Price, Reid Spent Wedding Night in Strip Club

Price, Reid Spent Wedding Night in Strip Club

Katie Price and Alex Reid spent their wedding night at the world’s biggest strip club.

They shunned a romantic evening in their hotel room to go with pals to the Sapphire Gentlemen’s club in Las Vegas. The couple spent more than four hours in a $1,000-an -hour private room called the skybox, reported thesun.co.uk.

The wedding took place Tuesday in a 20-minute ceremony at the Wynn hotel. They are staying in a Planet Hollywood suite complete with a pole dancing pole.

“Katie requested the suite with a stripper’s pole”, told hotel source.

“Their decision to marry has not been made with a pre-conceived commercial plan or media deal in place, and their reason for getting married is purely down to their love for each other,” a spokesperson of Katie clarified.

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Euro Hits 7-Month Low Against Dollar

Euro Hits 7-Month Low Against Dollar

The European single currency tumbled to the lowest point since June on Thursday amid stubborn worries about Greece as the country tries to put its strained finances in order, analysts said.

The euro sank to 1.3827 dollars, a level last seen on June 22, 2009.

In later trade, the single currency stood at 1.3839 dollars compared with 1.3884 dollars late on Wednesday in New York.

The dollar fell to 90.83 yen from 90.99 late Wednesday.

Markets were awaiting interest rate decisions due Thursday from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE).

The ECB meeting was set to be dominated by concerns over debt-ridden Greece and other countries with high public deficits that have pushed the eurozone into its worst-ever crisis.

Eurozone states should be ready to help fellow member Greece with the difficult austerity measures it is taking, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

The measures Greece plans to curb its public deficit and debt “are very difficult”, IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn told RTL Radio.

“The problem is difficult for the eurozone too but I think even so, the eurozone cannot afford not to help Greece in some form or another,” he said.

On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou ordered a public salary freeze, a higher retirement age and a hike in petrol prices, supplementing a crisis plan unveiled last month to reassure the financial markets.

The EU approved the plans on Wednesday but also put Greece under close monitoring to ensure that it fully implements the tough medicine in the face of widespread popular opposition.

In London on Thursday, the euro was changing hands at 1.3839 dollars against 1.3884 dollars late on Wednesday, at 125.70 yen (126.38), 0.8738 pounds (0.8738) and 1.4702 Swiss francs (1.4713).

The dollar stood at 90.83 yen (90.99) and 1.0624 Swiss francs (1.0590).

The pound was at 1.5835 dollars (1.5892).

On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold fell to 1,103.95 dollars an ounce from 1,115.25 dollars an ounce late on Wednesday.

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MPs to Meet Zardari for Cricket Reshuffle

MPs to Meet Zardari for Cricket Reshuffle

A parliamentary sports committee will meet Pakistan President Asif Zardari to recommend changes in the national cricket set-up which lawmakers believe has failed, an official said Thursday.

The parliamentary committee has grilled the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over its alleged poor management and the national team’s dismal performance on tour in Australia.

Pakistan lost the three-Test series 3-0 and five-match one-day series 5-0, a whitewash which prompted the committee and fans to demand the sacking of coach Intikhab Alam and PCB top officials, including chairman Ijaz Butt.

Committee head Jamshed Dasti told reporters that members of the committee will soon meet Zardari, patron of the PCB.

“We have already recommended the patron to sack Butt, who has failed to deliver, and sack coach Intikhab Alam, PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari and bring some new people. Now we will request action,” Dasti said.

The committee also recommended that PCB accounts be frozen to stop alleged financial irregularities.

Former PCB chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned over the poor performance in Australia, criticised a lack of team discipline.

“There is lack of discipline among the team players,” Qasim told the committee. “All players were free to issue statements and (each) said whatever he liked during the Australia tour.

“There should be some discipline in the team and all those who violated the rules must be punished,” Qasim, who refused to rescind his resignation, told a two-day committee hearing.

Butt has vowed to fight on, refusing to resign.

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Donald Eyes England Bowling Coach Job

Donald Eyes England Bowling Coach Job

Former South Africa paceman Allan Donald has said he would welcome the chance to return to the role of England fast bowling coach following the departure of Ottis Gibson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are looking for a replacement for Gibson, who resigned Tuesday to become the new head coach of the West Indies.

Donald was immediately identified as a possible candidate, having spent four months in the role in 2007 before pulling out for family reasons.

