, said Nintendo. It said the advice it had received from experts also applied to other 3D content that younger children might be exposed to.
In issuing the warning, Nintendo joins Sony and Toshiba in alerting people to the ill effects that can attend watching 3D movies or playing 3D games.
Sony has already said that parents should get medical advice before letting children watch 3D content on the PlayStation. Toshiba has said parents should keep an eye on children watching its TVs that can display 3D images without needing glasses.
The companies have also warned that watching too much 3D content can cause adults discomfort.
Shania Twain and Frederic Thiebaud: Married!
Just two weeks ago, we learned Shania Twain and Frederic Thiebaud were engaged. The engagement didn't last long ... they got hitched last night!
The country superstar and her companion of several years got married in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, her rep confirmed to People this morning.
Shania Twain, who confirmed the engagement last month, became involved with Frederic Thiebaud after their original spouses had an affair.
"Adjusting to life after separation and divorce, I needed to lean on others more often than I was accustomed to," Shania wrote to her fans online. These people have been gifts, and I am fortunate to have so many of these beautiful people."
"Talking about love, I'm excited to share some personal news - I'm in love! Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a precious gift to me; a compassionate, understanding friend. Over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this friendship."
It sure has. We wish them both the best. In other New Year's wedding news, Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale also made it official Saturday!
The country superstar and her companion of several years got married in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, her rep confirmed to People this morning.
Shania Twain, who confirmed the engagement last month, became involved with Frederic Thiebaud after their original spouses had an affair.
"Talking about love, I'm excited to share some personal news - I'm in love! Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a precious gift to me; a compassionate, understanding friend. Over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this friendship."
It sure has. We wish them both the best. In other New Year's wedding news, Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale also made it official Saturday!
Spotted: A-Rod and Cameron Diaz!
If there were ever any doubts that Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz were back on, they have been silenced by photos of them hopping a plane Saturday.
The long-rumored couple stopped for lunch at Jerry's Deli before boarding a flight at LAX, having been loving it up on a Mexican holiday just last week.
Talk about a home run for the Yankees slugger ...
Big B wants dance lessons
The star feels he's rusty on the dance floor; plus his NY celebrations in Goa
Amitabh Bachchan danced his way into the New Year in Goa, but feels he needs to take some serious dancing lessons soon.
"Moving on the dance floor after ages has shown how rusty I have become. This has to change. Dancing lessons, I presume, during the gym hours I would imagine is the nearest course of action that could be taken. But yes, I was surprised at the fact that a few parts of my body still move in rhythm," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.
The 68-year-old, who has always maintained a distinct dancing style in Bollywood, attended a beachside party on New Year's eve in picturesque Goa.
"Great ambience, fantastic music and gorgeous food. And we have danced and eaten our way through the past year amongst friends and well wishers and an incredible burst of fireworks all along the entire stretch of the beach that starts from the Fort Aguada, north," he added.
Amitabh Bachchan danced his way into the New Year in Goa, but feels he needs to take some serious dancing lessons soon.
"Moving on the dance floor after ages has shown how rusty I have become. This has to change. Dancing lessons, I presume, during the gym hours I would imagine is the nearest course of action that could be taken. But yes, I was surprised at the fact that a few parts of my body still move in rhythm," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.
The 68-year-old, who has always maintained a distinct dancing style in Bollywood, attended a beachside party on New Year's eve in picturesque Goa.
"Great ambience, fantastic music and gorgeous food. And we have danced and eaten our way through the past year amongst friends and well wishers and an incredible burst of fireworks all along the entire stretch of the beach that starts from the Fort Aguada, north," he added.
Rani's innocent confession
She admits she was very naïve when she first joined B'wood
Rani Mukerji, who comes from a film family and has been working in the film industry for 13 years, says she was naïve and innocent but has become smarter with time.
"From the time I began to now the only change in me has been that I have become more confident. I was very naïve and innocent before. I have become smarter now because you have to be smart to be in this industry," Rani told IANS
"When I had started I used to get hurt about certain things, but today I have been able to develop a slightly thicker skin than I had. That has been the only change in me," added the 32-year-old.
The actress is all set for 'No One Killed Jessica', where she will be playing a news reporter. Releasing Jan 7, the film, based on the murder of model Jessica Lall, is the first big release of the year.
Rani Mukerji, who comes from a film family and has been working in the film industry for 13 years, says she was naïve and innocent but has become smarter with time.
"From the time I began to now the only change in me has been that I have become more confident. I was very naïve and innocent before. I have become smarter now because you have to be smart to be in this industry," Rani told IANS
"When I had started I used to get hurt about certain things, but today I have been able to develop a slightly thicker skin than I had. That has been the only change in me," added the 32-year-old.
The actress is all set for 'No One Killed Jessica', where she will be playing a news reporter. Releasing Jan 7, the film, based on the murder of model Jessica Lall, is the first big release of the year.
The Future of Your PC's Hardware
Memristor circuits lead to ultrasmall PCs. Intel and AMD unleash massively multicore CPUs. Samsung TVs respond to your every gesture. These and other developing technologies will fundamentally change the way you think about--and use--technology.
 | Memristor: A Groundbreaking New Circuit Since the dawn of electronics, we've had only three types of circuit components--resistors, inductors, and capacitors. But in 1971, UC Berkeley researcher Leon Chua theorized the possibility of a fourth type of component, one that would be able to measure the flow of electric current: the memristor. Now, just 37 years later, Hewlett-Packard has built one. |
The Celebrity of the Year: Justin Bieber!
With 2010 about the conclude, it has been with much pride that has spent weeks unveiling its finalists for its prestigious, Fourth Annual Celebrity of the Year award.
These stars all gave us their best, their worst, their nude pics (sometimes) and their scandals (often).
Earlier this week, we had no choice but to honor the violent, woman-berating Mel Gibson at #2, and now we present the top celebrity of 2010: Justin Bieber!
We could ramble on about Bieber's good looks, his sense of humor, his musical ability, his fun-loving, humble attitude. But the numbers in 2010 sum up everything that needs to be said about why this year belonged to the Biebs:
Read more... These stars all gave us their best, their worst, their nude pics (sometimes) and their scandals (often).
Earlier this week, we had no choice but to honor the violent, woman-berating Mel Gibson at #2, and now we present the top celebrity of 2010: Justin Bieber!
We could ramble on about Bieber's good looks, his sense of humor, his musical ability, his fun-loving, humble attitude. But the numbers in 2010 sum up everything that needs to be said about why this year belonged to the Biebs:
ONE: The ranking of Bieber among all human beings that were searched for on Google.
6,480,149: His number of Twitter followers.
424,585,480: As of this posting, the number of times "Baby" had been watched on YouTube.
6,480,149: His number of Twitter followers.
424,585,480: As of this posting, the number of times "Baby" had been watched on YouTube.
celebrity New Year's Resolutions For 2011!
Happy New Year from The Hollywood Gossip! As the calendar flips over to 2011, we hope that you find your spirit renewed. Or at least slept in.
Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? How about ones you plan on keeping for more than 48 hours? If so, best of luck with that.
We've heard what the stars are hoping for this year too. Or at least what they should. Here are some of celebrity New Year's resolutions:
Miley Cyrus: Keep pants on, quotes to a minimum and bongs at home.
Kelsey Grammer: Go 12 months without filing for a divorce.
Kate Middleton: Remain grounded. Register at Target.
Kristen Stewart: Smile in public.
Amber Portwood: Settle an argument without violence. Try. At least once.
Read more... Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? How about ones you plan on keeping for more than 48 hours? If so, best of luck with that.
We've heard what the stars are hoping for this year too. Or at least what they should. Here are some of celebrity New Year's resolutions:
Miley Cyrus: Keep pants on, quotes to a minimum and bongs at home.
Kelsey Grammer: Go 12 months without filing for a divorce.
Kate Middleton: Remain grounded. Register at Target.
Kristen Stewart: Smile in public.
Amber Portwood: Settle an argument without violence. Try. At least once.
Kangna has her way with 'Tanu weds Manu'
Here's how she got the movie's name changed
 | 'Tanu Weds Manu', which will see the fresh pairing of Kangana Ranaut and R. Madhavan, was initially titled 'Manu Weds Tanu' but the name was changed at the lead actress' behest. Director Anand Rai felt 'Manu Weds Tanu' was an appropriate title, but Kangana who plays Tanu in the film, insisted that the title should be 'Tanu Weds Manu' and not 'Manu Weds Tanu' because the narrative unfolds from Tanu's point of view, said a source. The director was taken aback, but Kangana explained her point saying Tanu, a small town, wild girl, is the one in the commanding position compared to Madhavan's character Manu who is shown as a simple NRI guy in the comedy. When the director spoke to Madhavan, thinking he would get upset, the actor saw the point immediately and readily agreed with Kangana. |
The film will release Feb 25.
