मल्लिका की शोहरत मेरे किरदार को प्रभावित नही कर सकती: इरफान

बॉलीवुड अभिनेता इरफान खान ने जेनिफर लिंच की फिल्म "हिस" में स्नेकवूमन का किरदार निभा रही मल्लिका शेरावत के बारे में कहा कि मल्लिका की शोहरत फिल्म में मेरे किरदार को प्रभावित नही सकती।

एमटीवी के रोमांचक रियल्टी शो "रोडीज" के सातवे सत्र के उद्धाटन के लिए शनिवार को यहां उपस्थित इरफान ने कहा कि मल्लिका कभी भी मेरे हिस्से की सुर्खियां नही बटोर सकती, वह जो कर रही है, उन्हें करने दीजिए। वह उनका खेल है। मेरा खेल नही है। मैं लोगों का मनोरंजन करता हूं। मैं अपने काम में मजा लेता हूं, और अपने दर्शकों से जुडता हूं, ताकि वे मुझे मेरे काम के लिए कम से कम दो साल तक तो याद रखें ही।

रानी ने साई के दरबार में मत्था ठेका

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री रानी मुखर्जी ने आज शिरडी के साई बाबा के दरबार में जाकर मत्था ठेका। इस मौके पर रानी ने शिरडी में उनकी जमीन का विवाद सुलझाने की खुशी जताई और कहा कि वह अब शिरडी वाली हो गई है।

रानी ने अपनी आने वाली फिल्म "दिल बोले हडिप्पा" के बॉक्स आफिस पर अच्छा प्रदर्शन करने की मन्नत मांगी। शाहिद कपूर और रानी अभिनीत यह फिल्म 18 सितंबर को रीलीज होगी। इस फिल्म का निर्देशन अनुराग सिंह ने किया है।

बिपाशा ने स्मोकिंग करने से इंकार किया

बॉलीवुड में अपने बोल्ड अंदाज के लिए जाने जानी वाली अभिनेत्री बिपाशा बसु को स्मोकिंग बिल्कुल पसंद नही। इसी कारण बिपाशा ने फिल्म "पंख" में स्मोकिंग करने से इंकार कर दिया।

दरअसल फिल्म "पंख" के एक खास सीन के लिए बिपाशा को स्मोक करना था। लेकिन बिपाशा ने सिगरेट पीने से इंकार कर दिया। इतना ही नही उन्होंने हाथ में सिगरेट पकडने से भी मना कर दिया। उघर निर्देशक ने सिर्फ एक इसी शॉट के बल पर पूरा गाना प्लान कर रखा था, और निर्देशक का यह प्लान बिपाशा के इंकार से घुएं में उड गया। इसके बाद निर्देशक सुदिप्तो चट्टोपाघ्याय को बिपाशा के सामने एक घुआं छोडने वाला कैनिस्टर जार करना पडा। इससे लगा जैसे घुआं बिपाशा के मुंह से निकल रहा है, और तब जाकर गाने की शूटिंग पूरी हो सकी।

Notre Dame vs. Nevada - will this be the breakout year for Jimmy Clausen and the Irish?

Nevada Wolf Pack at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, September 5 - 3:30 p.m.
South Bend, Indiana
2008 records - Nevada (7-6) Notre Dame (7-6)

Under the scope
The Wolf Pack are coached by Chris Ault who is in his 25th year at Nevada...the Pack are 1-12 visiting BCS teams losing by an average score of 43-17...last season they played at Missouri and were whacked 69-17...last season Nevada average 278 yards on the ground but only had 182 against Mizzou...Nevada has a stout running defense, allowing only 89 yards on the ground in 08, but they are abyssmal defending the pass giving up 312 yards per game...

This is supposed to be the breakout year for highly touted QB Jimmy Clausen...Clausen torched Hawaii in the bowl game which made for a positive off-season...his main weapon is wideout Golden Tate, who is one of the elite players in the country...the Irish are loaded with a stable full of running backs led by Armando Allen...how far Notre Dame goes this season depends on the defense which is led by safety Kyle McCarthy...look for true freshman linebacker Manti Te'O, who was the top high school defensive player in the country last season, to see a lot of action...

Key Players
Nevada - the Pack return two 1,000 yard rushers in Vai Taua (photo) who led the WAC in rushing with 1,521 yards and 15 TDs...the other 1,000 yard rushere is QB Colin Kaepernick who racked up 1,130 yards and 17 rushing TDs...Kaepernick threw for 22 TDs with only 7 picks...