“It is an environment I really enjoyed being in, working with elite cricketers,” the 43-year-old said. “I’d be silly to not consider the position. I will obviously think it over but it is a great challenge for any coach.

“If I did make contact with the ECB at some stage I’m sure that I would be throwing my name in the hat, absolutely.

“In 2007 my little boy went through a very tough time and I had to abort that. It would have been very foolish of me to go touring around the world when he was struggling at school and having health problems.

“At the moment everything is fine and I think I am just about ready to get back into it full time.”

Former England seamers Darren Gough, Phil DeFreitas and Steve Watkin are also seen as possible candidates, as is ex-South Africa captain Shaun Pollock.

Donald believes Gibson has left a strong legacy to whoever takes over from him.

“You can see Ottis has been working very hard. He has got a lot of discipline and toughness amongst these guys,” he said. “(James) Anderson has become a quality bowler, so has (Stuart) Broad.

“But not only the bowling unit, the team itself is becoming a solid one. I think there is no doubt they are destined for some big stuff to come.”

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Bomb Blast Near Pakistani Girls’ School kills Three US Soldiers

Bomb Blast Near Pakistani Girls’ School kills Three US Soldiers

A bomb blast near a girls’ school in northwestern Pakistan has killed three American soldiers involved in a low-profile joint US-British programme to train the country’s paramilitary Frontier Corps.

Two more US military personnel were wounded in the attack in Lower Dir, near the Afghan border, which also killed a Pakistani paramilitary soldier and at least three children, according to American and Pakistani officials.

They were the first US military casualties in Pakistan since 2008, when two American military personnel were among those killed in a massive bomb attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad.

They were also believed to be the first killed by the Taleban and its allies in Pakistan’s tribal areas, where US operations are mostly conducted by the CIA using unmanned drones and agents on the ground.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the main Pakistani Taleban faction, claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the dead Americans belonged to the security company Blackwater Worldwide.

“We have warned we will take revenge and today we have avenged the deaths of innocent people,” said Azam Tariq, a TTP spokesman.

But the US embassy said that the American casualties were military trainers who had been attending an inauguration ceremony at a girls’ school, which had recently been renovated with US aid.

“The United States condemns this vicious terrorist bombing,” it added. “The United States and Pakistan are partners in fighting terrorism — and our people are working together to build schools.”

It said that the Americans were “US military personnel in Pakistan to conduct training at the invitation of the Pakistan Frontier Corps”.

Major General Athar Abbas, the Pakistani army spokesman, also confirmed that the dead included three US military trainers attached to the Frontier Corps, as well as one FC soldier, and three children.

The 60,000-strong Frontier Corps was founded by the British in 1907 to control the North West Frontier, and is still recruited from among the local tribes and tasked with patrolling the Afghan border.

The US began training it as part of a joint programme with Britain designed to improve security on the border, and reduce dependence on the Pakistani army, which is pre-occupied with India, its traditional enemy.

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Celebs Tweet on SRK-Shiv Sena Divide

Celebs Tweet on SRK-Shiv Sena Divide

Twitter world is in frenzy with celebs tweeting their views frantically about the brewing storm. Tension is growing over the release of SRK’s new movie My Name is Khan since he has been caught in the controversy with the Shiv Sena. “We can’t release the film and put our audience under threat unless the matter is resolved,” said a senior executive of a national multiplex chain on condition of anonymity.

Responding to such news, Vir Sanghvi tweets “SRK is the first movie star to stand up to Shiv Sena even when his film is releasing. Wish Bollywood had more like him.”

Others like Barkha Dutt are voicing concerns over the growing authority of Shiv Sena over our democracy as she tweets: “if our democracy cant keep @iamsrk safe from small time goons we as well be a mobocracy. Shiv Sena needs to be stopped. Now!”

Director Madhur Bhandrakar tweets: “A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools & enemies…”

The controversy seems to be gathering heat as opinions are voiced back and forth with some saying it’s a tactic to promote the movie. Pritish Nandy tweets “The Shiv Sena has its own agenda. @iamsrk has his own. Trust me, both will benefit from this confrontation.”

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Taylor Swift, Beyonce Grab Grammys, But Jackson kids Steal Show

Taylor Swift, Beyonce Grab Grammys, But Jackson kids Steal Show

The most memorable moment of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday may be the onstage appearance of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children to accept their father’s lifetime achievement award.

