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Eeeek! Mom's on Facebook You log on to Facebook and there's a friend request. It's your mom. What do you do? Reactions come in stages.
Stage 1

'Oh, how cool. My parents are getting net-savvy!' This stage lasts for 30 seconds.

Stage 2

'Aaaarghh!! They can see everything - my photos, my friends, my profile pictures, what my friends have said about my pictures, my wall!'

Stage 3

Deep breathing. 'It's okay. I won't accept the request.'

Stage 4

Later that evening: 'Beta you didn't accept my friend request? I sent it to you this morning, will you please accept, abhi?'

Stage 5

For the first time in your life, you take an in-depth look at Facebook's privacy settings. You realize that it's very, very inscrutable. Two days later, your girlfriend posts the pictures of you and her at the party you went for last week.

Stage 6

Mom posts a comment on the picture/your wall, asking if this is how she behaves in public. Your friends shriek with laughter and you hide under the bed for a week. When you come out, you find your girlfriend has dumped you and will never face you, your parents, or any other friends in that party again.

Stage 7

You spend three days scanning every photo you put up, comment you made, note you posted, and quiz you took, deleting, deleting, deleting.

Stage 8

Mom discovers quizzes! The world finds out that she has a 98 per cent dirty mind; she is Surma Bhopali from Sholay; sings 'Who let the dogs out' in the bathroom; and her stripper name is Hot Chocolate.

You don't log in for a month.

Stage 9

You finally log in again, and find that her entire friend circle - including your aunts and your dad - has joined the social networking site. They have been, via your cousins, going through your profile with a fine toothcomb. There are 17 friend requests pending.

Stage 10

Dad becomes a fan of Megan Fox. It's followed by intensely aggressive reaction from mom. Aunts support her. Friends start taking screenshots of the discussion and forwarding it around among each other. You throw your computer out of the window.

On the serious side Should parents be on Facebook? The immediate reaction is negative, because we've got used to a certain level of privacy and freedom out here, and we'd rather not have someone looking over our shoulder disapprovingly.

But are you doing something that you'd be ashamed to share with your parents? If yes, why are you doing it at all? It may take some getting used to, but in the long run, it can be an opportunity to bond with your parents in a way that you had never thought of before.

Remember, they did figure it out on their own - doesn't that deserve some respect? And won't it be a lot more fun if you can help them through this, without embarrassing them or you? And once you know they're around, thinking - even for 5 seconds - before posting is not such a bad habit. It can save you from making the blooper of a lifetime.

Source:iDiva

Sania to meet Govortsova in US Open round 1

Struggling to advance beyond second rounds of Grand Slam events all season, Sania Mirza opens her US Open campaign against world number 64 Olga Govortsova of Belarus as the last Grand Slam tennis Major of the year begins on Monday.

The one-to-one record between the world number 71 Sania and her Belarussian rival is tied 1-1.

Sania had beaten Govortsova in a qualifying event in 2007 and the Belarussian settled the score with a win in Doha next year.

If Sania clears the first hurdle, she may run into 10th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta in the second round.

Sania has not done well in the singles events of the Grand Slams this year, reaching the second rounds of the Australian Open and Wimbledon and falling at the very first hurdle in the French Open.

Although she has tasted some success in the doubles events, becoming the first-ever female player of the country to win the mixed doubles title of the Australian Open along with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

Spice up your Friday eve!

After a gruelling Monday to Friday cycle, don’t we eagerly wait for the weekend? Definitely, we do, for the simple reason that moments lost during the week can be made up over the weekend by chilling out and spending some ‘together-time’ with the one we love.

But what couples usually do over a weekend is nothing beyond shopping; watching a movie or a candle light dinner if getting romantic is on their mind. But doesn’t it sound tad boring? It’s time to break the monotony guys! Rather than doing the ‘done-to-death’ things, try doing these simple things together this weekend and pep up the love quotient of your relationship.

Watch a movie in bed

There is no better way to unwind on a weekend than watching a movie together. Rather than going to a multiplex, enjoy a romantic movie with your partner, all snuggled up in your bed. There is an array of mushy classics which you can choose from. Movies like Pretty Woman, City of Angles, You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally can be romantic enough. Dipesh and Jyoti, both journalists with the national daily Indian Express add, “We are big movie buffs and love catching upon the latest flicks but it’s very difficult to take out time for one on weekdays, thanks to our busy schedule. Therefore, we make a list of all the movies that we want to catch over the week and arrange the DVDs in advance. The best part of watching a movie at home is that we can enjoy the movie in complete privacy and relaxing in the comfort of our homes and not to mention that it’s cheap and saves us from the maddening traffic on the road.”

Relationship expert Mahima Mathur says, “Since both the partners are usually working these days, it is very important to take time out for each other. Spending quality time on a weekend is a very good idea provided you use it to your advantage.”

Cook a meal

Cooking something together is another way to bond with your partner if you decide on a low-key Friday night. Regardless of what you cook, the main goal is to break the routine and do something different. Agrees Manorama Jha, a financial consultant, “After following the strict 9 to 5 routine from Monday to Friday, I feel bored and stressed out. We usually go out for dinner on a Saturday but after a point, even that feels like a job. Then on one Saturday, my kids went for a birthday party and me and my wife felt too lazy to step out and decided to prepare a quick meal together. To our surprise the simple act of cooking turned into a pleasurable experience. We soon realised that how desperately we wanted that intimate time just for ourselves.”

“Cooking has a positive effect on many and often acts as a de-stressor for those who are looking for some creative recreation. Couples need time out from routine chores to enjoy the small things in life. It doesn’t matter even if you are not an expert chef. Just by taking interest in each other and doing something together can spark the romance,” explains Mahima.

Clean the house together

A new study say that married women have more housework than singles (and it even goes so far as to suggest this is the husband's fault!). So guys devote a weekend or may be just an evening to clean the house together.

“My wife is a cleanliness freak, she just loves cleaning up the house on a Sunday. Initially I used to loath this habit of hers but slowly when I started pitching in I realised that it can be quite relaxing and gratifying feeling.”

Marriage counselor Anu Goel suggests, “Play your favorite music and make a date out of it. Not only you’ll find good amount of ‘together-time’, the bonus is you get clean digs at the end of it.”

