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American Idol Announces Season 10 Finalists

2011-03-04T05:46:00.001-08:00

The evening started with a beautiful phrase appearing onscreen – "Every superstar begins with a dream" – and then, for some reason, we heard Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

But that's not what you want to know: The season's first live results show reduced 24 singers to a top 10 picked by viewers, plus what turned out to be three "wild" saves by the judges.

The American Idol top 10? Keep reading to find out.

They are:

Scotty McCreery, Jacob Lusk, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, Pia Toscano, Karen Rodriguez, Thia Megia and Haley Reinhart.

It took the first 70 minutes of the two-hour show to reach that list. Then the judges asked six singers to perform again, and from those they rescued three:

Ashton Jones, Stefano Langone and Naima Adedapo.

Now that we have their names out of the way, we can flashback to the songs that saved them:

Ashton was the first "wild" performer, and strutted defiantly while she sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." "I still LOVE the attitude," said Randy Jackson.

Stefano sang – well, over-sang, but given the pressure it's understandable – "I Need You Now." Jennifer Lopez was seen saying, "Yes," very enthusiastically. Steven Tyler said, intriguingly, "You gilded the lily of your own passion."

And Naima performed the standard "For All We Know" with unfaltering drive, breaking down into sobs at the end – as Tyler was seen giving Jennifer a tiny nudge with his elbow.

The others who sang for their life, and lost, were Kendra Chantelle, Jovany Barreto and Robbie Rosen.

They exited with: Ta-Tynisa Wilson, Lauren Turner – I'm sorriest to see her go – Rachel Zevita (who looked absolutely miserable), Julia Zorrilla, Brett Loewenstern, Tim Halperin, Jordan Dorsey and Clint Jun Gamboa. I record their names for Idol posterity.

All in all, this is a good top 13, with an unusual range of style. I'm rooting for Thia.

While the judges were arbitrating, we were treated to Lopez's new video, "On the Floor," which had a catchy chorus and a nice visual motif of Lopez in silver dancing in front of a gold wall.

source

WikiLeaks Is Leaking

2010-12-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

When I first heard the name WikiLeaks I thought it was some Hawaiian ritual or gathering like a luau. After recent events we all know what WikiLeaks is and the man who stands behind it. This news website was introduced in 2007 along with its' founder and director, a gentleman by the name of Julian Assange. The purpose or should I say mission of this organization is to provide the international public with leaked information derived from unnamed sources from around the world. Their news coverage is aimed at exposing the truth and expose social injustices. This of course is a noble cause but with it comes a higher responsibility of discretion and being able to discern what should and shouldn't be disclosed.

Julian Assange an Australian journalist has been awarded and honored for publishing and exposing atrocities committed around the world such as toxic waste dumping in Africa, killings in Kenya, giving light to the injustices that occur around the world. In 2008 he received the Economist Freedom of Expression Award and in 2009 Amnesty International UK Media Award to name a few.

Recently this whistle blowing news organization published secret U.S. diplomatic cables that not only politically hurt America's standing in the world but it also put our troops and covert friends overseas in a more dangerous position. They also exposed private talks between our government and other world leaders. One such revelation is the Saudi government asking the U.S. government to attack the infra structure of the Iranian nuclear program. To expose such information was irresponsible and doesn't make the world a safer better place. On the contrary it stirs up and adds to an already strained and complicated situation in the Middle East.

Exposing criminal or inhumane behavior that occurred or is presently happening around the world is a worthy cause but to use these newly published documents is irresponsible and serves no purpose but to gain recognition or perhaps notoriety for this news organization. There has to be an accountability for this type of reckless journalism and disregard for innocent peoples lives. This act can not go unpunished.

America is a great country and we will weather the damage caused by the insensitive actions of this mega egotistical organization. We as Americans support our country and its freedoms but we will not stand with those who abuse our freedoms.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Porrello

North Vs South Korea - The Resurfacing War

2010-12-13T05:31:00.000-08:00

What some people do not know is that the Korean War has actually been going on since the initial war broke out between North and South Korea in 1950. It has never ended, albeit poor and not-so-eager attempts to stop it. Rather, there was merely a ceasefire that was never resolved. But whatever truce there was between them was not apparent, even to most of the rest of the world.

There have been different versions as to the real cause for this conflict between the North and South Korea. Some say that it is just a cover-up for the real raging battle for political and economic power between the United States, which supported South Korea and the Soviet Union, which backed up North Korea. But the more accepted reason was the stern fight for democracy to prevail over communism, and vice versa, which was known to be the cold war between the once wartime allies. Indeed, aside from Russia under Joseph Stalin, North Korea also found huge support from its likewise communist neighbor China headed by Mao Zedong (Tse-tung).

In retrospect, Korea was separated into two different states when no common government could be decided upon. The Republic of Korea (ROK) pertaining to the South was established on August 15, 1948 with its nationalist leader Syngman Rhee; while the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the North, as headed by Kim Il Sung, was organized in September 9 of the same year, just a couple of years after the end of the Second World War in 1945 and before the start of Korean War on June 25, 1950. This war ended in a peace agreement on July 27, 1953 with the help of the United Nations through its first concerted police action.

