Friday, April 30, 2010

Healthcare Not Up To Task Of Securing Electronic Medical Records, Experts Say

Ericka Chickowski writes on Dark Reading:

As healthcare organizations work to earn the incentives dangled in front of them by the HITECH Act, the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) has accelerated. But at the same time, healthcare fraud has also risen, and experts say if organizations don't effectively address data and database protection in healthcare's transition from paper to digital record-keeping, the threats to patient confidentiality and organizational security will skyrocket.

Two surveys in recent months punctuate the security pundits' warnings. The first, a survey conducted by SK&A in February, showed that adoption rate of EMRs within U.S. medical offices in the past year rose by more than three percentage points, to 36.1 percent. EMR adoption is more prevalent in hospital- or health system-owned sites: Hospital-owned and health-system-owned sites have adoption rates of 44.1 percent and 50.2 percent, respectively.

This data tracks with another poll by NaviNet, which showed small-healthcare organization use has jumped up by three percentage points in the last year, from 9 percent to 12 percent.

Meanwhile, a third poll released by Javelin Research and Strategy in March illustrates the darker side of EMR's uptick: Fraud based on exposure to health data rose from 3 percent to 7 percent between 2008 and 2009.

More here.

35 Years Ago Today: The Fall of Saigon



35 years ago today.

- ferg

Encryption Can't Stop The Wiretapping Boom

Andy Greenberg writes on Forbes.com:

As encryption technologies have outpaced the mathematical methods of breaking crypto schemes, law enforcement has feared for years that scrambled messages between evildoers (or law-breaking activists) would thwart their snooping. But it seems that either lawbreakers aren't using encryption, or those privacy tools simply don't work.

In an annual report [.pdf] published Friday by the U.S. judicial system on the number of wiretaps it granted over the past year, the courts revealed that there were 2,376 wiretaps by law enforcement agencies in 2009, up 26% from 1,891 the year before, and up 76% from 1999. (Those numbers, it should be noted, don't include international wiretaps or those aimed at intelligence purposes rather than law enforcement.)

But in the midst of that wiretapping bonanza, a more surprising figure is the number of cases in which law enforcement encountered encryption as a barrier: one.

According to the courts, only one wiretapping case in the entire country encountered encryption last year, and in that single case, whatever privacy tools were used don't seemed to have posed much of a hurdle to eavedroppers. "In 2009, encryption was encountered during one state wiretap, but did not prevent officials from obtaining the plain text of the communications," reads the report.

More here.

Jury Convicts Palin e-Mail Hacker

Gregg Keizer writes on ComputerWorld:

After four days of deliberation, a federal jury today convicted 22-year-old David C. Kernell of two charges stemming from a 2008 break-in of an e-mail account used by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The former University of Tennessee student was convicted of felony destruction of records to hamper a federal investigation and of a misdemeanor charge that he unlawfully accessed a protected computer, reported the Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR Radio, also of Knoxville.

Kernell broke into Palin's Yahoo Mail account during the 2008 presidential campaign by using the service's password reset mechanism. At the time, Palin was the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate.

He faces a maximum 20-year prison term on the felony charge, and a maximum one-year stint for the misdemeanor offense. Kernell also faces a fine of up to $250,000.

Kernell was acquitted today of a federal wire fraud charge.

More here.

Bollywood beauty queen - Katrina Kaif: The case of the Coffee Cuppa!

Actress Katrina Kaif may be quite a shy person in everyday life, with very few friends in the film industry to call her own.

But, she is one lucky girl when it comes to being invited for a special coffee cuppa, with none other than the yahoo star of yester years, Shammi Kapoor. After having invited Deepika Padukone for a hot cuppa.

The veteran star has now invited Katrina Kaif for the evening cup of Coffee! Reportedly, initially when such reports were out.

And Katrina was quizzed about it, she pointedly avoided answering, but now the actress has acknowledged the fact that yes.

In deed, she had been invited for the special coffee with Shammi uncle. After news about Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif started doing the rounds.

It was the grapevine that was working full time, in coming up with tales of the two bonding real well in real life too.

But, both the stars have been denying such reports and Katrina went to the extent to say that it was.

Salman Khan who has been her guiding light through out.Well, now we guess its Shammiji’s turn to know the truth, and what better way than to know it at the coffee table?

'Housefull will be the biggest hit of 2010'

Three years after the hugely successful Heyy Babyy, director Sajid Khan returns with another comedy, Housefull. Joining Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh (who also starred in Sajid's debut film) in Sajid's new caper are Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Arjun Rampal, Jiah Khan Boman Irani, Randhir Kapoor and Chunkey Pandey. Sajid is very confident Housefull will screen to full houses. He tells Patcy N why. Excerpts: How did you get the idea of Housefull?

While we were celebrating the success of Heyy Babby and deciding what our next film should be, Milap Javeri --my screenplay writer on Heyy Babyy -- shared something that had happened to him. On the last day of college, he proposed to his girlfriend with a ring. She not only returned it; she also broke up with him before driving off on another boy's bike.

Milap was in love with her for two years. His heart broke when she rejected him. He started crying. The ring fell from his hand, he slipped on the ring and fell himself. His pant tore and a dog bit him. All this happened to him in the space of just five minutes.

I started laughing; I could easily imagine Akshay enacting such a scene. Milap said, 'Kaminey mere saath itni badi tragedy hui hai aur tu has raha hai (You rascal, such a big tragedy happened in my life and you are laughing)'. But I thought the whole incident was very funny; in real life, you sometimes find humour in pathos. It was a sorrowful event -- what happened with him was wrong but it was funny.

From that incident, we started developing the characters and a story -- what if Akshay is the world's biggest panvati (person plagued with ill-luck) and nothing in his life is ever good. Though he is a good man, everything bad happens to him. It took us 18-20 months to write the story and screenplay. Your first film Heyy Babyy was inspired from Three Men And A Baby and Rob-B-Hood

[Sarcastically] Have you seen Three Men and a Baby? What happened in that movie? Main chor hoon. Maine zindagi bhar sirf choriyaan ki hai (I'm a thief. All my life I have done nothing but steal). I have no original thought. I only plagiarise. I rob all the stories from world cinema. I rob stories and make films.

Whatever I am today is because I have robbed from others and made my name. Heyy Babby, the whole movie, was a copy. In fact, Housefull is also lifted from 50 movies -- that is what you are trying to say and this is what you wanted to hear, right [laughs]? [Sarcastically] Rediff par dekhiya aaj Sajid Khan ka khulasa. Yeh openly admit kar rahe ki inhone chori ki hai (Sajid Khan exposed on rediff. He openly admits he has plagiarised). This is what you wanted to hear, right?

I give an open challenge to anyone, anywhere in the world. Take the DVDs of Heyy Babyy and Three Men and a Baby and Rob-B-Hood -- which I have not seen till date because I am not a Jackie Chan fan, I stopped being his fan since the 80s because his cinema kept on going down and compare them.

Show me even one scene that is copied ditto -- like Mahesh Bhattsaab did in his films and Sanjay Gupta did in his movies -- shot-by-shot. If you show me even one scene, I will never make a film again. The scene diaper scene in Rob-B-Hood

There is a diaper scene in Three Men and a Baby? No in Rob-B-Hood, I said... I have not seen Rob-B-Hood till date. In which year was Rob-B-Hood released? Rob-B-Hood was released in October or November 2007 and, even if we think it was June, Heyy Babby released on August 24, 2007.