Sameer Soni evicted from 'Bigg Boss'
What was his reaction to the decision?
Sameer Soni has been evicted from the 'Bigg Boss 4' house, and he was quite surprised when his name was announced by host Salman Khan. Sameer had been hoping that he would stay on till the very end, but the votes weren't in his favour.
Sameer, who had been one of the calmest members in the 'Bigg Boss' house this season, except for a run-in with Dolly Bindra, said goodbye to the remaining contestants before leaving.
Sameer's was the final elimination in the house. The winner of 'Bigg Boss 4' will be chosen out of the remaining four participants - Ashmit Patel, Shweta Tiwari, The Great Khali and Dolly Bindra.
Sameer will now be seen in the 'Aakhri Salaam' segment of 'Bigg Boss' that will air on the night of January 1.
Sameer, who had been one of the calmest members in the 'Bigg Boss' house this season, except for a run-in with Dolly Bindra, said goodbye to the remaining contestants before leaving.
Sameer's was the final elimination in the house. The winner of 'Bigg Boss 4' will be chosen out of the remaining four participants - Ashmit Patel, Shweta Tiwari, The Great Khali and Dolly Bindra.
Sameer will now be seen in the 'Aakhri Salaam' segment of 'Bigg Boss' that will air on the night of January 1.
Spotted: Brangelina in ... Missouri!
Just days after celebrating Christmas in Namibia, the couple made a brief stopover at the St. John’s Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center in Springfield, Mo.
That's the place where Brad grew up.
Conclusion to Breaking Dawn: Revealed?
Because the final installment of The Twilight Saga will be broken into two parts, producers had to find a way to break up the films in a suspenseful manner. According to someone who read the script and then spoke to a Robert Pattinson fansite, writers have come up with a way to do just that.
The Volturi will confront the Cullens in a bloody, climactic scene that is described as follows:
Alice touches Aro. When she touches him, he ’sees’ what will happen if he continues his course. So, the first person whose head comes off is Carlisle. In the vision. Then everything goes to sh-t and all kinds of dying happens. And Bella and Edward kill Aro. Bella and Edward, they die too. All these other people die, too. Jane and her brother. Lots of deaths on both sides. Then the [Volturi] guy snaps out of it, says he’s sorry. Everybody makes up and lives happily ever after.
No fantasy sequence of this kind takes place in the book. However, as mentioned, the movie must come up with a way to conclude one half of Breaking Dawn and transition into the final movie.
Might this rumored scene accomplish that goal? You tell us. How does it sound?
Happy New Year from Bollywood
As 2010 comes to an end, and we get set for 2011, here's what your fave stars are saying.
Amitabh Bachchan wrote: “Good morning for 2010 ! Tomorrow it will be for 2011 ! Stepping out into the sun.. virtually and metaphorically too ! Love and more !”
Shilpa Shetty, who's celebrating the New Year right here in Dubai, wrote, “Things that won't come back,The Triggerd Bullet,the Spoken Word,the Wastd Time,the Neglectd Opprtnty,the year 2010..Happy New year tweetos”
Bipasha Basu said: “Last day of 2010 I will be in Bengaluru! Performing at Golden Palms!Let's get 2011 with a bang in Bangalore! 2010 almost over! It has been a very extreme year! Mix of Good n Bad!2011 has to be only GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD for everyone!Looking forward.”
The Top 10 Films of 2010
10. The American
The American moves slow and methodically but with purpose, much like its protagonist who attempts to escape the spy life with one last job which sends him into hiding in a small Italian village. Director Anton Corbijn perfectly captures the daily paranoia as Jack navigates the cavernous and winding cobblestone streets of his new-found hideaway and the film swaps heavy dialogue for a host of subtle visual clues. The old cliché of that last spy job in a European village can be forgiven once the film really hits its stride; the standby plot is treated with care and a gritty elegance that makes The American is not only a joy to watch, but a film that lingers long after the last frame
Last Updated on Friday, 31 December 2010 17:07 Read more... | This George Clooney-fueled spy movie disappointed some movie goers thanks to a trailer that packed more action than the actual film, but behind the misguided guise of its marketing campaign was a beautiful, detailed, European-style film that harkened back to the days of Cary Grant and explored the subtleties of a spy’s quiet exile. There aren’t a great many action scenes and even the few that are sprinkled throughout the film require patience and a keen eye, but as long as you’re not expecting a James Bond style thriller they don’t disappoint. |  |
Super efficient Passive House standard draws fans
BOSTON--Among green-building cognoscenti, the Passive House standard is setting a new bar for architects and designers making eco-friendly buildings.
The Passive House concept, which is well established in Europe, is now getting a foothold in the U.S. with a method that promises overall energy savings of about 70 percent overall and a 90 percent lower heating load without on-site solar power.
While the U.S. Green Building's Council's LEED certification touches on energy, water, materials, and location, Passive House, which started in Germany as Passivhaus, brings rigorous requirements focused entirely on building energy efficiency. Because of that focus on lowering building energy demand, some say it yields better performance than LEED on efficiency.
How to ring in the new year with apps
The start of a new year can be stressful. The parties, the dates, the planning. And then, for the cocktail-inclined, the piercing headaches that follow.
But never fear. Smartphone apps will hold your hand through the whole confetti-splashed ordeal, from midnight Friday through those 2011 resolutions.
Here's a look at a few of our favorite New Year's apps. Think of it as app-focused guide to the holiday, in chronological order:
Salman is Mountain Dew's first brand ambassador
What's he saying about it?
 | 'Dabangg' Salman Khan will now send out a new message to his fans - ‘Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai' - as the newly appointed brand ambassador of Mountain Dew soft drink. "I love the high-action imagery of Mountain Dew and more importantly the fact that it's not mindless action but there is a message at its core ‘Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai'. I have spent time with the Mountain Dew team and I eagerly look forward to working with them," Salman, who has been appointed by PepsiCo India as the brand ambassador, said. This is the first time that a brand ambassador has been appointed for Mountain Dew. |
Apart from this, Salman endorses brands like Chlormint, Wheel and Dixcy Scott among others.
Nintendo warns against youngsters playing its upcoming 3-D system
Nintendo is warning young children against playing 3-D video games on its upcoming handheld gaming system, the Nintendo 3DS.
Kids younger than 6 who play the 3-D games may have the growth of their eyes stunted, the company said in a statement on its Japanese website.
The warning notes that parents can turn off the 3-D functionality of the handheld 3DS. They can also set passwords that keep kids from using that feature.
How Facebook eclipsed Google in 2010
Facebook beat out Google as the No. 1 most-visited site in the United States in 2010, according to internet analytics firm Hitwise.
How was Facebook able to outplay the former Web champion? And can Google make a comeback in 2011 and beyond?
Let's begin by admitting that the Hitwise data doesn't represent the whole truth. For starters, Hitwise only measures unique visitors in the United States. What's more, Hitwise measures sites on a per domain basis: If the analytics firm were to include Google-owned YouTube in its calculations, Google's network of websites would outrank Facebook properties.
Scott Disick Puts Price on Son
It's a question all fathers have asked themselves: How much should I charge a network for featuring my son on a reality TV show?
For Scott Disick, that answer is reportedly $5,000. For producers of Kourtney & Kim Take New York, which debuts January 23 on E!, their response is: HA!
Sources close to the show say E! offered $1,000/episode in exchange for Mason to appear on the upcoming spin-off, but Disick "played hardball" and "bungled negotiations, so you won't see Mason at all."
Scott's greed, of course, will likely benefit to Mason in the long run.
But, don't worry folks, there are still more Kardashian-related programs on the way. Khloe and Lamar Odom have signed on for a new reality show. Thank goodness.
For Scott Disick, that answer is reportedly $5,000. For producers of Kourtney & Kim Take New York, which debuts January 23 on E!, their response is: HA!
Scott's greed, of course, will likely benefit to Mason in the long run.
But, don't worry folks, there are still more Kardashian-related programs on the way. Khloe and Lamar Odom have signed on for a new reality show. Thank goodness.
Crystal Harris Shows Off Engagement Ring
Why would a 24-year old marry an 84-year old?
It's not for the looks, or the stamina or the possibility of raising children together.
But Crystal Harris gave us a hint behind her motivation for becoming Mrs. Hugh Hefner when she Tweeted the following photo of the rock this senior citizen placed on her finger last week:
It's not for the looks, or the stamina or the possibility of raising children together.
But Crystal Harris gave us a hint behind her motivation for becoming Mrs. Hugh Hefner when she Tweeted the following photo of the rock this senior citizen placed on her finger last week:
Would you marry a man 60 years older than you in exchange for this diamond?