Apparently, the armistice was not permanent. Just recently, on November 23, 2010, the South Korea suffered a heavy bombardment of dozens of artillery shells by the North, killing two South Korean soldiers and destroying many properties. It appears that this started with suspected violations by the South of the North's waters off the west coast, resulting to the sinking of a South Korean warship that Seoul blamed on a torpedo allegedly fired by the North.

The world now watches as a bitter past resurfaces once again. What cause an even more real and imminent international apprehension, however, are the allegations that North Korea has nuclear weapons under its hood, which if really true, would be far from being unlikely that it will use against any provocation on anybody's part.

Justin Cooke is an author and partner at TryBPO.com, a Philippines outsourcing company based in Davao City, Philippines. Additionally, he creates niche informational sites about topics such as pool leak detection and cheap curtain rods for a variety of different industries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Cooke

Wilki Leaks Endanger Travelers Abroad

2010-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Imagine you're on a trip. You have planned it for quite some time and you're very excited. You love the place and have chosen to visit it because there is something about that country or area that you really love. You've saved your money, maybe sacrificed a little, so you could make the trip.

So off you go. Sure you know that there are always certain vulnerabilities when you leave your country of origin, but you have done your due diligence, checked with travel warnings, and feel like the decision to travel was made with common sense so you feel secure.

You've arrived! You check in to your hotel room. Everything is going great. But something happened. There has been a change in the atmosphere. People seem to be looking at you strange. What were smiles are now frowns. Where there seemed to be a welcome before, now there are only cold glares.

Some people begin to yell, looking at you, speaking in a language you have no idea what they are saying. Imagine you are in an African City where you come to a gas station and you are the only white man for miles. Your there and a man runs up to you waving and pointing to the front page of a news paper. "US call us a cesspool!" People who once welcomed you are now giving you the cold shoulder and if there was ever an uneasy and unsecure feeling, now you have it.

This is not some fantasy story. This is the experience of this writer and possibly thousands of other travelers who leave home and end up in a place where the latest reports from the controversial wiki leaks site finds its way to the lime light. This could be the future for international travelers everywhere.

What good and noble effect these stories play in world history remains to be seen. But this writer can tell you one thing about human nature. When someone talks bad about someone else, and then shares it with everyone they can, it's not a good thing. I have always been taught that people who really care about others do not do such things. Someone said it this way, "You who have not sinned, you throw the first stone!"

Irresponsible sharing of information without any concern of the harm it could cause innocent people is unhealthy for peace at least, and considered criminal by many. One little spark of gossip has been known to cause damages beyond comprehension.

There is an old proverb that says 'A tale bearer reveals secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter". Another says, "Where there is no tale bearer, there is no strife.

With the scale of tale bearing now with such media as wiki leaks, strife as never known before could soon be the result. Wars could even start, maybe thosuands could die, maybe millions! A tiny spark can cause a million acres to burn into nothing.

It is the writer's opinion that if someone has information that someone has committed a crime, it is only right and just that factual evidence should be given to 'law governing agencies' to see if the matter needs attention. If not, we can become an order less society where mob rules.

I wont, but I could almost wish that those who send information across the Internet with no concern for whom it may harm, could experience what I did on my last international trip. I was abroad to help orphans, but now I feel its not smart to travel, as you never know what hate story will come out tomorrow.

One thing I love about America is that a man or woman is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This has made us a place that people from all around the world want to come to, for our noble and honorable ways.

Do the people who crash websites and hack into companies sites that exercise their right to sell to whom they want really have a noble cause? (hello, freedom?) Do these people really have a heart to help society and bring peace, or do they want to just plain raise hell? History will tell the story from the fruit of these actions. If anything goes, one day, everything goes!

Gene Anderson is the founder of a missions organization who has been clothing, feeding, housing and caring for hundreds of parentless children in Africa for over 12 years. Anyone wishing to contact him may inquire at gene.anderson@yahoo.com.

He also trains, coaches, and instructs individuals and businesses to promote their companies through Search Engine Optimization. He is known as 'the' Google sales coach! visit him at http://www.GoogleSalesCoach.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Anderson

Google's humbler Nexus S strategy emerges

2010-12-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Gone was the special event, gone were the predictions of mobile-market upheaval: the second iteration of Google's Nexus phone strategy was announced to the world with a simple blog post.

And that makes perfect sense; given the lessons Google's Android team learned in 2010 while trying to balance a good tech idea with real-world business needs. Like the Nexus One first unveiled in January, today's launch of the Nexus S reveals a stripped-down fast smartphone with some futuristic features and the most current edition of Android that delivers "the pure Google experience," the company said in that post.

Unlike the Nexus One, which was announced at a much-hyped press event by Google's Andy Rubin alongside HTC CEO Peter Chou and Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, the Nexus S was unaccompanied by any promises to disrupt the mobile market with unlocked phones and Web-only sales. Best Buy, the picture of the consumer electronics establishment, will be the exclusive carrier of the Nexus S when it launches next week for $529 (unlocked) or $199 with a two-year T-Mobile contract.

There are very practical reasons for Google to produce a "pure Google experience" phone to help increase Android momentum. Software developers need to have early access to new operating system releases to make sure their apps will work well on the new release. However, Google's Android model allows wireless carriers and handset makers to dictate the pace at which their customers receive Android updates, meaning some app developers on one carrier might not be able to see new releases before customers on another carrier start running the software, which isn't good.