My whole making of the film is documented. I shot the diaper scene in February 2007 so did I enter Jackie Chan's brain in Hong Kong and copy the scene (Bo Bui Gai Wak, also known as Rob-B-Hood, released on September 28, 2006).

I want to ask you a question. Which is the greatest Hindi film ever made? Sholay, Mughal-E-Azam Sholay. Right. Have you seen Magnificent Seven? Have you seen Seven Samurai? Have you seen Once Upon A time In The West?

Even if we think that one of your favourite film is Munnabhai MBBS, have you see Patch Adams [laughs]? Let me tell you a truth. We grew up on cinema. That doesn't mean you copy the thoughts in your head. The English that you speak has been taught to you by somebody in school. Does that mean you are copying that person? No, right?

I have not seen Rob-B-Hood till date. Even if I have, I am not stupid. My name is Sajid Khan. Main doosre logo ka bhanda fodta hoon television par (I reveal other people's secrets on television). Am I so stupid that I will copy a scene from some other film? I made television programmes for four years and showed how others copied. What is lacking today in most people is what is taking our nation down -- common sense.

Beauty - Katrina Kaif has the 'hottest body'

Who in Bollywood is the favourite of the netizens? The answer is loud and clear: Katrina Kaif!

So when a poll is conducted on the web for the ‘Hottest Body of the Decade’, no brownie points for guessing who’s going to top it.

The oh-so-beautiful, pristine, gorgeous Bollywood babe Katrina Kaif has won the online battle for the hottest bod by getting 33 percent votes.

She pipped to the post hotties like Bipasha Basu (13 percent), Aishwarya Rai (10 percent) and Priyanka Chopra (9 percent).

It seems all her hard work for Farah Khan’s film is paying off now. Kat is on a special diet to look sexy like never before.

In Tees Maar Khan and will also be donning a lehanga-choli in a song. In fact, her jodi with actor Salman Khan won the ‘Hottest Couple of the Decade’ poll.

Salman-Kat jodi left behind the ‘it’ couple of Saif-Kareena, and also Abhishek-Aishwarya and John-Bipasha to come on top.

It also shows there is no need of making public appearances together for Kat and Salman. Around 38,648 people voted in the poll.

Sizzling actress - Kareena Kapoor’s Negative Role In ‘Agent Vinod’

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, who gave two duds 'Main aur Mrs. Khanna' and 'Kurbaan' in 2009, set the box office afire with her megahit '3 Idiots' opposite Aamir Khan during the same year.

Now, Bebo has already started work on her next projects, which comprise 'Golmaal 3', 'Stepmom' remake and 'Agent Vinod'.

Miss Kapoor is very thrilled at the prospect of starring with beau Saif's 'Agent Vinod'. Directed by Sriram Raghvan, the film is a spy thriller.

The movie has both Chotte Nawab and Bebo playing the roles of secret agents. The latest hum is that the actress will be seen in a negative role in the movie.

She will don the role of a Pakistan CIA agent. A war-like situation arises in Asia in the movie. She will be seen working with corporate biggies.

Who wish to take advantage of the state of affairs. But, it will be later uncovered that she is a spy of the Pakistani administration at last.

Bebo will also sport five different looks in Agent Vinod. A source told that prosthetics will be used to give her different looks.

A la Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2! Bebo is excited about the movie as she has never done a negative character previously. We're sure expectations from the movie have gone up another notch! (With Inputs from Agencies)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Summer Reading

It's practically May, and you know what that means: it's practically summer. Time for long lazy afternoons in the park, reading in the sun. I've been running around (out of town) but I'm looking forward to the summer months when I can finally get some reading done. Here are a few books I'm excited about reading:

Miss Lonelyhearts (and The Day of the Locust) by Nathanael West
An Education, A Memoir by Lynn Barber (the basis for the film)
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (author of food blog Orangette)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Summer Cooking by Elizabeth David
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
and, if I like that, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
and if I like both of those, the new biography of Madame Spark
Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

I've been doing a lot of food writing and reading over the past month. I hope to have something up for you all to read about the genre very soon. I just finished Judith Moore's collection of personal essays on the intersection of life and food, Never Eat Your Heart Out. It was fantastic; I highly, highly recommend it. (It's out of print but you can find it without a problem on aLibris)

I also do a fair amount of re-reading in the summer. My favorites:

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The Unabridged Diaries of Sylvia Plath
Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Come to think of it, I pretty much re-read these books all year.

What are your summer reads and recommendations?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mark Fiore: Police State Pete



More Mark Fiore brilliance.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle.

- ferg

Texas Man to Plead Guilty to Building Botnet-For-Hire

Robert McMillan writes on PC World:

A Mesquite, Texas, man is set to plead guilty to training his 22,000-PC botnet on a local ISP -- just to show off its firepower to a potential customer.

David Anthony Edwards will plead guilty to charges that he and another man, Thomas James Frederick Smith, built a custom botnet, called Nettick, which they then tried to sell to cybercriminals at the rate of US$0.15 per infected computer, according to court documents.

On August 14, 2006, Smith and Edwards allegedly used part of Nettick to attack a computer hosted by The Planet. Apparently, that was just a test, to show that the botnet was for real. "After the test, the bot purchaser agreed to buy the source code and the entire botnet for approximately $3,000," prosecutors say in the indictment against the two men.

Edwards will plead guilty Thursday in federal court in Dallas, according to his attorney, Mick Mickelsen. Smith has pleaded innocent in the case and is set to go to trial on May 17. Both men face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on one count of conspiring to cause damage to a protected computer and to commit fraud.

More here.

EU Mulls New Central Cyber Crime Agency

Via OUT-LAW.com.

The Council of Ministers has asked the Commission to look at its agreed set of cybercrime objectives and investigate whether a new, centralised agency is a better way of achieving those than the current inter-agency co-operation.

Its objectives include raising the standard of specialisation of investigators and prosecutors as well as judges and forensic staff; encourage information sharing between countries' police forces; and to harmonise the approaches taken to fighting cybercrime in the EU's 27 countries.

"[The Council] proposes that the Commission draw up a feasibility study on the possibility of creating a centre to carry out the aforementioned actions, where they have not already been achieved," said the text adopted by the Council this week. "The centre might also evaluate and monitor the preventive and investigative measures to be carried out."

"This feasibility study should consider, in particular, the aim, scope and possible financing of the centre and whether it should be located at Europol, "it said.

More here.

Emily Gould's "And the Heart Says Whatever"

Dear readers, you can find my review of Emily Gould's collection of essays And the Heart Says Whatever in this week's Time Out New York here, along with a few recommendations of my favorite memoirs and tell-alls. Thank you as always for reading. xoxoxo

Katrina Kaif And Salman Khan Bonding Goes Stronger

Reflecting on ‘Raajneeti’s experience the beautiful lass of Bollywood.

Katrina Kaif mentioned that Salman Khan always stood by her side to inspire her for the role.

Beaming with happiness Katrina added, "Apart from guiding me, Salman had confidence in me.

He is not the person to say that because he is friendly with you.”
Salman’s feelings are genuine.

And that makes you feel good about him, Katrina with a loving air added, “He will say it genuinely.

Quite sure about her mentor-turned-boyfriend Salman to think and do.

