The best part is that one does not need to know much about Star Trek to be able to enjoy this movie. Abrams ensured that every character is given a background and history so that viewers know a little about each character.

The action scenes rival anything in Transformers and the space battles are totally breathtaking. Action starts right from the moment the movie begins and never lets up. But what really made the movie outstanding were the actors that played these roles and they might have been real people. Chris Pine as Kirk radiates star quality, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy (Bones) gave excellent performances. The casting of these three characters was spot on and contributes a great deal to the movie’s success.

To give viewers a feeling that they were just younger versions of Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley, both Quinto and Urban took on some of their mannerisms and expressions. It is almost like watching baby pictures of people you have always loved. Quinto’s performance as the logic-led Vulcan fighting the emotions instilled by his human mother (Winona Ryder) is the soul of the film. He is a young man trying to cope with his Vulcan and earthling heritage. His delivery of Spock’s signature line, “Live long and prosper,” is wonderful. Some of the funniest moments of the film are with Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy. Even in his youth, he is an old man in spirit and keeps complaining about everything, and leaves no chance to say, “I am a doctor!”

Chris Pine’s role is certainly the most memorable in Trek history. This Kirk is not just a bad boy and womanizer who transforms into a captain, but he is also someone with intelligence and bravado. Young Kirk, at ten years of age, takes the family car out for a joy ride, and gets into bar fights as a young man. He has plenty of brains and nerve to spare, but for him, nothing is happening on Earth and Space is the answer.

The plot of Star Trek involves an angry Romulan, called Nero, who wants to destroy every Federation planet. Because supernova destroys the planet Romulus and its inhabitants, including Captain Nero’s wife and unborn child, he attempts to exact revenge on Spock, whom he blames for this destruction. However, both ships, including Nero’s mining ship Narada, are caught in the black hole’s event horizon and travel into the past.

This great adventure of the maiden voyage of a young crew onboard U.S.S. Enterprise, the most advanced starship, takes viewers on an emotional roller-coaster, with people experiencing various emotions they never knew had. On this journey, filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the crew must find a way to stop this evil, who threatens to destroy all of mankind.

The fate of the galaxy is in the hands of two rivals; James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), the delinquent, thrill–seeking Iowa farm boy and Spock (Zachary Quinto), who rejects all emotion having been raised in a logic-based society. The fiery instinct of one and the calm reason of the other make a powerful partnership that leads the crew through unimaginable danger, going where no one ever dared venture.

You can see the past and the future in a most magnificent setting. Abrams created an alternate universe where viewers would want to get lost in. This movie is simply an invitation for irresistible fun. It is certainly a movie worth watching.

Writers: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Producers: J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
Director: J.J. Abrams

Cast: Chris Pine as James T. Kirk; Zachary Quinto as Spock; Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime; Eric Bana as Nero; Bruce Greenwood as Pike; Karl Urban as Bones; Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura; Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott; John Cho as Hikaru Sulu; Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov; Ben Cross as Sarek; Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson; Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk and Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk.

The packed high-end restaurants make you wonder if the financial situation is so bad after all. The body language of people eagerly waiting to get inside these expensive restaurants says “money doesn’t matter tonight,” even if they know they are going to be spending above $500 per head.

Agreed, the wonderful aromas, the soft music, the well-dressed clientele - all create a beautiful ambiance. But is it really worth that premium? Apparently, the answer is a resounding YES.

Who cares anymore about the age-old belief that “the best things in life are free.” It’s our perceptions about enjoyment and good food that have changed. For those with deep pockets, the food keeps getting more and more interesting.

Check out the minimum you would be spending at some of the restaurants around the world, according to Forbes:

New York: Masa’s in Manhattan – Minimum per person $500
San Francisco: The French laundry – 24-course culinary journey menu $195
Sydney: Wakuda Tetsuya’s Tetsuya – 10-course minimum $195
Paris: Alain Passard’s L’Arpege – Compulsory nine-course tasting menu $495
Catalonia: Ferran Adria’s El Bulli – Minimum cost $300
London: Restaurant Gordon – Ramsay’s seven-course tasting menu starts at $224

They say drinks are expensive, but if you visit some of the restaurants, you would find a pizza going for as much as £6,700. This fast and greasy food is usually a cheap treat and not considered an elegant delicacy. Agropoli in the south of Italy changed all that with their “Ludovic XIII.” This is not the average pepperoni-topped pie. The crust is topped with lobster, tuna caviar and a pouring of Louis XIII Martin cognac. With the ingredients that go into it, not sure how far the taste matches the price. But obviously, there is a huge demand for it.

Steve, a dining enthusiast says, “At this point in time, when it may not be possible to spend big money on cars, holidays, jewelry or art, it’s only natural that you want to indulge in a nice drink and a lavish meal to get the “feel good” vibe. The restaurant owners say that these meals have been created for very exclusive guests who can appreciate the finest things in life.

If you think these foods are expensive, look at the dessert wars. Stephen Bruce, owner of Serendipity 3 in New York, has set a world record for the most expensive dessert. His restaurant was famous previously for the Golden Opulence Sundae, which costs $1,000 (£500) for five scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, Madagascar vanilla and one of the world’s most expensive Amedei Porceleana chocolate. Believe it or not, you can start eating gold with the 23K edible gold leaf they serve.

Stephen has now partnered with luxury jeweler Euphoria and the Knipschildt Chocolatier to create the “Frozen Haute Chocolate.” This got him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in the world for the most expensive dessert in the world. It costs $25,000 and contains a blend of 28 different cocoas, including 14 of the most expensive and exotic from around the globe. This dessert also comes with 23-karat gold (five grams) and is served in an edible gold-lined goblet. The base of the goblet is circled with an 18-karat gold bracelet with one carat of white diamonds. This sundae is topped with whipped cream covered with more gold and a side of La Madeline au Truffle. The spoon used to eat this sundae is gold-decorated with white and chocolate colored diamonds, and the best part is that it can be taken home.

