Holidays Vampire Sequel ‘New Moon’ at Box Office

LOS ANGELES, News update: The ‘Twilight’ vampire romance sequel ‘New Moon’ took a record-breaking bite out of the North American box office this weekend, final figures showed on Monday.

The second big-screen installment adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s phenomenally successful books raked in an astounding 142.8 million dollars in three days, the third biggest opening of all time, Exhibitor Relations said.

Only Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” with 158.4 million dollars and “Spider-Man 3″ with 151.1 million dollars have scored bigger openings.

However, the “New Moon” earnings are considered remarkable because the film was released in November, outside of the traditional summer blockbuster season.

Although the movie was unable to dethrone “The Dark Knight” or “Spider-Man 3″ for highest opening weekend, it did set records for biggest midnight opening and opening day, figures showed.

The “Twilight” franchise follows the fortunes of high school teenager Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, and her vampire lover Edward Cullen, played by British heart-throb Robert Pattinson.

The success of “New Moon” left American football drama “The Blind Side” in second place.

The feel-good film, adapted from Michael Lewis’s 2006 book, is based on the real-life journey from rags to riches of Baltimore Ravens star Michael Oher.

Starring Sandra Bullock as the woman who helps Oher realize his dream, it earned a healthy 34.1 million dollars in its opening weekend.

In third place, end-of-the-world film “2012″ brought in 26.4 million dollars, more than double its next-runner-up, “Planet 51,” with 12.3 million.

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” earned 12.2 million, trailed by acclaimed abuse saga “Precious” with 10.9 million dollars.

In seventh place was satire “The Men Who Stare At Goats,” starring George Clooney and Jeff Bridges as members of a military unit schooled in psychological warfare. The film took 2.8 million dollars.

Eighth spot was taken by comedy “Couples Retreat,” which earned 1.9 million dollars while extra-terrestrial drama “The Fourth Kind” was ninth with 1.7 million.

Michael Jackson concert movie “This Is It” completed the top 10 with 1.6 million dollars.

El Tour De Tucson 2009

El Tour De Tucson 2009, Latest news about, El Tour de Tucson is one of the largest road bicycling events in the United States. The El Tour de Tucson was started in 1983 by cyclist Richard DeBernardis, current president of the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America. The ride takes place every November in Tucson, Arizona. The first El Tour attracted nearly 185 riders while in recent years between 7,000 and 10,000 cyclists will attend.

Because the Tour is so big, people in the bike industry are exposed to Tucson, and they know it’s a good place to ride. El Tour de Tucson helps put Tucson on the cycling map. Bicycling Magazine gives three initial reasons for ranking Tucson as the second-best place among cities its size for riding a bicycle: “Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine.

There are many divisions in the race, you can choose to cycle 109, 80, 67, or 35 miles, plus a 4-mile and 1/4 mile Kids & Family Fun Ride. The event offers fun and cycling tests for all levels of riders. The route weaves through scenic Tucson, which is surrounded by 5 mountain ranges, three of which rise over 9,000 feet. The courses range from rolling to moderately hilly, with the 35 mile route being fairly flat and the perfect course for beginners.

El Tour de Tucson cyclists raise funds for Tu Nidito Children & Family Services, the American Parkinson Disease Association, Water For People, Ben’s Bells Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Diamond Children’s Medical Center, other Perimeter Bicycling charities and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.For the children and families at Tu Nidito, El Tour is much more than a ride. “El Tour is our livelihood,” said Executive Director Liz McCusker.[4] More than 8,000 cyclists participated in the 2008 El Tour de Tucson, raising more than $200,000 for Tu Nidito Children and Family Services.

Martin Maher West Point

Martin Maher West Point: latest news about, In 1898 at the U.S. Military Academy, a young captain named John J. Pershing swore in an even younger new recruit, Pvt. Martin Maher. Maher, who had arrived in his new country just two years before from Ireland’s County Tipperary, was as new to West Point then as each year’s new cadets, or “plebes.” After over three decades encountering plebes and upperclassmen, Maher would earn a place in the hearts of countless graduates and, through his memoirs, a place in the memory of countless filmgoers.
Soon after his enlistment, Maher was assigned to the West Point gymnasium. He claimed he couldn’t swim a stroke, but as the Department of Physical Training’s swimming instructor from 1899 to 1928, he made sure that each and every cadet could.