There are also loftier reasons for building such a phone, as Rubin espoused in January at the Nexus One event. Back then, Google was full of promises about disruption and liberation, with plans to free consumers from two-year contracts, end exclusive deals between carriers and handset makers for new phones, and relieve the drudgery of in-store shopping.

Believe it or not, the established mobile industry--the very companies that have allowed Android to be a success--wasn't necessarily on board with those ideas. Carriers withdrew promised support for the Nexus One, and without broad carrier support Google was forced to do exactly what it didn't want to do: offer a phone effectively locked to a single carrier.

And so this time around, the Nexus S is being promoted simply based on hardware and software. It's a basically a Googlized version of the Samsung Galaxy S, with the near-field communications chips that Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke about last month and could one day let you use your phone as a credit card. Android 2.3, known as Gingerbread, will bring a new virtual keyboard and a simpler user interface when it ships with the Nexus S on December 16, long before it reaches other Android phones.

This phone is not being billed as the key to a revolution in the smartphone industry. Judging by comments on Twitter this morning, there's likely a sizable contingent inside Google that still hopes to make that happen some day--when the "pure Google experience" goes beyond software--but that day is not today.

So what remains of Google's larger goals with its own branded smartphones? We may get a chance to find out when Rubin speaks tonight at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco, where he's expected to show off the Nexus S.

But it's clear that for now, Google has chosen to concentrate on its original Android promise of giving wireless carriers and handset makers around the world a free, competitive smartphone operating system to serve as a hedge against Apple and iOS. Tearing down that industry might have to wait for another day.

Read more at news.cnet.com

U.S. general Petraeus 'most fascinating person' of 2010

2010-12-11T00:51:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, has been named the "most fascinating person of 2010", beating the cast of MTV reality show "The Jersey Shore" and teen singer Justin Bieber.

Veteran journalist Barbara Walters called Petraeus a "true American hero" and placed him top of her annual list of the 10 most fascinating people of 2010 in a TV broadcast on Thursday.

Network ABC said on Friday that 12.2 million Americans watched the show.

Petraeus, 58, was named in June to head U.S and NATO forces in Afghanistan after serving as head of the U.S. Central Command overseeing Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

He is also credited with having pulled Iraq back from the brink of an all-out sectarian war in 2007.

"In life, it seems, there are people who break things and people who fix them. This man is a fixer, "Walters said. "A lot depends on General Petraeus and his combination of humanity and strength."

Others on Walter's annual list included 16 year-old Canadian singer Justin Bieber, future British princess Kate Middleton who is engaged to marry Prince William, veteran comedy actress Betty White and conservative politician Sarah Palin.

Walters has chosen her most fascinating people for 18 years. Last year's winner was U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, and in 2008 Walters put then president-elect Barack Obama top of her list.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Copyright © 2010 Reuters

source- http://thestar.com.my

Battle Los Angeles (2011) trailer - Battle Los Angeles Synopsis

2010-12-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

source- http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMovieReel
Synopsis:
For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world - Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world's great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It's up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they've ever encountered before.

Just The Way You Are lyrics - Bruno Mars

2010-12-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

Oh her eyes, her eyes;
Make the stars look like they're not shining.
Her hair, her hair;
Falls perfectly without her trying.

She's so beautiful;
And I tell her every day.

Yeah; I know, I know,
When I compliment her
She won't believe me.
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think that she don't see what I see.

But every time she asks me "do I look okay?",
I say:

When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change.
Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while.
'Cause girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are.

Yeah, Her lips, her lips;
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me.
Her laugh, her laugh;
She hates but I think it's so sexy.
She's so beautiful,
And I tell her every day.

Oh you know, you know, you know
I never ask you to change.
If perfect's what you're searching for
Then just stay the same.

So, don't even bother asking
If you look okay;
You know I say:

When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change.
'Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while.
Cause girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are.

The way you are.
The way you are.
Girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are.

When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change.
'Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while.
'Cause girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are.

Yea-eah.

At Obama's side, Clinton backs tax deal

2010-12-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON — Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama's side in the White House briefing room Friday.
Comparing Obama in '10 and Clinton in '94

"I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office.

Obama said it was a "terrific meeting" and then turned the podium over to Clinton.

The voluble former president took it away, and Obama left part-way through his remarks, saying he had holiday parties to attend.

"Both sides are going to have to eat some things they don't like," Clinton told reporters. "We don't want to slip back into a recession. We've got to keep this thing going and accelerate its pace. I think this is the best available option."

The pact would extend cuts in income tax rates for all earners that would otherwise expire next month, renew long-term jobless benefits and trim Social Security taxes for one year. A number of liberal Democrats say it gives away too much to Republicans, and a provision that's particularly irksome to Democrats cuts estate taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

Nonetheless the measure appears headed for Senate approval after negotiators added a few relatively modest sweeteners to promote ethanol and other forms of alternative energy. It's unclear whether House Democrats, who are most opposed, will be able to demand changes that go much further.

Clinton gave the package his full-throated endorsement, even while noting that he opposes the extension of upper-income tax cuts — though he himself will benefit from it.

"I personally believe this is a good deal and the best he could have gotten under the circumstances," Clinton said, urging fellow Democrats to support it.