SRK, Hrithik in Dubai for New Year
Where will you spot them in the city?
 | Close friends Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan will ring in 2011 right here in Dubai with a starry celebration. SRK, of course, owns a luxurious home on The Palm and that's where the party is planned. Karan Johar will also be joining the Khans and Roshans for the bash. The group also includes Chunky Pandey, Gauri's buddy Kajal Anand, and it seems Arjun Rampal and his family are also trying to make it to the UAE to join them. And what did SRK have to say about the New Year? "To new beginnings. Have a healthy, happy & fulfilling new chapter. May all your troubles be as shortlived as your New Year resolutions. Love," the star posted on his Twitter page. |
Salman spent his birthday with Katrina
Guess where they celebrated together in Dubai?
 | Are Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif back together? Well, they're certainly close enough to have spent his birthday together right here in Dubai. We'd told you about how Salman, his family and close friends including Sajid Nadiadwala flew into the city to celebrate his birthday on December 27. And when it came to the actual party, Katrina joined the group. Salman celebrated his birthday at Caramel Restaurant and Lounge with his family and Kat for company. The party went on till 2am, and Sallu and the group enjoyed themselves so much that they said they would be returning before they left thecity on January 3. On the menu for the stars were Caramel's signature dishes including Miso Glazed Black Cod, Seared Kobe Beef Carpaccio, Yellowtail Sashimi, Mac & Cheese sticks, and Chicken Shawarma Bites and Signature Chicken Lollipops. |
I don’t want to be a chocolate hero
We got Atif Aslam to dish about his acting plans, his new concert in Dubai, and lots more
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 December 2010 22:07 Read more... Atif Aslam, of the amazing voice, is super confident too! And the man’s got a sense of humour, about everything from those who criticise him to being a superstar. Atif’s going to be performing in Dubai on December 30 with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Salam 2011 organised by Dream Advertising.
Rupert Everett Lambasts Hollywood, "Tasteless" Jennifer Aniston Movies
 |  |
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 about how homosexuals fare in Hollywood, the interview eventually turned to the question of audience perception.
Rupert argued that no matter what fans may think, the industry decides who will become A-list. How else to you explain Jennifer Aniston?!
New Robert Pattinson Photo: Why Not?
Photographer Stewart Shining has presented Robert Pattinson lovers with the best holiday gift of all: the actor himself! Sort of.
Shining, who shot the star for a recent issue of Italian Vogue, Tweeted the following outtake with a note that reads: "I was just thinking this would be my motto for the new year, and a nice Xmas present for the RPatt fans."
Why just post a picture of Robert Pattinson without any breaking news on the actor? As the image itself asks: Why not?!?
SAP must pay Oracle interest on $1.3B verdict
Corporate software company SAP must pay rival Oracle millions of dollars in interest on a $1.3 billion copyright infringement verdict, a U.S. district judge ruled this week.
Judge Phyllis Hamilton did not say exactly how much interest SAP would have to pay, but she used a methodology that SAP estimated would cost it about $16.5 million.
The court's decision was a compromise between Oracle's and SAP's demands. Oracle had asked for SAP to pay $211 million in interest on the penalty, but SAP said it should not have to pay any interest at all.
Instead, the judge ruled that there was precedent for such an interest payment, which would require SAP to pay Oracle compound interest on the fine at a rate equal to the weekly average yield of the one-year Treasury bond at the time of the ruling, which was 0.3%. SAP will have to pay interest dating back to Sept. 29, 2006.
Last month, a jury awarded Oracle the $1.3 billion sum for copyright infringement by SAP's now-defunct software maintenance unit, TomorrowNow. SAP admitted to the wrongdoing, but had offered just a $40 million settlement. The company said it would appeal the ruling if it is not overturned in post-trial motions. To top of page
Judge Phyllis Hamilton did not say exactly how much interest SAP would have to pay, but she used a methodology that SAP estimated would cost it about $16.5 million.
The court's decision was a compromise between Oracle's and SAP's demands. Oracle had asked for SAP to pay $211 million in interest on the penalty, but SAP said it should not have to pay any interest at all.
Instead, the judge ruled that there was precedent for such an interest payment, which would require SAP to pay Oracle compound interest on the fine at a rate equal to the weekly average yield of the one-year Treasury bond at the time of the ruling, which was 0.3%. SAP will have to pay interest dating back to Sept. 29, 2006.
Last month, a jury awarded Oracle the $1.3 billion sum for copyright infringement by SAP's now-defunct software maintenance unit, TomorrowNow. SAP admitted to the wrongdoing, but had offered just a $40 million settlement. The company said it would appeal the ruling if it is not overturned in post-trial motions. To top of page
2011 cyberattack targets: iPhone, Facebook, Foursquare
Malicious coders and all-out cybercrooks will target newer and hipper forms of digital communication in 2011, according to a report released Wednesday by McAfee, the computer security company.
Noting a "significant decrease" in the total volume of spam messages sent to e-mail, the company's annual "Threat Predictions" report says attacks on instant messaging services, Facebook, Foursquare, URL shorteners, smartphones like the iPhone and even long-protected Apple operating systems will increase in the coming year.
The changes are driven by how people use tech, the report says. As e-mail starts to die, so do e-mail-targeted scams.
How to back up your social media data
Remember how we were all freaking out on New Year's Eve, 1999, convinced that the world as we know it would end -- at the hands of machines, of course?
Well, we weathered that storm and then some. Still, as we shamble forward into the next decade, it might be prudent to take pause and take stock of the years behind us. Translation: Back up your stuff.
Think of it as stockpiling food and building a fallout shelter for the 21st century.
We have a ton of information, photos and memories scattered around the web that we would be loathe to lose, and while it's unlikely that the entire Internet is going to come crashing down in the next week or so, it still might be wise to put some of that stuff in an iron box for safe keeping.
Read on, and Christina Warren and I will show you how to...
... back up your Facebook
Sanjay says producer threatened him through dons
But Shakeel Noorani alleges that it is the actor who has underworld connections
 | A day after a court ordered the attachment of two properties of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt over a financial row with producer Shakeel Noorani, the actor's lawyer claimed on December 29 that he received extortion calls from the underworld in 2005 at Noorani's behest. The film producer rubbished the allegation. "Sanjay Dutt does not owe a single penny to Shakeel Noorani. Noorani, in the past, has been demanding money from Sanjay Dutt. Mr. Dutt has received extortion calls at the behest of Shakeel Noorani. The complaint was lodged with the Anti-Extortion Cell and late (senior police inspector) Vijay Salaskar was investigating the case," said Rizwan Merchant, Dutt's lawyer. |
Merchant said that when Noorani did not succeed in his extortion demands in 2005, he (Noorani) made a complaint to the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), which was rejected.
Merchant said that when Noorani did not succeed in his extortion demands in 2005, he (Noorani) made a complaint to the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), which was rejected.
SRK gets emotional on 'Koffee With Karan'
His confessions made KJo cry
Karan Johar's the coolest of cool TV hosts, but when his close friend Shah Rukh Khan gets emotional, so does KJo. We hear that Karan broke down after Shah Rukh showed off his vulnerable side and confessed on the 'Koffee With Karan' show that he didn't know how to make friends and keep them, and that he couldn't always tell people that he loved them.
It all started with Karan quizzing SRK about his tiffs with Salman Khan and Farah Khan. SRK said that if the two were upset with him, it was completely his own fault. He added that he couldn't just pick up the phone and say sorry because he couldn't ask people to come back to him, and not because of any ego issues.
It all started with Karan quizzing SRK about his tiffs with Salman Khan and Farah Khan. SRK said that if the two were upset with him, it was completely his own fault. He added that he couldn't just pick up the phone and say sorry because he couldn't ask people to come back to him, and not because of any ego issues.
It's a Boy for Elton John and David Furnish!
Elton John and David Furnish are the excited new parents of a baby boy.
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born on Christmas Day to a surrogate in California. He weighted weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," John and Furnish said in a statement. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born on Christmas Day to a surrogate in California. He weighted weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," John and Furnish said in a statement. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."
John and Furnish married in 2005 after 12 years as a couple. This is the first child for each.
Kelly Osbourne on Luke Worrall: What a C-nt!
Kelly Osbourne has made it clear these days: she's got Miley Cyrus' back.
Now, she's made it even more evident: she's been stabbed in that same body part by ex-boyfriend Luke Worrall.
Amidst rumors of his cheating, Osbourne split with her fiance in July. Based on a series of vitriolic Tweets, it sounds like Worrall tried to reconcile with Kelly over the weekend - and it REALLY didn't go well.
Read more... Now, she's made it even more evident: she's been stabbed in that same body part by ex-boyfriend Luke Worrall.
Amidst rumors of his cheating, Osbourne split with her fiance in July. Based on a series of vitriolic Tweets, it sounds like Worrall tried to reconcile with Kelly over the weekend - and it REALLY didn't go well.
"What do you do when someone lies in the darkest way and you try to tell the person that was lied to but they don't believe you?" Kelly Tweeted, adding:
Katrina is the most profitable actress of 2010
Guess who's the most profitable actor this year?
 |  |
On evaluating the industry players on the basis of return on investment for the first time, the actors have won the top spots after the economic quotient of their movies was taken into consideration as a cornerstone for mapping their success.