Restaurants are doing all they can to get people to spend more. A recent study concludes that people are usually influenced to indulge on pricey wines, luxurious desserts and fancy coffees when there is classical music being played. Do people really spend for quality or just for the atmosphere or to generally feel good about being able to afford the good things in life or to feel cultured? Just a way of life for some and an extravaganza for others! Whatever the reason, there are takers from around the world for foods that are as expensive as mentioned above. What would be the maximum you would spend on a meal?

Recently, there were two cases of a baby with a problem in the brain and a teenager with a heart condition; both of whom would not have had the chance of survival if not for the doctors that took the risk of following their heart and performing never-before performed surgeries.

We use glue to stick things together and many a time after a few days that comes off. What would happen if doctors started fixing our organs and body parts with glue?

Brain Fixed with Glue

Imagine using glue to fix a brain. That’s exactly what has been done in the rarest of rare surgeries, where doctors in America used glue to seal a 17-month-old girl’s tiny blood vessels in the brain that were a threat to her life.

This little girl, Ella-Grace Honeyman, now being called a miracle baby, was born with vein of Galen malformation, which is a condition that causes tiny holes in the blood vessels of the brain. It is an extremely rare condition that affects only a few hundred babies worldwide each year.

Doctors said the baby will not survive more than a few months, after blood rushed out of the openings, entering the tiny cavity of the skull, which caused a potentially fatal aneurysm. But because the baby was in a critical condition, doctors decided to take the risk by performing a dangerous operation, where American surgeons used a medical equivalent of Superglue to stop the bleeding.

This surgery cost more than £100,000, for which the parents received help from the local fundraisers. The treatment was done in France and the United States, because there were no surgeons who could perform this operation in Britain. The baby may need further surgery in the future, but for now she has every chance of living a perfectly healthy life.

The surgeons inserted a tube that works through remote control, which contained organic adhesive; through her groin, her stomach and heart, finally reaching the base of the brain. Then the glue was injected into the holes in an artery and damaged capillaries. This made the fluid in her skull to drain and aneurysm removed.

Britain sees about five such cases each year but there are only two hospitals; Great Ormond Street, London and Glasgow that have the capacity to deal with these cases. However, the parents were told that it would be safer and better to travel to France or the US and see experts more experienced in this surgery. Since they didn’t want to take chances with their child, they traveled and the end-result was that the baby was saved.

This aneurysm was detected just before her first birthday when she was in pain. She had her first operation in France but in an unfortunate turn of events, the surgeon died just two days after the surgery and the family headed to the US for further treatment. Doctors say that Ella-Grace still needs a lot of operations to close the rest of the openings.

While this ‘miracle baby’ is all set to visit New York next spring for her next operation, there is yet another medical miracle taking place in Miami, this time on a 14-year-old girl.

The Heartless Girl

D’Zhana Simmons the girl who says she felt like a “fake person” all those days when she had no heart in her chest, survived with the help of artificial heart pumps while her heart was taken out. She has had two heart transplants since July of last year and was heartless for four months in between transplants.

It was only last spring that she and her parents discovered that she had an enlarged heart that was too weak to pump blood sufficiently. They went to Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami for a heart transplant, but after the surgery, her new heart didn’t work properly either and there was the danger of rupture, which can lead to death. So, the doctors had to remove it after two days.

What the doctors did next has never been done before and is considered as a major medical breakthrough, especially on such a young patient. They used a pair of artificial pumps in place of her heart, to keep the blood pumping in her body until she could have her second transplant.

According to Dr. Peter Wearden, a cardiopulmonary surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, “What the Miami medical team managed to do “is a big deal.” “For more than 100 days, there was no heart in this girl’s body? This is pretty amazing.”

What is amazing about the whole thing is that; although, these pumps are used to pump blood, they have always been used with a heart still in the body to help the chambers circulate blood. Because D’Zhana’s heart was removed, doctors had to construct artificial heart chambers using a fabric and connected these chambers to the two pumps. Artificial hearts have been approved for use in adults, but not in young children.

Now after this unforgettable second transplant, this young girl will be able to do almost everything her age girls do, like going to school and going out with friends. The only thing is that she will be on medication all her life to ensure her body does not reject the donated heart. Doctors say there is a 50-50 chance that she may need another surgery before she turns 30.

There was just one other such case in the whole world, where an adult has been kept alive for nine-months without a heart, in Germany; but this is the first time ever that a child had survived in this manner for so long.

These two surgeries have created ripples in medical circles, as something like this has never been done before. Advancement in medicine has always been possible because of such doctors and patients who are willing to take the necessary risk and pave the way for the well-being of millions of others.

Here are a few things people usually tend to overlook when moving:

Medical Records - Your family medical records as well as veterinary records of your pet. It helps to obtain certified copies of these documents. You may need to get a notarized letter to get them. You can also try transferring the current prescriptions to a drugstore in the new town. These are important records that you should keep handy, especially when going to a new place.

School Records - The permanent school records should be obtained from the schools your children are studying at. You will need them when you are getting your children into new schools. Just check the requirements of the new state or country you are shifting to, as many a time just copies of the records are not sufficient and you will require a raised seal.

Old Phone Numbers - Make sure to take all the phone books with you. It is a good idea to note down all the phone numbers of people close to you. We usually tend to think that we will remember the numbers because we call them often. But we may forget these numbers when we move, if there is a gap. It is better to note down each and every number in the phone book and take it with you.