Always for her welfare Katrina praised his effort in helping her to peak up her career.

Apart from Salman there is someone on her lip that she cannot forget in her entire career.

As they were the main backbone behind her success in her career, Katrina revealed, "There are too many people whom I can call my godfather. I am grateful and indebted to them. Even Akshay Kumar took a risk in working with me initially. He did not know me at all. He was at crossroads of his career.” Anyways who can avoid attention and care for a beauty who captured the fantasy of men worldwide.

Aishwarya heading south for greener pasture!

We have had South Indian stars doing Bollywood films and vice versa.

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Bachchan is reportedly planning to do a couple of Kollywood films.

The stunner is no stranger to Tamil having debuted in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1997.

She was raw debutant then. Today, she is a sophisticated star and one of the Bollywood's top heroines.

The actress has come full circle since those times. After almost a decade, two of Aishwarya’s upcoming projects will have Tamil versions. Raavan and Robot will be dubbed in Tamil.

As Ravana and Endhiran respectively. These are her most ambitious Kollywood ventures so far, though.

She has done films like Jeans and Kandukondain Kandukondain.

In Raavan she teams up with hubby Abhishek and mentor Ratnam while in Robot, she will be seen with Rajinikanth.

A Tamil coach tutored her on the language and diction for Raavan. She wooed everyone by dubbing for her own lines.

She also got the tone and accent right! For Robot, it was Rajini himself who gave her lessons. A source revealed that Ash is a fast learner. Though she found it difficult at first, she was able to rattle off lengthy dialogues with ease!This has made the diva more confident about doing Tamil projects. She loves Tamil films as they are technically and script-wise very rich. When asked about it, she stated that she has to understand the dialogues before delivering them.

She dislikes mugging dialogues without knowing what she is saying. So she made special efforts to learn the nuances of Tamil before embarking on these projects. The results are there for everyone to see! Vannakam anyone?

Kat in politics

Katrina says her look in Raajneeti was modelled more on Priyanka Vadra than Sonia Gandhithat her role in Raajneeti is inspired.

By Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Katrina Kaif says that she watched election campaign videos of the UPA chairperson’s daughter.

Priyanka Vadra to get the right look and body language for the film. “Priyanka is a young, strong, independent and modern leader with the right blend of values.

My character is not based on her. I just watched her campaign videos to observe her body language and how she campaigns and interacts with the crowds,” Katrina explained.

The 25-year-old actress said that she is not playing Sonia Gandhi in Prakash Jha’s political thriller. She asserted she has not modelled her role on any politician.

“Prakashji himself chose the saris I wore as a politician. Every body knows I spent my early years in England and my mother is English.

And even Sonia Gandhi has a foreign connection. So the comparison was logical.” Katrina said she had her initial apprehensions before accepting the film.

As it did not have any song, dance and romance which she enjoys a lot. “When I first heard the script during the making of New York, I made up my mind to refuse the film.

I felt this was not my kind of role. Why should I do serious films which I don’t enjoy? I had only heard about Prakash Jha’s reputation,” she said. “When I heard the narration from him during our meeting, I realised that this film has as much excitement as any other film I have done. I realised that I was being prejudiced towards Prakashji and did not like it,” Katrina recalled.

Speaking about the film, Katrina said raajneeti is a very popular subject. “Politics is not just about what’s happening in the government or the Lok Sabha...it’s about politics in life, families and relationships,” she added. The actress said the political side of her character comes in much later in the film. “My character refuses to accept that the person she loves does not reciprocate her feelings.

She has no self respect in love,” Katrina said. “In real life, all of us experience rejections, sometimes in hurtful ways. I was honest to myself while essaying the character Indu. I believe one has to connect with the character one is playing,” she explained.

IPL row - Shahrukh Khan, Gauri get notices from RoC

Actor Shahrukh Khan and his wife Gauri, who promote IPL franchise ‘Kolkata Knight Riders’, and Jaipur IPL Cricket.

That promotes ‘Rajasthan Royals’ have been issued show-cause notices for alleged violation of the Companies Act."

After expiry of notice period, criminal proceedings will be filed against the companies and the directors," the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Mumbai, informed the Ministry of Company Affairs.

The notices were issued to the companies and their promoters, directors for not filing mandatory yearly returns.

The MCA, on Wednesday last, had directed the RoC to collect within a week all details on IPL franchisees, including.

The bidding process, sweat equity and memorandum of association. "My ministry is merely collecting information that we should have in.

The normal course of those companies that are franchisee companies," Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had told reporters.

On Monday, clarifying that this was not a probe. The RoC-Mumbai, which inquired into the details of Red Chillies Entertainment and Knight Riders Sports, and Jaipur IPL Cricket.

In a communication to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on April 22, said that "after expiry of the notice period, criminal proceeding will be filed against. The companies and their directors." The RoC said that these companies have not been filing balance sheets and annual returns.

Red Chillies, headed by Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan, is the promoter of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, while Jaipur IPL Cricket owns the Rajasthan Royals franchise. According to an official sources, the companies have been given 15 days to respond to the notices given by.

The RoC Mumbai. E-mails sent to Red Chillies Entertainments and Knight Riders Sports remained unanswered, while the Jaipur IPL Cricket remained silent on the RoC notice. Red Chillies Entertainments, promoted by Shahrukh Khan and Gauri, holds 55 per cent stake in Knight Riders Sports has been charged for not filing balance sheet for 2006-07 with the RoC, as required under the Companies Act, 1956.

The directors of the Knight Rider Sports, which owns the Kolkata Knight Riders, include Gauri Khan and Jay Mehta and Sanjiv Desraj Chawla (husband and brother of Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla respectively). Knight Rider Sports has not filed annual returns for the period up to September 2008 and September 2009. As regards Jaipur IPL Cricket, its directors Raghuram Natrajan Iyer and Ranjit Rabindranath Barthukar, as named by the RoC, have been issued notices.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Indian National Recieves 81 months, $2.5M Fine for Stock Scheme

Jaikumar Vijayan writes on ComputerWorld:

An Indian national was sentenced Monday to 81 months in prison for hacking into online brokerage accounts and using those accounts to manipulate stock prices for personal gain.

Jaisankar Marimuthu, 36, of Chennai, India, was also ordered to pay close to $2.5 million in restitution to the more than 90 people and seven brokerage firms that were victims of his illegal capers.

In February, Marimuthu pleaded guilty in federal court in Omaha to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, computer fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Marimuthu was arrested in Hong Kong and extradited to the U.S. last June. He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but changed his mind earlier this year.

More here.

The Price For A Digital Fake Passport: One Dollar

Andy Greenberg writes on Forbes.com:

As Web registrars and digital currency companies try to weed out their cybercriminal customers, they're increasingly demanding proof of identity, often in the form of a passport. The problem with that safeguard: a shady industry of passport fraud has sprouted to provide those cybercriminals with throwaway identities, offering both digital scans and physical passport look-a-likes. The price of those forgeries: as little as one dollar.

In a paper [.pdf] posted Monday by the Illinois non-profit cybersecurity research firm Team Cymru, the authors dug into the underground passport economy, collecting information from online forums and Web sites--largely Russian--offering the documents.