"Figures talk, you cannot manipulate it, you cannot play games with it," said Ajay, who has had six releases this year including 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?' 'Raajneeti', 'Golmaal 3', and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' and except 'Aakrosh' and 'Toonpur Ka Superhero', all his movies did good business.
The research done by ETC indicated that Indian audiences paid a cumulative sum of Rs.282 crore to watch Ajay's films throughout the year vis-a-vis Rs.142 crore to watch Katrina's 'Raajneeti' and 'Tees Maar Khan'.
Adnan Sami issued notice on his Mumbai properties
He owns eight flats in the city that might be confiscated
Pakistani singer-composer Adnan Sami has been issued a notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for owning eight flats and five car parking spaces in Mumbai.
A fine of Rs.20 lakh has also been slapped on the singer.
Sami said: "I have received an order from the ED which says my properties will be confiscated if I do not file an appeal in the next 45 days."
He rubbished media reports claiming that his flats have been confiscated.
Amazon sold how many copies of Eclipse!?
Sorry, Twilight fans: Edward and Bella's latest cinematic adventure didn't actually sell 40 million copies this holiday season.
That's what Amazon implied in a press release it issued Monday, touting its holiday sales. But the eye-popping figure doesn't hold up.
"For the holiday time period alone, Amazon customers bought enough copies of Eclipse for Edward Cullen to watch the movie 1,000 times a day for all 109 years of his life," the company wrote.
Evacuated Tube Transport Technologies (ET3) will allow travel from New York to Beijing in 2 hours
The future of transportation that literally depicts "Space Travel on Earth" --that's what ET3 (Evacuated Tube Transport Technologies). It's definitely a new (but we can tell it's an old concept) mode of transportation, clean, green, fast, comfortable, safe, faster and affordable. Learn how it will allow passenger or cargo travel from New York to Beijing in 2 hours, yes, after the break.
Here's how the ET3 works:
Car sized passenger capsules travel in 1.5m (5') diameter tubes on frictionless maglev. Air is permanently removed from the two-way tubes that are built along a travel route. Airlocks at stations allow transfer of capsules without admitting air. Linear electric motors accelerate the capsules, which then coast through the vacuum for the remainder of the trip using no additional power. Most of the energy is regenerated as the capsules slow down. ET3 can provide 50 times more transportation per kWh than electric cars or trains.
Speed in initial ET3 systems is 600km/h (370 mph) for in state trips, and will be developed to 6,500 km/h (4,000 mph) for international travel that will allow passenger or cargo travel from New York to Beijing in 2 hours. ET3 is networked like freeways, except the capsules are automatically routed from origin to destination.
Unfortunately, so far as we mention above, this can be only "future" as we always see some great concept that haven't made to implementation as reality holds it back locked on its blueprint where big industries of oil, airlines and auto purge it into imagination. However, we've seen movement for electric cars, as oil deposit have started to feel scarcity in supply, and yet, we can always dream for ET3 to push through, just cross your fingers tightly.
Lady Gaga Named Most Charitable Star of 2010
The Grammy winner is known for her hit songs, racy photos and outrageous fashion, but also for throwing her weight behind philanthropic projects.
A relentless advocate for LGBT rights, Gaga has also helped raise money for Haitian relief, homeless youth, HIV/AIDS and environmental causes.
The runner-up, Alicia Keys, has also devoted endless time and energy to the battle against HIV and AIDS, and should be commended for that.
Other celebs in the Top 10 include Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneres, Nick Jonas, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber.
All of them deserve major props for using their star power for good, and special thanks for setting that kind of example for fans to look up to.
Justin Bieber Thinks Selena Gomez is "Amazing"
But when MTV brought up this same topic with Justin a couple days ago, he didn't confirm a relationship between he and Selena. But he didn't exactly shoot down the idea, either.
"She's really cool," Bieber told the network. "She's an amazing person."
Does he mind that so many are so curious about his love life? Said Bieber:
"I think that people are always gonna be interested in my personal life... but I gotta keep some things to myself. I'm just having fun being a teenager."
As he should. But as long as he and Gomez spend time alone together, as they did in Miami last week (pictured), such (adorable!) talk will continue to persist.
'Bigg Boss' allowed to air at prime time
But no obscene language and visuals, rules court
 | The Bombay High Court Monday allowed reality TV show 'Bigg Boss' to be aired at the prime time slot of 9pm but directed that "no obscene language and visuals, including beeps" will be allowed. The court observed that the channel could air season 4 of 'Bigg Boss' at 9pm following an undertaking given by the petitioners Viacom18 that they would not screen any dialogue that is required to be beeped or any obscene gestures made by the participants. They are also not to give out the footage of the show to news channels. A vacation bench of Justice S.J. Kathawalla and Justice U.D. Salvi had earlier allowed Colors channel to air the show at 9pm while directing the information and broadcast ministry (I&B) to file its reply. |
Veena Malik’s ‘Bigg Boss’ naughtiness
What's she saying about mischief and her buddy Ash-mit?
Veena Malik's intimacy with Ashmit Patel in the ‘Bigg Boss’ house set the TRPs soaring, but it wasn't enough for her as the controversial Pakistani beauty says she wanted to be more naughty on the reality show, but decided otherwise.
"Ash-mit is a sweetheart. He's my buddy. If there was anything more between us, I'm bold enough to admit it. But there's nothing beyond friendship between us," Veena, who is single and is waiting for her prince charming, said.
"Trust me, I wanted to do a lot of mischievous things on 'Bigg Boss'. But I restrained myself. I never thought of a Bollywood career. It will be a matter of great pride for me if anyone will think I fit in among the Indian beauties. Pamela Anderson told me I'm a warrior. So I'd like to do an action-comedy role in Bollywood," she added.
Here’s what else she had to share:
Skype CEO offers apology, credit for Wednesday’s outage
After a daylong outage that left untold millions of Skype users high and dry, the CEO of the peer-to-peer chat service apologized, promised that service is slowly but surely being restored, and announced that credits may be in the offing for paying users. The root cause of Wednesday's massive Skype failure is still a mystery, however.
In a blog post and in a just-posted YouTube video, Skype CEO Tony Bates said that as of Thursday morning, about 16.5 million users were back online — still only about 80 percent of the number you'd normally expect to see using Skype on a given weekday morning, but greatly improved from Wednesday, when as few as 1.6 million users were connected.
Bates said that Skype's "core services," such as audio, video and text chat, had been "stabilized" after engineers rejiggered a series of servers to act as "supernodes," or Skype clients that help one Skype user locate and connect to another.
That's the good news. The bad news is that Skype engineers ended up repurposing some servers used for other Skype features — namely group video chat and offline instant messaging — to shore up the "core" video and audio chat services. For now, that means anyone hoping to engage in group video chat or send offline IMs is out of luck.
Read more... In a blog post and in a just-posted YouTube video, Skype CEO Tony Bates said that as of Thursday morning, about 16.5 million users were back online — still only about 80 percent of the number you'd normally expect to see using Skype on a given weekday morning, but greatly improved from Wednesday, when as few as 1.6 million users were connected.
Bates said that Skype's "core services," such as audio, video and text chat, had been "stabilized" after engineers rejiggered a series of servers to act as "supernodes," or Skype clients that help one Skype user locate and connect to another.
That's the good news. The bad news is that Skype engineers ended up repurposing some servers used for other Skype features — namely group video chat and offline instant messaging — to shore up the "core" video and audio chat services. For now, that means anyone hoping to engage in group video chat or send offline IMs is out of luck.
Crystal Harris & Hugh Hefner: Engaged!
Santa Claus presented Hugh Hefner with a busty blonde over the weekend, as the Playboy founder announced via Twitter that he's engaged to 24-year old Crystal Harris. He explained:
"I gave Crystal a ring. A truly memorable Christmas Eve. When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas in memory."
"I gave Crystal a ring. A truly memorable Christmas Eve. When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas in memory."
Harris was the Playboy Playmate of December 2009 and moved into the famous Mansion soon afterward.
This will be the third marriage for Hefner, as he finally filed for divorce from Kimberly Conrad last year, following the pair's 1998 separation. He was previously hitched to Mildred Williams; their marriage ended 27 years before Harris was born.
We wish this couple all the Viagra-inspired best!
Why Akshay's New Year act came before Christmas
The reason he welcomed 2011 even before December 25
 | Everyone wondered why Akshay Kumar dedicated his performance at Reliance Broadcast Network's Big Star awards held here to the New Year when it wasn't even Christmas time! It turned out that Akshay's performance was targeted at being telecast on New Year's eve on a channel. But to the nominees who were present at the venue of the awards, it did appear odd that Akshay was singing and dancing about the New Year nine days in advance. Said one of the stars present at the awards, "It was quite funny, really. Akshay was welcoming the year 2011 on Dec 21. We all wondered if he was trying to prove he was ahead of his times." |
Incidentally, live performances at other awards functions, if targeted at a specific date, are recorded separately from the function.