Items to be Collected or Given Back – Make a list of stuff you need to collect or give back. It could be clothes that are with the drycleaners; shoes, watches, ovens and other household stuff you had given for repair; books you need to return to the library; DVD rentals and any such things that either belong to you or need to be returned.

Give your New Address – This is one of the things that most people tend to forget. Have you provided your new address to the credit cards, banks and other financial institutions? Change the magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Make sure you give your new address to friends, just in case anything needs to be forwarded. You can also fill in the change of address form, sign it and give it at the post office. Don’t forget to notify all your insurance companies and find out about any policy changes.

Animals and Plants – Most moving companies do not transport animals and plants. So, plan ahead of time for their safe transfer to avoid last minute issues.

When it comes to relocation, we are usually concerned about things we should take care of at the old place, it does not occur to make arrangements for certain essential things at the new place.

Bank Account - It is a good idea to open a checking account in the new place at least one month prior to your move. This will give you immediate access to your funds and avoid problems with banks that decline to cash “out-of-town” checks.

New Doctor - if you don’t want it to take months before you can see a general physician or dentist, make sure you make arrangements beforehand. Your doctor at the old place may even recommend someone and arrange things for you. If you have a pet, check out the vet or kennel at the new place, in case your pet needs immediate attention.

Cell Phones and Internet Connection – Learn about cell phone plans in the new area to avoid excessive charges. Determine the high speed internet connections at the new location. If possible see if you can switch the cable or satellite provider from one place to another. Most big companies have their presence in different places.

Utilities - Turn on the utilities at the new address before you shift, so that you don’t have delays once you are there.

Moving can be stressful but being organized is the key to a tension-free move. The best way is to make a checklist for moving with things that need to be done both at the old and the new place. Keep adding to the list as and when an idea pops up. Keep copies of the checklist where all the family members can see. Cross of things that are taken care of. Make moving stress free!

Gwyneth Paltrow wanted to experience a secluded life on an island and spent three days on an uninhabited Caribbean island. She has only taken with her three oranges, a sack of rice, mosquito net, aspirin, camera, notebook and some utensils. She later revealed that she now understands why people who get stuck on a Caribbean island never want to return.

Private islands have become the new craze and every celebrity worth their salt wants to own one.

Sir Richard Branson – Necker and Moskito Islands, Caribbean Sea; Makepeace Island, Noosa River; Island of England, Dubai

Talking of private islands, there is no doubt that Richard Branson is the king. Necker and Moskito in the Caribbean Sea belong to Virgin Atlantic owner Richard Branson, the most flamboyant business mogul in Britain. Both have been transformed into resorts of luxury and indulgence.

Necker Island is a 74-acre private paradise nestling in its incredible turquoise waters, with coral reefs and pristine white beaches. The island is often rented out whole by the privileged few. The 120-acre Caribbean island, Moskito is a more recent purchase and is just a mile and a half away from Necker, and cost $10 million.

He also bought Makepeace Island for the staff of Virgin which lies off Australia’s Queensland coast and the Island of England located in Dubai’s manmade world map.

Johnny Depp – Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas

This Pirate of the Caribbean fell in love with the Bahamas during the filming of “Pirates of the Caribbean and went ahead and bought his own real-life Caribbean paradise getaway for his family in the Bahamas – Little Hall’s Pond Cay. This 45-acre, one mile long isle is a private island and is part of the Exuma archipelago to the south of Bahamas. It costed him $3.6 million and boasts of the world’s most beautiful reefs, a private harbor, a palm-fringed lagoon and six pristine white sand beaches and is accessible only by a boat, helicopter or seaplane. Recent news that made headlines was that his island will be run on eco-friendly solar power.

Mel Gibson – Mago Island, Fiji

Australian natives find the tropical islands of Fiji a perfect vacation spot. Mel Gibson, himself an Australian, has joined the list of Fijian island owners with the purchase of Mago Island in 2005 for about $15 million. The island is 5,400 acres and is one of the largest private owned islands in the South Pacific. This island is almost completely secluded and uninhabited and the actor left it in its pristine state, except for building a modest residence for his personal use.

David Copperfield – Musha Cay, Bahamas

Magician David Copperfield owns four islands in southern Bahamas, for $50 million. While the 150-acre Musha Cay is where he has his most private resort, the three other islands are used as buffers to ensure maximum privacy. He rents out this island for $325,000 per week and celebrities such as John Travolta and Oprah Winfrey have stayed there. He calls the waters of his island the “fountain of youth,” where he says he has discovered that dead leaves or insects near death come alive. In spite of these claims being met with disbelief, the island is said to be out of this earth with breathtaking beauty.

Aristotle Onassis – Skorpios Island, Greece

Athena Onassis, the granddaughter and sole heir to the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis fortune now owns Skorpios, the beautiful Greek island. Aristotle and his wife Jackie-O had their wedding on this island in the Lonian Sea. They set the trend for private islands back in the 1960s. Aristotle and his children are buried on this island. Valued at more than $200 million, this most-famous island is not yet for sale, but if it is ever on the market, bidders will have to compete with Madonna who is interested in this.

Leonardo DiCaprio – Blackadore Cay, Belize

Eco advocate Leonardo DiCaprio purchased this sprawling 104-acre, 202 mile long Belizean island in 2005 for $1.75 million. This beautiful island with white sand beaches, coconut trees and rocky outcrops is located near the famous Barrier Reef. It is said that there is no other island in Belize that has the length to install an airstrip. Leonardo plans to turn his island into a small eco-friendly resort and has teamed up with a hotel resort chain, Four Seasons.