“To all his songs, his message was simple, love,” 12-year-old Prince Michael said. “We will continue to spread his message and help the world.”

With a voice that sounded more mature than his age, he then thanked “God for watching over us these last seven months and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.”

Paris, 11, then spoke: “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform last year. Thank you. We love you Daddy.”

Prince Michael and Paris, along with several cousins, wore black suits with red stripes on their pants, and red armbands.

The children appeared after a rousing performance of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song,” with a recording of Jackson accompanied by live performances from Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson.

Grammy producers used the head-to-head competition between Beyonce and Taylor Swift to lure viewers to stay tuned through the three-and-a-half hour telecast.

List: Major Grammy winners

Swift got the biggest Grammy of the night, album of the year, for “Fearless.”

“I just hope that you know how much this means to me,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Our families are freaking out in their living rooms.”

Swift also won best country album. She won four Grammys overall.

Beyonce won a pair of Grammys over Swift, including for best female pop vocal performance.

Beyonce carried home six Grammys, including one in the major category of song of the year. That honor, a songwriters’ award, was given to Beyonce for co-writing “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

For the best female pop honor, won for “Halo,” the nervous singer thanked her family, “including my husband — I love you.” Beyonce is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z.

Gallery: Red-carpet arrivals

Alternative rock band Kings of Leon upset favorites Beyonce and Swift to win the record of the year Grammy for “Use Somebody.”

The win gave the Kings of Leon three Grammys out of four nominations this year, all thanks to last year’s “Only by the Night” album. The same album gave them three nominations last year, one of which they won.

“Use Somebody” lost out earlier in the show to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” for song of the year.

“The best thing about winning Grammys is really it’s the first time our family gets to see the success we’re having,” Kings lead singer Caleb Followill said backstage. “We’re getting my mom wasted.”

What do you think about the Grammys?

Other triple Grammy winners were The Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z.

Winners also included Stephen Colbert, the Zac Brown Band and Green Day.

The Zac Brown Band won best new artist. Lady Gaga, considered by many to be this year’s biggest breakout act, was ruled ineligible because she had a song released and nominated last year.

Behind-the-scenes: Our Marquee blog

Stephen Colbert won best comedy album for “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Rap/sung collaboration went to Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Green Day won best rock album.

“Now I’m going to do shots with Kings of Leon,” Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said.

Lady Gaga, whose performance opened the show, won two Grammys presented in the pre-telecast. Her single “Poker Face” beat out songs by the Black Eyed Peas, Madonna and Britney Spears in the best dance recording category. Her CD “The Fame” also won a Grammy for best electronic/dance.

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Afridi Booked Under Article 2.2.9 of ICC Code

Afridi Booked Under Article 2.2.9 of ICC Code

Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who was slapped two Twenty20 International ban for ball tampering in the final ODI against Australia here, was booked under article 2.2.9 of ICC Code of Conduct and the match referee imposed him the maximum penalty for his offence.

Afridi, who led the visiting side in place of regular skipper Mohammad Yousuf, will miss Pakistan’s next two Twenty20 Internationals against the same opponents on February 5 in Melbourne and against England in Dubai on February 19.

“Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to ‘changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket’. He has received two suspension points after breaching the Code. Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is,” ICC said in a statement.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Paul Reiffel of International Panel, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Mick Martell.

The incident that led to the charge being laid took place when the Pakistan captain was observed in the act of changing the condition of the ball during Australia’s innings without the permission of the on-field umpires.

ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle said, “I imposed maximum penalty under the code and reminded Shahid of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure the match is played according to laws of the game and in the spirit it is intended to be played. Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions.”

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Two-Match T20 Ban on Afridi for Ball Tampering

Two-Match T20 Ban on Afridi for Ball Tampering

Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi was on Sunday banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after pleading guilty to a ball-tampering
charge during the fifth and final ODI against Australia in Perth.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam confirmed that Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle has banned Afridi for two matches after holding a hearing on the complaint by on-field umpires Asoka De Silva and Paul Reiffel immediately after the match.

“It is unfortunate what has happened because Afridi was due to lead Pakistan in the Twenty20 match next week against Australia,” Alam said from Perth.

Afridi, who led Pakistan in the final ODI in place of the unfit Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on camera chewing on one side of the ball while walking to the run up with bowler Mohammad Asif.

Trying to change the condition of the ball through illegal means prompts strict penalties from the ICC.