Here's why cybercriminals need fake passports: When they hijack a victim's account or create a new one in his or her name, they face the problem of how to transfer the stolen funds. In some cases, they've used Western Union to wire the money, employing "money mules" to move it physically from one account to another through several countries and hide the source of the crime. But Cymru points out that the process is expensive, and that Western Union has tightened its security, requiring Social Security numbers to wire large payments from the U.S. and carefully monitoring its branches' physical security to catch money mules.

More here.

Tight enough for you ?





- All Rights Reserved 2010 - The Niles Lesh Project Follow NILES LESH / MIENFOKS on TWITTER !

Monday, April 26, 2010

No 'Real' Security Issues to Report Today

Really.

That is all.

- ferg

Priyanka Chopra goofs up...

Uh-oh, the ever diplomatic Priyanka Chopra has put her dainty foot in her mouth perhaps for the first time.

In her politically correct life. But what to do, there are times when even the best slip up. And this seems to have happened to her recently.

The actress was in Srinagar a few weeks ago shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf. And all through her stay, Priyanka made the right noises.

And struck the right poses. From the first day of her shoot in Srinagar, the local press was given a dekho of her look in SKM.

And her presence was marked on a daily basis with a regular dose of information on how she loved Kashmir and how she would even consider being the ambassador for J&K, etc.

The authorities and locals were very happy with the interest shown by the Bollywood diva in the long-troubled state.

Especially now that J&K is limping back to normalcy and tourism is close to boombing once again. After all, Priyanka is one of the few “thinking actresses” we have. However, the honeymoon for the Kashmiris with PC ended when she landed in New Delhi airport after her stay and reportedly told.

An electronic channel that she had enjoyed her stay in Kashmir but was happy to be back to ‘civilisation’. Some very sensitive sorts made note of Priyanka’s choice of words and are mighty upset with the actress for saying this.

A source says, “Some locals and even some political heavyweights are annoyed with Bollywood actors who come to Kashmir, sing paens in honour of the state, and then on their return to their homes, become careless in describing their stay in Kashmir.

Strife ridden or otherwise, Srinagar is home for a whole load of people. One has to be very careful about what one says. The Kashmiri people are very sensitive about their home, just like any of us is.” Priyanka was unavailable for comment because she’s now in Coorg, doing a further two-month stint in the hillstation for the same film, and Coorg is notoriously poor for cell network reception. But the Coorgis have their antennae up...

John Abraham and Vidya Balan together again?

If film-maker Priyadarshan has his way, then soon you might get to see actors John Abraham and Vidya Balan sizzling on-screen once again. The duo was last seen together in the movie Salaam-E-Ishq in 2007. While its filming was in process, rumours of an affair between them started doing the rounds. This, in turn, apparently led to a lot of discord in John’s relationship with girlfriend Bipasha Basu. Post that, John and Vidya have never done a movie together.

However, now film-maker Priyadarshan is apparently playing peacemaker to break the ice between John and Vidya. He is trying to woo them for a movie.

A source says, “Priyadarshan has had meetings with Vidya and has informed her about the project. Looks like it will be another comedy caper. He also likes John’s acting ability and feels he has one of the best comic timings in the industry. So Priyadarshan is doing all he can to bring a truce between John and Vidya. Getting both John and Vidya on for a project is a mighty task as they don’t really work with each other anymore. But now that a few years have passed by since rumours of an affair between John and Vidya, and John and Bipasha’s relationship is very stable, the project may finally take off.”

Deepika Padukone to romance Ranbir Kapoor again

Deepika Padukone is one gutsy lass! The stunning beauty, who portrayed grace and elegance as she harboured heartbreak, is out to set an example of sorts for numerous warring filmy ex-lovers.

Believe it or not, but Dips has reportedly given her nod to romance her ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor onscreen again. So while most of Bollywood ex-lovers refuse to share the podium, Dips and Ranbir are out to do the unthinkable.

So what caused this magic? Well it’s director Anurag Basu’s flick ‘Khamoshi’. Ever since Katrina walked out of the film over the inclusion of Priyanka Chopra, Basu has been hunting for a second female lead. And after much thought Basu approached Deepika.

Confirming the news, a source said, “Anurag has approached Deepika. However, she still needs to take the final call. Ranbir plays the lead role and after their bitter break-up last year, they have not spoken to each other. However, when Deepika got the offer, she was not surprised and is looking at the film professionally. She doesn’t want her personal equations to come in the way. Deepika will now have a final meeting before taking a call.”

Katrina Kaif will be Madhubala in Kishore Kumar biopic

Katrina Kaif has reportedly been signed to play Madhubala in a Kishore Kumar biopic being helmed by Anurag Basu. Ranbir Kapoor will play the talented but temperamental singer and actor. UTV is producing the film having purchased the rights for it from Kishore's surviving wife Leena Chandavarkar. According to Mid Day, Katrina has been studying Madhubala in preparation for the role, watching her films such as Mughal e Azam, Chalti Ka Naam Gadi and Mahal.

The biopic is expected to feature the nostalgic song sequence Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si performed by Kishore and Madhubala in the film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. Kishore's first marriage to Ruma Guha Thakurta aka Ruma Ghosh lasted from 1950 to 1958.

He married Madhubala, a leading Bollywood actress of the time, in 1960, against many odds. His family was opposed to the marriage because Madhubala was a Muslim. Madhubala was also ill when Kishore proposed to her, and her father was keen to get her treated in London first. Kishore converted to Islam and took the name Karim Abdul for the marriage.

The two entered into a civil union but later had a Hindu marriage ceremony to mollify Kishore's family. Madhubala's illness was later diagnosed as a ventricular septal defect and she died of it in 1969. Kishore Kumar's third marriage was to Bollywood actress Yogeeta Bali in 1976 lasted two years. He was married to Leena Chandavarkar from 1980 until his death.

Mallika Sherawat going to Cannes

‘What is she going to wear?’ is the thought that first pops up in the mind the moment one hears that Bollywood’s sex kitten Mallika Sherawat.

Who’s been purring more in Hollywood lately, is off to the 63rd Cannes Film Festival (May 12 to 23) in France. Come May, Mademoiselle M is headed to the French Riviera town to unveil her film Hissss which is co-produced.

By her brother Vikram Lamba and directed by Jennifer Lynch. We hear that the film’s actors, including Irrfan Khan and Divya Dutta, will attend a press conference and photo call at the Majestic Hotel.

where the film’s release date will also be announced. The film’s makers will also throw a cocktail party for international buyers and VIPs. Mallika’s presence at the festival is mandated by one more event surrounding her upcoming American film ‘Love, Barack’. But what we can’t wait to watch is the dress that Mallika will choose for the event. Another eye-popper!

It's a first - Bipasha reduced designer's fee for print ad

Bipasha Basu has been in the news for walking out of two recent shows. And now, a print ad for a well-known jewllery brand (endorsed by many B-Town actresses) featuring Bips ran into.

A problem because of the over-inflated budget submitted by her designer for the costumes.Says a source, "Print ad budgets cost anything between Rs 5-7 lakh but the Bongshell's budget for.

This one had skyrocketed to 12 lakhs! What was shocking was that Bips' designer Priyanjali had charged five lakh for five outfits.

Other expenditures included studio charges, photographer fees, make-up and hair stylist, etc. When the owner saw the breakdown of the expensive photo shoot, he decided to cancel it.

The source continue "Bipasha also put her foot down and told the brand that she would stick to her designer and cancel the contract.