Shakira – Bonds Cay, Bahamas

Nothing less than the sprawling 700 acre island called Bonds Cay satisfies Shakira. This huge island costed $16 million and is a combined property of Shakira, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd and Alejandro Sanz the Spanish pop star. They have plans on creating a hub for art and culture in the form of an artists’ retreat with a new-comers gallery and resident artists.

Nicholas Cage – Leaf Cay, Bahamas

It was in the year 2006 that Nicholas Cage purchased this Bahamian island for $3 million. He already owned a luxurious home on Paradise Island. Leaf Cay is part of the Exuma chain of islands and is close to close friend Johnny Depp’s private island as well as near an island that is owned by singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. With tropical palms, long sandy beaches and a freshwater pond, this 40-acres is nothing less than a paradise. Rumors are ripe that he is now planning on selling it for $7 million.

Eddie Murphy – Rooster Cay, Bahamas

Eddie Murphy is one of the highest paid actors, so it is only natural that he owns an unspoiled paradise, Rooster Cay, which is also known as Long Cay. He bought this little isle in 2007 for $15 million and it is just a few minutes away from Nassau. Speculation is rife as to whether the actor is going to turn this island into a business like many other celebrity island owners or keep it as his private retreat and a love nest for himself and his wife.

Celine Dion - Île Gagnon, Quebec

This one is nothing like other expensive tropical celebrity islands. This is a little island located in Celine Dion’s home province of Quebec. It is unpretentious, in spite of her being one of the highest paid female performers in history. Located in the Mille Île’s River, her huge French-style chateau is a famous tourist attraction; although, people can only get as close as a boat can take them to this heavily fenced mansion.

The list of celebrities who own private islands is huge. Malcolm Forbes of Forbes Magazine recently sold his 4.71 sq. miles Laucala island to the owner of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz. Then there are others like Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie who bought an island in “The World,” Dubai (a man-made island). Tony Curtis, Claudia Schieffer, Faith Hill, Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Steven Spielberg are just a few in the long list of private island owners. Madonna and Richard Gere are said to be on the market looking for Greek islands.

What drives celebrities to buy these islands? Robin Leach of “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous has his own unique theory. He feels that since we are surrounded by water during our first nine months, we crave for this security throughout our lives and islands provide us that.

Here are a few of the most controversial movies and this list is by no means comprehensive, there are many more.

The Da Vinci Code (2006) - Ron Howard

Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen

This religious conspiracy thriller is an adaptation of Dan Brown’s Best-selling fictional book about the members of the Priory of Sion and an underground Catholic society trying to prevent a French police cryptologist and a symbologist from telling the world about a powerful secret that’s been hidden for thousands of years.

The movie was criticized by the Roman Catholic Church and several bishops asked members to boycott the film. There were protests outside movie theaters. Even albinos were offended by the way they were portrayed in the film. The movie is the second highest grossing movie of 2006 worldwide.

United 93 (2006) – Paul Greengrass

JJ Johnson, Gary Commock, Polly Adams

This is a story of the unfortunate but heroic crew members and passengers of United Flight 93, which was the fourth hijacked plane flying from Newark, NJ to San Francisco on 9/11. The presence of the FAA ground crew and military officers involved in the actual event in the film as cast members, made it all the more realistic.

In spite of the film being made very sensitively and with immense respect to those heroes without any theories, personal dramas or additions, it was still criticised for its trailer. Many said that the trailer looked as if it were a conventional thriller. There were some who thought it was too soon after the event (after five years). Universal received criticism that a national tragedy was being exploited.

Passion Of The Christ (2004) – Mel Gibson

James Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov

The fear, excitement, expectation, passion, tears, wonder that this film generated was huge. The life-changing experiences credited to this movie are many. This movie is about Jesus Christ and the brutal depiction of his suffering during his last 12 hours on Earth that is brought about by his unconditional love for us. It raked considerable controversy because of the crucifixion scenes that are bloody, vicious and torturous. Religious leaders were upset about the Catholic interpretation of the Bible and Jews called the film anti-Semitic and believed that Jews would be blamed for the death of Jesus. Gibson revealed that he made it extremely shocking in order for people to understand the enormous sacrifice. When it was finally released, it broke all records and became the highest grossing independent film of all time.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) – Michael Moore

Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder

This controversial movie ridicules President Bush. Critics were of the opinion that the movie demoralizes the country and was propagandistic, more so because it was the election year. Many conservative groups asked theatres not to screen it. Disney also felt that this film could alienate customers and decided on not distributing it. This film has the distinction of winning the top prize called the Palme D’or at the Cannes Film Festival. It also broke the record for the highest earning in the opening-weekend in the US for a documentary.

Dogma (1999) – Kevin Smith

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino

This writer/director’s comic fantasy was at the center of a controversy, as the content was considered to be an insult to the Catholic Church. The movie is about two fallen angels, Loki and Bartleby and how they discover a way to get back to heaven through a loophole in the Catholic Church dogma.

This was controversial as it showed that God is fallible which was not acceptable to religious leaders, for the perceived anti-Christian message. Many could not digest the transformation God has gone through in this film, from the patriarchal God to a more playful and feminine God. The filmmakers were said to have received more than 300,000 hate mails and death threats.

Stigmata (1999) – Rupert Wainwright

Starring: Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne

The film centers on an atheist hairdresser from Pittsburgh who exhibits true stigmata and an ordained Jesuit priest who was a former scientist. A powerful Vatican cleric attempts to kill the hairdresser, and she and the priest go on the run. It was very controversial when it was released because it showed a Vatican senior clergy as ruthless in trying to kill the hairdresser, then there was the romance between her and the “priest,” as well as the manifestation of the Holy Stigmata was said to border on demonic possession. But it earned $18.3 million in its first weekend.