In 2005, Afridi was banned for twisting his spikes and trying to change condition of pitch during a Test match in Faisalabad against England.

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After The Catcher in the Rye Came Fame and Then a Lifetime of Solitude

After The Catcher in the Rye Came Fame and Then a Lifetime of Solitude

J.D. Salinger was catapulted to fame in 1951 with the publication of a short novel, The Catcher in the Rye, which has become the treasured handbook of alienation for generations of angst-ridden teenagers.

With its themes of rebellion, young sexuality and lost innocence, it tells the story of teenager Holden Caulfield, who is both protagonist and narrator. Caulfield, apparently the victim of a mental breakdown, reflects on his expulsion from the privileged surroundings of his Pennsylvania boarding school and his subsequent experiences over three days in New York.

As well as being an immediate bestseller, the book continues to sell a quarter of a million copies annually. Salinger never wrote another novel, and in the next 12 years, before retreating to rural New Hampshire as a permanent recluse, published only three volumes of short stories and novellas. The three books after The Catcher in the Rye were For Esme – With Love and Squalor (1953); Franny and Zooey (1961); and Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters, and Seymour: An Introduction (1963).

After 1963, Salinger spent the rest of his life successfully avoiding all but a minute circle of neighbours in Cornish, a New Hampshire hamlet. The other inhabitants gradually learnt to be defensive about their odd, uncommunicative neighbour.

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Toyota Tells Workers it has Found Fix For Gas Pedals, Update Coming on Friday

Toyota Tells Workers it has Found Fix For Gas Pedals, Update Coming on Friday

Toyota Motor Corp. says it has figured out how to fix a problem with sticking accelerator pedals and will update employees with details.

The company said in an email to workers Thursday night that it presented a remedy to federal regulators. The email obtained by The Associated Press says that plans are being developed on a variety of fronts. The company says it will update workers on Friday.

The company says its engineers are working around the clock to fix the problem in eight of its models, including the top-selling Camry midsize sedan.

Toyota says accelerators rarely stick. But earlier this week the company halted sales and production of the models. It has recalled at least 2.4 million cars and trucks in the U.S., Europe and China because of the problem.

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Shah Rukh Khan is ’scared’ of Getting into Relationships

Shah Rukh Khan is ’scared’ of Getting into Relationships

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has said he is ’scared’ of getting into relationships and finds himself socially and emotionally inept.

“There are days I feel lonely. I have never gotten into relationships, because I’m scared to. I lost my parents, so now I don’t like to lose relationships,” Shah Rukh has been quoted as saying in ‘GQ India’ magazine’s latest issue.

About his reported uncomfortable relationships with contemporaries and seniors in Bollywood, where he has spent nearly two decades, Shah Rukh said his fall-out with Salman Khan was personal and not work-related.

“With Aamir (Khan) and Amitabh Bachchan, there is no fall-out,” the 44-year-old actor said.

And while talking about her friend filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan, Shah Rukh said, “I’ll be honest about Farah. Her work defines her. None of us owe anything to anyone. I always believe that.”

To a question on what has he learned in the film industry, he said, “Everyone doesn’t understand my humour. Happiness comes on a successful Friday. And all this happens if you’re happening. The industry is the nicest place to be because it’s straightforward.”
“If you believe you are a means to an end, you will always be successful in this industry. If you believe you are the end, you will feel cheated, unhappy, let down,” King Khan said

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Echoes of ‘Catcher’ Resonate in American Films

Echoes of ‘Catcher’ Resonate in American Films

The rebellious teen anti-hero is so common in today’s cinema it’s easy to forget that such a kid was not as prominent in American culture before Holden Caulfield.

The protagonist of the J.D. Salinger novel “Catcher in the Rye” shook the literary world when he debuted in 1951, full of angst and railing against the adult world. He also ushered in a disillusioned demographic of movie characters who wear their nonconformity as comfortably as a T-shirt.

“What J.D. Salinger achieved with Holden Caulfield is he really invented a voice that became the voice for a lot of disaffected youth,” said Gregg Kilday, film editor for The Hollywood Reporter. “Slangy, suspicious of adults, looking to call out ‘phonies’ wherever he saw them.”

From James Dean’s Jim Stark in “Rebel Without a Cause” to Matthew Broderick’s character in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and beyond, Holden’s legacy resonates in Hollywood. There was even a 2001 film titled “Chasing Holden” about a troubled young man who embarks on a journey to find Salinger.