Said Akshay: "The New Year bit was part of my 'Tees Maar Khan' act. Anything for my film. Also, Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan came and joined me on stage for an impromptu jig. After that, time ceased to matter for me. I didn't care if it was Christmas or New Year."
Salman slaps fan at party
Here's what happened at Anil Kapoor's b'day bash
The entire Khan family - including Salman's dad Salim and brothers Arbaaz and Sohail - were invited to the party. While Salim and Sohail Khan reached Anil Kapoor's house together, and were taken in by the birthday boy himself, Salman arrived a little later. And just as he was getting out of his car, a fan rushed towards Sallu and hugged him, and kissed him. Salman's instant reaction to this show of affection - one tight slap!
It seems a TV channel got footage of all that happened, and this angered Salman even more. He got his security guys (as well as Anil Kapoor, who was out by then) to get the TV guys to delete the footage they had.
There were no comments from Salman or Anil about the incident, but apparently Sallu's defence is that no one, fans included, should be so forceful with a star. Well, we're sure after this incident, fans will be extra-careful about approaching Salman.
Some Google employees defect, then rebel
Many computer engineers consider a job offer from Google as the golden ticket.
Outdoor volleyball courts, free gourmet food, on-site haircuts, massages and laundry are among the perks Google has offered its employees at its main campus in Mountain View, California.
But some of the people who do leave are challenging the company in the best way an engineer knows how: by developing programs that could detract from Google's core business.
Steven Soderbergh Will Actually Retire From Filmmaking
Welp, it's official. According to Matt Damon, Steven Soderbergh was not fucking around. The Oscar-winning director plans to retire from filmmaking in the near future.
"He's retiring, he's been talking about it for years and it's getting closer," Damon told the LA Times. Soderbergh turns 48 next month and if that sounds young, Damon continued, that's the point. The actor is currently working with Soderbergh on the pandemic thriller Contagion and said he's consciously trying to enjoy his time working with him, because he knows it won't last forever.
"He's retiring, he's been talking about it for years and it's getting closer," Damon told the LA Times. Soderbergh turns 48 next month and if that sounds young, Damon continued, that's the point. The actor is currently working with Soderbergh on the pandemic thriller Contagion and said he's consciously trying to enjoy his time working with him, because he knows it won't last forever.
Christmas Weekend at the Box Office
 | The latest installment in the successful comedy franchise that started 10 years ago, Universal’s “Little Fockers” is poised to bring yet another number one debut home for Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro. Meet the Parents was the 7th highest grossing release of year 2000 earning $166.2 million in the wake of a weekend debut of $28.6 million. Its sequel, 2004’s Meet the Fockers switched to the holiday season by opening on Wednesday December 22 and earned $46.1 million in its first weekend and a whopping $70.5 million in its first five days on its way to becoming the 4th highest grossing film of that year with $279.2 million. This latest Fockers should land somewhere between the first two in the high $20 million to low $30 million range for the weekend. |
Katrina's 'Sheila' brings crowds to 'Tees Maar Khan'
The movie had 90-95 per cent occupancy on its first day of release
With their curiosity whetted by Katrina's moves in television promos of the film, the Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer was a hit on its first day.
However, industry insiders predict the huge turnout is mostly due to Katrina's dance number.
"We are having good advance bookings for 'Tees Maar Khan' and the initial response is good, with almost 90 percent occupancy, but the content is not at all as per expectations," Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas, said.
Aamir says he's very proud and happy to be part of the film
When the first look of 'Dhobi Ghat' was revealed, director Kiran Rao did not want her husband and actor-producer Aamir Khan to attend the event so that the spotlight doesn't shift from the movie to him. But who can keep Aamir away!
"I was never meant to be away from the promotions of the film. I'm very proud of the film and I'm part of it, since I'm the producer and have also acted in it. Even Kiran can't keep me away from it," Aamir told reporters.
"I'm happy to be a part of it and I will be part of it till the end," he added.
"I was never meant to be away from the promotions of the film. I'm very proud of the film and I'm part of it, since I'm the producer and have also acted in it. Even Kiran can't keep me away from it," Aamir told reporters.
"I'm happy to be a part of it and I will be part of it till the end," he added.
What's he saying about working with her?
"I am hopeful we can work again together. If there is a script, then definitely, yes," Anil, 51, said.
The duo has also starred in movies like 'Parinda', 'Kishen Kanhaiya', 'Beta', 'Rajkumar' and 'Pukar'.
Anil also revealed recently on 'Koffee With Karan' that he was very fond of the actress.
Liz Hurley blames Indian media for split
Will she still get back together with Arun Nayar?
 | Elizabeth Hurley is miffed. After losing out on both her Indian husband Arun Nayar and estranged beau Shane Warne, the model-actress has ranted at the Indian media for gossip that led to her devastated marriage. Though her affair was first reported in the British dailies, Liz, as she is fondly called by her fans and in the media, is furious about Indian journos "fictional" stories about her have left her empty-handed. "The Indian press has to take top marks for fiction," she tweeted. Having realised that the Australian spinner, infamous for his philandering ways, was two-timing her by sending racy texts to another woman, the 45-year-old Liz dumped him and begged for forgiveness from her Indian textile tycoon husband. |
He was recently even spotted kissing a mystery woman in public as they left the posh Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, West London. And taking her hubby's side, the fallen wife has now tweeted: "Sorry to rain on your parade Gossip Press, but Arun's 'mystery brunette' is his brother's wife."
'Tees Maar Khan', 'Dabangg' dragged to court
Petition targets 'indecent, vulgar' songs and dialogues
 |  |
Filed by Nutan Thakur, wife of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, the PIL seeks action against 'Dabangg' producer Arbaz Khan and co-producers Malaika Arora Khan and Dhillin Mehta and also its director Abhinav Kashyap, besides 'Tees Maar Khan' producers Twinkle Khanna, Ronnie Screwvala and director Farah Khan for violating various provisions of the Indian Cinematography Act of 1952.
Navy takes electromagnetic tack for carrier launches
For the U.S. Navy, the age of steam may finally be almost over.
Over the weekend, the Navy made its first-ever launch of an aircraft, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, using a cutting-edge electromagnetic apparatus. The test operation of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a significant, though still preliminary, achievement in the Navy's planned shift away from the steam catapults that have been in use on aircraft carriers for more than a half-century.
"Saturday's EMALS launch demonstrates an evolution in carrier flight deck operations using advanced computer control, system monitoring, and automation for tomorrow's carrier air wings," said Capt. James Donnelly, Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment program manager, in a statement
The launch took place on land at the Naval Air Systems Command test site in Lakehurst, N.J.
This Time Its Scarlett Johansson who Just Doesn’t Give a Damn
One of the best looking couples in Hollywood have found themselves splitting up after just two years of marriage.
Scarlett Johansson and hunky Ryan Reynolds have called it a day after the actress who became the face of Dolce & Gabbana released a statement stating, ‘After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we’ve decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love and it’s with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn’t expected, it’s certainly appreciated.’Ryan, 34, and Scarlett got engaged in May 2008 and were married in an intimate ceremony in Vancouver, Canada, that September.
It is thought that no one else is invloved in the split and as with Scarlett’s break up with her previous beau, Josh Harnett, distance and work schedules are the main cause of the split.
Michael Jackson Album Sales: Not Invincible
Michael Jackson's posthumous new album, Michael, sold 228,000 copies in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands more abroad in its first week.
The domestic haul lagged only Taylor Swift's Speak Now (259,000) and Susan Boyle's The Gift (254,000). Not Invincible, but very formidable.
While perhaps a bit of a letdown by MJ standards, the "new" material was unreleased for a reason, and his sales trounced Crystal Bowersox.
"Smita had a premonition about my Coolie accident"
Amitabh Bachchan talks about the unbelievable incident from 1982
 | Almost three decades after his near fatal injury during the filming of a fight scene for the film 'Coolie', Amitabh Bachchan revealed that actress Smita Patil had a premonition about the accident a day before it took place. "Smita was a unique lady and she had a premonition about my accident," Amitabh told reporters in Mumbai. "I was shooting for ‘Coolie' in Bangalore in 1982. One night at about 1am I got a call from Smita. She said, ‘I'm sorry to disturb you Amit-ji, but are you okay?'. I said yes I'm fine. Then she said, ‘I had a really bad dream and I just wanted to find out if you were okay'. Next morning, I had that accident on the sets of ‘Coolie'. It was just unbelievable," Amitabh said. "Then, throughout my two-three months in the hospital, she was a regular visitor and even when I came back home, she used to come every evening to enquire if I was doing well. I can never forget that," he added. |
When Katrina hit Akshay
Akki reveals what happened on the 'Tees Maar Khan' sets
 | Many feel Katrina Kaif is a delicate darling, but her 'Tees Maar Khan' co-star Akshay Kumar doesn't think so. "We were shooting for the song 'Bade dilwala' and Katrina got so involved in her dance that she actually hit me hard with her elbow. The impact was such that the shooting had to be stalled for two hours," Akshay revealed. The actor admitted this during the promotional tour of 'Tees Maar Khan' in Delhi. He was there with Katrina and director Farah Khan for the film that releases Friday. Both the stars were greeted with much fanfare. They wowed fans with an impromptu yet sizzling performance of the hit item number 'Shiela ki jawani' from the romantic comedy. |
Gimmie YouTube! What Net neutrality means for you
The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday voted three-to-two to adopt so-called "Net neutrality" rules, giving the agency regulatory power to protect the free flow of information over the Internet.