Kids (1995) – Larry Clark

Leo Fitzpatrick, Sarah Henderson, Justin Pierce

This 1995 drama revolves around one day in the life of a few teenagers in New York City. One HIV-positive amoral teenager sets out to have sex with as many virgins as possible and a local girl, who contracted HIV from him, is out to save his next target. Some people considered it a window for our worst fears about what our children are doing when they are out there on the streets. However, the film was embroiled in a major controversy due to the depiction of teenagers’ unrestrained behavior towards sex, use of profanity, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and drug ecstasy. It was also said that it showed parenting at its very worst.

Natural Born Killers (1994) – Oliver Stone

Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Michael Ansara

This film called by many as the best film of the 1990s, takes a look at our immoral and corrupt society that showcases serial killers as media celebrities and cultural icons. The films protagonists are bad and they kill not only for love and passion, but also for fun. They go on a three-week murder spree and once they are arrested, they become celebrities. The film offers a look at our media’s obsession and sensationalism even with the criminals in our society. The scenes in the film are too graphic, extremely violent and disturbing. It was lambasted as loathsome and evil. In UK, the public screening was delayed because the film inspired similar shooting sprees in the US, which includes the Columbine High School Massacre.

JFK (1991)- Oliver Stone

Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Oldman

This movie is about Orleans DA Jim Garrison’s investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It meant to demonstrate that Kennedy’s assassination was not the act of a disturbed Marxist loner but the result of a right-wing conspiracy. It includes a lot of speculation about the misconduct of the government and the testimonies of many unreliable individuals. The movie became embroiled in controversy when it was being filmed. Stone was blamed by the Media for ladling out unverifiable hypotheses. American newspapers ran several editorials that criticized the liberties taken with historical facts, including the implication that President Lyndon B. Johnson was also involved in the conspiracy.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) - Ruggero Deodato

Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen

Cannibal Holocaust is the story of a film crew that disappeared during the making of a documentary on the last surviving tribes of cannibals.

This film caused a huge storm when it was first released because it was extremely graphic, violent, gross and so real that people thought it really happened and it was banned in many countries. Some of these scenes included castration, eating guts, forced abortion, several animal slaughtering, gang rape, impalement of a woman on a pole and beatings with large hammers. The director was jailed in Italy on charges of murder and faced life imprisonment and later he had to prove that no one was actually killed. However, real animals were killed on-screen as a part of the film. This movie could not be released for five years and it was banned in the UK and many other countries for 20 years.

The Message (1976) – Moustapha Akkad

Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Michael Ansara

The original name of this 1977 movie was “Mohammad, Messenger of God,” which was given this title for the U.S. release. It was set in 7th century Mecca and chronicles the beginnings of Islam and the life and times of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Problems started when it was wrongly rumored that Peter O’Toole and Charlton Heston would be in the lead roles. This caused bloody riots for two days. Even Saudi Monarch King Faisal withdrew his offer of $60 million as well as banned filming on location in Mecca and Medina. Akkad was then forced to move it to Morocco and find financial backing from Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi, the Libyan leader. The original title had to be changed to The Message because religious groups called the film an insult to Islam and it was banned in most Arab countries.

The Exorcist (1973) – William Friedkin

Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb

This landmark film that stirred unparalleled controversy is an adaptation of the block-buster book by William Peter Blatty, a true story of a 13-year-old boy from Maryland. It s one of the most frightening, disturbing and shocking films ever made and was one of the most opposed. During its pre-release, there were nine deaths associated with the production and a request for exorcising the set was made.

It revolves around the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s efforts to bring her little girl back with exorcism, with the help of two priests. The spewing of green puke, self-mutilation, masturbation with a crucifix and other such scenes along with obscenities and blasphemies was widely criticized as medical pornography. It was also alleged that the film used subliminal imagery. The film was banned on video in the UK for 15 years.

This movie won the academy awards for the best screenplay and best sound awards.

Deep Throat (1972) – Gerard Damiano

Harry Reems, Linda Lovelace, Dolly Sharp, Carol Connors

This movie has a simplistic plot about a sexually frustrated woman who wanted to hear bells during sex and follows her doctor’s advice. It was a hardcore porn film, the first of its kind to become a hit. After the release, the film and the people associated with it were at the epicenter of a cultural war. It was banned in many places for its obscenity. Actor Harry Reems was also prosecuted by the federal government on charges of obscenity. In the UK, it was banned upon release and after ten years, the ban was upheld. The DVD was allowed to be sold in 2000 only in licensed sex shops in the UK. The documentary “Inside Deep Throat,” gives a glimpse into the film’s production history and its impact on American culture.

A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Stanley Kubrick

Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates

This science fiction is a satire, juvenile delinquency film adapted from Anthony Burgess’s novel. This is the story of Alex the teenage protagonist who gets his kick from ultra-violence and rape. He volunteers for a behaviorist experiment that takes away his capacity to do evil and returns to the world defenseless and a victim to his former victims.

It was surrounded by controversies and highly opposed by religious groups for its glamorization of violence and sexual content. Feminists were outraged with some of the scenes – such as the very long rape scene, the highly obscene female poses of the furniture at Korova bar, a giant-sized sculpture of a penis, and a snake gliding toward a woman’s private parts. The film was taken off from circulation after a year in Britain, because of the criticism from the courts and the media, and was only available again after the director’s death in 2000.