Read a book

A book provides the nuance of imagination, and therefore a lively discussion of your individual interpretations allows you to get to know each other better. Neha Bhasin, a lawyer recalls, “I am always cribbing about the fact that I have so less time to pursue my hobby. I just love reading books but I am always pressed for time. My husband, who works with a MNC also sympathises with me. But it was a great surprise when he got me the current best seller of the month. He also got a help guide on How to make your marriage work which both of us thoroughly enjoyed reading together.”

“If you really, absolutely, truly don't have time to read, then make time because reading improves your concentration. And it is a fantastic way to spend quality time with your sweet heart, and can be a bonding experience”, says Anu Goel.

Make a fitness date

Couple that plays together stays together. Turn play time into an exercise routine. Heena Mal and Jai Sharma share their experience, “There is a lovely park just a few blocks away from our house. But however, hard we may try; we fail to follow a fitness routine because of our erratic working hours. Therefore, on weekends we religiously go for our workout session and just love the open space and fresh air.”

Ashish Suri, a gym instructor adds, “A workout together will raise your endorphins and make you feel good about yourselves and each other. You can choose from bicycling, yoga or aerobics. Even going for a long walk holding hand in hand is also a good option.”

Get out of the city

It sounds so obvious, but no weekend ever seems to be the right one. Nilabh Singh who works with a Event Management company tells, “I often go for impromptu trips to the hills with my wife because it gives us that peace and ‘us’ time that it so hard to find in a city life. Hills give you that feeling of being one with nature which is such a high.” Agrees Vandana Mathur, a teacher with South Point, Kolkata, “I love the beach and whenever I feel saturated I hit to the beach on a weekend with my husband. Let me tell you that watching the sunset together with your partner can be so romantic.”

Sonia Bhasin, a travel agent suggests, “Just go online and you will find a number of travel sites. Book some inexpensive last minute travel, and drop everything else to go enjoy some sweet, sweet time together.”

Why can't Womens buy condoms..?

Why can't we buy condoms? I never thought I'd be asking this question. But I have been compelled to after a particularly appalling incident and several more narrated by my gal pals.

So here's what happened:

I walked myself to the "most popular" chemist in my area to buy a pack of condoms! And yes it was the first time I had ventured to do the same… Considerate that I am, I thought I'd let my partner off the hook and take responsibility this time around.

Considered one of the most advanced and biggest medical shops in the area, I was hoping to flit in and flit out in a breeze. Boy, was I wrong!

Condom please!

After I managed to catch the attention of a female shop assistant and asked her for my partner's choice of brand [I was getting the male condom!], the fiasco began.

Apparently flabbergasted by what I wanted to buy, she asked me to repeat my request. I nonchalantly did the same - only to be told to wait. She scurried off to a corner and whispered something in the ear of a fellow shop assistant and both the girls giggled and glared at me!

Pretending to be busy, the twosome then sent another assistant to ask me what I wanted. This one deserved the Oscar for playing the "I'm-hard-of-hearing-nitwit-shop-assistant" and asked me to repeat my request for the third time.

Enraged by the petty arrogance of these excuses-for-chemists, I repeated loudly the brand for the last and final time (or so I thought!). All the shop assistants - and there were around 7 of them - froze. I was "exhibit A" and all eyes were on me, including those of the other patrons. The young boy who had come for cough medicine blushed, the aunty cursed me under her breath and an uncouth looking man gave me a dirty smile.

The news that I was there for the "rubber" spread like wild fire!

I was finally handed very reluctantly the pack by the male shop assistant who was waiting for an explanation or an excuse. They weren't going to get any.

The fact that I was getting it for my husband was none of their business. And this very regressive attitude is what has stopped many others like me from doing the right thing - protecting ourselves.

Pharmacy: Humiliation hot-spot

In a recent survey, one out of 10 men said they have had unprotected sex because they were too embarrassed to buy condoms from a pharmacy. What's more, the results confirmed that the high street pharmacy was a 'humiliation hot-spot' for people.

So if the men were toe-curlingly embarrassed by the same, women obviously couldn't be left behind! What's worse was that almost 50 per cent of the population had suffered a health problem like thrush in silence rather than facing the embarrassment of seeking medical attention according to the online pharmacy mastersdirect.com.

Most simply walked out of a pharmacies because they were too embarrassed to ask for a particular health product, revealed the survey.

"The men will get it"

Most women depend on their male partners and trust them blindly to protect them against any sexually transmitted disease. A friend of mine got her partner to get a year's supply of condoms just so that he doesn't make excuses and she is not forced to go to a chemist.

While there are a handful few who do take the initiative like 30-year-old Priyasha Seth who always carries a pack and makes a point to buy it herself, even she has had to contend with embarrassing situations at the chemist.

It's all in the mind!

Most male friends of mine don't have any qualms walking up to a chemist and picking a condom. In fact, one of them "feels proud doing it, and especially likes discussing the different flavours, sizes, types at the chemist.... it freaks the shop assistants out completely".

29 year old Ad executive says, "All you need to do is head to a supermarket and dunk a pack or two with your groceries. Who's to know?!"

Make condoms accessible

Sociologist Nandini Sardesai says, "NGOs and the government have done enough. It's the attitude of the people that needs to change." "There is a need to introduce new and novel ways of making condoms more accessible. For eg: Thailand's 'Condom King', Mechai Viravaidya - so-called due to his extensive work promoting accessible contraceptives - introduced the concept of giving condoms out instead of candy when you pay your bills."

All said and done, wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry? So, don't let chemists make you regret doing the right thing.

Have you been through embarrassing situations at the chemist? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Source: idiva

Tomato-armed revelers turn Spanish town red

(CNN) -- Up to 50,000 revelers descended on the small Spanish town of Bunol near Valencia Wednesday, collectively throwing, squishing, and pummeling 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes in what has grown to be the world's biggest annual food fight.

he Tomatina festival began in 1945, but there is no official explanation of how it started.

Theories of its origins range from a practical joke on a bad musician to the anarchic aftermath of a lorry spillage to a local food fight among friends.

Nowadays all the action takes place in the space of one hour on the last Wednesday of every August.

The beginning of the fight is signaled by the firing of water cannons. Then it's every man for himself and the only rule is that tomatoes must be squished in the hand before thrown to avoid excessive injuries.