Broadly speaking, Net neutrality means that all content on the Internet must be treated equally. That means that Internet providers like Comcast (CMCSA, Fortune 500) and Time Warner Cable (TWC, Fortune 500) can't deliver Amazon.com (AMZN, Fortune 500) faster than eBay (EBAY, Fortune 500), and can't simply block access to sites like Netflix (NFLX) and Hulu.
In other words: Net neutrality means maintaining the status quo of how people use the Internet today.
So if the FCC wants nothing to change, why does it think the Internet needs stricter regulation?
Because the Internet is changing. The rapid growth of online video from YouTube, Netflix and Skype is sucking up bandwidth, making it difficult for Internet providers to give speedy service to all of their customers.
Toonpur director clears the air on controversies surrounding the film
 | With Toonpur Ka Superrhero and Tees Maar Khan slated to release this Friday, fans can only ponder over which film would rip the box-office open this week. So would Ajay's swagger attract spectators again with him having another winning streak, or will Katrina shine in all her glory and sway the audiences with her youthfulness? |
The first controversy to hit TKS was that the makers on Ra. One claimed that apparently both the films have the same plot, Kireet Khurana director of the film said, "It's possible that they might have a similar story, I don't know what Shah Rukh's script is about but our script is not inspired by anyone, it's an original script."
Lindsay Lohan Being Investigated For Criminal Battery
TMZ reported today that Lindsay Lohan is being investigated for physically assaulting a person who works at the Betty Ford Clinic. If found guilty, she could go back to jail because the probation she was placed under in 2007 (when she was charged with a DUI -- I'm not sure which one) doesn't expire until August of next year, and the terms stipulate that she must "obey all laws," which obviously doesn't include bitch slapping the candystripers. Therefore, if Lindsay is found guilty of battery against this person (who probably smiles all day long and is courteous enough to wear unsexy shoes to work that don't make annoying noises on hardwood floors, even though she's surrounded by celebrities), it will be considered a violation of her probation and a judge will have to determine a punishment...which could be a 180-day stint in jail.
WTF of The Day: Diddy Offers to Whip It Out
I understand the urge to show up a little tipsy on Chelsea Handler’s late night show; she’s kind of a tough broad and it might make the experience a little easier if you have a little liquid courage. However, if you plan on making the girl wait for a “fucking hour” past the time you were scheduled to show up and waltz in drunk out of your mind, you’d have to expect her to be pretty damn snippy. That’s exactly what happened when Diddy-Dirty Money stopped by Chelsea Lately to promote their new album. The ladies were composed, but front man Diddy sloshed onto the set and fielded some heated commentary from Miss Handler. It was all drunken, awkward fun including what I think was a proposal for a date (?) with Chelsea until Diddy let the alcohol take the wheel and announced “I will pull out my schlong here right now and clear this thing up.”
Take a look at the boozy antics for yourself.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 10:57 Take a look at the boozy antics for yourself.
Will Smith Producing Two Shows For Fox
 | Oof, Will Smith. I understand why you would want to move into television production (its the natural progression in achieving total world domination) but you have to pick better projects. The first one, I can get behind. A young female cop, fresh out of college, learning the ropes in the heart of China? Sounds cool enough, but turning Hitch into a half hour comedy? No Will, absolutely not. We’ve had enough of Kevin James on television. At least when he is doing movies it's easier to ignore him and even though there is no word as to whether you or James would reprise your roles from that 2005 hit: just no. Stop it right now before it gets out of hand. |
Mogambo died with Amrish Puri
Anil Kapoor turns 51 on December 24. The star, who has been shooting in Vancouver with Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible 4 —Ghost Protocol, will air-dash to India to bring in his birthday with family in Goa. Even though No Problem didn’t live up to its hype, it’s been an incredible year for Kapoor with his TV series, 24, making him popular in Middle-American homes and other countries, and even back home with the young crowd.
Judge allows Twitter into English, Welsh courtrooms
 | In a nod to the digital age, a British judge ruled Monday that reporters may send messages to microblogging site Twitter from courts in England and Wales. |
Judge said media personnel may seek permission to use Twitter in the courtroom on a case-by-case basis.
Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Sentenced To Six Years In Jail
 | Jafar Panahi, the Iranian filmmaker who took home the Camera d'Or award at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival for his debut feature The White Balloon, was sentenced today to six years in prison today and banned from directing and producing films for the next 20 years, his lawyer said. The Guardian first reported this sad story that is currently taking the film community by storm. An outspoken supporter of Iran's opposition green movement, Panahi was convicted of gathering, colluding and propaganda against the regime, Farideh Gheyrat told the Iranian state news agency ISNA. He has long fought for change in his home country but has constantly been met with opposition from the government. |
Alex Pettyfer A Go For DreamWorks' James Hunt Biopic
It seems like Alex Pettyfer will be shacking up at DreamWorks for a while. Not only is he set to star in (the hopefully franchise worthy) I Am Number Four, but the production company has plans to adapt the book Shunt: The Story Of James Hunt for the big screen with Pettyfer set to star. Shunt follows the true story of Hunt, a British formula one driver who won the world championship in 1976. Possibly most important is the fact that he became a sensational celebrity as a result of his success - the first playboy race car driver. DreamWorks is banking on this rising star (but let’s see how well he does in Beastly first).
Bitter 'Julian Assange' tweaks Zuckerberg on 'SNL'
The Web's controversy du jour found its way onto "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, with a fictional Julian Assange complaining that his work with WikiLeaks should have made him, not Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Time magazine's Person of the Year.
Last Tuesday, Zuckerberg received Time's yearly distinction, with the magazine saying Facebook has "merged with the fabric of American life." But devotees of WikiLeaks, which posts sensitive government documents, said the Time nod should have gone to Assange.
Saturday's skit starts with Zuckerberg, played by "SNL's" Andy Samberg, thanking Facebook users for helping him earn the honor. But in what's become a running gag, Assange appears to hijack the television signal.
Last Tuesday, Zuckerberg received Time's yearly distinction, with the magazine saying Facebook has "merged with the fabric of American life." But devotees of WikiLeaks, which posts sensitive government documents, said the Time nod should have gone to Assange.
Saturday's skit starts with Zuckerberg, played by "SNL's" Andy Samberg, thanking Facebook users for helping him earn the honor. But in what's become a running gag, Assange appears to hijack the television signal.
Daily Shuffle: Taylor And Jake To Move In Together
* After buying her an $11,000 guitar, Jake Gyllenhaal is having Taylor Swift move in with him. They are also talking about getting married. Obviously this will be the end of Taylor's musical career. - ShowbizSpy
* Even though they are divorcing, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds had dinner this weekend together in New York. Reports have them "smiling and laughing" the whole time. My parents should take note. - Radar
* The FBI is now looking into a series of threatening texts that Lindsay Lohan has received. But can't, like, a college dropout at a Verizon store do that too? - TMZ
* Julianne Hough claims her music video was too racy to be aired on CMT, but I still don't even care. - Fox
Steve Jobs doll sells for $2,500 on eBay
Predictably, Apple's cease-and-desist order turned the $99 action figure into a collectible
Source: iPhone Savior
Unless it was a bogus transaction -- something you can never be sure of on eBay -- one of those Steve Jobs action figures that got so much press last month has sold online for $2,500.
The SJ Action Figure, you may recall, was hand-painted doll that sold for $99 until Apple (AAPL) complained to M.I.C Gadget -- its Chinese manufacturer -- that the toy constituted an unauthorized use of a person's name or likeness and threatened to sue under California Civil Code Section 3344.
Only 300 were made, and as iPhone Savior reports, they've started to show up on eBay. What makes us a little suspicious about the $2,500 sale is that there was only one bid -- for the full asking price -- and within a few days another SJ Action Figure auction had popped up on eBay with the same $2,500 Buy It Now price.
Source: iPhone Savior
Unless it was a bogus transaction -- something you can never be sure of on eBay -- one of those Steve Jobs action figures that got so much press last month has sold online for $2,500.