Syracuse pop culture professor Robert Thompson points out that rebellious youth existed in literature before “Catcher” in the works of James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway and others.

The emergence from the post-war era marked a shift in attitudes, said Thompson, and there was an emerging baby-boom generation ripe for disaffection and protests.

“I think probably Salinger actually caught something that was afoot in the culture anyway with Holden Caulfield,” Thompson said. “He created a character that I think was kind of predictive in ways that all kinds of people were going to feel about in the subsequent generation and generations after that.

“I think he gets credit for beautifully nailing a certain piece of emotional and literary real estate and doing it really early.”

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FAQ: What We Now Know About the iPad

FAQ: What We Now Know About the iPad

After the blood-in-the-water, Tiger shark-like frenzy leading up to the unveiling of Apple’s new tablet this week, it’s understandable that you might feel, well, a tad underwhelmed. Even the Apple rumor mill can’t peg every nut and bolt, so there’s always something that was touted by the gossip, but didn’t show in the real deal.

No, the iPad — a name that’s struck some as offensive — doesn’t make popcorn. It won’t recharge by setting it in a sunny spot. It won’t even run Flash, for cryin’ out loud.

What will it do? What’s inside? And most important, what’s it going to cost?

Surprisingly, there were some surprises yesterday when Apple CEO Steve Jobs — still looking thin but no longer sickly gaunt — showed off the iPad, beginning with its price, which was lower than most had predicted.

To get going, we’ve answered some of the first round of questions about what Jobs called “magical” and “revolutionary,” but which a lot of pundits called much more mundane.

How much will it cost? $499 at the bottom, $829 at the top, with four more configurations in between.

Here’s the deal … the iPad comes in two models: One with WiFi connectivity only, the second with both WiFi and 3G. For each model there are three configurations based on the amount of flash RAM storage.

The WiFi-only models costs $499, $599 and $699 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB configurations, respectively. Add $130 to each of those prices for the WiFi+3G model and you get $629, $729 and $829.

Some experts have said the $130 surcharge for 3G is “ridiculous,” noting that a 3G chipset adds less than $10 to the materials cost of the iPad. Other hardware in the model, such as GPS, would add a few more dollars.

When can I get one? Apple’s saying “late March” for the WiFi-only model, “late April” for the WiFi+3G iPad. And no, you can’t order one yet.

The company isn’t taking pre-orders at the moment. Instead, Apple’s only accepting names and e-mail addresses, which it will use to notify customers when the online store is ready to take credit card numbers.

I’ve heard some say the iPad is fast. What’s that about? The tablet’s powered by what CEO Steve Jobs yesterday called an “Apple A4″ processor, which he also acknowledged was Apple-designed. Jobs didn’t come out and say it, but everyone is assuming that the chip was created by P.A. Semi, the Santa Clara, Calif. boutique microprocessor design company Apple acquired in 2008.

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Chidambaram Likely to Visit Pakistan

Chidambaram Likely to Visit Pakistan

The government has yet to take a call on Home Minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Islamabad for the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) interior ministers’ conference next month, but indications are that he could make the trip, government sources said on Friday.

“Obviously the home minister himself needs to make up his mind in the first place after consultations with the ministry of external affairs. But given that he has been doing some tough talking against Pakistan, it may be worthwhile to test the waters there,” said a senior government functionary.

There has been no ministerial visit from India since the 26/11 terror strikes. The last visit was by Pranab Mukherjee in May 2008, who was then the external affairs minister.

Chidambaram’s constant refrain, after India submitted seven terror dossiers to Pakistan for action, has been that Islamabad needs to do more to punish the 26/11 accused.

On Thursday after Pakistani investigators named Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi as the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks, Chidambaram said that Pakistan was still dragging its feet.

“Lakhvi is one of the masterminds. There are others. We know their names and we think Pakistan also knows their names. If they do not bring others to trial, then I would have to conclude reluctantly and regrettably that they are still dragging their feet,” he remarked.

The SAARC conference scheduled from Feb 20 will be attended by ministers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is expected to discuss regional cooperation for dealing with the menace of terrorism, narcotics and organised crime.

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Ryan Harris Stars Again as Australia Beat Pakistan

Ryan Harris Stars Again as Australia Beat Pakistan

Ryan Harris took his second consecutive five-wicket haul as Australia won the fourth one-day international in Perth by 135 runs to take a 4-0 series lead.

