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Friday, December 17, 2010

Pamela Stephenson: (61) My Strictly Secret Diary

 

By Pamela Stephenson
Last updated at 12:55 AM on 18th December 2010

Tears. Battle wounds. And oh-so intimate moments with her toyboy partner. We asked Strictly’s supergran Pamela Stephenson to keep a diary of her six frenzied days before tonight’s final.

SUNDAY

I woke up at 4.30am, my body still surging with adrenaline, and couldn’t get back to sleep. Still can’t believe I got through to the finals of Strictly Come Dancing last night!

My husband Billy (Connolly) is jet- lagged, so he was up, too, banging the bathroom door as usual. His last words before he fell asleep were: ‘By the way, how’d you get to dance like that?’

‘I told you before,’ I muttered. ‘James!’

Supergran: Pamela Stephenson promises to turn up the raunch for Strictly Come Dancing's final

Supergran: Pamela Stephenson promises to turn up the raunch for Strictly Come Dancing's final

‘Oh aye,’ replied Billy. ‘Good lad.’

As he started snoring, I allowed myself to bask in a surge of pride and relief, remembering that last night the judges gave me and my adorable professional partner James Jordan four tens. This was followed by a fit of anxiety at the thought of having to do it all again.

On Strictly, there’s no such thing as a day off. Today, a couple of hours filming at the BBC’s TV Centre in West London was followed by an intense training session, with James in his usual bullish frame of mind.

‘Don’t think,’ he started, ‘that just because you did well last night I’m going to go easy on you this week!’

As if. For the next several hours, ‘Supergran’, as James has taken to calling me, was tortured with relentless teasing about my apparent inability to take three spinning steps to the left and remain on balance.

I don’t know why, but my legs feel like jelly. Oh wait, maybe it has something to do with the fact I just danced the paso doble, the quickstep and a swing marathon (the latter involving four flips over James’s head, two splits jumps, a couple of swings through his legs to a standing position and several other assorted leaps) on live TV watched by 14 million people. Not bad for a 61-year-old, eh?

Saucy: Pamela Stephenson has lost two-and-a-half stone since she started training for Strictly Come Dancing

Saucy: Pamela Stephenson has lost two-and-a-half stone since she started training for Strictly Come Dancing.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1339701/Pamela-Stephenson-writes-week-Strictly-Come-Dancing.html#ixzz18RaDdaRp

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Strictly Come Dancing: Pamela Stephenson, 61, promises sexy finale

 

At 61, she is the oldest contestant ever to reach the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

But Pamela Stephenson says that won’t stop her turning up the raunch on tonight’s show.

She has even gone so far as to liken her dancing to ‘full-on sex’.

Sexy: Pamela Stephenson and her professional partner James Jordan rehearse the Argentine tango ahead of tonight's grand final of Strictly Come Dancing

Sexy: Pamela Stephenson and her professional partner James Jordan rehearse the Argentine tango ahead of tonight's grand final of Strictly Come Dancing

Miss Stephenson, who is married to comedian Billy Connolly, said she was looking forward to performing the most ‘gorgeous’ and ‘sensuous’ Argentine tango.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1339697/Strictly-Come-Dancing-Pamela-Stephenson-61-promises-sexy-finale.html#ixzz18RZSNeen

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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Neither Mexico nor India: The world's hottest chilli comes from a tiny greenhouse in Cumbria

 

By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 8:39 AM on 3rd December 2010

It is so hot weapons experts plan to use a couple in a spice bomb to incapacitate enemy soldiers on the battlefield.

But the world’s hottest chilli does not hail from India, Thailand or Mexico but from a small greenhouse in Cumbria.

It was created by crossing three of the hottest varieties of chilli pods known to man.

The Naga Viper rates an astonishing 1,359,000 on the Scoville scale, which measures heat by the presence of the chemical compound capsaicin

The Naga Viper rates an astonishing 1,359,000 on the Scoville scale, which measures heat by the presence of the chemical compound capsaicin

The result is a record breaking chilli that will make your eyes stream, throat burn, nose run and much, much worse.

The Naga Viper chilli packs an astonishing 1,359,000 on the Scoville scale, which measures heat by the presence of the chemical compound capsaicin.

Experts at Warwick University carried out tests on the chilli and officially declared it the hottest.

It beat competition from the ferocious Bhut Jolokia pod - the previous holder - to take the title of the world’s hottest chilli in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Creator, Gerald Fowler, a full-time chilli farmer for five years, said: ‘When they grow chilli in India or the Caribbean they’re used to the heat and the drought. When they’re grown over here I think they fight back against the harsher climate and produce even more heat.’

Dozens of customers at Mr Fowler’s village pub, the Engine Inn, signed a disclaimer stating they are of sound body and mind before sampling a curry cooked with Naga Viper. Only two managed to finish the whole dish.

He sells the chilli as a tongue-blistering sauce for curries but says he is getting a lot of interest from chilly growers keen to get their hands on the seeds.