Top Tomato Facts

• 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced each year, making it the world's favorite fruit.

• Americans obtain more of their vitamins from tomatoes than from any other fruit or vegetable.

• There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes

• Tomatoes contain Lycopene, a carotenoid (plant pigment) that protects against cancer.

• The word tomato derives from a word in the Nahuatl language (indigenous to central Mexico), "tomatl"

• When they first appeared in English print in the early seventeenth century, tomatoes were referred to as "love apples."

Fight right to win the war!

If your mind is in a whirlwind, you've completely lost your temper and wondering how you can be in relationship with a partner who is so insensitive, argumentative and selfish, keeping your cool during an argument can be a challenging task.

While the age old adage says everything is fair in love and war, but disagreeing with your mate can be mentally harrowing. What's vital to sustain the relationship is to master the kiss n' make up formula. How often you disagree, how you both react and deal during a verbal wrestling match can speak a lot about your chemistry. While it's absolutely normal to disagree, it's also important to avert the war of words from getting ugly and hurtful. Read on to find out how you can agree to disagree and enjoy your differences...

Confuse him/her – Yes! Here's a fun way to settle an argument. People often stop speaking when you flood them with more information than they can mentally process. Neha Choudhary, 26, who works with a multi-national company in Delhi says, "I really improved my vocabulary while I was preparing for my CAT exams. To use it to my advantage, I always baffle my boyfriend with strange words whenever we have a tiff. While he keeps wondering what I meant, I easily have the last word."

Tip: So, folks, it's time to work on your vocabulary. Learn words that he/she can't even begin to comprehend. While they may hunt for a dictionary to find out what you meant, you may have already settled an ugly spat.

Silence speaks – "I often choose to remain quiet when I have heated arguments with my better half. I let him say whatever he wants without interrupting him. After a while, he starts feeling guilty and realises that he was over-reacting and being rude," says Yamini, 32, a home maker.

Tip: If both of you are speaking, nobody's listening (except your neighbours, ofcourse!) So, if your partner goes on and on, try and be silent for a while. Let them speak and vent out their anger and bitterness. "When you are not actively participating in the row and adding sparks, he/she will automatically stop after a while. Wait for the right time to put forth your opinion. Silence can sometimes be the best weapon,"says psychologist Archana Nanda.

Try to empathise – Ajay Sharma (name changed on request) , 36, who works as a senior manager in a bank says, "I often feel that my wife over-reacts on trivial issues. But when I step into her shoes and analyse the problem, it highlights a new perspective and I am able to find a solution. I think it's our ego that forces us to stick to what we believe is right and stops us from thinking from others' point of view."

Tip: Try to see things from your partner's point of view, no matter how wrong or right it may seem to you at first. Empathising with your partner can lend a better understanding of the problem. It may make more sense than what you thought, which could lead to settling the argument.

React proportionately – "Once I had an argument with my wife and she walked out of the house and went to her parents' place. I think it was really silly and immature of her. It just made things worse and escalated the row. Had she stayed back, we would have sorted things out sooner," says Sanjay Rathod, 29, who works in a telecom company in Mumbai.

Tip: Don't blow things out of proportion, though the dispute may seem to be more important than anything else in the heat of the moment. It's important to keep a rational check on your emotional explosions. Identify and analyse what triggered the row in the first place. What is it that has been persistently getting on your nerves? Then ask yourself, "Is it really worth fighting for?"

Don't go angry to bed – "It makes me feel worse when my husband goes to bed without sorting out a misunderstanding or argument we had. It completely turns me off. I think it's absolutely normal to argue, but only when you don't stretch it for days or even months. Not talking to each other is no solution," says Meenakshi (name changed on request) , 33, a home maker.

Tip: The worst thing to do is to go to bed with all the pent up anger, frustration and negative emotions that have been building up during the argument. "Sleeping over a fight will only result in waking up with resentment and grudges the next morning. So, even if you argue, keep it short and simple – don't unnecessarily stretch the argument. Be concise and your partner may actually hear you," explains Archana.

Odbama at golf course, for his first vacation

Washington: President Barack Obama played tennis with his wife and golf with his buddies on Monday, starting his first vacation in office on Martha's Vineyard, a picturesque island known as a refuge for the wealthy and privileged. Obama began the day with a workout at his rented retreat, and then tennis with Michelle Obama, White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters traveling with the president.

Obama later played golf with UBS Investment Bank President Robert Wolf and Chicago physician Eric Whitaker, both friends. White House aide Marvin Nicholson was also in the foursome.

White House officials have stressed that the president is on a private vacation and very little is planned. But the White House continued governing at full pace and with tremendous interest for All Things Obama, officials have trickled out a few personal details here and there.

For instance, Burton told reporters that the president's reading list includes The Way Home by George Pelecanos, Hot, Flat and Crowded by Tom Friedman, Lush Life by Richard Price, Plainsong by Kent Haruf and John Adams by David McCullough. But the trip was clearly designed to limit exposure for the first family. White House aides have asked journalists not to tail the first daughters when they are not with their parents. Obama's sister, Maya, flew with the Obamas from Washington, as did first pooch Bo, who wandered through the press cabin during the flight. Chicago physician Eric Whitaker, a friend to the Obamas, met the family on the island. Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and counselor to the president, joined the flight aboard Air Force One and the dinner table on Sunday night hours after arriving. Other midlevel aides were on the island to assist the president if needed, a reminder the presidency does not allow for complete breaks from the job.

But Burton joked that even some of those aides were in vacation mode with the president.

"He's obviously worked very hard this year, as have some members of the staff. I don't know about all of them; I know Tommy's in flip-flops today," Burton joked, pointing to assistant press secretary Tommy Vietor standing at the side of the room with a football and sandals.

The White House does not have a formal schedule while the Obamas are on the island, but the president received a daily briefing in person from a National Security Council official. He received an economic briefing through memos, and the secluded 28-acre (11.3-hectare) private estate has a secure line to the White House if a situation develops.

At the White House, senior administration officials conducted a conference call with reporters about national security programs. Aides said there might be trips for ice cream and salt-water taffy, possibly a bike ride and plenty of quiet time at the compound that rents for $35,000 a week. The Obamas are paying for their share of the vacation home; taxpayers are picking up the tab for security and White House staff, which is customary for all presidents. The playground for the rich was a vacation spot for former presidents Bill Clinton and Ulysses S. Grant. Obama has visited twice before. More typically Obama has vacationed in Hawaii, where he was born and spent time as a child.