The SJ Action Figure, you may recall, was hand-painted doll that sold for $99 until Apple (AAPL) complained to M.I.C Gadget -- its Chinese manufacturer -- that the toy constituted an unauthorized use of a person's name or likeness and threatened to sue under California Civil Code Section 3344.
Only 300 were made, and as iPhone Savior reports, they've started to show up on eBay. What makes us a little suspicious about the $2,500 sale is that there was only one bid -- for the full asking price -- and within a few days another SJ Action Figure auction had popped up on eBay with the same $2,500 Buy It Now price.
Saif, Kareena angry with Ajay for poking fun in Toonpur
 | Saif, Kareena angry with Ajay Devgn for poking fun at them in his next Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor who have worked with Ajay Devgn before in various films are today hurt and upset with the actor for having portrayed them as buffoonish cartoons in his next, Toonpur Ka Superhero, directed by Kirit Khurana, which releases next week. A source from Toonpur said, "In the film Ajay plays himself, a big star, who turns into a superhero for his son. There's a scene where he's shown shooting for his film Omkara (which also starred Saif and Kareena). They are part of the scene but their characters have been portrayed in a comic manner. |
It was Ajay's idea to incorporate some fun elements into the film and makeit topical."
The source said that Saif's tattoo was spoofed in the film Golmaal 3.
How Zandu balm spoiled Munni's wedding anniversary
 | Malaika could not celebrate with hubby Arbaaz Khan, as she was busy shooting ads for a pain balm Malaika Arora could not celebrate her 12th wedding anniversary with Dabangg producer Arbaaz Khan, as she was working with south heroes Suriya and NTR Junior! "I was shooting for the commercials of Zandu balm in three different languages during my wedding anniversary. We shot in Tamil, Telegu and Hindi over a period of three days, " Malaika said. Malaika is under a two-year contract with the balm manufacturing company as their brand ambassador. |
Initially we were to shoot only the Hindi version first but then as the song Munni badnaam hui is very popular in the south they decided to shoot it all together.
I was very disappointed but Arbaaz said it's work and has promised to make up our wedding anniversary by planning something very special."
Malaika shot with NTR Junior for the Telegu version and Suriya for the Tamil. So who was the there in the Hindi one?
"I was the hero of that one along with the song! We shot on separate days and each ad is very different from the other.
Shooting in different languages is tough, challenging and exhausting as the choreography and shooting style was also different from Dabangg as were the movements.
Prabhu Deva's brother choreographed all the three different versions.
All the three songs have been shot atop a train and not in a basti as it was in Dabangg. So in the ads the choreography is a mixture of Chaiyyan chaiyyan and Munni badnaam hui."
Malaika found NTR Junior and Suriya very professional and chilled out.
"It was great fun shooting with them. I knew Suriya from before and have seen his films, so I could chat with him. We also have common friends as designer Shabina Khan is his designer."
Seinfeld unhappy about high price of U.K. stand up tickets
The Seinfeld star will perform for one night only at London's O2 Arena on 3 June (11) and entrance to the gig ranges from $108 to $155 (£72 to £103).
The funnyman admits he trusted the event organisers to set prices at a reasonable rate and was not happy when he discovered how much devotees would have to spend to see him live.
He tells Britain's Guardian newspaper, "I'm terribly, terribly sorry. I really had to let the English promoter guide us in that, because I don't know that market that well. So I'm going to complain to him."
But Seinfeld will be even more shocked to hear that scalpers snapped up tickets to his show and are reselling them online for hundreds more than face value.
Some of the stubs are being touted for as much as $500 (£330) each.
The funnyman admits he trusted the event organisers to set prices at a reasonable rate and was not happy when he discovered how much devotees would have to spend to see him live.
He tells Britain's Guardian newspaper, "I'm terribly, terribly sorry. I really had to let the English promoter guide us in that, because I don't know that market that well. So I'm going to complain to him."
But Seinfeld will be even more shocked to hear that scalpers snapped up tickets to his show and are reselling them online for hundreds more than face value.
Some of the stubs are being touted for as much as $500 (£330) each.
Anderson to raise awareness of hepatitis
The former Baywatch star was diagnosed with a strain of the liver disorder back in 2001 after contracting it through a shared tattoo needle.
Anderson controls the condition with medical help, and she wants to raise awareness to make sure other hepatitis victims don't suffer in silence.
She tells Britain's The People, "I've had liver biopsies. I get checked every single year, my doctor told me just keep doing what you're doing. I also have the kind that's easiest to control. There is no cure for it, so the important thing is to encourage people to get tested and not be ashamed. People get embarrassed as you get it from blood-to-blood contact, but it's not just junkies who have it."
Anderson controls the condition with medical help, and she wants to raise awareness to make sure other hepatitis victims don't suffer in silence.
She tells Britain's The People, "I've had liver biopsies. I get checked every single year, my doctor told me just keep doing what you're doing. I also have the kind that's easiest to control. There is no cure for it, so the important thing is to encourage people to get tested and not be ashamed. People get embarrassed as you get it from blood-to-blood contact, but it's not just junkies who have it."
Farah's babies on her compan
By Hindustan Times
The logo of Three’s Company, Shrish Kunder and Farah Khan’s banner, has three little angels in silhouette. They are actually their babies — Czar, Diva and Anya — and the images have been taken from the sonography footage Kunder shot when his wife was pregnant with the triplets.
“There’s a frame in which they are close to each other. The first few seconds of the logo will show the trio before their birth in the film’s credits. I animated the images and gave them wings because we both believe that our babies are angels who have changed our lives. Hopefully, their magic will rub off on our company and first production too.” The idea for the logo, he says, came to him a year ago. “We were looking for something with an emotional connect.” Adds Kunder, “Yes, I’ve shown it to the kids and they’re jealous of these other babies who they think I have adopted,” chuckles the amused father of the almost three year olds.
The logo of Three’s Company, Shrish Kunder and Farah Khan’s banner, has three little angels in silhouette. They are actually their babies — Czar, Diva and Anya — and the images have been taken from the sonography footage Kunder shot when his wife was pregnant with the triplets.
“There’s a frame in which they are close to each other. The first few seconds of the logo will show the trio before their birth in the film’s credits. I animated the images and gave them wings because we both believe that our babies are angels who have changed our lives. Hopefully, their magic will rub off on our company and first production too.” The idea for the logo, he says, came to him a year ago. “We were looking for something with an emotional connect.” Adds Kunder, “Yes, I’ve shown it to the kids and they’re jealous of these other babies who they think I have adopted,” chuckles the amused father of the almost three year olds.
Paramore Confirm Farro Brothers Have Left Band
In a blog post on the band's official site Paramore wrote that the Farros had actually decided to leave the group "a couple of months ago," and that, while fans might be shocked by the news, the remaining three members — frontwoman Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis and guitarist Taylor York — weren't.
"None of us were really shocked. For the last year it hasn't seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore," the statement read in part. "We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy and if that isn't here with us, then we support them finding happiness elsewhere."
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry React To 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal
The armed forces' controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy will soon be history.
On Saturday (December 18), the Senate voted to repeal the 17-year-old measure that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military. The bill passed by a 65-31 margin, according to CNN, which included eight republicans and one independent who joined the Democrat-backed initiative. President Obama will sign the bill into law next week.
On Saturday (December 18), the Senate voted to repeal the 17-year-old measure that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military. The bill passed by a 65-31 margin, according to CNN, which included eight republicans and one independent who joined the Democrat-backed initiative. President Obama will sign the bill into law next week.
SRK returns to small screen
 | Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) After hosting shows like "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (2007) and "Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?" (2008), Bollywood 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan is all set to make his small screen comeback with "Zor Ka Jhatka" on Imagine TV. Known for his comic timing and trademark witty style, the star has claimed he will beat all competition on television by providing wholesome entertainment on the show, which is the Indian edition of internationally popular show "Wipeout". |
Help Robert Pattinson Choose A Hip-Hop Stage Name
Back in 1965 a famous Brit said, "You can't always get what you want..." In 2010 another famous Brit revealed that when he was younger he really, really wanted to be a rapper. As you well know, Robert Pattinson did not get what he wanted.
That got us wondering, was Robert "Big Tub" or one of the "Tappy Cats"? Also, were the Tappy Cats background dancers, or singers, or both? We'll have to wait for comment, but in the mean time, we'll offer some rapper names for the grown-up Robert, because now that he's made his childhood obsession public, he's going to need a moniker:
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:15 Read more...  | You might be thinking, "Most young boys want to be a rappers. Why is this news? Are we really so obsessed with celebrity culture that we'll report on every piece of minutia we learn about these people?" First, yes, we are. And second, while it may be true that most boys want to be rappers it's not true that most boys made hundreds of tapes ripping off rhymes like R-Patz did. "I was obsessed with it all," he said. "I even had my own little crew--we called ourselves Big Tub and the Tappy Cats. |
'Tron: Evolution' is a time bridge that sometimes sticks in a loop
"Tron: Evolution" tries to bridge the time gap between the classic movie and the new version, but it sometimes lets gameplay and combat fall into a time loop that is exciting but repetitive.