“It has been argued that Marty Maher knew personally more officers in the United States Army than any other person alive,” the U.S.M.A. Public Affairs Office says. From Pershing to Patton, Bradley to Bolivar, Maher knew them all — and he learned more than just their names. The scrappy young Irishman knew them well, and loved them. His work ethic, enthusiasm, and affection for the corps of cadets inspired many to love him, too –he was named an honorary member of the classes of 1912, 1926 and 1928.

As Maher progressed through the ranks to technical sergeant (E-7), he essentially grew up along with many young officers; as he matured, he nurtured them. The novelization of his life was aptly titled “Bringing Up the Brass.” One of Maher’s former swimming students, Dwight D. Eisenhower, wrote the foreword: “I cannot put too high an estimate on the help [Maher] gave my morale. Marty, with his Irish wit and his talent for understanding, did the same for many, many others … This foreword is meant to be a testament of the admiration and affection one soldier feels for an old friend, associate and helper, Sgt. Marty Maher of West Point.”

Maher’s impressions and memories of West Point in the book were so vivid that director John Ford made them into what is still called the best movie about the U.S. Military Academy — “The Long Gray Line. Starring Tyrone Power as Maher and Maureen O’Hara as his wife, Mary, the film provides a warm and humorous noncommissioned officer’s perspective on our nation’s oldest officer training institute.
Source: newsofhot.com

Under19 World Cup 2010 to Be Launched in Dunedin

KARACHI,Pakistan: The ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup 2010 will be launched in Dunedin (New Zealand) on November 23, 2009, ICC said in statement issued on Thursday.
The function will take place at University Oval, Dunedin The event is being held in advance of the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan, which begins on November 24.

The ceremony will be attended by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, New Zealand Cricket President Denis Currie, and Under19 CWC tournament director Tim Murdoch. Black Cap batsman Ross Taylor, himself a former Kiwis Under19 Captain has been invited to attend the launching ceremony.

This 16-team tournament, which is seen as an important breeding ground for the next generation of senior international cricketers, will take place in New Zealand from January 15 to 30 January next.

Defending Champion India will open its campaign against qualifier Afghanistan at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, near Christchurch on the opening day of the competition with Pakistan facing the West Indies in Palmerston North and 2008 beaten finalist South Africa taking on Ireland in Queenstown.

The teams are split into four groups with Groups A and C being based in and around Christchurch, Group B teams playing their matches in Queenstown and Group D games taking place in Napier and Palmerston North.

In addition to the 10 Full Members, there are six Associate and Affiliate teams taking part, having won through their respective regional qualifying tournaments as well as the global qualifier, which was held in Canada in September.

Miss Congeniality 2

Miss Congeniality 2: Miss Congeniality 2 may prove to be the most difficult film critics will have to review this year. Not because it’s so great there aren’t words – oh no; and not because it’s so awful, either. Rather, it’s because there hasn’t been another film released in 2005 that hits its mark so squarely that there’s really nothing to say after it’s over.

A movie of unsurpassed mildness, the film exudes middle-of-the-road, family-friendly spunk, targets comedic chestnuts older than William Shatner’s hairpiece, and manages to project itself squarely into the ranks of sure-fire successes, all without moving a single follicle of formula out of place.

Sandra Bullock reprises her role as Gracie Hart, the onetime field agent-turned-pageant queen, who now struggles to return to the anonymity that made her such a valuable commodity to the FBI. Realizing that her celebrity is likely to endanger herself and her colleagues (an admirer asks for an autograph during a holdup), she reluctantly agrees to become the spokesperson for the bureau and joins up with a new stylist named Joel (played by Diedrich Bader) to make the rounds on the talk-show circuit.

Despite being partnered with an angry agent trainee named Sam Fuller (Regina King), Gracie enjoys her figurehead position, preening on camera with beauty tips and a penchant for pithy aphorisms. But when her best pal Cheryl (Heather Burns) and pageant MC Stan Fields (William Shatner) are kidnapped, Gracie begins to realize just how much of a liability her newfound fame has become. She arrives in Las Vegas to put a happy face on the tragedy, but soon learns that the local authorities are uncooperative with an agent who seems more interested in face time with Regis than facing down bad guys. With little other choice than to work together with her reluctant bodyguard Fuller, Gracie returns to the fray to rescue her friend and remember what inspired her to become an agent in the first place.