When it became clear th ebrand owner wouldn't change his mind, everyone tried to convince the actress to find a workable situation.

Finally, the designer's fee was drastically reduced and the ad was shot on Friday."However a source close to the Bengali bombshell adds, "It's not Bips but her endorsement agency that is responsible for inflating budgets of print shots or her walkouts from a few events."Bipasha's spokesperson says, "I am not aware about the cancellation.

They took three alternate dates and finally shot on May 23 for the same. Every artiste is entitled to give couple of photographer and stylist options.The clients are free to choose and lock accordingly. They had problems fitting in one of the photographers' budget so we had given them five choices...

The same was true for stylists. The stylist who worked on the shoot charged only Rs 50,000 as her fee. The clothes depending from whom you source it or buy it from, vary in budgets. Priyanjali happily budgeted the clothes within the quote given by the brand and apparently, the shoot results are awesome."

Kareena finally joins Twitter

After a lot of dilly-dallying, Kareena Kapoor has finally landed on Twitter and Facebook. But before her fans jump with joy that they will learn about her daily -if not hourly-routine, let us tell you that Bebo has announced that she will be updating her profile only once in two weeks.

The busy gal has promised photos, updates, etc. but only when she has the time to do so. But her optimistic fans will probably say something is better than nothing.

Priyanka is magical, confesses Ranbir Kapoor

After a succinct affair with Deepika Padukone, actor Ranbir Kapoor has apparently become very fond of, not Katrina Kaif, but his ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ co-star Priyanka Chopra.

And well, this startling disclosure comes from none other than the blue-eyed boy of Kapoor khandaan, Ranbir himself. Ever since his break-up with Deepika.

Ranbir has been tight-lipped about his relationship status and has kept away from. The gossip surrounding his link-ups with various B-town beauties.

However, recently, Ranbir openly accepted his liking for Priyanka Chopra. Talking to a news daily, Ranbir said, “She is magical, an amazing actress, amazing girl to hang out with. And I think I have also found a dear friend for life.”

My role in Raavan is most challenging - Aishwarya Rai

The music of Mani Ratnam’s upcoming film Raavan was unveiled in Mumbai on Saturday night and the attention grabbers of the evening were the film’s stars Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram, music director A R Rahman, director Mani Ratnam and lyricist Gulzar.

While Abhishek and Rahman lit up the evening with energetic performances, Aishwarya Rai hosted the event. Dressed in a fetching cream-coloured saree with red embroidery, she looked every bit enchanting and shared many things about the movie, her role and the conditions in which the film was shot.

She revealed that Ratnam first gave her the idea about ‘Raavan’ in the days when she shot for Guru with him. “For the song 'Nanna re' (in Guru), I was dancing in full abundance in the rain. Little did I know that Mani was in the process of making a decision.

That I will be his new character Ragini for ‘Raavan’,” she said. The actress said that her role in the film is the most challenging of her career. “This is the most challenging role of my career,” she said. Describing the condition in which the film was shot, she added:

“We shot with snakes, rabbits, leeches moving around us. This has been the best adventure experience.” Abhishek, in a jovial mood as usual, said Mani has pampered him. “As an actor, Mani helps me to behave badly and get away with it,” he said.

Katrina to do a Madhubala

After playing a quasi biographical character in Raajneeti.

Katrina Kaif is set to play a real life character - Madhubala.

Katrina will reprise the legendary actress’ role in the Kishore Kumar biopic to be directed by Anurag Basu.

Katrina was finalised for the project after she opted out of Basu’s other film, Silence, in which.

She was to co-star with Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor.

A source says, “Katrina couldn’t do two back-to-back projects.

With Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kapoor. So she picked the biopic on Kishore Kumar in which she will play Madhubala.”

While she was considering her option back then. Katrina had said, “If I do another film with Ranbir, I’d want it to be a full-fledged commercial love story.” And it can’t get any more mainstream and romantic than the Kishore Kumar-Madhubala saga.

In fact, the actress has already begun doing her homework for the role and watched Mughal-e-Azam, Mahal and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.

While Katrina chose not to reply, Anurag says guardedly, “I think it’s a little early to talk about it. I still haven’t got the principal cast of my current project, Silence, in place. But yes, Katrina is someone I am very, very fond of...for her looks, talent and nature.

I am definitely working with her, if not in Silence, then in my next film.” One of the song sequences from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi that Anurag Basu’s film will be looking to recreate is the Kishore-Madhubala song Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Russian Cyber-Thief Case Illustrates Security Risks For U.S. Corporations

Stew Magnuson writes in National Defense Magazine:

“Vladimir” came from a good family in Moscow. His parents both had advanced degrees and he was an academic star in high school.

He studied finance at his university and was equally well versed in computer science and physics. Smart, well spoken and personable, he could have been anything he wanted to be. But he chose to become a cyberthief.

Vladimir, an alias, preyed on wealthy Americans, said Mark Danner, a former U.S. intelligence officer, who is now a consulting manager for public safety and homeland security at NSI, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting group. Danner interviewed Vladimir in prison in an effort to put a face on the hacking menace.

“When it comes to the criminal world, the problem is that the faces of these perpetrators are really unknown,” he said at the Gov Sec conference in Washington, D.C. “They’re unknown in public and expert circles.”

While the federal government and Congress are making a push to toughen up the nation’s defenses in cyberspace, experts note that most of the vulnerabilities that thieves and spies are exploiting through the Internet are in the private sector, where state actors, criminal syndicates and hackers like Vladimir steal money and secrets with alarming regularity. Defense Department officials have warned companies doing business with the Pentagon to protect their data from foreign hackers.

A joint report from the Internet Security Alliance and the American National Standards Institute said chief financial officers and company leaders don’t appreciate the seriousness of the problem. Many simply do not want to invest the money needed to strengthen defenses against cybercrimes, despite government estimates that U.S. companies lost to network intrusions some $1 trillion in intellectual property from 2008 to 2009.

More here.

Props: Terry Zink

DHS Fills Key Cyber Security Posts

J. Nicholas Hoover writes on InformationWeek:

The Department of Homeland Security filled two key cybersecurity positions this month, a DHS spokesman confirmed, hiring former Defense Information Systems Agency CIO Bobbie Stempfley to head up the agency's National Cyber Security Division and giving interim U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team director Randy Vickers a permanent job.

Stempfley takes over for Peter Fonash, who had been acting director of NCSD since Cornelius Tate left last year. Stempfley comes to DHS from DISA, where she worked for 10 years (over the last year as CIO), helping serve the Department of Defense with its networking and computing needs. While at DISA, Stempfley oversaw the continued evolution of the agency's rapid access computing environment private cloud computing platform.

Vickers, meanwhile, takes over for Mischel Kwon, who left US-CERT in August to head up professional services at RSA. Much of NCSD's proposed budget -- $315 million, to be exact -- will go to US-CERT, which helps to coordinate responses to cybersecurity threats by sharing information on vulnerabilities and exploits through an alert system.

More here.

FBI Names New Cyber Chief

Ben Bain writes on FCW.com:

The FBI has named Gordon Snow as head of its Cyber Division. Snow will oversee the FBI’s programs to thwart cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes. Previously, Snow served as deputy assistant director of that division.