Notre Dame - Jimmy Clausen threw for 3,127 yards and 25 TDs last season...however, he had 17 INTs...Golden Tate caught 58 balls for 1,080 yards and 10 TDs...

Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette Journal writes about the positive feeling going on in Reno... "There's a charge in the air, and it's not because the Nevada basketball team is going to the NCAA Tournament. That could certainly happen -- the program has done so four times in the past six seasons and has gone on to postseason play seven straight seasons -- but it's three months until the basketball season even begins." ...

Dan Hinxman

Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune gives some tidbits about the Irish on his blog - Around the Bend...

Brian Hamilton

Jim Harbaugh gets a toilet built closer to his office

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle had this report on August 27th...

Jim Harbaugh wanted a restroom/shower to adjoin his office, and generous Stanford donor John Arrillaga came through recently, building the Cardinal's marquee coach a new loo for between $50,000 and $70,000.

The story broke in the San Jose Mercury News. I don't know where the reporter got his info. I was going to suggest it was leaked to him, but I want to stay away from potty humor.

The new restroom is a real time-saver.

"It cuts down on drag," Harbaugh said.

Football coaches are fanatical time-hoarders. Cal's Jeff Tedford sleeps on an air mattress. I've seen it leaning against his office wall, and I'm not sure if Tedford even moves it to the floor when it's time to nap.

In the old days, every time nature called, Harbaugh had to hike the distance of two first downs to the nearest restroom. He grew weary of an even longer trek downstairs to the shower, on days when he wasn't showered in Gatorade.

I can relate, because I have been to summer camp. The time I could have saved with my own private restroom at camp would have allowed me to polish my cabin's campfire skit, and I might be on Broadway now instead of writing about a football coach's bathroom.

There will be critics who point out that Harbaugh's new lavatory sends a message of insensitivity, even though it was built with private-donor money. The country is in financial crisis, and Stanford is not exempt. Cardinal athletic programs are being cut to the bone. Jobs in the athletic department are going bye-bye.

There are probably people at Stanford - students, professors, administrators, other coaches - who winced when they heard about Harbaugh's haven.

No wincing here. As a sports guy, I understand the value of a winning football program, and the need of coaches to avoid wasting time. If Harbaugh leads the Cardinal to a bowl game, he'll have the last laugh, which would really echo in his tile bathroom.

It's simple. Football rules the realm, and every king deserves a throne room. (Note to copy desk: Don't even think about inserting a line here about "royal flush.")

शाहरूख को दोस्ती टूटने का कोई गम नही: सलमान

बॉलीवुड अभिनेता सलमान खान का कहना है कि ऎसा नही है कि शाहरूख मुझे मिस कर रहे है। न उनको हमारी दोस्ती टूटने का कोई गम है। इसलिए हम जुदा है, या दूर है, तो ऎसी कोई बात ही नही है। क्योंकि मैं कभी शाहरूख के करीब नही था।

हमारे बीच पहले से भी कुछ प्रॉब्लम थी, जो एक रात सामने आ गई। लोगों के बीच झगडे होते है। अगली सुबह इसी को बडा इशू बना लिया गया। अगर उसी रात इसे निपटा लिया जाता तो शायद चीजें सही होती। पर मुझे लगता है कि इसके पीछे एक अलग अजेंडा काम कर रहा था। गौरतलब है कि सलमान की गर्लफ्रेंड कैटरीना कैफ की जन्मदिन पार्टी के बाद से बॉलीवुड के इन दोनों स्टारों के बीच बातचीत बंद है। इस पार्टी में दोनों के बीच झगडा हो गया था।

"इश्किया" में सभी को पसंद आया अरशद का लुक

विशाल भारद्वाज की आगामी फिल्म "इश्किया" के प्रोमो में बॉलीवुड अभिनेता अरशद वारसी का लुक सबको पसंद आया है। अरशद को जानने वाले कई लोगों ने अरशद को फोन कर उनके लुक और परफॉर्मेंस के लिए बघाई दी है। अरशद का नया लुक सभी को पसंद आ रहा है।

हालांकि प्रोमो में अरशद के कुछ दृश्य दिखाए गए है, इसके बावजूद उनके अभिनय की सभी तारीफ कर रहे है। जिस हिसाब से विशाल भारद्वाज की "कमीने" प्रदर्शित होेने के बाद शाहिद के प्रशंसकों की संख्या बढी है, वैसे ही अरशद के प्रशंसको की संख्या मे भी "इश्किया" प्रदर्शित होने के बाद इजाफा हो सकता है।