"If I was in office now, I would have done what the president has done," he said.

Clinton also said the stalled U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty is very important for U.S. national security.

source

DRB-HICOM set to seal deal with VW

2010-12-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

DRB-HICOM Bhd is scheduled to sign a definitive agreement on December 21 with Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest carmaker, to assemble VW cars in Malaysia.

The cars will be assembled in Pekan, Pahang, for local and Southeast Asian markets.

"Tentatively, it is scheduled for December 21 with the signing ceremony being held either in the KLCC area or at DRB-HICOM's (1619) operational headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam," said the source.

It is understood that DRB-HICOM's top officials from its automotive divisions are currently abroad for the final leg of negotiations with VW.

In August, DRB-HICOM signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany's VW to assemble and manufacture Volkswagen vehicles in Malaysia.
An agreement with VW will help boost business and raise its profile among investors further. Although a big chunk of income comes from stable businesses like Islamic banking, insurance and power plant maintenance and plans to expand its property unit, its share price is still well below its net asset value of over RM2.

DRB-HICOM shares closed 9 per cent higher at RM1.80 yesterday.

In August, it was reported that minority shareholders voiced their displeasure at the company's annual general meeting over the undervalued shares.

As a result, the company said it plans to beef up investor relations (IR) activity.

"I do understand the anxiety of the shareholders and the public ... the current share price does not reflect the actual value of the company, which is actually worth more," group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil reportedly said after the AGM.

Yesterday, HwangDBS initiated coverage on DRB-HICOM with a RM3.55 target price.

The research house said DRB-HICOM is the cheapest conglomerate in the country with a net gearing of 0.3 times.

"With efforts to be more investor-friendly now, we expect a significant re-rating from its bargain basement valuation of 5.5 times 2012 financial year's earnings per share," Hwang said in the report.

The research house added that a key catalyst for DRB-HICOM is the conversion of a letter of intent from the Ministry of Defence for 257 AV 8x8 armoured wheeled vehicles, worth about RM8 billion.

source - http://www.btimes.com.my

Thousands Red Shirts rally in Bangkok

2010-12-10T14:15:00.000-08:00

BANGKOK: Thousands of Red Shirts anti-government protesters held a peaceful demonstration at the Democracy Monument here today.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Prompon said they demanded the release of their leaders and colleagues detained since the May 19 military crackdown.

About 400 Red Shirts leaders and supporters are still under detention, including 19 who are facing terrorism charges. The rest are being held for violating the Emergency decree.

"Release our leaders. Release our colleagues," the protesters shouted and by 6pm, they lit some red candles.

Overall, the security situation was under control.

The three-hour rally began at 5pm.

The Red Shirts have vowed to continue with their rally at Ratchprasong intersection here on Dec 19, to voice out their demands.

Eighty civilians and 11 security officers were killed and more than 1,800 people injured in violent clashes between protesters and troops between April 10 and May 19. - BERNAMA

source www.nst.com.my

Top 10 highest paid reality TV stars - Kim Kardashian is world's highest paid reality TV star

2010-12-10T02:16:00.001-08:00

Kim Kardashian has topped a list by website The Daily Beast to be named the world's highest paid reality TV star in 2010.

Kim Kardashian is world's highest paid reality TV star.

The 30-year-old socialite - who appears alongside her family in hit show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' as well as starring with sister Kourtney in 'Kourtney & Kim Take New York' - topped the list by US-based website The Daily Beast after earning $6 million in 2010.

Former 'Hills' star Lauren Conrad came second, taking home $5 million, while Kim's sisters Khloe and Kourtney also made the list after each earning $2.5 million.

Other stars to make the list include former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson, mother-of-eight Kate Gosselin, former 'Real Housewives' star Bethenny Frankel and Audrina Patridge, who is working on her own programme, entitled 'The Audrina Show', after originally shooting to fame on 'The Hills'.

source- http://entertainment.malaysia.msn.com

WikiLeaks supporters attack Amazon book offering

2010-12-10T01:59:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- Supporters of WikiLeaks were criticizing Amazon.com on Thursday for refusing to host the controversial site while apparently profiting from a book about it.

The criticism, over a book available on the internet bookseller's United Kingdom site, comes the same day that a group of anonymous hackers threatened to attack Amazon.

Last week, Amazon said WikiLeaks, which recently released thousands of government documents that critics say jeopardize security, violated its terms of service.

Best known for selling books, Amazon also has a Web-hosting service and had been home to some WikiLeaks files for about a week. The company was criticized by politicians in the United States and elsewhere but said its own rules, not the pressure, lead to the decision.

The company said specifically that WikiLeaks does not own the rights to the information it is posting.

On Thursday, however, a user had uploaded a book for sale on Amazon.com called "WikiLeaks Documents Expose U.S. Foreign Policy Conspiracies."

That led some users to accuse the e-commerce site of a double standard.

"Amazon hypocrisy! So you wilfully help to proliferate the lies for free, but you will only support the truth if there is a fast buck to be made," wrote one user whose comment had been rated the "most useful" review of the book. "One nation under gold, right?"

Amazon, however, said there's a key difference.

"This book contains commentary and analysis regarding recent WikiLeaks disclosures, not the original material disclosed via the WikiLeaks website," Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener said Thursday. "We clarified this on the product detail page."