Snow joined the bureau in 1992, after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 10 years. The division’s previous head, Shawn Henry, left that post earlier this year to become assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office.

Link.

Deepika - No time for love

You could make cracks at her, chase her with controversy or swamp her with compliments

It doesn’t matter. Deepika Padukone has no time to turn back and respond. She’s so caught up.

In a whirlwind of activities from IPL matches and movie promotions to working.

On three movies back-to-back that trivial things like men, masti and firing back at the media seems like wasted time and effort.

In fact, the only place to catch her is on the movie sets. When her family and close friends miss her too much, they simply drop by at the shooting location for a quick cuppa chai with the gal. Such a starry life this one is, na? With no time for love, too. Or so we think...

Katrina's hot ghagra choli look in ‘Tees Maar Khan’

Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Farah Khan together in one film! It's a perfect recipe for success. Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan is one film that's been doing rounds from.

The day it was announced. Some rumours and some truth later, one thing is for sure that this film will be one out and out commercial film, full of entertainment a la Farah style.

Being a choreographer, we would see a lot of interesting dance numbers too, so surely Katrina would get to let her hair loose.

In this one for sure, and some very sexy interesting outfits are surely going to take the heat a notch higher. Talking about outfits, Kat actually went through a special diet and workout routine to look a certain way for the film. She is all set to show her sexy side in this film. Now doesn't she look fab in that ghagra choli. Remember!

Katrina Kaif has always been the lucky charm for Akshay, what with films like Namastey London, Singh is Kinng and Welcome being superhits at the Box Office. Well Akki, Tees Maar Khan is gonna be one lucky trip for you then.

Salman Khan to replace Mogambo in the sequel of Mr India!

Salman Khan to replace Mogambo in the sequel of Mr India! Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will replace the popular Mogambo in the sequel of Mr India earlier played by late Amrish Puri.

This is for the very first time that Salman Khan will be seen in a villainous role. Mr India 2, produced by Boney Kapoor will cast Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in the lead role.

This hit pair was last seen in “Judaai” (1997). With the sequel to Mr India, this pair will make a come back to Bollywood after a long gap of 13 years. It is in this film that Boney Kapoor will use the 3D experience for the very first time. This will be a high budget film costing around Rs 100 crore inclusive of foreign makeup artists for Salman and the use of high end technology.

Apart from Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, the film will also cast a young couple which is yet to be decided by Boney Kapoor.

Kangna believes in which phone?


National award winner Bollywood actor, Kangna Ranaut as brand ambassador for the new ALCATEL ICE3 Mobiles in India ALCATEL Debuts new handsets in India in association with ICE Mobile Network Systems; ALCATEL branded mobiles' design experience now in India in association with ICE; Five new mobile handsets.

In next three months.Kangna Ranaut has been roped in to endorse the brand as a perfect fit for its trendy, stylish and young image. Kangna Ranaut says, "ICE is a young, hip, cool and stylish phone. I love its distinctive look, and believe it offers great features. It is priced very affordably, and I'm sure it will be a very popular phone in the market. "

Bollywood hopes for a summer splash post-IPL

With curtains on the IPL cricket tournament, Bollywood is all set to buzz with activity as a slew of big-budget movies with nearly Rs 350 crore riding on them slated for release.

As the over month long tournament grabbed eye balls, major releases were held back. The first biggie lined up for release is Sajid Nadiadwala's comic caper Housefull on April 30.

Yash Raj films' Badmash Company starring Shahid Kapur and Anushka Sharma will hit the screens on May seven, Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori starrer Kites on May 21, followed by Prakash Jha's political thriller Raajneeti on June 4 and Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan' on June 18.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra told PTI that the film industry will be closely watching the performance of these big releases. "Stakes are high for the industry reeling under recession, high production costs and films flopping at regular intervals. At least Rs 350 crore is riding on these summer releases," he said.

The first look of Raavan has already created a buzz and the film's music will be launched in Mumbai tomorrow. Abhishek and Aishwarya will be seen together in a movie after three years. Their last film with Mani Ratnam was Guru and soon after the release the two actors were engaged to get married.

In Raavan, Abhishek will be seen in a negative role while Aishwarya has been paired opposite Tamil superstar Vikram. It was speculated that Abhishek plays the character of the Naxalite leader Kobad Gandy but the actor refuted it on his micro blogging account Twitter.

In Prakash Jha's Raajneeti a lot has been said about Katrina Kaif's character of a widow who takes a plunge into politics and that it was inspired from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. But, its director said there was nothing in common between the two, except they both looked beautiful in a saree. Jha has planned rallies across seven cities where the cast and crew will travel to colleges for a discussion on current issues and subjects with relevance to the youth.

"We would ask the students why aren't the educated youth coming forth to actively participate in politics? Why isn't it considered a career choice," he said. The promotional rallies will be held between May 10 and 24. Mexican beauty Barbara Mori is already in Mumbai and will join the promotional campaign of 'Kites' which is expected to start next week.

"Kites will be Hrithik Roshan's first film in two years after Jodhaa Akbar. He was last seen in a special appearance in Luck by Chance last year. Housefull has been directed by Sajid Khan and has a host of actors like Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone among others.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Plans For New Global Anti-Cyber Crime Treaty Fail at Last Minute

Gary Flood writes on Public Technology:

To the dismay of law enforcement agencies globally, the UN just missed ratifying new international agreement to fight cybercrime that takes into account the global move to Cloud Computing.

A Russian proposal to update the legislation in place to take account of the objections of the Third World foundered last week due to ongoing differences in what developing countries and the stance of the EU, US and Canada.

This is a problem, say security experts, as cybercrime, which has gained more and more of an international aspect as criminals use the Web's anonymity to keep one step ahead of the law, may only be effectively curbed if things like suspect server sites in one country (e.g., ironically enough in the former Soviet Union) are closed down – something that can only happen with cross-border co-operation between governments and police forces.

More here.

Hat-tip: The Register

Bollywood Beauty - Katrina refuses '3 idiots' Tamil remake

The film '3 Idiots' topped the box office, and many a filmmaker was keen to buy the rights of this flick with the intention of remaking.

It in South India. Gemini Film Circuit now owns the copyrights to make '3 Idiots' in Tamil and Telugu. While actor.

Vijay has already been roped in to play the lead role, it has been heard that the first choice of. The female lead was Katrina Kaif. We're told, "Katrina was offered the movie.

In spite of Kareena playing the female lead in the original. However, she had date problems and couldn't fit the assignment.

In her schedule. Also with her doing big banner Hindi films, her priority will be Hindi films for. The time being, although she would like to try different things.

And keep her options open." Wonder whom the filmmakers will approach next? Will it be yet another Bollywood hottie, we wonder.

Vidya Balan enjoys shoot in Delhi

The temperature in New Delhi may be hovering above 40 degrees Celsius, but Vidya Balan has still found something to enjoy during her shoot for the film.

No One Killed Jessica’ in the capital with co-star Rani Mukherjee. “I love the wide open spaces, the broad streets and the crowded lanes,” Vidya is quoted as saying by a news agency.

Contrary to reports, there’s been no ego hassles between Vidya and Rani. “Rani (Mukherjee) and I have been shooting outdoors.

Since she's my favourite actress from the immediately-senior generation, I am happy to be sharing camera space with her,” Vidya said.

The shooting has been so hectic that it has left Vidya little time to catch up with people she knows in Delhi.