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मेगान फॉक्स पर जुर्माना

हॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री मेगान फॉक्स ने अपनी मर्सीडीज बेंज कार को गलत जगह पर खडी करने की सजा के तौर पर जुर्माना भरना पडा है। वेबसाइट "डेली मेल" के अनुसार फॉक्स ने हाल ही मे अपनी मर्सीडीज कार को "नो पार्किग जोन" में खडी कर दी थी।

फॉक्स की कार को गलत जगह खडी देख अटेडेट ने उन्हें पाटिंग टिकट थमा दिया। परन्तु स्टार मेगान फॉक्स इस बात से भन्ना गयी। मेगान की नई फिल्म "जेनिफर्स बॉडी" जल्द ही रिलीज होने वाली है।

रैम्प पर चलना मुश्किल : सोहा

फिल्म "रंगे दे बसंती" की अदाकारा सोहा अली खान डिजाइन कपडे कैटवाक करने में सहज महसूस नहीं करती है। कैटवाक करने के बाद सोहा ने कहा कि मैरे लिए रैम्प पर चलना मुश्किल है लेकिन मैने अपनी बहन की खातिर ऎसा किया।

डिजाइनर कपडे पहनकर अपने आपको एक मॉडल की तरह संभालना कठिन काम है। मै इसे सचमुच पसंद नहीं करती। अपनी बहन सबा अली खान के डायमंड कलेक्शन शो में कल रात सोहा कैटवाक किया। उन्होंने अपनी बहन सबा की डायमंड कलेक्शन का उद्घाटन किया था। सोहा ने बताया कि वह अपने जीवन के विशेष अवसर पर अपनी बहन द्वारा डिजाइन की हुई चीजें पहनेगी जैसे शादी या कोई अन्य मौके पर।

बिपाशा को सेक्सी कहलाना पसंद है

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री बिपाशा बासु अपनी पहली बांग्ला फिल्म में भले ही एक साघारण पत्नी की भूमिका में नजर आई थी। लेकिन उन्हें तो सेक्सी कहलाना ही पंसद है। एशिया की सबसे सेक्सी सुंदरियों में शुमार बिपाशा का कहना है कि अगर सौ वर्ष की आयु में भी लोग मुझे सेक्सी कहे तो मुझे खुशी होगी। मै सेक्सी दादी कहलाना पसंद करूंगी।

फिल्म "जिस्म" और "राज" में अपने बोल्ड किरदारों से बॉलीवुड में अपने करियर की शुरूआत करने वाली अदाकारा ने एक साक्षात्कार में कहा कि कोई महिला अगर यह कहती है कि उसे आकर्षक कहलाना पसंद नहीं तो वह बेवकूफ है। घरेलू लडकी होना कितना बोरिंग है, मै कभी भी यह कहलाना नहीं चाहती। वैसे तो सेक्सी होने का मतलब केवल अच्छी देहयष्टि होना नहीं है।
उनका कहना है कि सेक्सी का मतलब केवल बदन से नहीं होता है। इसका अर्थ है कि आप खुद को कैसे देखते है। आपका आत्मविश्वास, आपका आत्मसम्मान आपको आकर्षक बनाने में आपकी मदद करते है। मैं तो दिमाग से सेक्सी हूं।

सलमान ने अमेरिका जाने का कार्यक्रम रद्द नही किया: बोनी कपूर

निर्माता बोनी कपूर ने उन खबरों का खंडन किया है जिनमें कहा गया था कि अभिनेता सलमान खान ने शाहरूख के साथ हुई बदसलूकी की घटना के बाद अपनी आगामी फिल्म "वांटेड" के प्रचार के लिए न्यूयॉर्क जाने का प्रोग्राम रद्द कर दिया। इस फिल्मी योजना से जुडे निर्माता कपूर ने कहा यह खबर पूरी तरह निराघार है। न्यूयार्क नही जाने का फैसला निर्माताओं का था न कि सलमान का। सलमान को इस प्रकरण में क्यों घसीटा जा रहा है। हम अमेरिका जाने को तैयार नही हुए, क्योंकि हमें जो प्रस्ताव दिया जा रहा था, वह हमें मंजूर नही था।

वह आगे कहते है कि खबरों में कहा गया था कि सलमान 3 सितंबर को न्यूयार्क में मौजूद रहते, पर शाहरूख के साथ हुई घटना ने उन्हें वहां नही जाने को प्रेरित किया। यह खबर बिल्कुल बकवास है। यह काल्पनिक खबर है। गौरतलब है कि सलमान खान और आयशा टाकिया अभिनीत फिल्म "वांटेड" 18 सितंबर को रिलीज होने वाली है।