The storyline is actually spread out over four console games that all have the same title. Disney Interactive Studios decided to develop slightly different versions for the Nintendo DS, Wii, Sony PSP and a version for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Each takes place in a portion of the time between "Tron" and "Tron: Legacy," transitioning from the DS to the Wii to the PSP to the next-generation consoles and the PC.
While there is no need to play all versions to get the whole story, it may be more age-appropriate for younger players to stick with the Wii games.
I was provided copies for the Xbox 360 and the Wii to get a feel for the differences. And there are big differences.
The Wii version felt a lot like the arcade game from 1982. Players set up an avatar that can compete in 16 different game types featuring light cycles, battle tanks and a jai-alai type game.
5 Web titans that withered under Yahoo
For King Midas, as the Greek legend goes, everything he touches turns to gold. Yahoo's stroke is decidedly less effective.
The Sunnyvale, California, internet giant has acquired more than six-dozen technology companies in its 15 years. Many of those once promising rockets fizzled under Yahoo's supervision.
Yahoo plans to shutter several services, including Delicious, which was at one time the dominant social bookmarking site, according to an internal memo that leaked on Thursday. Upcoming.org, a promising start-up Yahoo bought that chronicles events in major cities, will be collapsed into other products, the memo said.
Yahoo may try to sell Delicious, formerly known as Del.icio.us, if it finds an interested buyer. Or it may spin off the group, suggests a company statement. And Yahoo recently expanded its blog network, showing an emphasis on news and original content.
A Yahoo spokeswoman notes that the company continues to focus investments on mobile, local and communication services. That doesn't bode well for the various start-ups Yahoo has acquired over the years that don't fit into those categories.
Sonakshi Sinha, the next Sheila?
 | The actress has begun training to look fit for Shirish Kunder's Joker Farah Khan made Katrina Kaif hit the gym with a vengeance to look sizzling for the Sheila Ki Jawani track in Tees Maar Khan. The actress worked out with trainer Yasmin Karachiwala who has her fitness centre in Bandra. Now it is Sonakshi Sinha's turn. The Dabangg actress who features in Farah's hubby Shirish Kunder's Joker has also begun training with Yasmin. The movie has Akshay Kumar as her co-star and goes on the floors early 2011. Says a source, "It was Farah who suggested that Kat start training with Yasmin as preparation for the Sheila Ki Jawani track months in advance to have a super bod for the shoot. |
An Open Letter To NEWLY SINGLE RYAN REYNOLDS (!!!!!!!)
Dearest Ryan Reynolds,
We definitely have to say we didn't see this one coming! You and Scarlett Johansson seemed like such a great couple, and it's sad that you guys didn't make it. Who's to say what might happen in the future, but for now, we would like to offer our shoulder for you to cry on. Did I mention that shoulder is bare? It is.
Justin Bieber Won't Face Charges In Laser-Tag Incident
 | It looks like Justin Bieber will not have this on his permanent record. After facing possible sanction for an incident at a Richmond, British Columbia, laser-tag park where he allegedly punched a 12-year-old boy in the face, police in Richmond said they have decided not to file charges against Justin Bieber. "The file in regard to the alleged assault at the entertainment center has been concluded, and no charges will be forwarded" |
Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) Chale Toonpur!
Ajay Devgn’s and Sanjay Dutt’s potent friendship has already been proven time and again.
Since long both the actors have shared a very strong rapport with each other. While Sanjay acted in All The Best for Ajay, Ajay in turn gave ample dates to him for his home production Rascals. This is just one of the many instances….
What latest we hear is that Sanjay has done voice over in Ajay’s latest live action animation film Toonpur Ka Superrhero produced by Krishika Lulla and Kumar Mangat.
When Ajay approached Sanjay Dutt to do a voice of God, one of the characters in the movie, Sanjay Dutt immediately agreed without giving a second thought.
Kireet Khurana, the director of the movie said, “We wanted someone impressive for the voice of God to introduce the characters in the film. Coincidently, Ajay and Sanjay were shooting together at that time. When I asked Ajay if Sanjay would do it, Sanjay said ‘Anything for Ajay’. He dubbed for us last afternoon”.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 08:13 Since long both the actors have shared a very strong rapport with each other. While Sanjay acted in All The Best for Ajay, Ajay in turn gave ample dates to him for his home production Rascals. This is just one of the many instances….
What latest we hear is that Sanjay has done voice over in Ajay’s latest live action animation film Toonpur Ka Superrhero produced by Krishika Lulla and Kumar Mangat.
When Ajay approached Sanjay Dutt to do a voice of God, one of the characters in the movie, Sanjay Dutt immediately agreed without giving a second thought.
Kireet Khurana, the director of the movie said, “We wanted someone impressive for the voice of God to introduce the characters in the film. Coincidently, Ajay and Sanjay were shooting together at that time. When I asked Ajay if Sanjay would do it, Sanjay said ‘Anything for Ajay’. He dubbed for us last afternoon”.
Ajay Devgn At The Kartavya Walkathon For Kids
 | Podar Jumbo Kids in association with Mumbai Police had the 3rd edition of Kartavya; for children and parents which was held at Gautam Buddha Park, Worli Sea face on 12th December 2010, with the aim to spread better awareness about road safety and traffic rules among kids. Ajay Devgn, star of the upcoming Toonpur ka Superhero, came in to spread the message. The much popular toon characters of the movie Toonpur ka Superhero Bolly, Loveena and Pandu were also present at the walkathon, and spent some fun moments with the kids who were only too happy to dance to the music of the film with the with the mascots of the film. |
Ajay also launched a board game on road safety designed by Swati Popat Vats of Podar Jumbo Kids.
Salman Khan graces IBN 7 super idol awards at Taj Lands End in Mumbai
Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 08:13
Doctor Who' Special To Air Christmas Day In the U.S., And Much More 'Doctor Who' News!
So here's an early holiday gift for "Doctor Who" fans: The annual "Doctor Who" Christmas Special will air on BBC America on Christmas Day this year instead of the normal week-or-two behind its initial BBC airing!
Samir Karnik accuses No Problem makers of copying his poster designs
 | It is that copycat syndrome again. Or so director Samir Karnik believes. In an angry outburst he says his posters of the three loveable Sardarjis - Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol in Yamla Pagla Deewana has inspired director Anees Bazmee to put his entire male cast into turbans on the posters of No Problem. |
No Problem director Anees Bazmi agrees there is design behind the Sikh posters. "We shot the song with the entire cast dressed up in Sikh turbans a year ago. So where's the question of copying the other film? With due respects to Dharam paaji, Sunny, Bobby and Samir Karnik, my links with Punjab and Punjabiyat go back a long way. I made Singh Is Kingg. And if I had my way, I'd make Singh Is Kinng 2 too. But I am not being allowed to. You'll have to ask producer Vipul Shah why."
However, Samir Karnik gets the last word in on the question of Punjabiyat.
Says Karnik, "Amost everyone in the cast and crew of Yamla Pagla Deewana is Sikh. All the Deols, our leading lady Kulraj Randhawa even our writer Jasvinder Singh Bhatt are Sikhs. They (the unit of No Problem) might have shot their turbaned song first. But our posters were out first."
No Problem producer plans mega party inviting entire industry
 | The much talked about party of No Problem seems to be the most looked forward to. Turns out, this party is going to be a lavish affair reminiscent of the filmi parties that ruled the scene a few years back. True to the tradition of filmi parties, this party is going to be in a swanky sea facing a bungalow in Juhu, which is owned by B.K Modi, who is the head scion of Spice Studios, the co-producers of No Problem. |
While Bollywood parties are always known to be lavish, this one takes the cake as B.K.Modi is getting the entire road washed before the party, and as if that was not enough, he is also red carpeting the entire lane to welcome their guests, the party is expected to go on till the wee hours in the morning and the guest list promises the who's who of Bollywood.
Not just that, B K Modi is going all out, the food is going to be an elaborate affair and there are going to be delicious dishes from all over the world. And to whip up this delectable affair the best chefs are being called in.
Well, No Problem team seems to have thrown the mother of all parties in true filmi style, and B.K Modi is a mood to celebrate, regardless of the fate of No Problem at the box office; he wants to celebrate the first production under the banner of Spice Studios.
Not just that, B K Modi is going all out, the food is going to be an elaborate affair and there are going to be delicious dishes from all over the world. And to whip up this delectable affair the best chefs are being called in.
Well, No Problem team seems to have thrown the mother of all parties in true filmi style, and B.K Modi is a mood to celebrate, regardless of the fate of No Problem at the box office; he wants to celebrate the first production under the banner of Spice Studios.
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