By early Thursday afternoon, the book's title had been updated with the all-caps phrase "DOES NOT CONTAIN TEXT OF CABLES."

The author of the book is listed as Heinz Duthel, whose 30 pages of other offerings on Amazon include "The Complete Internet Pornography Encyclopedia," "Discovering Asian Women" and "Islamic Terrorism is Terrorism Committed by Muslims."

Other book topics for Duthel include "Hannah Montana" actress Miley Cyrus, numerology and conspiracy-theory favorites including the Trilateral Commission and the Bilderberg Group.

Several tech blogs on Thursday posted stories criticizing Amazon for carrying the book after dropping Wikileaks from its servers, although most appeared to have been written before the site clarified the nature of the book.

According to one of its Twitter feeds, the group "Anonymous Operations" planned an attack on Amazon at 11 a.m. ET. But Amazon's U.S. site was loading properly and navigating smoothly as of early Thursday afternoon.

Any action would be the latest in a seriesof denial-of-service attacks by WikiLeaks supporters against companies and institutions they say have treated the document-leaking site unfairly.

source- http://edition.cnn.com

Firework Lyrics - Katy Perry

2010-12-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

Firework Lyrics - Katy Perry
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that tehre's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em goin "Oh, oh, oh!"

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

North Korean plane crashes in China

2010-08-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

A North Korean aircraft, which may be a fighter jet, has crashed in China near the country's shared border, say Chinese and South Korean reports.

It is believed the pilot, who was killed, may have been trying to defect to Russia, according to unnamed intelligence sources cited by Yonhap.

The crash happened on Tuesday afternoon in Fushun county, Liaoning province.

Defections are common but an attempt by plane is highly unusual and would be a source of embarrassment for Pyongyang.

China has a repatriation agreement with North Korea, which could explain why the pilot may have been trying to reach Russia, the report added.

North Korea has a military airbase in Sinuiju, near the border with China.

China's state media confirmed an unidentified small plane had crashed and that it may belong to North Korea.

An investigation into the cause of the crash was under way, Xinhua reported.

Soviet-era jet

Photographs of the wreckage reportedly taken by a local resident and posted on the internet showed North Korea's insignia on the plane's fuselage.

Military experts said the plane appeared to be a Soviet-era fighter jet, which were used during the 1950-53 Korean War.

A report in Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper said that a second pilot had bailed out but gave no information on his whereabouts. It conflicts with the South Korean report of only one pilot on board.

Technically, North and South Korea remain at war although a ceasefire agreement ended fighting in 1953.

Their border is the most heavily militarised zone in the world.

source-http://www.bbc.co.uk

Rooney in Scholes' shadow

2010-08-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

MANCHESTER - Ageless stars Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs received most of the plaudits after Manchester United kicked off their 2010/11 Barclays Premier League campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Newcastle United here on Monday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).

Indeed, Scholes, 35, provided a masterclass, pulling the strings from midfield as he led the Newcastle engine room personnel on a merry chase, having a hand in all three goals.

He teed up Giggs expertly for the Welshman to round off the scoring, and Sir Alex Ferguson would have been well-satisfied with his team's start to the new season, especially after champions Chelsea put West Bromwich Albion to the sword on Sunday in a 6-0 drubbing.

The only dampener for the Old Trafford faithful would have been another average display by Wayne Rooney.

While it does look as if the United striker has rediscovered his hunger, after his abysmal performance for England at the World Cup - his game was still peppered with poor first touches and a hesitancy in front of goal.

Few believe the Red Devils can rip the Premiership trophy from Chelsea's clutches without Rooney rediscovering his best form, but the striker has now not scored a competitive goal since March 30 - with injuries limiting his involvement towards the end of last term followed by the disappointment in South Africa.

Rooney played for an hour before being replaced by summer signing Javier Hernandez, and while Ferguson admitted the England man "looked a little short", his manager is convinced it is a matter of time before the 24-year-old is his old self.

Speaking about the substitution, Ferguson said: "That was always the plan. I told the boy I'd give him an hour. He looked a little short, but that will bring him on. He will be sharper against Fulham next week and he will soon be back to his best, for sure."

Meanwhile, Ferguson insisted keeping pace with Chelsea would be United's main priority: "Chelsea are the team to beat.

"Goals could come into it at the end. Last year, Chelsea were ahead by a landslide as far as goals were concerned, but we've got goals in our team."

United led at the break with goals from Berbatov and Fletcher, before Giggs' third later on.

Ferguson could not say enough for his two veterans, Scholes who is 35 and 36-year-old Giggs. "Paul's got marvellous passing range and vision in the game and he's still got the appetite to play," Ferguson said.

"Anyone who gets to that age and they retain that - then you've got two players who are something special." Agencies

source-http://www.todayonline.com

Baghdad bomb 'won't derail democracy'

2010-08-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

The deadly suicide bombing outside an Iraqi army recruiting centre in Baghdad will not derail Iraq's transition to democracy, the White House says.

At least 59 people, most of them young men lining up to enlist, were killed and more than 100 injured.

The withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Iraq would not be halted either, US officials said.

Another eight people were killed later when a fuel truck was bombed in Baghdad, the Associated Press reports.