पैसे ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण नही: मिनिषा लांबा

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री मिनिषा लांबा की मम्मी पेटिग्स बनाती है, और उनका पूरा घर पेंटिग्स से सजा हुआ है। पिछले दिनों एक अजनबी मिनिषा के घर आया और उसने एक खास पेंटिंग "ग्लोरियस एलिमेट्स" खरीदने की इच्छा व्यक्त की। मिनिषा ने उससे पूछा की उसे पेंटिंग के बारे में कैसे पता चला। उसने बताया कि मुझे एक दोस्त ने मोबाइल पर उस पेंटिंग का फोटो दिखाया। मुझे पेंटिंग अच्छी लगी है, और मैं उसे खरीदना चाहता हूं।

मिनिषा को अपनी मम्मी की हर पेंटिंग से बहुत प्यार है, इसलिए उन्होंने उसे बेचने से इंकार कर दिया। मिनिषा कहती है कि मैं पैसों को ज्यादा महत्व नही देती हूं, इसलिए मैंने पेंटिंग को बेचने से इंकार कर दिया। जल्दी ही मैं इन पेंटिंग्स को बेचने से इंकार कर दिया। जल्दी ही मं इन पेंटिंग्स की प्रदर्शनी लगाने वाली हूं, ताकि ज्यादा से ज्यादा लोग मेरी मम्मी के आर्ट वर्क को देखें।

सुष्मिता-बिपाशा के बीच तनाव

निर्माता अनिल कपूर की फिल्म "नो प्रॉब्लम" में दो बंगाली बालाओं में ऎसी प्रॉब्लम हो गई है कि अनिल कपूर को सुलह-सफाई करनी पड रही है। इस फिल्म में संजय दत्त, अक्षय खन्ना, कंगना राणावत के अलावा खुद अनिल कपूर भी अहम भूमिका में दिखेंगे। अनीस बज्मी इस फिल्म का निर्देशन कर रहे है।

अब अनिल को अनीस पर तो भरोसा है, लेकिन फिल्म की हीरोइनों सुष्मिता और बिपाशा के बीच बढ रहे तनाव ने उनकी नींद उडा दी है। दरअसल फिल्म में पहले तो सुष्मिता की भूमिका काफी स्ट्रॉन्ग थी, लेकिन उसे छोटा करके अब ज्यादा तवज्जों बिपाशा को दी जा रही है। सूत्रो के अनुसार सुष्मिता ने अनिल के मान-मनौवल के बाद साउथ अफ्रीका में शूटिंग छोड भारत लौटने का इरादा तो बदल दिया, लेकिन राख के अंदर दबी चिंगारी कभी भी शोले के रूप में उठ सकती है।

अर्जुन रामपाल के "लैप" रेस्त्रा का उद्धाटन

मंदी के दौर में फिल्मी सितारों का दूसरे बिजनेस में इन्वेस्ट करना कोई नई बात नही है। ऎसे में अर्जुन रामपाल कहां पीछे रहते। बॉलीवुड अभिनेता अर्जुन रामपाल ने "लैप" नाम का एक रेस्त्रां दिल्ली के फाइव स्टार होटल अशोका के साथ मिलकर खोला है।

उद्धाटन के मौके पर बॉलीवुड के ढेरों सितारों ने शिरकत की। इनमें शाहरूख खान, इमरान खान, अभय देओल, डीनो मोरिया और करण जौहर भी शामिल थे। शाहरूख के अलावा रितिक रोशन भी अपनी पत्नी सुजैन के साथ आएं। वहीं इमरान खान अपनी गर्लफ्रेंड अवंतिका के साथ तशरीफ लाए। सभी ने अर्जुन को उनके इस काम के लिए बघाई दी।
अर्जुन के पार्टनर ए.डी.सिंह का कहना है कि अर्जुन के बॉलीवुड कनेक्शन के चलते "लैप" जल्द ही लोगों के बीच लोकप्रिय हो जाएगा। वहीं उद्धाटन समारोह तो इतनी तवज्जों मिलने से अर्जुन को भी कामयाबी की भरपूर उम्मीद नजर आ रही है।

Lese Majeste in Thailand

New Mandala has an update on recent Lese Majeste cases in Thailand.

New Mandala has long sought to draw attention to the injustices of Thailand’s lese majeste law.

From Oliver Jufer and Harry Nicolaides, to Suwicha Thakor and Daranee “Da Torpedo” Charnchoengsilpakul, whenever a lese majeste case is prosecuted, and every time an outrageous sentence is proclaimed, we receive a tragic spike in readership. Outrage is voiced by those on all sides, and no sides, of our increasingly vociferous debates.