Source: AP

MJ's death a homicide caused by drugs

Los Angeles: Michael Jackson's death has been ruled a homicide caused by a mix of drugs meant to treat insomnia, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, while his personal doctor told investigators he was actually trying to wean the King of Pop off the powerful anesthetic that did him in.

Forensic tests found the anesthetic propofol combined with at least two sedatives to kill Jackson, according to the official, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released. Based on those tests, the Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled the death a homicide, the official said.

The coroner's homicide ruling does not necessarily mean a crime was committed. But it makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against Dr. Conrad Murray, the Las Vegas cardiologist who was caring for the pop star when he died June 25 in a rented Los Angeles mansion.

Through his lawyer, Murray has said he administered nothing that "should have" killed Jackson.

Murray told investigators that Jackson stopped breathing about 10 minutes after he relented and finally gave in to his patient's demands for propofol around 10:40am, following a nightlong regimen of sedatives that did not work, according to court documents unsealed Monday.

A search warrant affidavit unsealed in Houston, where Los Angeles police took materials from one of Murray's clinics last month as part of their manslaughter investigation, includes a detailed account of what detectives say Murray told them.

Manslaughter is homicide without malice or premeditation.

The doctor said he'd been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night via an intravenous drip, the affidavit said. Murray said he feared Jackson was becoming addicted to the anesthetic, which is supposed to be used only in hospitals and other advanced medical settings, so he had lowered the dose to 25 milligrams and added the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.

That combination had succeeded in helping Jackson sleep two days prior to his death. So the next day, Murray told detectives, he cut off the propofol - and Jackson fell asleep with just the two sedatives.

Then around 1:30am on June 25, starting with a 10-milligram tablet of Valium, Murray said he tried a series of drugs instead of propofol to make Jackson sleep. The injections included two milligrams of lorazepam around 2am, two milligrams of midazolam around 3am, and repeats of each at 5am and 7:30 am, respectively.

They didn't work.

Murray told detectives that around 10:40 a.m. he gave in to Jackson's "repeated demands/requests" for propofol, which the singer called his "milk," according to the affidavit. He administered 25 milligrams of the white-colored liquid - a relatively small dose - and finally, Jackson fell asleep.

Murray remained with the sedated Jackson for about 10 minutes, then left for the bathroom, the affidavit said. Less than two minutes later, Murray returned - and found Jackson had stopped breathing.

Cell phone records show three separate calls from Murray's phone for between 11:18am and 12:05pm, the affidavit said. It's not clear who received the calls. Murray had told authorities he was administering CPR during that time.

In a statement posted late Monday on his firm's Web site, Murray's attorney Edward Chernoff questioned the timeline as depicted in the affidavit, calling it "police theory."

"Dr. Murray simply never told investigators that he found Michael Jackson at 11:00 a.m. not breathing," Chernoff said. He declined to comment on the homicide ruling, saying, "We will be happy to address the coroner's report when it is officially released."

The coroner's office has withheld its autopsy findings, citing a request from police to wait until their investigation is complete.

It is no surprise that such a combination of medications could kill someone, said Dr. David Zvara, anesthesia chairman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"All those drugs act in synergy with each other," Zvara said. Adding propofol on top of the other sedatives could have "tipped the balance" by depressing Jackson's breathing and ultimately stopping his heart.

"The 25 milligrams of propofol "is not a whopping amount," said Lee Cantrell, director of the San Diego division of the California Poison Control System. It was the cocktail of the other sedatives, known as benzodiazepines, that "may have been the trigger that pushed him over the edge," Cantrell said.

Cantrell said it's perplexing that someone would give various benzodiazepines if one was found not to be effective.

"This is horrible polypharmacy," he said, referring to the interaction between the various drugs. "No one will treat an insomniac like this."

The affidavit, signed by a judge July 20, said that the coroner's office chief medical examiner told police his review of preliminary toxicology results showed "lethal levels of propofol."

Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner's toxicology report found other substances in Jackson's system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer's death, the official told the AP.

Murray didn't tell paramedics or doctors at UCLA hospital where Jackson was rushed about any drugs he administered other than lorazepam and flumazenil, a "rescue drug" to counteract problems from too much lorazepam, according to the affidavit.

It was only during a subsequent interview with Los Angeles Police detectives that Murray gave a more full accounting of the events leading up to the 911 call, the document said.

A call to the coroner's office was not returned Monday. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's said no case had been presented so the office had nothing to comment on.

The line between safe and dangerous doses of propofol is thin, and according to the drug's guidelines a trained professional must always stay bedside.

Word that Jackson was given the drug to help him sleep startled the medical community, not the least because the setting was his rented mansion. Home use of propofol is virtually unheard of - safe administration requires both a specially trained anesthesiologist and an array of lifesaving equipment. Murray was trained as a heart doctor, not a pain and sedation specialist.

At Jackson's bedside were pill bottles for other drugs prescribed by Murray and two other doctors, the document says. The medicines include a variety of anti-insomnia drugs, a muscle relaxant and a drug for urinary problems from an enlarged prostate.

Investigators found about eight bottles of propofol in Jackson's home along with numerous other medications, according to the affidavit. Murray told investigators he didn't order or buy any propofol, but investigators served a search warrant Aug. 11 at a Las Vegas pharmacy and uncovered evidence showing Murray legally purchased from the store the propofol he gave Jackson the day he died.

When he died, Jackson was skinny but not overly emaciated, and his body had bed sores, the official said. The singer is believed to have developed bed sores in the months following his 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges, when he went into seclusion and spent long stretches in bed.

Jackson's family released a statement Monday, saying it has "full confidence" in the legal process and the efforts of investigators. It concludes: "The family looks forward to the day that justice can be served."

Source: AP(MSN News)

9 point guide to get your man into bed

Tired of your man's lack lustre libido? Want him to make passionate love to you? Follow these nine stimulation techniques to pep up your man's sexual appetite.