Another 44 were wounded in that attack, in which a bomb attached to a truck loaded with kerosene exploded in a Shia neighbourhood of north-eastern Baghdad.

The earlier attack was the bloodiest in Iraq for months and comes as the US prepares to end combat operations there by the end of August.

It also comes a day after the bloc that won the most seats in March's parliamentary election suspended talks on forming a coalition government.

"There obviously are still people who want to derail the advances that the Iraqi people have made toward democracy," White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

"But they are firmly on track. And we're confident that we're moving toward the end of our combat mission."

He said the Obama administration was confident a government would be formed.

"The fact that there is a lot of competition for who is going to be running that country is a good thing."

Blood scenes
The US is to reduce its forces in Iraq to 50,000 at the end of this month, and plans to withdraw all troops from the country by the end of 2011.

The 50,000 that will stay until next year will help train Iraqi forces and support counter-insurgency operations, although they will be combat-capable.

The suicide bomber struck about 0730 (0430 GMT) on Tuesday morning as hundreds of young men queued to join the army.

Some had been there since the evening before.

Unemployment in Iraq is running high and people are desperate for jobs, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad.

Witnesses described bloody scenes after the suicide bomber detonated his device.

"I saw dozens of people lying on the ground, some of them were on fire. Others were running with blood pouring out," Ahmed Kadhim, a 19-year-old recruit, told the AFP news agency.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although officials have blamed al-Qaeda in Iraq.

After a long lull, it has been much more active recently, possibly to coincide with what the Americans are calling the end of their combat operations in Iraq on 31 August, our correspondent says.

Violence in Iraq is down from the peak seen during the sectarian conflict in 2006-2007, although the number of civilian deaths rose sharply in July.

Almost daily attacks on Iraqi forces and traffic police in Baghdad and Anbar province, west of the capital, killed some 30 people in the first two weeks of August.

With the spike in violence, Iraq's top army officer recently questioned the timing of the pull-out, saying the country's military might not be ready to take control for another decade.

Iraqi politics remains deadlocked five months after national elections, with no new government yet in place.

The al-Iraqiya bloc that narrowly won the most seats in March suspended talks on Monday with the second-placed Shia-led State of Law alliance of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

source-http://www.bbc.co.uk

Heidfeld released by Mercedes GP

2010-08-17T02:21:00.001-07:00

The Mercedes GP team has confirmed that it has released Nick Heidfeld from his contract in order for the German to become Pirelli's official test driver.

Heidfeld was the team's reserve driver for this season, but will start driving for Pirelli at the start of today's test at the Mugello circuit, where the German will be at the wheel of a 2009 Toyota F1 car.

"We can confirm that the team is pleased to allow Nick Heidfeld the opportunity to join Pirelli and contribute to their development work for the company's imminent return to Formula 1," said Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn.

"Nick is an extremely experienced driver and we are confident that his racing knowledge and technical feedback will prove extremely useful to Pirelli and therefore of benefit to the sport as a whole.

"Nick has been a real asset to Mercedes GP Petronas since joining our team this year and we are pleased to see his career progressing."

Heidfeld was left without a racing seat following last season, when he raced for BMW Sauber before the German car maker withdrew from the sport.

He joined Mercedes this season as third and reserve driver but has not driven the car.

"First of all I would like to thank Ross Brawn, Norbert Haug and Nick Fry for allowing me the opportunity to become Pirelli's official test driver," he said. "The team has always said that they would not stand in my way if such a chance arose and they have kindly allowed me to take up this exciting new role.

"I would like to thank everyone at Mercedes GP Petronas for the great cooperation that we have had this year. I have greatly enjoyed supporting the team in my position as Reserve Driver and have felt welcome right from the outset.

"It was impressive to have the opportunity to work with the current World Champions and I wish the team all the best for the remainder of the season and beyond."

source-http://www.autosport.com

Redknapp plays down Spurs' Champions League debut

2010-08-17T01:05:00.000-07:00

Harry Redknapp has tried to take the pressure off his Tottenham side ahead of their Champions League debut.

Spurs take on Swiss side Young Boys in Berne in Tuesday's play-off first leg.

And asked what failure to reach the group stage would mean, the Spurs boss said: "What can it mean? What are we going to do - commit suicide?

"Listening to everybody, we'll end up hanging ourselves. All you can ever do is your best. If we play at our best, we've got a great chance."

Tottenham made it into the Champions League play-offs for the first time in their history after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, and they will be guaranteed at least £10m if they progress to the group stage.

"Nobody expected us to get here in the first place last year," said Redknapp. "We suddenly went from where we were to finishing fourth in the Premier League.

"People's expectations get very high but I don't think about not qualifying.

"It'll be a difficult game, but we're a good team and I've got great belief in the team."

Tuesday's match will be played on an artificial pitch at the Stade de Suisse but Redknapp described the playing surface as "very good".

Young Boys had to play a preliminary round in which they beat Turkish Champions League regulars Fenerbahce and they lost just one of their 18 home matches last season as they finished runners-up to FC Basel in the Swiss league.

Michael Dawson is likely to captain Tottenham in the absence of Ledley King, who has not travelled to Switzerland.

Dawson made his England debut against Hungary at Wembley last Wednesday and is looking forward to another career landmark.