Whenever I am asked about contemporary Thai political matters, I try to explain that as the clock counts down to the end of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s reign there are some obvious, but not entirely persuasive, reasons for continuing the draconian enforcement of the lese majeste law. Of course, the general idea is that it shields the palace from scrutiny of its unpublicised political and economic activities. Sympathetic observers claim that the royals are not in a position to defend themselves from critical jabs. There is also a sense that without drastic restrictions on what is considered appropriate public comment a barrage of information about the royal family, and particularly Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, would mortally wound the institution.

I am unconvinced by these lines of argument but, then again, I am not entrusted with preserving the Chakri dynasty and all it represents. For those sitting in high-backed chairs in the Privy Council I’m sure there are very serious concerns about what might happen if tabloid journalism, the radical fringe and ordinary Thai citizens started to more openly mull over the future of the monarchy. From that perspective I can understand how, in an age-old cocktail, conservatism mixes with fear to keep renegades such as “Da Torpedo” locked up. Her incarceration sets a stern precedent. The palace has its reasons for keeping the lese majeste law in force.

But the more important question is something like this: does the abolition of the lese majeste law makes good sense for Thailand?

This is a question that could never be put to a vote in the kingdom. There is a small chance that even posing it here leaves me liable to hoary charges of lese majeste.

A democratic society benefits, in all sorts of ways, from a free press and the resulting opportunities to pass judgement on the performance of leaders. The lengthy sentences received by the likes of Suwicha and Daranee will simply drive these judgements underground until such time as they steam up and boil over into the public domain. The Internet guarantees that Daranee’s 18-year sentence will be drawn to the attention of hundreds of thousands of inquisitive Thais. If New Mandala’s traffic logs are anything to go by, they are increasingly finding their way to websites like this one. Many, no doubt, disagree with what we write. They will read and digest and make up their own minds. Some will take what they find online back to their offices, universities, farms, schools, hospitals, police stations, markets, and army bases, and all the other places where fresh news and gossip add extra elements to political discussions.

The Great Firewall of Chitralada can only be built so high.

For that reason, while we may have failed to get Taronga Zoo’s elephant named “Suwicha”, we are still more than prepared to provide an open forum to discuss these important issues.

These are discussions that have now been reignited by Daranee’s harsh sentence. Some months ago I suggested that “‘Da Torpedo’ remains a formidable weapon against the lese majeste law”. Her 18-year sentence, and her intention to appeal, gives me no reason to change that assessment.

What would happen if her appeal is allowed to be heard in an open court, with a full press corps prepared to report on every last word of proceedings?

Bali Sari Club Site to be Redeveloped

The Bali Times reports on the latest news about the Sari Club in Bali, where over 200 people died in a terrorist attack in 2002. Another nightclub!

Businessman Kadek Wiranatha has finally revealed his long-suspected plan to build a bar and restaurant on the site of the bombed Sari Club. And he has made it clear he will proceed regardless of what critics of the proposal, including the Australian-based Bali Peace Park Association, which wants it reserved as a place of reflection and memory, might think.

Wiranatha, widely known for his penchant for expensive Jaguar motorcars, said this week – through his business associate and lawyer, Putu Oka Semadi – that six months ago he paid the owner, a Jakarta investor named as Sukmanto, the full value of the 30-year lease on the land as a business investment.

Semadi told The Bali Times: “Pak Kadek has asked the government for the right to use the land that he has leased. Legian is a tourist area, so there’s no problem building there.

“He has already held a (Hindu) cleansing ceremony at the location, to solve any difficulties regarding the site being declared sacred.”

Semadi said Wiranatha was not interested in discussing any arrangement to on-sell the lease to the association, which has been trying to raise money to create a further memorial to the victims of the 2002 bombings on the site.

And he said development of the new entertainment venue, which is directly opposite the official Bomb Memorial in the nightclub precinct on Jl. Legian, would go ahead as soon as Wiranatha had planning approval for his plans from the Bali government.

“We will definitely build there, as soon as possible. But we can’t say when yet because we don’t yet have building permission. Hopefully we can start building in December or January,” he told The Bali Times.

“We already have permission from the Legian authorities but not from the government of Bali, because there is a lot of interest from other parties in the land,” he said.

News of Wiranatha’s proposal has angered the peace park association, whose principals include survivors of the 2002 terrorist bombings of Paddy’s Pub – owned by Wiranatha – and the Sari Club.

They say they have an agreement with the Bali government, the Badung regency and other authorities to create a garden and place of remembrance on the Sari Club site, where most of the 202 people killed in the attacks died. Eighty-eight Australians were among the dead.