1. Tie Him Up : Take control and get your man all tied up. Buy silky tights to tie him up loosely to the bed post above his head. Keep his head propped up with a pillow so that he can see your wild moves. All guys love being dominated and you will get a high by watching your guy's desire for you rise.

2. Wet Pleasures : Guys just love making out in the shower. Kissing under a shower is a sure fire way of getting the sexual action kick started. Work up lather and sensuously wash each others' bodies. It will leave you feeling fresh for the real action to follow.

3. Girlie Groping : Ignite your youthful lust by making out in the last row of a cinema or indulging in some heavy petting on the couch until you are both hot and ready.

4. Dress It Up : Walk around the house clad in lacy underwear and some killer stilletoes. Your man will love nothing more than to watch you strut sexily around the house.

5. Dirty dancing : Erotic slow dancing is great tool of seduction. Enjoy a sensual dance which is the perfect appetiser for some raunchy bedroom antics.

6. Mirror Image : Learn to master body language techniques to let him know you are interested in sex. Try and mimick some of his actions to turn him on. Don't copy everything he does. Instead if he leans towards you, lean into him at the same time, making passionate eye contact all the while.

7. Maximise a Massage : Make your man lie down on the bed and apply warm oil on his aching body. Use lingering sensuous strokes along his back and down his legs making sure his body relaxes.

8. In The Outdoors : Foreplay doesn't need to be restricted to the bedroom; all men love sex in the open. Make love under the stars and land in sexual heaven.

9. Teasing Talk : Men too love a bit of naughty talk. Whisper sweet nothings into his ear describing all the things you would like to do to him, or have him do to you. Alternatively send him a sexy SMS letting him know he is in for a treat.

Plane lands on California highway, no major injuries

(CNN) -- A single-engine airplane made an emergency landing on a California highway Sunday morning, though no major injuries were reported, authorities said.

The Piper Comache 260 carrying a married couple landed on the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 just outside Santa Barbara and a few miles from the airport, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer James Richards.

The plane's engine quit, and as the pilot descended, he lost control of the plane and landed in the southbound lane facing oncoming traffic. The plane struck two vehicles while landing, then spun and hit another one with its tail, Richards said.

One vehicle passenger was treated for minor injuries, he said. No other injuries were reported.

The landing happened at 10:36 a.m. (1:36 p.m. ET) and held up traffic for less than two hours, Richards said. He added that the plane had departed Temecula in southern Los Angeles, California, and was destined for the airport in Santa Barbara, a flight of about 180 miles.

The pilot told authorities that he attempted to switch fuel lines during the flight, but was unable to restore power to the plane. He said he alerted a tower at the airport that a landing on the highway was imminent, Richardson said.

Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe... again!

Venezuela makes history at the Miss Universe pageant... by winning the crown for the second year running!

And the crown goes to........

As Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez takes home the Miss Universe 2009 crown, the first runner-up title is shared by Miss Australia Rachael Finch and Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez, with the title of second runner-up going to Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha.

Venezuela has won five Miss Universe titles, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.

The new Miss Universe is of Russian, Ukrainian, Galician and Polish origin. Her mother is Nadia Krupij Holojad and her father Carlos Fernández. The 18-year-old Virgo enjoys tennis and swimming as her hobbies.

Heartbeats pace up as the hosts of the evening Celebrity Apprentice star Claudia Jordan and Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush, announce the contestants who made it to the top 5. The names are...

Miss Dominican Republic, Ada

Miss Australia, Rachael Finch

Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez

Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez

Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha

Sub-title winners

Miss Congeniality: Miss China, Wang Jingyao

Miss Photogenic: Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej

Gowns galore...

Glitz and glamour takes charge as the top 10 contestants sizzle on the stage in gorgeous evening gowns.

Top 10 beauties

Competition gets tougher as the list narrows down to top 10, which includes:

Miss Australia, Rachael Finch

Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez

Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar

Miss Dominican Republic, Ada

Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha

Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska

Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy

Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez

Miss France Chloe Mortaud

Miss USA Kristen, Dalton

The swimsuit round

The temperatures on the stage soar high as the bikini clad contestants sashay down the ramp.

Top 15 announced

The top 15 contestants who will now vie for the crown are:

Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez

Miss Iceland, Ingibjorg Egilsdottir

Miss Albania, Hasna Xhukici

Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska

Miss Belgium, Zeynep Sever

Miss Sweden, Renate Cerljen

Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha

Miss Australia, Rachael Finch

Miss France, Chloe Mortaud

Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy

Miss USA Kristen, Dalton

Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez

Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar

Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee De la Cruz

Miss Croatia, Sarah Cosic

The stage is set!

The stage is set in the hues of blue and the 84 contestants take the stage in white floral dresses for the introduction.

The pageant, being telecast live from 6.30 am IST on Star World, from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas is being hosted by Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush and model, actress and former Miss Rhode Island USA Claudia Jordan. In recent years, the contest has been watched in over 180 countries.

The girls will be judged in three categories — swimsuit, evening gown and interview as they vie for the coveted title.

Earlier, the confident and gorgeous beauty won a lot of compliments during her stay at the Bahamas, where the contest is being held. Ekta told us, “Somebody told me that I represent my country very well. Another compliment that touched my heart was — ‘though you look very Indian, yet your personality is very global’.” ( Watch Video )

Back home, designer Ritu Kumar, who has designed her national costume for the pageant, had commented, “Her height, I think, is her strongest point and then comes her classic face. I see amazing confidence in her.”

Designers Gauri-Nainika, who designed her evening gown, added, “Ekta is a very natural person. When we were working with her, she was not trying to be someone she is not.”

Google forced to reveal bully blogger's id

Matt Hartley, National Post

Punch the name Liskula Cohen into Google and the search engine turns up more than 130,000 hits.

Unfortunately for the Canadian-born fashion model, thousands of those results relate to offensive postings made about her by an anonymous cyber bully on a now defunct blog called "Skanks of NYC."

Now, after emerging victorious from a high-profile lawsuit against Google Inc., she knows the identity of that formerly anonymous blogger, and can begin planning her next move.

On Tuesday, New York Supreme Court Judge Joan Madden ordered Google to hand over the computer IP address and email address of the blogger to Ms. Cohen's lawyers.

Judge Madden said Ms. Cohen was entitled to confront the person who posted the defamatory comments.