The Devils (1971) – Ken Russell

Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave

This film was set in the city of Loudon in 1634, and was a loose adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s “The Devils Of Loudon.” The film is about a 17th century womanizing French priest, Urbain Grandier, whose sex life, religious and political opinions earned him many enemies. To bolster these claims against him, nuns performed orgiastic rituals in the Church and this led to his conviction and the burning of him alive at the stake. The film was met with controversy and was greatly opposed due to the depiction of blasphemy and the content. It had censorship issues in all the countries it was released and provoked outrage from Christian groups and audiences.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967) – Arthur Penn

Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard

This is based loosely on the true exploits of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker during the 30s. Bonnie and Clyde embark on their legendary crime spree and crave adventure. Youth of the counter-culture movement of the 1960’s identified with these rebellious and sympathetic characters. However, the film raked in its fair share of controversy because of the cascading violence as the two main characters turn brutal. The combination of sex and violence, the mix of humor and murder were seen as glorifying violence. Some people even said that Arthur Penn made this film as an expression of his own discontent with the nation. Newspaper critics had negative reactions to this film, but it gained critical acclaim and was nominated for ten academy awards.

Baby Doll (1956) – Elia Kazan

Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach

Baby Doll is about a married, pretty 19-year-old girl who sleeps in a crib and sucks her thumb; while her husband waits to consummate their marriage when she turns 20. Meanwhile, rival owner who suspects the husband of burning down his gin, takes revenge in the most erotic way possible. This film was highly controversial when it was released. The Legion of Decency condemned for being immoral. There was so much negative talk that it had to be withdrawn from more than 70% of the theaters in the US. Even film critics labeled it as a highly pornographic film.

Triumph of the Will (1935)– Leni Rienfenstahl

Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, Max Amann, Martin Bormann, Walter Buch

It was called the most controversial horrific film of all time and was banned for several years. It was about the 1934 Nazi party rally and was commissioned by the Nazi Fuhrer leader, Adolf Hitler. He wanted Leni Rienfenstahl to make this documentary as a celebration of the sixth Nazi Reich Party Congress held Nuremberg in 1934. This film showed glorified accounts of the unjust Nazi regime.

This was and still is considered as the most powerful propaganda film ever made. After the war, allies imprisoned the director for four years. Protests greeted her throughout and she could never clear her image of her Nazi-tainted past, in spite of her several pleas.

The Birth of a Nation (1915) – D.W. Griffith

Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall

This film did not have a screenplay and Griffith made it as he went along. The story revolves around two white families separated by the Civil War and reunited. This movie has excelled in outdoor and night photography and panoramic long shots but has become highly controversial for its outlandish racial prejudices, its vicious portrayal of blacks as conniving and sexually animalistic, its pro-Klan stance and endorsing enslavement. It invoked a major censorship battle and riots broke out in many places in the US. Lawsuits and picketing plagued the film for many years. It again stirred new controversy in 1993, when it was voted as one of the top 100 American films.

Values change with the changing of times, and what was shocking in the past may not impact us in the same way now. But the film makers who brave all controversies to get their thoughts across live on forever through their unforgettable creations.

This UN Studio designed architectural time capsule, is eight-storey’s high and looks extremely elegant and beautiful, thus attracting not only car lovers but also those passionate about architecture. Mercedes-Benz is the world’s oldest car industry company.

The museum is as impressive as their cars and overwhelms visitors right from the first glance. It takes eight Euros to go on an audio tour of the museum. The first thing one sees on beginning the tour of the museum is a stuffed horse that welcomes you and evokes an image of the era of travel that existed before automobiles were invented.

The tour begins with the futuristic elevators taking visitors up and continues with a descent down helix-shaped ramps. This museum pays homage to the history of the auto car, right from its first day to the futuristic schemes of the current day. Every transformation of the Benz has been chronicled.

It showcases about 160 of the greatest hits of carmakers. You will see the antique Jalopies, the Silver Arrows of the 1930s that broke records, Kaiser Wilhelm’s royal 770 Grand Mercedes, as well as several other wonders of the Mercedes engineering; a cavalcade of race cars. All the vehicles are very well preserved and visitors get to see them close enough to breathe the enthusiasm of those days.

One of the oldest models is a motorbike from 1885 as well as a Benz tricycle, the automobile’s ancestor.

The story of this magnificent car goes back to 1902 when the world’s first Mercedes was created. It happened when Emil Jellinek, a wealthy European entrepreneur who was on the board of Daimler-Motoren-Gesselschaft (DMG), and Gottlieb Daimler got together to produce and market a modern engine. It was decided that the new engine would be named after Emil’s young daughter, Mercedes Jellinek, and be given the name of Daimler-Mercedes.

Gottlieb Daimler is well-known for laying the foundation to a motorized society in 1883, with the first high-speed gasoline engine, which is called “the grandfather’s clock” because of the appearance. This is one of the major attractions of the museum along with the three-wheeler motorized ‘car’ by Karl Benz, which has the distinction of being the first of its kind in the world.

The museum has a section called, “Times of change,” representing the years between 1914 and 1945. Why is this period significant? Because it stands between two world wars! This period represents the birth of the world’s first “supercharged” engines; the merger of Benz & Cie and DMG into “Mercedes-Benz” in 1926 and it was in 1936 that the world’s first diesel engine was introduced.

For car lovers, the only disappointing aspect of the museum could very well be the almost absent Hitler’s rule. This 12 year-period is completely minimized. Could it be to avoid remembering the dark period?

The period 1945 – 1960 is called the “miracle of form and diversity,” and reveals the beautiful transformation of these magical cars. The beautiful reminders of this period are the 1952 Mercedes Benz, the 300 S convertible, the 300 SLR racing coupe and the SL coupe the doors of which open upwards. The year 1962 marks the birth of the sexy Roadster, giving an elegant close to that era.