And they say that patrons of any new entertainment place on the site will be “dancing on their mates’ graves.”

But Balinese officials, including Governor I Made Pastika, who support the memorial concept in principle, are understood to be running out of patience because the site, in the heart of Bali’s Kuta’s nightclub district, has been left vacant for nearly seven years.

The association is struggling to raise money. It blames the refusal of the Australian government to grant it tax-free charity status to raise charitable donations or to provide any direct funding.

It is notoriously difficult in Australia and other countries to raise money for charity if donors cannot offset their contributions against tax.

“It’s very disappointing. I thought the government would have come on board by now,” Phil Britten, a member of the foundation board, said from Perth this week.

Britten was in the Sari Club with fellow members of Perth’s Kingsley Football Club, when a massive car bomb was detonated outside just after a smaller bomb exploded in the Paddy’s Pub premises across the road.

Seven members of the club died, just a few hours after they arrived in Bali for an end-of-season trip. “This is sacred ground. Who would want to drink and dance there? Personally, I would never go there. It would be dancing on my mates’ graves,” Britten said.

But Wiranatha – who is understood to have signed a long-term lease for the land late last year – remains unmoved. He is reported to have refused to meet the peace park organisers to negotiate a price for the land.

Semadi, speaking for him, told an Australian newspaper, the Melbourne Age, he had written to the peace park association on August 11. The letter said: “We inform you that we would like to build a bar and restaurant on the land of the former Sari Club.”

He told The Bali Times this week when asked to comment on protests over commercial development of the site:

“Why is the Australian media so interested in this story? It’s only a place to have an ordinary business.”

The Kuta village chief, I Gede Suparta, has confirmed that an application was lodged this month to build the nightclub complex, although it had not been processed yet due to incomplete paperwork.

Although he too supports the peace park concept, he said he was in a difficult position.

“We would like to see a more concrete detail of what the Bali Peace Park Association has in mind, other than the idea of a park. We have never actually been shown a proposal or plan for the site,” he said.

Wiranatha, whose business interests include Ku De Ta at Seminyak, rebuilt Paddy’s Pub further down Jl. Legian – reportedly without waiting for a permit to do so – and the former Paddy’s site is now another bar-restaurant establishment.

Early in 2005 he started Air Paradise, of which Semadi is a director. Air Paradise, which Wiranatha promoted as “Bali’s own international airline,” flew to Australian and East Asian cities but shut down precipitately after the 2005 bombings.

Wiranatha then spent many months trying to get money from the Bali government to restart the airline. Its operating licence automatically expired this year under international air transport rules that state an airline must actually operate to keep its licence.

Wiratha is also a director of wine importer Indowines and proprietor of the fortnightly advertising tabloid Bali Advertiser.

Sleepwalking Through the Mekong

Denge Fever is a LA based rock group with a female Cambodian lead singer. They are also followers of a peculiar Cambodian rock style that flourished in the 1960s and early 1970s that fused Cambodian music and lyrics with surf music from Southern California. Almost on a whim, Denge Fever decided to head on over to Cambodia and hopefully do a few performances. The tour wasn't very well organized, but as word spread, more music venues opened up and everyone had a good time.

A documentary about this most unusual rock tour in Cambodia is now making the rounds, and is now showing here in San Francisco at the Red Vic Movie house on Haight Street. They played yesterday at the Outlands music extravaganze in Golden Gate Park and have done a few other local gigs.

John gifted Bips a house full of lights

Bipasha Basu took off to spend some quality time with boyfriend John Abraham, who is shooting in London. But before she did, he arranged for a beautiful house-warming surprise for her.

Deepika sex pictures get Upen in trouble

Deepika sex pictures get Upen in trouble

Lara Dutta begins twittering

Former Miss Universe Lara Dutta has begun twittering, thanks to her Housefull co-star Ritesh Deshmukh who helped her open her account.

SRK to launch Bipasha on TV

If rumours are to be believed, Bipasha Basu might soon be making her tv debut.

Priyanka’s Break

Aishwarya has a super-busy shoot schedule ahead

Aishwarya Rai sure has a crowded year ahead, having signed movies with filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj, Rituparno Ghosh, Abhinay Deo and Vipul Shah. And the actress says each of these films is equally challenging and "special" to her. The former Miss World has something unique to say about each movie and filmmaker. "Ritu-da and I have agreed to work together again after ’Chokher Bali’ and ’Raincoat’ in Bengali and Hindi respectively. Our next film together is a bilingual. And very challenging," said Aishwarya. "As for Abhinay Deo’s film it’s got me and Abhishek (Bachchan) in it. But it covers a territory very different from what audiences have seen in ’Guru’, ’Dhoom 2’ and ’Sarkar Raj’. Abhinay’s film is also very different from Mani Ratnam’s ’Raavan’. It’s a special challenge to work with my husband because we’ve to make sure we don’t repeat ourselves," the Bachchan daughter-in-law added.