“There's no time to do anything. By the time we wrap up, all I want to do is crash out for the day...

Sadly, I haven't even been able to meet my sister who stays in Gurgaon (just outside Delhi)” Vidya said.

Priyanka Chopra gets candid about Ranbir and back bites at Akshay

In a candid interview, Bolly town’s sweet, sexy, sultry, scintillating, sizzling, suave, saucy, spicy damsel.

Priyanka Chopra speaks about her co-stars Ranbir Kapoor and Akshay Kapoor and also her foray into television with ‘Fear Factor’.

Here’s the interview in her own words: On Ranbir Kapoor- “I have known Ranbir for three years.

We have friends in common. However, I didn’t know him too well when I left for the ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ schedule in New York.

We got to know each other there. He is a phenomenal co-actor, someone who keeps you on your toes.

He has a certain sense of give and take. A certain sense of listening. As a person, he is super fun.

We were always laughing and joking. It was a great outdoor.” On Akshay Kumar and Fear Factor- “My television debut with ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ (KKK) is super exciting.

I don’t see it as me replacing Akshay Kumar. How can I? Akshay is the original khatron ka khiladi, so I’m not even going to try. I will fail miserably. What I’m going to do is to bring my own personality into the show. And not try and step into Akshay’s shoes.

My aim is to make the show young, vivacious, fun, funny and shake it up a little bit. I will not intrude into Akshay’s space. I’m shooting for KKK in August. The shooting days are only 20 and it’s going to be a September season of 16 episodes” Conclusion: Is she in awe of Ranbir? Did she back bite Akshay who refused to do a film (Tees Maar Khan) opposite her? A woman’s tongue unleashed is more intriguing than an unsolved riddle of history…….

Katrina Kaif to grace Dance India Dance 2 finale with Ranbir Kapoor

Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif will grace Dance India Dance 2 finale this Friday.

As the curtain will close on the second season of the dance based reality show. A feisty battle is expected between the four finalists – Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, Punit and Binny Sharma. Earlier, It was buzzed.

That Hrithik Roshan will be the special guest but the channel has honed on to Kapoor and Katrina. The duo will be there to promote their upcoming flick Rajneethi.

After crossing big challenges given by three mentors Geeta kapur, Remo D Souza and Terrance Louis, four contestants, Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, Punit and Binny Sharma are now looking forward to grab the ‘Suhneri takdir ki topi’ and the title of ‘dancing super star’. The evening will see outstanding performance from the mentors too. The grand finale takes place on 23 April.

Love Your Mother: 40th Anniversary of Earth Day



Love Your Mother Earth.

- ferg

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Mark Fiore: Born to Lose



More Mark Fiore brilliance.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle.


Enjoy.

- ferg

U.S. Politicians Jockey Over Cyber Security Positioning

Ben Bain writes on FCW.com:

Cybersecurity appears to be on the verge of losing its status as one of the few areas of national security to remain relatively free of partisan bickering.

Because the topic has never been colored neatly red or blue, debates about computer defense have focused largely on substantive rather than political differences, enabling policy discussions to continue despite the changing political fortunes of the political parties.

But now more than ever, the public is becoming aware of the dangers of computer attacks. As solely technology topics, they were once the province of geeks and policy wonks inside the Beltway. But they now make national headlines.

Given the highly politicized environment in Washington, cybersecurity will inevitably become a political lightning rod.

More here.

Songs of Sorrow: Lady Gaga


Paparazzi: Love and obsession. Facebook stalk-age. Anxiety to leave the communal space. Jealousy, rage, and the thin line between love and hate. The beauty of a lover can never be recreated outside of the relationship.

Poker Face: The mix of shame and excitement on being attracted to the same sex. "Bluffin" with your "muffin" because you only fall in love with men. Distraction. The need for orgasm. Ultimate power over the situation. Control.

Money Honey: Being your girl is all the money in the world. Of course, actual money would be nice, too.

I Like it Rough: Feeling insecure about your sexuality because you want to have sex more often and rougher than your boyfriend does. Men raised by women and only women. No rage, no play, the same, boring. You want the throw down. You get labeled as a slut. Little does he know you are the best thing, you are "shiny."

Bad Romance: I would rather have your resentment and anger than nothing at all.

Alejandro: Your jealousy makes me sick. Let me be free.

Monster: Your girlfriend tells you she slept with that guy, and he was an asshole. You sleep with him anyway because you are stupid. He totally consumes you, then dumps you on the side of the road. Ultimate pain.

Speechless: Daddy issues. Enough said.

Dance in the Dark: Your boyfriend thinks you're fat. You burn and seethe with rage and self-loathing. You are gorgeous, but he makes you feel like you're nothing. You dance in the dark with your friends. Depression and suicide loom. You hope and work back to self-confidence.

Telephone: I will ignore you because you refused to acknowledge me.

Teeth: There is no man who can equal your power. Torn between feeling wonderful about it, or awful. The overwhelming solitude.

Breaking News : Some BUllSHIT Happening Somewhere !

This is exactly how the Main Stream Media keeps us stupid enough to buy their stupid shit !


Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere


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Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma- Battle of the bikini

Guess what Deepika Padukone and the so-sweet Anushka Sharma have in common.

Well, they both made their debut alongside the mega star Shahrukh Khan. While Deepika flaunted her Indian.

As well as chic look in the thrilling ‘Om Shanti Om’, Anushka made her foray into Bollywood in the super hit ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

However, now the two ladies have a war in hand (or should I say in chests) as they are going the bikini way for the 1st time in their celluloid career.

This summer you can expect the mercury level to touch phenomenal heights as the leggy lass Deepika Padukone dons a bikini in Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Housefull’ while the sugary facedAnushka Sharma will flaunt her delicious looks in Shahid Kapoor starrer ‘Badmaash Company’.

The trailers of both the films are on air and the sexy hot bodied lasses make our mouths salivate every time they invade our TV screens. Though, Deepika looks ravishing as she comes out off sea in her wet and drenched two piece look,Anushka glows radiantly and looks far more inviting in that yellow bikini piece that she uses her breasts to drape with. Though, we are looking forward to both the films, you can speak your heart as to whose side you take in this red hot bikini battle.

Everybody loves Genelia

GENELIA D’ SOUZA is ecstatic about going home after a 45-day schedule in Australia for the Telugu film ‘Orange’. But she is equally unhappy about bidding adieu to her “fabulous unit.” A day later, she tweets: “A part of me was really sad to leave my unit.

Went through the strangest of feelings while I said my goodbyes...’’ Well, the young actor’s (she is 23) Melbourne experience has since been played out by the media, including her stance on the continent being safe for both Indian students and tourists. During her visit, she also met Bronwyn Pike, the education minister of the state of Victoria.

When we meet in her hotel room, she begins, ‘‘When we go for shootings abroad, we generally go to the most secluded places the hills and picturesque areas but ‘Orange’ is a city film and so we have been on the bridges, in trams, etc.

The interaction with people was fun.’’Unofficially known as the current ‘endorsement’ queen - she is the face of more than nine major brands - D’ Souza is in high spirits even if the year didn’t start with a bang for her. Her two much-awaited films - ‘Chance Pe Dance’ (with Shahid Kapoor) and ‘Katha’ in Telugu didn’t create ripples at the box-office. She has been busy as a showstopper at the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.