In January, the 37-year-old Ms. Cohen sued Google after the search engine giant declined to provide her with the identity of the blogger who made five posts on the "Skanks of NYC" blog in August of 2008.

Among the posts were photos of the 5-foot-10 blonde Ms. Cohen in sexually suggestive positions with an unidentified male, as well as other entries which described her as a "skanky ho."

During an appearance on Good Morning America yesterday, Ms. Cohen said she now knows the blogger is a female acquaintance she had met at parties in New York. However, she has not publicly revealed the blogger's identity.

Ms. Cohen, who appeared on the cover of such magazines as Australian Vogue, W and Flare in the early 1990s, told the U. S. television show she contacted the woman and has forgiven her.

Ms. Cohen's lawyer, Steven Wagner, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Although Ms. Cohen's lawsuit received widespread global attention because of its connection to Google, such cases are not uncommon online, where users will often push the boundaries of free speech behind a perceived curtain of anonymity.

"Requiring an intermediary, whether it's an ISP [Internet service provider] or a search engine, to disclose the information they have off of an IP address or an email address is pretty common," said Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa professor who holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and e-commerce law.

"But I think it happens a bit behind the scenes ... and sometimes it takes these higher-profile cases for people to better understand that, where required, intermediaries will disclose whatever information they have and that veil of anonymity that some people think they have isn't quite as strong as they think."

Mr. Geist said both Canadian and U. S. courts have the power to order Web companies to disclose information about their users in certain cases involving copyright, defamation and regulatory issues. However, a judge may choose not to force a Web company to disclose a user's information when doing so would violate privacy laws.

Google declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, opting instead to issue a brief statement saying the company sympathizes with anyone who winds up the victim of cyber bullying.

"We also take great care to respect privacy concerns and will only provide information about a user in response to a subpoena or other court order," the company said. "If content is found by a court to be defamatory, we will of course remove it immediately."

Google will only remove defamatory material from Blogger when "the material has been found to be defamatory by a court, as evidenced by a court order," according to Blogger's terms of service.

Google purchased Blogger's parent company Pyra Labs for an undisclosed amount in 2003.

Source: Nationalpost

Reality TV star sought in swimsuit model's death

(CNN) -- A reality TV contestant is wanted for questioning in connection with the death of his ex-wife, a former swimsuit model whose nude body was found stuffed into a suitcase.According to police, 28-year-old Jasmine Fiore, who lived in Los Angeles, California, was last seen alive Friday in San Diego at a poker game with Ryan Alexander Jenkins.

''We believe that perhaps he might have information that would be beneficial to the investigation,'' Lt. Gary Worrall of the Buena Park Police Department said Wednesday on HLN's Nancy Grace.

Authorities said Jenkins reported Fiore missing Saturday night to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Earlier that same day, a body was found in a large suitcase inside a trash bin behind an apartment complex in Buena Park, just outside Anaheim in Orange County.

Watch why police want to talk to model's ex-husband »

On Monday, the body was identified as Fiore. While the cause of death has not been confirmed, a preliminary coroner's report indicates she was strangled.

Jenkins, who appeared in two VH1 reality TV shows, "Megan Wants a Millionaire" and "I Love Money 3," may have headed back to his native Calgary, Alberta, police say.

He and Fiore reportedly had been married a few weeks before getting the union annulled.

"Given the fact that he has some celebrity status, we're quite certain that he has been made aware of the media frenzy regarding this case,'' Worrall said.

''And we have made some attempts to get in touch with him.''

In a statement, VH1 said it has postponed any future airings of "Megan Wants a Millionaire" because of the ''tragic situation'' and said ''our thoughts go out to the victim's family.''

Davida Sullivan, who trained with Fiore in Las Vegas to be a Playboy Bunny, called her a bit reserved, careful with her words and a ''very, very sweet girl.''

Michael Jackson doctor: 'I told the truth'

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician under investigation in the death of singer Michael Jackson, said in a video posted online Tuesday that he has "faith the truth will prevail."Murray, who was with Jackson when he died, recorded the one-minute video in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday and it posted on YouTube Tuesday, the spokeswoman for his lawyer said.

"I have done all I could do," Murray said. "I told the truth, and I have faith the truth will prevail."

The video is the first public comment by Murray since Jackson's June 25 death.

"I want to thank all of my patients and friends who have sent such kind e-mails, letters and messages to let me know of your support and prayers for me and my family," Murray said. Watch the statement from Jackson's doctor »

"Because of all that is going on, I am afraid to return phone calls or use my e-mail. Therefore, I recorded this video to let all of you know that I have been receiving your messages," he said.

Murray, a cardiologist, owned and operated two medical clinics -- in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in Houston -- but he took a full-time job as Jackson's personal doctor in May as the pop singer prepared for his comeback concerts scheduled to start in July.

He was at Jackson's Los Angeles home when the entertainer was found unconscious and rushed to a hospital.Investigators have searched Murray's home and clinics for evidence related to the anesthetic propofol, according to documents filed in court. A source close to the investigation told CNN that Murray is believed to have administered the drug -- also known by the brand name Diprivan -- to Jackson within 24 hours of his death.

Murray has been "under siege" by the media and targeted by death threats in recent weeks, according to the spokeswoman.

"I have not been able to thank you personally, which, as you know, is not normal for me," Murray said in the video. "Your messages give me strength and courage and keep me going. They mean the world to me. Please, don't worry. As long as I keep God in my heart and you in my life, I will be fine."

Three-city tour of Jackson memorabilia in doubt

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Plans for a three-city exhibition of Michael Jackson memorabilia could be derailed by suspicion and distrust among Jackson's mother, the men Jackson named as executors of his will and the promoter of his planned comeback concerts.

A judge delayed his approval of the exhibition agreement between concert promoter AEG Live and the Jackson estate until Friday, when he will hear testimony about why Katherine Jackson thinks it should be renegotiated.

Questions surrounding Michael Jackson's death and AEG Live's role in his last days are an "obvious source of tension" as Katherine Jackson objects to the agreement, Jackson attorney Burt Levitch said.

Michael Jackson's family has "floated" the possibility of filing a wrongful-death lawsuit against AEG Live because of its "very, very active role in Michael's life during the last six months," Levitch said Monday.