Australia made 277-8 batting first, with Mike Hussey hitting 67 and Nathan Hauritz 53 not out from 39 balls.

Pakistan were reduced to 39-4, and only 38 from Umar Akmal and 29 from 10 balls from Shahid Afridi allowed them to reach 142 in 37.5 overs.

Harris, who took 5-43 in Adelaide, took 5-19 in only his third ODI.

There is only one game remaining in the series, also in Perth on Sunday.

Queenslander Harris had Salman Butt (0) and Younus Khan (6) caught behind and at one point had figures of 2-0 from 13 balls.

Kamran Akmal (17) and Mohammad Yousuf (10) briefly threatened to steady the Pakistan ship, but Peter Siddle removed both men to leave Pakistan in deep trouble.

Umar Akmal (38) and Fawad Alam (21) produced a painstaking 60-run partnership that was more a battle for survival than any meaningful attempt to overhaul the total.

But when Alam was sensationally run out by Hauritz in the 28th over, Pakistan’s chase received a much-needed shot in the arm from Afridi.

Afridi pummelled Hauritz for 17 in one over and hit three fours and two sixes in a typically-flamboyant cameo.

Afridi, though, could only look on from the other end as Harris was brought back into the attack to dismiss Umar Akmal and Rana Naved in consecutive balls.

The explosive all-rounder followed in the next over, Afridi miscuing a delivery from Clint McKay and Hauritz taking a simple catch at third man.

With Afridi gone it was only a matter of time before Australia wrapped up the tail, Hauritz (1-48) taking Saeed Ajmal’s wicket before Harris completed the slaughter when he had Rao Iftikhar Anjum spectacularly caught by a diving Brad Haddin.

Pakistan had produced their best performance in the field of the summer, ensuring that most of the Australian top order merely made starts without going on.

Australia certainly appeared to be treating the encounter like the dead rubber it was as they cruised to 190-6 by the 40th over.

But Hussey and Hauritz soon turned that around, laying the platform for another convincing Australian victory.

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Veer for Vendetta

Veer for Vendetta

“Hum Sirf Angrezon Ka Khoon Peetey Hai,” (We only drink blood of the British) roars Mithun, when offered Angrezi sharaab (English liquor), and goes on to chop off Jackie Shroff’s arm. And we rub our hands in glee, all set to watch another over-the-top entertainer by the notorious Anil Sharma, the guy behind laugh riots, including Gadar and Hero: The Love Story of a Spy.

The film made news about creative differences between Salman Khan and Anil Sharma. After watching it, we have a few theories on where they didn’t see eye to eye.

1. Period setting: When Salman said the historical was set in the 1880s, Anil Sharma decided that the film needed to have the Eighties look. In fact, it even looks like it was shot in the 1980s. The wardrobe department appropriately came up with orange jeans, leather pants, gowns for the Princess etc. Upset with the director’s negligence, Salman decided to boycott shirts for most of the film. This also helped him remain under the skin of the character he was playing — himself. Which also explains what Sohail is doing in the film… fooling around with his bade bhaiyya.

2. The Katrina factor: Salman wanted a fat girl to play princess because “there was no concept of Size Zero those days.” Given that he was playing himself in the film, he wanted the girlfriend too. Since Katrina couldn’t afford to put on that much weight, Anil Sharma found a replacement. Reviewers were quick to spot the similarities and crowned her Fatrina instantly. But if you grew up in this part of the world, you would know that Zarine is more Ramba than Katrina. Salman went on record to say that Zarine looked nothing like Katrina and Anil Sharma responded by making Zarine bite Salman’s wrist in the film.

3. Dead or Alive: Salman wanted to die and do a Braveheart. He even got the locks and sword to pose for the poster but Anil Sharma wanted him alive because fans would expect a Happy Ending. So they settled for a compromise. That they will do both. Again, Salman didn’t want to throw Mithun into the well (maybe because he sort of felt he was playing himself with brother and girlfriend-look-alike for company) but Anil Sharma thought it would make such a cool shot. So yes, they shot both and used both. To justify, there are two Salman Khans in the movie. Yay!