"It's been a special week for me," he said. "To get my England debut was a dream. It's been a long wait but I loved it.

"It's been a fantastic week and hopefully a week tomorrow night we'll have achieved getting into the group stages.

"There's so many games you watch and to play against the best players in the world - Messi and players like that - would be fantastic and a great test for us.

"Let's hope we can do it in the group stages."

source-http://news.bbc.co.uk

California gay marriage on hold as case appealed

2010-08-16T22:13:00.001-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Monday that same-sex couples could not marry in California while the court considers the constitutionality of the state's ban on gay marriage.

But the panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals set an aggressive schedule for the case, with briefings in the fall and a hearing the week of Dec. 6.

California's ban on same-sex marriage, known as Proposition 8, passed in November 2008, setting off emotional reactions among both opponents and supporters of the ban.

Liberals questioned how trend-setting California could fall in line with roughly 40 other states that ban same-sex unions, while social conservatives boasted that their cause had national backing.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled earlier this month that the ban was unconstitutional.

Last week he said gay marriages could resume while higher courts considered the matter. But the brief ruling by the three-judge appellate panel reverses that, prohibiting gay marriage during the appeal.

The appeals court has no deadline for a ruling, and the panel gave no reason for its decision on Monday.

"They punt," said University of California, Berkeley, family law professor Joan Hollinger, who said the ruling was practical since it left in place the status quo but sped up the appeal.

The court did however ask both sides to explain whether the nongovernmental group that has defended Prop 8 had the judicial right, or standing, to appeal the case.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown represent the state in the case, and both support gay marriage. They have declined to appeal the lower court ruling.

Chief Judge Walker cast doubt on whether the Prop 8 group could show harm to themselves and meet other requirements of standing, and the request by the appellate judges highlighted the matter.

"It is obvious that they think there is a genuine issue" of whether Prop 8 backers have the legal right to appeal," said Jesse Choper, a Constitutional law professor at Berkeley.

The legal team fighting for gay marriage said they would not challenge the stay and welcomed the "extremely expedited" schedule.

Andrew Pugno, a lawyer defending the ban, said in a statement he was glad to see Californians' votes "will remain valid" during the appeal process.

source-http://thestar.com.my

Guns N' Roses confirm gigs still on after Twitter hack

2010-08-16T07:39:00.001-07:00

Reading and Leeds Festival have denied that headliners Guns N' Roses have pulled out of this month's event.

It was after singer Axl Rose's Twitter account was hacked with the message: "all upcoming Guns N' Roses dates are officially cancelled".

Festival bosses confirmed that the Reading and Leeds performances and an October arena tour will go ahead.

The misleading tweet, posted late on Sunday night also urged fans to return their tickets.

However, in a statement Festival Republic told Newsbeat: "(We) are informed by GN'R management that Guns N' Roses have NOT cancelled their performances at Reading & Leeds and that Axl Rose's Twitter account was hacked into and all claims of dates being cancelled are unfounded."

That means that the rockers' recently announced UK arena tour - their first in four years - will still go ahead.

The band are lined up to play London, Birmingham and Manchester in October, as well as other shows across Europe over the next three months.

source-http://www.bbc.co.uk

'Expendables' seizes box office with $35M

2010-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES — Sylvester Stallone has proven that he's not quite expendable yet at the box office.

Stallone and his pumped-up pals lifted Lionsgate's 1980s-style action romp "The Expendables" to a No. 1 debut with $35 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

While the macho "Expendables" lured male audiences, Julia Roberts delivered a crowd-pleaser for women with Sony's "Eat Pray Love," which opened at No. 2 with $23.7 million.

The previous weekend's top movie, Sony's cop comedy "The Other Guys," slipped to third place with $18 million, raising its 10-day total to $70.5 million. The Warner Bros. blockbuster "Inception" was fourth with $11.4 million, lifting its total to $248.6 million.

Opening in fifth place with $10.5 million was Universal's graphic-novel adaptation "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," starring Michael Cera as a slacker caught up in duels to the death with his new girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends.

"The Expendables" continued a box-office uptick for Stallone, who has had a career resurgence in recent years revisiting his past with fresh sequels to his "Rocky" and "Rambo" franchises.

The movie features such action stars as Jet Li and Jason Statham — along with cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger — in a tale of mercenaries aiming to overthrow a dictator.

source-http://today.msnbc.msn.com

California race crash kills 8

2010-08-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

An off-road truck plowed into a crowd and scattered "bodies everywhere" moments after sailing off a jump at a California race Saturday, killing eight people and leaving 12 injured, authorities and witnesses said.

The crash came shortly after the start of the 8 p.m. PT race called the California 200, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman.

Bachman said eight people died and 12 were injured, several of them seriously. Seven ambulances and 10 emergency aircraft responded to the scene. Most of the injured were airlifted from the area to Loma Linda University Medical Center or St. Mary's Medical Center.

"There was dust everywhere, people screaming, people running," David Conklin, a photographer covering the event for off-road magazines, told The Associated Press.

Crash followed jump

Conklin said the Prerunner truck was among the first 20 off the line in the race, and had just gone over a jump known as "the rock pile" about three kilometres into the race.

He said he watched the vehicle sail through the air. Then he turned to watch for other vehicles when he heard the commotion caused by the crash.