Aishwarya Akshay Romantic Photoshoot

Aishwarya does not have swine flu

Vivek on the sets of Aishwarya's film

Mallika praises Aishwarya

The animosity between most actresses is obvious in Bollywood but sensuous Mallika Sherawat not only likes getting compliments but she is also generous when it comes to ‘sshowering’ praises.

Korea: Buger King Angry Whopper

I haven't seen this Burger King creation advertised here in San Francisco, but apparently the Korean version is a real killer. Must try soon.

Zen Kim Chi reports on this astouding discovery.

I am not one to sound the alarm unless disorider, destruction and death is imminent – but in this case I fear it is. As you will know, I am one damned tough cookie, but just one hour ago I was reduced to snivelling, mewling and weeping like a pouffe.

“What!” you cry. “What could possibly have been behind this demolition of your manhood?”

The culprit was a new product available at (ahem) Burger King: The “Angry Whopper.” This was advertized as spicey, but seriously – how spicey could an American fast food product be?

The answer is in: Murderously. A few seconds after biting into this innocuous looking snack, a hellish, sulphurous smoke began to curl up to the roof of my mouth. Then it detonated deep in my gut: Napalm.

No joke – this is THE hottest damned thing I have eaten in Korea. Ever. The only thing that outranks it in my culinary experience is a lamb phaal which I unwisely endured in a curry house during my student days.

After finishing my meal, I was not only agonized, I was also astounded – this is BURGER KING for God’s sake! I seriously wonder if the staff of the Jongno Gu-chong branch mistakenly added ten times the amount of spice this new product is supposed to carry…?

If a child ate one – instant death.
A wimp would last perhaps five minutes.
Korean raw green pepper connnoisseurs may (I say advisedly: “may”) survive.

Needless to say, this x-rated death burger carries my highest recommendation: the only time in my life I have recommended a fast food product.

Ferrari 458 Italia

I've pre-ordered mine. Have you?

Ferrari, which just added the California convertible to its lineup this summer, has announced a new sports coupe: the 458 Italia.

The 458 Italia, a two-seater in the tradition of the company’s berlinetta models, will make a completely different statement from Ferrari about design, power and economy when it is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Designed by Pininfarina, the 458 Italia clearly takes some styling cues from Ferrari’s racing-inspired $1 million Enzo (now out of production). The name, 458 Italia, comes from its new 4.5-liter V-8 engine, which will be mounted behind the cockpit in a midrear layout. The engine features direct fuel injection and the best horsepower-per-cylinder output of any Ferrari; it makes a total of 562 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, yet offers improved fuel consumption and lower emissions than the F430’s 4.3-liter, 483-horsepower V-8.

Ferrari says the 458 Italia will go from zero to 60 in under 3.4 seconds. The 458 Italia will also have a relatively light curb weight of around 3,200 pounds.

Ferrari said the 458 Italia would go from zero to 60 miles an hour in “under 3.4 seconds,” which is at least a couple of tenths quicker than the rather heavy California. Top speed will exceed 200 miles an hour. Yet, Ferrari said the 458 Italia will be tractable enough, with its seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, to be an everyday driver “like all Ferrari’s recent models” (which really includes only the California).

Ferrari said its retired Formula One ace Michael Schumacher had helped design a cockpit layout in which all the key controls were mounted on the steering wheel.

The 458 Italia will arrive next year as a 2010 model. No word yet on pricing, but it will replace the F430, which has a base price of around $188,000.

Death Penalty Returns to Thailand

A letter today in The Nation sums up my feelings:

Why is Thailand executing death-row felons again?

I was saddened to read that Thailand's six-year moratorium on executions, or the death penalty, has finished. Recently two inmates were executed by lethal injection in Bang Kwang prison after being sentenced to death for smuggling drugs.

In your newspaper there was little attention on that event, only a short report.

The results of numerous studies have shown already that imposing the death penalty is not effective in preventing more crime. Trouble is the justice system cannot guarantee that innocent people will not be found guilty, and the death penalty is an irreversible act. Due to the use of DNA tests, US authorities later found that about a third of prisoners on death row were innocent.

Moreover, people who are financial vulnerable, who cannot afford teams of expensive lawyers, and who have no (political) connections often end up on death row.