Levitch said AEG Live "apparently paid for the services of Dr. Conrad Murray, who we're told is under criminal investigation in connection with the decedent's death."

Warrants used to search Murray's home and clinics indicated police were investigating his role in Jackson's June 25 death. A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Murray gave the anesthetic propofol to Jackson in the 24 hours before he died.

"There's an obvious link between AEG and concerns that we have about the decedent's demise," Levitch said. "So, that's one obvious source of tension right now."

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff set a November trial date to hear Katherine Jackson's potential challenge of John Branca and John McClain, who were named as executors in Michael Jackson's 2002 will. Katherine Jackson has proposed that she or one of her children be added as an executor.

"We think it's important for the family to have a seat at the table," Levitch said. "It's not just a matter of making a quick buck here." A Jackson family member would be in the best position to guide Michael Jackson's legacy, he said.

Beckloff delayed a decision until Friday on Katherine Jackson's objection to the agreement made by Branca and McClain, who are serving for now as special administrators of the estate, to allow AEG Live to produce a Michael Jackson exhibition.

Jackson lawyers argued in Monday's hearing that the 50-50 split of profits for the exhibition was too generous to AEG Live, but estate lawyers said they negotiated the best terms possible.

AEG Live lawyer Kathy Jorrie said any further delay in approval would cause the company to abandon the deal and the company would not renegotiate.

AEG Live would hold the exhibition just as a documentary about Jackson's last months hits theaters at the end of October.

"It's important to the world that we present them with the memorabilia at the time the movie is released," Jorrie said.

The judge has approved a merchandizing agreement and the movie deal, both of which were adjustments to the contract Jackson signed with AEG Live earlier this year for a string of 50 comeback concerts that were to start last month in London.

Estate lawyer Howard Weitzman said canceling the exhibition deal could cost the Jackson estate $5 million.

Are UFO sightings linked to sci-fi films? Newly released documents show that UFO sightings in the UK leapt five-fold in the same year that the alien invader blockbuster Independence Day was released. So is there a link between UFOs and science-fiction?

In 1996, the Earth was under attack from an alien mothership. Do you remember?

Fortunately, Will Smith was on hand to save the planet. This did happen. At least in cinemas.

Independence Day was the blockbuster film of the year, but the fiction it portrayed may have had an impact on the real world - a huge jump in the number of reported sightings of UFOs.

Documents from the Ministry of Defence released by the National Archives show the department recorded 117 sightings in 1995 and 609 in 1996.

This was also the year when television series The X-Files, about attempts to find extra-terrestrial life, was at the height of its popularity in the UK.

David Clarke, an expert on UFO sightings based at Sheffield Hallam University, believes there is a link between sightings and science-fiction.

"The more that alien life is covered in films or television documentaries, the more people look up at the sky and don't look down at their feet.

"Maybe what they are seeing is ordinary, like an aircraft, but because they are looking for a UFO, they think it is one."

It's difficult to prove, he says, but there is a correlation between films and what people are reporting as strange objects in the sky.

The year with the most sighting was 1978, when Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind was released in the UK, although the year that ET was packing people into cinemas, 1982, was a year when sightings dipped.

"The lows are also interesting. After 9/11, there were a few years when everyone was distracted by what was going on elsewhere in the world, and then the last couple of years there seems to have been more sightings, possibly due to Chinese lanterns being released at weddings and festivals."

The MoD figures should be treated with some caution, he says, because in later years they only refer to sightings passed to it by other authorities like the police, RAF or coastguards. So they are vulnerable to being distorted if one person or one group of people makes multiple reports.

Before 1973, the cases were investigated and in the preceding 14 years, 223 of the 2,310 sightings remained unexplained, which is one in 10.

The vast majority were discovered to be aircraft (960), satellites and debris (378), celestial objects like planets and stars (221) or freak weather (176).

'Anti-science'

Of the cases that remained unexplained, says Mr Clarke, most were difficult to investigate with accuracy because they happened long before the investigation.

"But within all this noise, there is a genuine unexplained phenomenon. I don't think it's aliens but there is something peculiar."
Possibly what people are seeing are atmospheric phenomena like ball lightning, he says, which are still little understood.

And maybe having mysteries like these is a good thing for everyone, because it generates an appetite for discovery.

"A lot of people believe in UFOs and want to believe in them as a reaction to scientists, who can now explain where we come from and the beginning of the universe.

"UFOS have become an anti-science symbol that people can rally around. Some things are unexplained and people love that mystery."

Spielberg gets movie cash with India partnership LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Financing for DreamWorks Studios' partnership with one of India's richest men was finalized Monday, giving Steven Spielberg and partner Stacey Snider money to resume making movies.

The deal with Anil Ambani, chairman of India's Reliance BIG Entertainment, provides Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios with $875 million, coming from Ambani, the Walt Disney Co. and loans made by a syndicate of banks.

Disney will distribute and market about six DreamWorks Studios films around the world each year, with the exception of India, where Reliance will have those rights.

Spielberg and Snider found themselves in need of financial partners last year when he cut ties with Paramount Pictures and began rebuilding DreamWorks into an independent studio.

Although the deal, which was announced last year, has been characterized in some reports as "Hollywood meets Bollywood," Spielberg and partner Stacey Snider will have creative control over productions.

"This will allow us to move ahead quickly into production with our first group of films," Snider and Spielberg said in a joint statement.

Reliance BIG Entertainment is part of the Reliance group controlled by billionaire Ambani.

"Our partnership with Stacey and Steven is the cornerstone of our Hollywood strategy as we grow our film interests across the globe," Ambani said. "Given our faith in the business plan that they presented to us and despite the current economic climate, we were always confident that this day would come. Now Stacey and Steven can focus on producing more of the great films for which they are renowned."

Ambani, whose company owns hundreds of theater screens across South Asia, has also invested development money this year with other Hollywood production companies, including those owned by actors Nicolas Cage, Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Jim Carrey.

A DreamWorks announcement said that J.P. Morgan brought together the syndicate of banks to provide about $325 million in funding. The banks include Bank of America, City National Bank, Wells Fargo, Comerica, Union Bank of California, SunTrust, California Bank & Trust, and Israel Discount Bank.

One of the first movies to go into production will be "Harvey," an adaptation of the play that won a Pulitzer for playwright Mary Chase. The tale about a man and his invisible bunny friend was first made into a movie, starring Jimmy Stewart, in 1950.