"When I got up to the vehicle I could tell that several people were trapped. There were just bodies everywhere," he said. "One woman with a major head wound [was] lying in a pool of blood. Someone else was crushed beneath the car."

The truck came to a rest upside down with its oversized wheels pointing toward the sky.

Driver forced to flee

Officials said the driver wasn't hurt but had to flee the scene to escape angry spectators.

The 325-kilometre race is part of a series held in Soggy Dry Lake Bed near the city of Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert, 160 kilometres northeast of Los Angeles.

Tens of thousands of people attend the California 200, in which a variety of off-road vehicles take on jumps and other obstacles and reach speeds up to 160 km/h on the 80-kilometre off-road course. The race had been scheduled to last through the night.

The crowd was standing within three metres of the track with no guardrails separating them from the speeding vehicles.

source-http://www.cbc.ca

US firm awarded $110m for salvaging Titanic artefacts

2010-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

A judge has awarded a US exhibition company $110m for salvaging artefacts from the wreck of the RMS Titanic.

The US federal judge ruled that RMS Titanic Inc, which displays the artefacts in museums across the world, is entitled to their full market value.

The court will decide whether to grant the company ownership of the objects or sell them and give it the proceeds.

The ship sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in April 1912, killing more than 1,500 people.

RMS Titanic Inc, a subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions Inc, has undertaken seven expeditions to the wreck site 2.5 miles (4km) below the north Atlantic, and has retrieved more than 5,500 artefacts.

The Belfast-built ship sank about 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, two hours after hitting an iceberg. It was discovered in 1985 by an expedition led by Dr Robert Ballard.

A US court granted the company salvage rights to the vessel in 1994 but explicitly stated it did not grant ownership of the wreck or the artefacts. The company has displayed the artefacts in museums across the world.
'Feats of skill'

In Virginia on Thursday, US District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith found the company's monumental effort to reach the wreck and to retrieve, conserve and exhibit the artefacts entitled it to the monetary award.

"The salvage of the Titanic has involved unprecedented feats of skill and dedication," she wrote.

In deciding the 17-year old case, Judge Smith wrote she had relied on marine salvage law that had its genesis in ancient Greece 3,000 years ago.

She allowed the company to continue to display the artefacts but did not grant the company ownership of them.

She gave herself until 15 August, 2011 to decide whether to sell the artefacts through the court and give the company the proceeds or to give the company title to the objects after setting conditions for their maintenance and future disposition.
'Artefacts imperilled'

"We are very pleased with the decision of the court and believe it reflects the extensive efforts of the company to embrace its role of salvor-in-possession of Titanic," Christopher Davino, Premier Exhibitions, Inc's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

In praising the company's effort, Judge Smith noted the company had invented 20 specialised instruments to retrieve fragile artefacts from the sea bed, including a vacuum and a flat shovel used to retrieve a stained-glass window.

She also noted the great peril its submarine crews had faced on the dives, pointing out that the pressure at the sea floor reaches 6,300 pounds per square inch, and any significant damage to the hull would mean instant death.

And she cited evidence the Titanic is fast deteriorating on the sea floor, with the eventual collapse of the hull imperilling the artefacts.

"The Titanic artefacts were previously lost on the bottom of the ocean, depriving the public of all social utility in their historic symbolism and cultural beauty," she wrote. "Instead, RMS Titanic has recovered those items from a fate of being lost to future generations."

source-http://www.bbc.co.uk

U.S. - S.Korea drills anger North, worry China

2010-08-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. and South Korean militaries will stage their second joint exercise in less than a month from Monday, fuelling tensions with the prickly North and angering regional power China.

The annual exercise comes a week after Seoul completed its own drills near a disputed maritime border off the west coast that prompted the North to retaliate by firing a barrage of artillery shells in the same area.

Responding with the same rhetoric as it has in the past, the reclusive North said the latest exercise was a "dangerous act to light the fuse of a new war".

Pyongyang has often turned to sabre-rattling to make a point but analysts say it is unlikely to risk a full-blown war which would pit it against the combined might of the U.S. and South Korean militaries.

But U.S. officials have said further provocations by the North are possible in coming months, especially as Pyongyang tries to build political momentum for the succession to leader Kim Jong-il, expected to hand power to his youngest son.

Unlike the show-of-force drills in July which involved a U.S. aircraft carrier, this month's exercises are lower key.

Washington and South Korea say the exercises are defensive and designed to send a message to Pyongyang that its behaviour is aggressive and must stop.

Last week's tit-for-tat military actions occurred near the Northern Limit Line, the site of several deadly clashes since the 1950-53 Korean war, and the location of the torpedoing of a South Korean warship earlier this year.

Seoul blames the sinking of the Cheonan corvette, which cost 46 lives, on Pyongyang. The North denies responsibility.

"Taking into consideration the exceptionally tense security situation following the Cheonan attack, the (latest) drills this year will be conducted throughout the whole country so that it is as similar as possible to actual battle," the South's defence ministry said.

The exercises have also sparked regional tensions, with the North's only major ally China calling the U.S.-led drills a threat to both its security and regional stability.

Following last month's U.S.-South Korea joint naval drill in the Sea of Japan off the Korean peninsula, China conducted its own heavily publicised military exercises.

source-http://thestar.com.my