The News Of …

On January 20, 1961 – exactly 50 years ago today – John F. Kennedy gave his one and only Inaugural Address. Widely considered to be the greatest Presidential Inauguration speech, JFK’s address lasted only a little over 13 minutes and in it he coined the line: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
So, 50 years later we celebrate the president and his speech with books about his legacy. From the best books about his vision to the most scintillating bout his assassination, here are 9 books about JFK.
But what did we leave out? Let us know your favorite JFK book in comments section below.

John F. Kennedy.

Read the rest of this entry »

A huge earthquake with 7,4 magnitude enthused North-West Pakistan at late night of Tuesday (January 19). The quake left shaked in North India, particularly in Delhi. Several houses have been distorted in the Pakistan although no casualties have been confirmed so far.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Center – the onshore quake had not set off a tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Dalbandin is in the most lightly populated area of Pakistan and, thus far, no damage has been reported.
Karan’s deputy commissioner Fateh Bangar said that town close to the epicenter, Karan, suffered no major damage. The town was some 45 miles from the epicenter.
A US Geological Service report said that the epicentre of the earthquake was positioned 45 km from Dalbandin in southwest Pakistan. It said the central depth of the earthquake was 84 km.

Pakistan earthquake.

Read the rest of this entry »

The mix of snow, freezing rain, sleet and rain forced some big school district north and west of Philadelphia to close for Tuesday, instead of delaying their openings.
The big school districts in the Lehigh Valley were all closed by 8 a.m.
But other big schools like ‘North Penn’, ‘Pennridge’ and ‘Souderton’ also closed for the day on Tuesday.
Many private and parochial schools also closed north and west of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia school district opened two hours late, as did ‘Philadelphia Archdiocesan schools’.

School.

Read the rest of this entry »

If the Golden Globes are indeed a harbinger of the Academy Awards, Sunday night’s 68th ceremony went a long way toward confirming all the perceived front-runners going into next month’s ceremony. ‘The Social Network,’ already being talked up as a shoo-in for the best picture Oscar, won four Golden Globes: best picture (drama), best director, best screenplay and best score.
Best picture (musical or comedy) went to ‘The Kids Are All Right,’ director Lisa Cholodenko’s story of a lesbian couple and their children. ‘Toy Story 3′ won best animated film – why did they bother nominating anything else?
The Golden Globes, which are given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (in other words, foreign journalists covering the movie beat), divide comedy from drama in the acting categories. Usually, come Oscar time, the drama winner is a major contender, while the Globe winner for best actor (musical or comedy) is a longshot or is overlooked altogether.
That tendency may be repeated at this year’s Oscars. Colin Firth continued his ‘King’s Speech’ progress toward most of this year’s major prizes, with a win in the drama category, while Paul Giamatti won in the musical or comedy division for ‘Barney’s Version.’ Both awards were much deserved.
But it’s the actress competition that’s most interesting this year. Natalie Portman won best actress (drama) for ‘Black Swan.’ An hour earlier, Annette Bening won best actress (comedy) for ‘The Kids Are All Right.’ Those victories define the Oscar battle for next month. In a matter of weeks, one of those women will have an Oscar on her mantel.

Golden Globes 2011.

Read the rest of this entry »

Miss America 2011 started with a stage full of 53 contestants at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. After the swimsuit (evening gown) talent and interview competitions, there was one woman left standing to inherit the crown from Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron.
Teresa Scanlan (Miss Nebraska) was one of the youngest competitors on the show. After being crowned the winner of the 2011 Miss America Pageant, she burst into tears and raised her arms up as Cameron pinned the crown to her head.

Teresa Scanlan.

Read the rest of this entry »

Natalie Portman and Colin Firth took top honours at tonight’s Critics’ Choice Awards in Hollywood, making them many people’s favourites for the Oscars.
The actress, who won for her role in ‘Black Swan’, used her acceptance speech to thank the film’s director Darren Aronofsky for introducing her to her fiance, dancer Benjamin Millepied.
“You are responsible for getting me skinny and indirectly responsible for getting me very fat, as you introduced me to my love” – she told Aronofsky on the podium, referring to the child she is expecting with Millepied.
Portman, who met Millepied when he helped choreograph the movie about a competitive and unstable ballerina, looked radiant, her burgeoning bump all too clear to see under her gorgeous long white gown.
Meanwhile, Colin Firth’s win for his role as the stammering King George in ‘The King’s Speech’, topped off a week which also saw him awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“I will be wearing this around my neck to give me magical powers as we all enter the fray again” – he said, referring to the upcoming month of award ceremonies which carry on with the Golden Globes ceremony this Sunday.

Natalie Portman.

Read the rest of this entry »

Veteran actor Peter Fonda reportedly discovered a dead body in a car on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard.
The actor – best remembered for his role in ‘Easy Rider’ and as son of screen legend Henry Fonda and brother of fellow actor Jane – called 911 on Wednesday after spotting a car parked on the side of the road.
TMZ reports that Fonda got out of his car to check the situation and found a man slumped in the front seat. Police, again according to TMZ, are labeling the death a suicide and say the body had been in the car for at least three days prior to its discovery by (not Captain America) Fonda.

Peter Fonda.

Read the rest of this entry »

David Nelson, the last surviving family member from the 1950′s US sitcom ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet’, has died aged 74.
The actor-turned-director died at his Los Angeles home of colon cancer – a family spokesman said.
Nelson starred in the real-life sitcom which featured his parents (bandleader Ozzie Nelson and singer Harriet Hilliard) and his brother Rick.
The TV show ran in the US for 435 episodes from 1952 – 1966.
The family show began on the radio as Here Come the Nelsons in 1944 before transferring to the small screen.
It became something of a national institution, depicting an idealised version of American family life with some of the storylines taken from the stars’ own lives.

David Nelson.

Read the rest of this entry »

Auburn University will remain closed Tuesday because of the potential for dangerous road conditions tonight.
Classes and normal university operations will resume Wednesday.
The closure also will allow students time to return to campus if they were unable to return before the winter storm, said Mike Clardy (an Auburn spokesman).
Students who are experiencing travel delays because of flight cancellations and other (weather-related) problems should contact their professors by email to discuss their situation.

Auburn University.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gautrain officials on Monday said they were forced to fine 34 people who dropped their pants on the train this weekend.
About 100 commuters formed part of a Facebook group hoping to stage the first annual no-pants Gautrain ride on Sunday. They dropped their trousers a minute after the doors closed between Rhodesfield and Sandton stations.
However, 34 were arrested and fined R350 each for public indecency.
The “no pants subway ride”, now in its 10th year, is also staged in 50 cities in more than 24 countries.
Gautrain’s Barbara Jensen said they could not allow this behaviour because of other commuters.
“Now I know its being said we don’t have a sense of humour, but we have laws against public indecency” – she said. “The train… is also being used by children…”

No pants subway ride.

Read the rest of this entry »