The only reason why people favour the death penalty is for revenge, instead of responding with compassion or hope for rehabilitation.

The UN General Assembly urged a moratorium on state executions six years ago and I was happy to see Thailand followed that call up until now.

What was the reason that Thailand decided to execute offenders on death row again? To try out lethal injections as a new "more humane" method of finishing people off? Or is it a new "achievements" for the Abhisit administration? I wondered why there was so little attention in Thailand to these executions. Al Jazeera aired a reaction from Amnesty International, but I saw no reports on the BBC, CNN, or Thai channels.

Maybe the reason is that we, in Thailand, are so accustomed to people not being punished for extrajudicial killings and mass murder by security forces (mainly in the South and during Thaksin's 'War on drugs') that we don't care if two more people are "legally" murdered by the State. But there are still more than 800 prisoners on death row!

I did not read any reaction of the (powerless) Human Rights Commission of Thailand, freshly installed by Abhisit.

I hope this event will start a new |discussion about abolishing the death penalty in Thailand and that the country will follow the example of EU nations and many others who abolished the death penalty, except of course the United States and China and some less developed |countries

Richard Barrow at Thai-Blogs also opposes the death penalty.

Two drug traffickers on death row at Bang Kwang Prison were executed by lethal injections this evening in Thailand. They were Bundit Charoenwanich, 45, and Jirawat Phumpruek, 52. Both were arrested on March 29, 2001 for having 114,219 methamphetamine tablets in their possession. Convicted of drug trafficking, they were given the capital punishment. Although the death sentence is often commuted to life imprisonment, the Director of the Department of Corrections received a directive from the Prime Ministers office for this sentence to be carried out.

According to Thai newspapers, the execution happened this evening at 5.30 p.m. at Bang Kwang Prison. No-one knew it was going to happen as it was kept a secret from everyone. Lockdown was at 3 p.m. as normal. Then the two prisoners were taken out of their cells on Death Row to be prepared for the execution. This preparation took one hour. They were allowed one call to relatives but they were only given one minute to talk. One of the prisoners rang his home but there was no answer. His mother had just been to visit him that afternoon and probably hadn't reached home. The prisoner then asked for a favour to call her mobile phone which was granted. Finally he was able to get through to her to let her know that he was about to be executed. The other prisoner spoke briefly to his wife and young son.

The prisoners were also instructed to write a will. The records of the prisoners were brought to the prison from the police station. Their fingerprints were then checked to make sure they had the right prisoner. The execution order from the Prime Minister's office was then read out to them. They were then given flowers and incense sticks and given an opportunity to say a prayer. They faced towards Wat Bang Praek which is next door and where the cremation will take place. There is a small death door in the wall here. Before the execution, they were offered a last meal. This was a curry and fried asparagus. They were also given an apple and a packet of cigarettes. Obviously they weren't very hungry. They were then led into the execution chamber where they were given a final blessing and sermon by a monk.

The governor of Nonthaburi and other government officials attended the execution together with reporters. The relatives weren't present but they will go the prison in the morning to take part in religious rites for the prisoners. The last execution by machine gun was carried out on 11th December 2002. This was then changed to lethal injection. The first and last time this was carried out was 12th December 2003 when four prisoners were executed. This is now the second occasion that lethal injection was used. According to the Department of Corrections, a prisoner is injected with three kinds of drugs consisting of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride. The first drug is a barbiturate which makes the prisoner unconscious. The second one is a muscle relaxant which can paralyze the entire muscle and stop breathing. The last one stops the heart and causes cardiac arrest.

This is a sad day for Thailand. I am sorry but I don't believe in the death penalty and I certainly don't believe in the lethal injection as the method.

For more information about Thai Prison Life, please visit our www.ThaiPrisonLife.com website.

The death penalty is barbaric, outdated, prone to abuse, doesn't deter crime, discriminates against the poor, and sometimes kills innocent victims. The order for the murder of these two drug dealers came from the office of the Prime Minister. The blood is on his hands.

South Sizzler: Priyanka Shah

She is a star even before she signed her debut film. The lovely lass ison top of the world as she takes her baby steps in Tamil cinema, whereher role models like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra made theirdebut.
The tall and pretty Priyanka is an engineering graduate,Pantaloons Femina Miss India Tourism 2007 winner, Channel V's GetGorgeous winner, Miss India International winner, Zoom Levis divawinner, celebrity PETA activist and the Indian captain of ladies netball team.

She is making her debut in films with Kalla Kadhalan,being launched today. The film is produced by Storm Pictures anddirected by Ramya. Here's introducing the big sensation of tomorrow.