Spielberg's long career as a screenwriter, director and producer has included classic blockbusters "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial," the "Indiana Jones" series and "Saving Private Ryan."

Source: CNN

'Dancing With the Stars' announces new lineup (CNN) -- In recent seasons, "Dancing With the Stars" has given exposure to such unlikely dancers as "Cheers" and Pixar favorite John Ratzenberger, magician Penn Jillette and Oscar-winning octogenarian actress Cloris Leachman.

But this year, the show is adding an even more unusual guest: A Hammer.

Former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- known as "the Hammer" for his tough-minded tactics -- is among the contestants for the show's ninth edition, ABC announced Monday.

Host Tom Bergeron and contestant Donny Osmond appeared on the network's "Good Morning America" to make the announcement.

"This is the season where we have a cast that is as big as some of your family reunions," Bergeron joked to Osmond, a member of the Osmond family of entertainers. Blog: Are these really 'Stars'?

Joining Osmond and DeLay will be Kelly Osbourne; former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin; models Kathy Ireland and Joanna Krupa; singers Macy Gray, Mya and Aaron Carter; actresses Melissa Joan Hart and Debi Mazar; Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin; ex-UFC fighter Chuck Liddell; snowboarder Louie Vito; and actors Mark Dacascos and Ashley Hamilton.

Bergeron said this season will be a bit different as the show will have double elimination in the middle of the season.

"It will be a ballroom bloodbath," Bergeron said.

The new season of "Dancing With the Stars" begins September 21. Last season's winner was gymnast Shawn Johnson.

Source: CNN

Kangana goes light-hearted for 'Tanu Weds Manu'

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Kangana Ranaut is known for playing heavy duty roles in films like 'Gangster' and 'Fashion', but the actress has now signed on her second light-hearted movie 'Tanu Weds Manu'.

The fun film, directed by Aanand L. Rai of 'Strangers' fame, has Kangana paired with R. Madhavan.

'It was after much deliberation that Kangana was finalised for the role. The character that Kangana would be playing in 'Tanu Weds Manu' is such that it is of paramount importance to get the casting right,' Rai told IANS.

Kangana, who has played a traumatised women in most of her films, was signed on for her first comic role by Anil Kapoor for his production 'No Problem', a comedy directed by Anees Bazmee.

Before venturing into comedy, Kangana did a series of serious films.

While she was haunted by ghosts in 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues', 'Fashion' had her playing a supermodel who fell to drugs and abuse. 'Life In A... Metro' showed her in a turbulent affair with a much married boss (Kay Kay Menon), 'Woh Lamhe' had her play a schizophrenic while in 'Gangster' she played an alcoholic moll to a gangster (Shiney Ahuja).

Director Rai, however, is confident that she will pull off the role in 'Tanu Weds Manu'.

'Yes, I have studied her filmography quite closely and I know for sure that 'Tanu Weds Manu' would finally showcase Kangana in a different light. There is a definite humour to the film which thankfully is poles apart from life vs death roles that Kangana has played in the past,' he said.

Explaining the reason behind finalising Kangana, Rai said: 'When I was narrating the film to her, she came across as someone who was very passionate and energetic when it came to films. Moreover, what worked for me was the fact that she was taking a personal view on the subject. Now that's the kind of girl I wanted for the film since I wanted her to add something of her own to the character as well.'

But before Kangana, Rai had approached Konkona Sen Sharma but she couldn't accept the offer due to date problems.

'There were genuine date issues due to which Konkona couldn't come on board. We are looking at shooting the film in the months of September, October and November but she is unavailable then. However, I'm happy about Kangana now being signed for the film since she and Madhavan coming together would be really special for the film.'

Rai had earlier made 'Strangers', a thriller that had Jimmy Sheirgill and Kay Kay Menon.

'After working on 'Strangers', it is nice to be working on a light-hearted entertainer with a sensitive love story at its heart. The film has an interesting soul while going well with the commercial aspects of things. I would be travelling across my locations through the next few days and begin shooting in September,' he said.

The filmmaker said his movie would be shot in places like Lucknow, Kanpur, Faridkot, Patiala and New Delhi.

Joginder Tuteja

'Sikandar' narrates Kashmir's tensions through children's eyes New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) After making comedies like 'Chalo America' and 'The King of Bollywood', director Piysush Jha returns with suspense-thriller 'Sikandar'. Releasing Friday, the film is about the tensions in Kashmir seen through children's eyes.

Set in Jammu and Kashmir, the film has Parzan Dastur and Ayesha Kapoor in lead roles along with R. Madhavan and Sanjay Suri. It revolves around teenage boy Sikandar Raza (Parzan), who dreams of playing football at the national level, and his friend Nasreen (Ayesha). But things take an unexpected turn when he finds a gun on the road.

Sikandar's parents were killed by militants when he was four years old. And now he lives with his foster parents and he is only concerned about their happiness and football.

One day, on his way back home from a school football match, he finds a gun lying on the road. Despite warnings from Nasreen, he picks up the gun and his life is never the same again after that - he enters into the darker side of his nature.

The quiet yet strong Nasreen becomes Sikandar's conscience keeper and also tries her best to pull him out of the murky goings-on. But to her dismay Sikandar has sunk so deep that things go beyond his control.

Jha says 'Sikandar' is not a children's film despite having children as protagonists.

' 'Sikandar' is not a children's film at all. It just has two important characters as children but it's for everyone. Just like 'Taare Zameen Par' which had a child protagonist and still appealed to people of all ages, this film too will appeal to one and all,' said Jha.

''Sikandar' basically reflects the situation of Kashmir seen through the eyes of children... It's a film full of hope but told in a manner that is not preachy. It is involving and intriguing and connects at an emotional level. The underlining theme is about fighting against the odds, living up to expectations and coming out with a clear conscience,' he added.

Produced by Big Pictures and Sudhir Mishra, 'Sikandar' has already garnered its share of positive reactions when it travelled to festivals like the Bollywood and Beyond Film Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Los Angeles Indian film festival.

Earlier slated for a March release, the film was delayed by the tussle between producers and distributors over revenue-sharing of forthcoming releases.
Indo Asian News Service

Source: yahoo news

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