4. Pindari Power: Salman saw the freedom-loving Pindaris as folks who were tough as nails. Anil Sharma’s interpretation: Make the father drench the newborn in pouring rain. The Pindari father also, from time to time, must beat up his son and throw him into the well at regular intervals. In fact, Anil Sharma’s research shows us that killing and throwing the other into the well was the favourite pastime of the Pindaris. So what if they are fighting a war in the desert, the well’s just the place to throw the dead body. And you thought that the opening lines of the Pindaris used to drinking blood was just rhetoric! Unaware of Anil Sharma’s portrayal, Salman, with righteous indignation, scowls at the British teacher when he refers to the Pindaris as barbarians.

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Sundance Film “Bhutto” Sheds Light on Pakistan

Sundance Film “Bhutto” Sheds Light on Pakistan

Westerners seeking to understand the volatility of modern Pakistan are getting a good look at the country in a new movie examining the life and legacy of slain leader Benazir Bhutto, screening at the Sundance Film Festival this week .

Documentary “Bhutto” has earned solid reviews with its tale of the former prime minister, her family and husband, who is currently facing calls to step down as president of the nuclear-armed nation.

Bhutto, the first female leader of a Muslim country, was killed by a suicide bomber in late 2007 after returning from exile to seek the country’s leadership for the third time.

Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, took over the presidency shortly after, and opponents are calling for him to step down due to corruption charges dating to Bhutto’s reign.

In looking at the Bhutto family’s legacy, the producers hope westerners might better understand a country dominating headlines with tales of political strive and Muslim extremism.

“The importance of Pakistan, the strategic importance as the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons capability, and roiling in turmoil…it absolutely can’t be ignored,” said Duane Baughman, who along with Mark Siegel conceived of and produced the film.

Siegel, who appears extensively in the documentary, was working on Bhutto’s campaign as a U.S. spokesman when she was killed and quickly sought to show the significance of her life to U.S. audiences.

“Benazir was truly the modern face of Islam,” said Siegel.

BHUTTO’S VIEW OF PAKISTAN

Using archived news clips and interviews with Bhutto’s family, allies and even opponents, “Bhutto” is in many ways a history of Pakistan itself, told through the lens of the Bhutto family’s politics for most of the country’s 62-year existence.

Directed by Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O’Hara, the film focuses early on the influence of Bhutto’s father, former Prime Minister and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who defied convention by insisting his daughter get an education and not forcing her to wear the traditional Muslim burqa.

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Designer Publishes ‘Leaked’ Apple Tablet Photos

Designer Publishes ‘Leaked’ Apple Tablet Photos
These wonderful fake tablet photos come from user interface designer Dustin Curtis. they supposedly show the Jesus Tablet sat atop a 15-inch MacBook Pro, Unlike many blurry-cam spy-shots, Dustin has put his faith in his Photoshop abilities and posted these pictures sharp and clear.
It’s a sweet looking design, with dual dock ports for horizontal and vertical charging (and movie-watching). Even the bezel, although thin-looking on a large tablet, is wide enough for fingers to grip without obscuring the screen.
But the telltale signs are there. A bad, overly soft drop shadow (most obvious in the close-up), an off-looking reflection (the glowing Apple and the screen edge on the main shot) and the rather pale reflection of the MacBook keyboard in its own screen (again on the close-up). Still, it might be my favorite mockup so far, if only because the super-simple slab-like design fits with my idea of what the actual tablet will look like. For more debunking and analysis, head to Dustin’s blog, where these images were posted. Good try, Dustin!

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Shahrukh Khan on the moon

Shahrukh Khan on the moon
For those who thought that the fans of Bollywood (Tamil film industry) were one crazy lot, we are sure that this piece of news will just not be a ‘Moonwalk’ (quite literally) for them. It’s general knowledge that Shahrukh Khan is called the King Khan for enough reasons that would fill many pages of an Encyclopedia. And the fan following that he has is nothing short of hysteria.
Well, if that wasn’t enough, here is a piece of news that is bound to make you sit up and take notice. The news is that one of SRK’s biggest fans had purchased (you read it right) a piece of land in SRK’s name on the Moon. And the good news is that, the International Lunar Geographic Society (ILGS) has now approved of the same. The crater in question is located on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility and is the largest of the four Arago craters, positioned directly south of the main crater.
It is said that the crater was named after SRK on his 44th birthday in November last year, and was only recently approved by the International Astronomical Union following a spate of petitions from SRK fans worldwide.
With this, SRK has proved quite literally, as to what ‘feeling over the moon’ really means. Way to go, SRK!

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