The museum has two rooms named, “celebrities” and “heroes.” This is where visitors spend most of their time as they are the most interesting and show several cars used by the famous people. Here, we get to see the models as well as the actual cars used by the Sultan of Morocco, Hassan, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Lady Diana, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Grace Kelly, Ringo Starr, 1974 World Cup German soccer team touring coach and the bulletproof “popemobile” for John Paul II.

There have been many historians that have expressed feeling a little unsatisfied, in spite of the whole experience being fascinating. This is because the events for the technological evolution of the car along with the dates from different eras are highlighted, and the periods they are not comfortable with have been given a step-fatherly treatment.

In spite of minor inadequacies noted by some historians; this museum devoted to the culture of cars is an absolute automobile heaven that mesmerizes each and every person that enters this place. The fun is not limited to car buffs, as it provides a unique experience of science and culture to all.

There are a few things you might first want to consider before getting a dog, like the breed and size.

In making the decision on the breed of the dog, you should consider what you are looking for in your future pet. Is your pet going to be a playmate for the children or is he going to be accompanying an older person on walks? Do you want your pet to be guarding your house or going on jogs with you? After all, living together has to be rewarding both for your pet and your family.

Size of the Dog

The smaller the apartment or house, the smaller the dog should be. A Great Dane will not feel comfortable in small areas. Some breeds of dogs need lots of attention and space. They are lively and love going out for long walks or run around. They need to be handled firmly and kept occupied.

Dogs do not always look for yards to play in, they enjoy going out for a walk with their master, as they get to meet other dogs and see other people. This is the sort of entertainment they would love.

Gender

You must also consider if you are looking for a male or a female (bitch). The characteristics of females and males differ. While bitches tend to be home-loving and affectionate, males are dominating.

Breed

Before deciding on a breed, there are certain questions that need to be answered.

• Can you spare time for daily walks?
• If you have children, you will have to ask yourself if the new dog will get along with children.

Once you are clear on this, you can start looking at different breeds of dogs. Many dogs reveal the qualities that are natural to them but are classified as ‘misfits’ because of their behavior. To avoid being ignorant, when looking for a particular breed, it is important to find out the genetic traits that a breed will inherit. Not many people bother to find out about these things.

Characteristics

A Terrier that is living on a farm is highly valued for its skills of killing small animals; while the same Terrier may be classified as “aggressive” if living in the city. Similarly, a Beagle, whose howling can be heard for miles, is a prized possession for a hunter; while it would be perceived as a “nuisance” in an urban environment. There are certain inherent characteristics for each breed which remain the same, but our perception of the dog changes based on the environment. This is the reason it is important to take into consideration the place and other needs.

Unreasonable Expectations

Most people look at the image a dog will project rather than the behavioral traits. This often happens because of reading books on wonderful dog breeds that add value to a household. If you have read books on dogs, you would have seen big dogs being described as “extremely loyal” and “powerful.” If you buy a dog based on reputation, it can lead to a lot of issues in the future. The royal looking Mastiff may eventually weigh as much as 170 pounds, and splatter drool on the sofas while wickedly eying the cat next door. The Border Collie, due to lack of thrill of chasing sheep, may end up keeping itself amused by chasing shadows and biting the heels of small kids. The unprepared owners are disappointed and frustrated that their long-awaited pets do not live up to their “unfair” expectations.

Factors to Consider

You must select a dog based on real and practical factors rather than imagined qualities. This paves the way to a successful pet and master relationship. The breed of the dog has to be matched to the lifestyle of the owner. Consider physical aspects such as space and emotional aspects such as how you will keep your dog stimulated mentally, so that the dog is happy. A lot of research has to be done before deciding on buying a dog. Do not rely on the information given in books or magazines written by ardent dog lovers, because they may unintentionally exaggerate the good points and not delve much on the bad. Speak to the breeders and owners and get the correct picture. You can check history books to gain more knowledge on the genetic traits of the breed.

Owning a pet is all about being aware of what your future pet is actually going to be like. By understanding the personality traits and breeding, you will be able to take better care of them and form a fruitful union. Next time you see your Terrier digging a hole in the garden, do not punish him, just find something else to occupy him and remember – it is in his genes.

I have a friend who is a director in a company and her day is filled with meetings and conferences. For the employees, she is the super boss who never gets harassed or loses her cool. She also trains staff on all aspects of their jobs and takes classes twice a week. She is much admired by all.

But I happen to know the actual person that she is. By actual, I mean her “inner fears.” There was a point when she dreaded facing public, when she dreaded imparting speeches or even undertake training. She could not be herself days before such events. Believe it or not, she still feels nervous. It is a wonder that now she is able to go up there and show her confidence in front of all those people, hanging on to her every word.

She has achieved this by teaching her inner self to get over her fears. She realized that she is good at her work and she has no reason to feel this way. She had come to realize that within a few moments, her shakiness can be made to go away. She learnt the art of not showing her nervousness that is felt in the initial moments.

She is not alone in this world. I am sure many of you have phobias you would not admit to others. It is a normal fear that people suffer from. Many people even give up great opportunities that come knocking at their door, just because they do not wish to do something. But how normal is it to give up on your dreams because of something you cannot rationalize to most people?

Phobia or Fear

Experts say that it is normal or even good to have fears at times, since it tempers our tendency to take risks. However, they say that if the fear is extreme, it starts interfering with your daily activities and makes us avoid situations or places that are not actually dangerous. This is certainly not normal fear but a phobia. For example, many people feel nauseous when they look down a skyscraper and this is normal, but inability to sleep because of an impending meeting and the prospect of facing people is a phobia. People with phobias are called phobics. They do everything possible to avoid a situation that causes anxiety. These phobias reduce their self-confidence and their efficiency levels.