Much like last fall’s excruciating Bridget Jones sequel, Miss Congeniality 2 casts aside the pretense of character development and distills the ’successful’ elements of its predecessor into one potent comedic formula. The difference here is that the essence of the story – about a frumpy agent finding herself rather than a fat girl embracing her neuroses – is imminently compelling, and actually requires little tinkering to generate new story possibilities. The bad news, such as it is in the context of a Miss Congeniality sequel (bad in and of itself to hapless boyfriends), is that the filmmakers don’t take the characters anywhere new, unless Vegas counts.
Source: movies.ign.com

Toni Braxton splits from hubby Keri Lewis?

R ‘n’ B singer Toni Braxton has reportedly split from her hubby of eight years Keri Lewis. According to Essence.com, the split comes as Braxton, who has two children, seven year old Denim and Diezel, six, with Lewis, faces the prospect of losing her home after she allegedly defaulted on her mortgage payments, reports Contactmusic

Khloe Kardashian eager to buy Britney Spears’ old home

American socialite Khloe Kardashian has revealed that she is keen on buying singer Britney Spears’ old home, as she has heard the place is “to die for”. Khloe, 25, who recently tied the knot with basketball star Lamar Odom, is said to be looking for a residence in Los Angeles, as the pair have reportedly been staying in hotels since their wedding in September. “I’m going to see Britney Spears’ old house – I heard it’s to die for,” the Daily Telegraph quoted her as telling OK! magazine

Ashlee Simpson’s ‘diva behaviour’ got her booted from Melrose Place

American pop singer Ashlee Simpson was reportedly kicked off from CW hit ‘Melrose Place’ because of her diva behaviour. According to a source, a cast member revealed that it was also because Simpson, 25, could not act. “Ashlee was kicked off ‘Melrose Place’ because she was a total diva on set, late all the time, and deeply disliked by fellow cast members,” Fox News quoted the source as saying.

Bunny Lake Is Missing

latest News Udpated, Bunny Lake Is Missing: I have been doing lotsa looking back on classic films and this time I saw “Bunny Lake is Missing”. It was about Ann Lake and her missing daughter Bunny. They searched every place where they might find her.

They even got to thinking that Bunny Lake may not have existed and it was all in the mind of Ann. She has this very charming overzealous brother which was neurotic weird to totally manic crazy who is helping her all the way. Turns out this is a nutso case. She was not really missing. Her brother was just crazy.

The movie sorta got me wondering if missing children were the “in” thing in movies back then. I think I have seen lotsa classic films about missing children. Don’t get me wrong. I love the movie. I really liked it. It was superbly acted. Carol Lynley was superb. She was desperate. But she has this very strong facade that she puts on. Laurence Olivier was great as well. At first he was just innocent gentleman. Then it shifted to crazy nutso. Well acted. Very Well.

But I sometimes feel that the sound editing was tad off. Including the screechy soundtrack. It was distracting because it felt over the place and the screeching sprouts out all of a sudden in the scenes. But nevertheless it was a solid classic movie.
Source: racsoledger.blogspot.com

Blast Near Bank In Rawalpindi, over 22 Dead

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN, : The death tally in Rawalpindi blast has mounted to 22 and as many others were injured, which took place near Shalimar Hotel behind Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel located on a Mall Road in Cantonment Area, on Monday morning.
Rescue teams have arrived on the blast scene, kicking off rescue efforts meanwhile, dead bodies have been shifted to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, sources said.

According to police sources, the blast was planted in a vehicle; meanwhile, emergency has been declared in all hospitals as some wounded people were said to be critical in condition including an army major.

Hospital sources confirmed as many as 22 people have lost their lives while 15 others were wounded some even critical in condition among them.

According to preliminary information, a loud explosion, could be audible up to far and wide places, occurred at 10:40 am to target law enforcement agencies’ officials meanwhile, security forces’ officials had cordoned off the entire blast site.

It may be mentioned; the GHQ is located 500 yards away from blast site, which is a commercial area.

The intensity of blast also damaged vehicles parked far from explosion place, witnesses said.

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