She also has three major films lined up- David Dhawan’s ‘Hook Ya Crook’ with John Abraham, ‘It’s my Life’, a remake of her Telugu super hit ‘Bommarillu’, co-starring Harman Baweja, and ‘Uthama Puthiran’, yet another remake of her Telugu superhit ‘Ready’, with Dhanush.

Pan-Asian impact

In person, there is very little to distinguish D’Souza from the energetic Aditi Mahant (“except for the fact that I don’t abuse like her in real life,’’ she clarifies) in ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’. Like Aditi, she displays a level of maturity as the talk veers towards her life and career. She says she is the bridge between the North and South, having acted in Bollywood as well as the Telugu, Tamil and Kannada industries. “I am as much a part of Bollywood as I am of Tollywood.

I am a part of Kannada films too. There is hardly any time to rest,’’ she begins. But she quickly adds that she loves this pace. ‘‘Sometimes, while shooting, I crib for an off and after two days I don’t know what to do. So I am back on my feet.’’ But becoming a popular actor in Bollywood is a lot of hard work, she insists. ‘‘We are up at 4 a.m. when the whole world is asleep.’’

From bridesmaid to star

Perhaps due to her choice of films or her slight frame, D’Souza is often perceived to be a tomboy. She admits that with such an image, it was initially tough to make an impact in Bollywood. Incidentally, much before she joined the “glamour industry’’, her priority was sports.

This state-level athlete, sprinter and national level football player (school) adds that she “wasn’t even thinking about (films) as a career option as there was no one in my family even remotely connected to films. And it wasn’t really that I grew up loving films.’’

She was discovered at a wedding, where she was one of six bridesmaids. She was asked to show up at an agency with her portfolio the next day. As she didn’t have a portfolio, she took her birthday pictures along instead. The next thing she knew, she had bagged the Parker pen ad with Amitabh Bachchan.

The Khan factor

In films, what worked in her favour was her perky attitude. She struck gold with two Southern hits- Shankar’s ‘Boys’ in Tamil and the Telugu ‘Bommarillu’. In 2008, she made her Bollywood re-entry with ‘Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na’ and she hasn’t looked back since.

‘‘Those without godfathers don’t get a second chance. I did. Because I’m God’s favourite child,’’ she chortles. ‘Bommarillu’ (2006) won her a Filmfare award and was later remade in Tamil, Kannada and now in Hindi, with D’Souza in the lead.

‘I’ll continue to do Southern films. It’s a huge market. Right now it’s great to know people in the South write roles keeping Genelia in mind,’’ she grins. What’s more- she reveals that Anupam Chopra, the Australia-based producer of ‘Orange’ who teaches filmmaking there, is making her character, Hasini Rao, in ‘Bommarillu’ one of his case studies. ‘‘I thought it was a huge compliment,’’ she says.

As for being part of the new crop of young and talented stars, D’Souza believes that there is no competition, just a lot of ‘‘positivity around.’’ ‘‘I have worked with Shahid (Kapoor), Imran (Khan), John (Abraham), Charan (Teja) and with pretty much all the young actors in Bollywood (except Ranbir Kapoor) and each one is unique in their own space.

The one thing they all have is the drive. There is healthy competition. It’s not about ‘oh you are doing well, let me see how I can manipulate your career.’ It’s about trying to better oneself. I have had a great time with each one of them,’’ she insists.

Mention her big Bollywood break and she is all praise for Aamir Khan. She calls her experience in Khan’s production, ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, a lesson for life. ‘‘You come out of it a confident actor. You are not treated as someone who doesn’t know her job because you are tested enough for it. I had four screen tests before I was selected and there were some 400 girls.

So you go there as an actor who wants to do her job and that is something that Aamir instils in you.’’But how does she rate herself against the other young actresses in Bollywood? ‘‘Someone once told me, ‘you have this cute, bubbly tag.’ But I think I have the girl next-door tag,’’ says D’Souza. ‘‘One of my directors pointed out to me that one of my major advantages down south is that I find favour among both genders.’’

Up close and personal

Contrary to her public image, D’Souza admits to feeling lonely at times. ‘‘As much as I’m attached, I’m detached. I’m a very friendly kid but I choose my friends very carefully. I’m very closed. I can’t let people know what I feel. It takes me a lot of time to open up,’’ she admits.

She is traditional yet modern, makes her own decisions, yet is rarely seen on the sets without her mom. She loves Kenny Rogers, hates techno, and her two favourite actors are Dimple Kapadia and Neetu Singh. ‘‘I’m not someone who’ll go topless or backless. I have certain values. As Indian women we just can’t take our clothes off and be so blatant,’’ she insists.

Just when I begin digesting this, she adds that success has not gone to her head as her family keeps her grounded. She points out that she still takes her dogs for a walk in Mumbai and no one bothers her. ‘‘But I will be lying if I say I don’t get excited when someone recognises me. Even in Australia I was not spared,’’ she smiles.

A bit like her screen characters, D’Souza loves to talk and eat. She confides that the yumcha, or Chinese brunch experience, in Australia is now on her list of favourites. ‘‘I don’t believe in dieting because it makes you look rigid. It’s strange how we women like to look scrawny and thin when men actually like meat not bones. I binge on home-made food and my mom does not cook the heavy, oily stuff. As much as I enjoy chips, I have salmon and the steamed stuff ­ a fair mix,’’ she admits.

With plans to start a blog soon, D’Souza admits that the other things on her to-do list include settling down and having a family. But not right now. She says she might as well work hard for it to happen someday. Her idea of Mr Right is someone who is also a good conversationalist.

‘‘There are good looking boys but when they open their mouth all my affection just flies out the window,’’ she pouts, adding that looks are secondary. ‘‘I am a control freak and I prefer someone on a similar basis. I like someone who has a zest for life,’’ she explains, hotly denying all the gossip that she is currently in a relationship. ‘‘I am looking and searching,’’ is all she allows. Now, that won’t break any hearts.

Bollywood glamour gals battle to become the first Indian Bond girl

Two Bollywood actresses are vying to be the first Indian Bond girl as rumours spread that the next 007 film will be shot in the country. Producers of the film, expected to be directed by Sam Mendes, have been scouting locations in India.

The plot is believed to be set in Afghanistan in landscapes similar to India's Rajasthan deserts and the arid mountains of Ladakh, close to the border with Tibet. In 1983 the Bond film Octopussy featured the Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj in a plot centred on a cult of "octopus" women on a floating island in Udaipur, the "city of lakes" in Rajasthan in western India.

Last week Freida Pinto, who played Latika in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, was linked to the new film in which Daniel Craig will play 007. Her latest film, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, directed by Woody Allen, will be released later this year. She is to be the face of L'Oreal cosmetics and is believed to be India's highest paid film star.

Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and India's most successful actress, was also in the frame, friends told an Indian newspaper. They said Rai, 36, was better suited to the role because of her vast experience in Bollywood and Hollywood.

She recently appeared in Pink Panther 2 with Steve Martin and made her name outside India in Bride and Prejudice. Aged 25 and recently listed as one of the world's most beautiful women by People magazine, Pinto would appear to fit the age and beauty profile.

While Rai is 11 years older, her friends reminded her Indian fans she was once described as the "most beautiful woman in the world" by Julia Roberts. A spokesman for Eon, the film's producers, declined to comment.