Social Phobia

This is also known as Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). People with this phobia constantly fear being thought of negatively by others. Some people worry about attending parties, giving job interviews, eating out and in extreme cases, even talking on the phone.

Signs: Social phobics suffer from sweating, palpitations, trembling, dizziness, shortness of breath etc. just with the thought of having to face or talk to people.

How to Resolve: If you feel that way - if it is not extreme, then talking to someone close helps. The mind should be filled with positive thoughts about yourself and distracted from imagining the worst. It helps to seek the help of an expert if you are unable to cope with your phobia.

Public Speaking Phobia

Glossophobia as it is known is one of the most common forms of social phobia. Glossophobics are terrified of participating in group discussions, giving speeches, lectures or making presentations. They fear that they will make a fool of themselves. They have this feeling that everyone is laughing or talking about them.

Signs: It is easy to know if you are glossophobic. You have a meeting or a presentation next month, but you already started worrying about it. As the date draws closer, you find yourself feeling queasy in your stomach, just the thought of the presentation breaks you in cold sweat and you even start feeling dizzy. In extreme cases, people look for excuses for dropping the whole thing at the last minute, even faking illness.

How To Resolve: Take small steps towards learning to face these situations. Practice speaking in front of the mirror or the best thing would be to speak in front of someone close who understands and is sensitive to your problem. Prepare and understand very well the questions you may be asked and the points you will have to make. They say that when speaking you must look into the eyes of the person. However, if you are suffering from this phobia, you do not have to attempt doing that. Just look at the foreheads of people instead. Make sure you are physically completely relaxed before beginning your speech or presentation. Take deep breaths, relax your muscles and meditate if possible. Just remember, that the others are looking at you as a confident person, it is only you that are feeling nervous. Try and get into the groove in the first two or three minutes and soon you will start enjoying the feeling of importance.

Tips for Phobics

Whether it is just general anxiety or extreme fear, trying to deal with it helps.

Talking to someone you trust helps. It will make you see things clearly and give you a chance to face your fears and take action.

Relaxation techniques help, such as yoga, pranayama (deep breathing) and medication. Whenever you feel you are getting all anxious, immediately relax by practicing the technique for a few minutes.

Eating a balanced diet without skipping meals is important. Physical weakness is said to only worsen anxiety.

Do not take caffeine because experts believe that it worsens anxiety.

Exercise on a daily basis. You could swim, job, walk or do aerobics. A fit body leads to a positive mind.

It is in your hands to overcome your fears and lead a happy life. Living with these phobias is belittling yourself and not giving yourself a chance for the best life has to offer. You will have to work hard to take every step possible to achieve what you want to, and remember – it is possible!!

Far from trying to cook anything for the family, they are now playing foodie games that take these kids into an almost-real virtual kitchen.

A host of new video games, like “What’s Cooking? With Jamie Oliver” by Atari; “Cooking Mama World Kitchen” by Majesco; “Hell’s Kitchen: The Video Game” by Ubisoft; and “Personal Trainer: Cooking” by Nintendo are experiencing a huge fan following.

Jamie Oliver of the Naked Chef fame now has an interactive cookbook with a game in the hand-held Nintendo DS. Oliver has about a dozen cookbooks to his credit and is also a campaigner for the improvement of school meals for children in Britain. According to Oliver, “I’m looking at this as a digital book with a game rather than a game with a digital book.”

Oliver’s video game hit shelves very recently, in October. It includes more than 100 exclusive recipes along with images of the most mouth-watering food by David Loftus, the food photographer. This game allows gamers to cook some of the recipes. The players of “What’s Cooking” can actually get their hands dirty with the help of the voice recognition technology on the DS. They have the ability to move forward and backward going through the steps of the recipes. The game also comes with a shopping list creator, recipe swapping and recipe storing facilities.

Oliver states that his daughter who is 6-years-old is a pro at the game already. “My little Poppy loves it. She finds it freaky that her dad is saying, ‘Come on, come on, play the game.”

The game that gave way to the food game craze in North America was “Cooking Mama.” This is a Japanese game that was brought out in 2006. This game has the facility to use a stylus and a touch screen on the DS to enables players to cook anything they want to. One of the most amazing aspects of the game is that players can actually “cool” off the food by blowing air into the microphone of the DS.

The latest season of the hit cooking show, Hell’s Kitchen leaves fans hungry for more. Gordon Ramsay’s trademark spit and vinegar is brought back by Ubisoft in the form of a video game of the same name on Nintendo Wii and DS. This game offers players three phases of challenges; for preparation, cooking and service in the high-pressure kitchen and dining room. All this is made more real just as a live cooking show, with the presence of a virtual Ramsay watching over the cooks and scoring each meal after the three phases are executed. The virtual Ramsay is as eloquent as the original. He yells at them when they make mistakes, praises them when they have done something right or even shuts down the kitchen if their skills do not reach his expectations. He has even given his own voice for his animation character. Some of the recipes in the video game are said to be exclusive to the game and not seen anywhere else.

The excitement, pressure and intense competition faced by the players, is what keeps the players glued to these kitchen games for hours on end. Parents can no longer shoo children out of the kitchens.

Studies suggest that these video games do have a health message and children who are involved in meal preparation through these video games are more likely to eat better and become good cooks. This seems to be helping many children overcome fussy eating habits.

These video games are also said to help children achieve many milestones. They learn to follow directions and complete an activity in the given time. These games will stimulate all their senses. Many parents have also reported that their children who play these kitchen video games are showing interest in the kitchen now. One mother proudly states that her daughter wanted to learn how to break eggs for scrambling. For once parents cannot complain that video games are bad for the children. How much more can a video game do?