Gerald Fowler with his Naga Viper chilli pods, the hottest chilli pods in the world

Gerald Fowler with his Naga Viper chilli pods, the hottest chilli pods in the world

‘It’s painful to eat,’ said Mr Fowler, 52, who runs the Chilli Pepper Company, in Cark-in-Cartmel, near Grange-Over-Sands. ‘It’s hot enough to strip paint.

‘It numbs your tongue, then burns all the way down. It can last an hour, and you just don’t want to talk to anyone or do anything. But it’s a marvellous endorphin rush. It makes you feel great.’

The most popular chilli – Jalapeno – measures a pitiful 2,500 to 5,000 on the Scoville scale.

Mr Fowler’s Naga Viper is more than 270 times hotter and trumps the previous world record holder, the Bhut Jolokia, at 1,001,304.

The Indian Government has been examining ways of using the very hottest chillis such as the Bhut Jolokia to produce a spice bomb that would completely incapacitate enemy soldiers without killing them.

Earlier this year they created an 81-mm tear-gas like grenade which could be thrown by a soldier.

The mix of spices and phosphorous chokes the enemy’s respiratory tract, leaving targets barely able to breathe for a time.

It also causes severe stinging to the skin as well as streaming eyes, a burning throat and disorientation.

Mr Fowler crossed the Bhut Jolokia, with two other varieties, the Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion, and grew the plants in his 8ft by 16ft heated greenhouse.

He said: ‘The chef Heston Blumenthal gave a volunteer our chilli oil and monitored their brain activity on a CAT scan. It showed the part of the brain which registers heat was right next to the part of the brain which makes us feel happy.’

He said: ‘Some people have actually eaten the raw pods, because that’s the sort of macho thing that some people do, and posted it on YouTube. A couple were sick.’

Mr Fowler has sold chilli seeds to the Eden Project in Cornwall, to the Edinburgh Horticultural Society, and to farmers in Afghanistan, as a alternative to growing poppies for opium.

‘I’ve been growing chilli for 10 years, and doing it full-time for five,‘ he said ‘I was a website designer and just got drawn into it when my dad got a chilli plant.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335043/Worlds-hottest-chilli-grown-tiny-Cumbrian-greenhouse.html#ixzz17dbbMfS1

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Environment :: Reef Protest

Hundreds of Belizians and international supporters gather on an island to form a message on the Barrier Reef off the coast of Belize City November 13, 2010. The message, which was to call on humanity to be in harmony with the natural world, was created on the final day of the three-day Belize Reef Summit.

enviro 

theend2

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Monday, December 6, 2010

END OF AN ERA: THE RISE AND FALL OF CONCORDE

 

Concorde was the world’s first supersonic passenger jet, capable of speeds of up to 1,350mph.

But the planes - built as part of an Anglo-French government treaty and first flown in 1969 – were long dogged by controversy and never really became profitable.

Concorde touches down at Airbus UK's Filton airfield, Bristol, for the very last time, Wednesday 26 November 2003

The main problem arose from the sound of its sonic boom – the loud noise left its wake made when the aircraft broke through the sound barrier.

By the early 1970s, Concorde had been banned from flying at high speed in most countries throughout the world, making only limited transatlantic flights possible for super-rich passengers.

Despite flights from London and Paris to New York and Washington taking less than half the time of other passenger jets, few airlines wanted them.

Only 20 aircraft were ever built - and these were sold at a cost subsidized by the French and UK governments to the formerly state-owned Air France and British Airways.

Development of the planes was prohibitively expensive, so its only crash – on July 25, 2000 – sounded the death knell after questions were raised over its safety.

Though Concorde flew again, the cost of improvement in a post-9/11 world became too much to bear – even as a loss-making badge of prestige – and its retirement flight was made on November 26, 2003, pictured above.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336065/Continental-Airlines-blamed-2000-Concorde-crash-killed-113-people.html#ixzz17LO39g16

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Jakhu Temple:: Abhishek Bachchan unveils world’s tallest Hanuman statue.

Situated at the highest peak of Jakhu hill, the Jakhu temple is a century old structure dedicated to Lord Hanuman (Hindu god). One of the famous pilgrimage centers of Shimla, Jakhu temple attracts devotees as well as adventure freaks tourist, who indulge themselves into trekking and mountaineering activities organized by the Himachal Pradesh government.
Location : The Jakhu Temple in Shimla is situated on the top of Jakhu Hill, at an altitude of 2.5 kms.
Famous For : The Jakhu temple in Shimla is dedicated to lord Hanuman, and is said to be existing from the times of Ramayana.
The Temple
The Jakhu Temple in Shimla is situated at an altitude of 2455 Mts. The temple is dedicated to lord Hanuman, the monkey god in Indian mythology. Hanuman was the most faithful aide of lord Rama (India’s most revered mythological hero). The temple of Hanuman is in the thick forests of Jakhu hills, and is on top the Jakhu Hill. Jakhu is derived from Hindi word Yakhsa. Yakshas are the mythological character in Hindu mythology, who are a link between human and gods. The original dates of temple is not known, but it is believed to be existing from the times of Ramayana, a pre historic event as per ancient Hindu texts. The Jakhu hill is the highest peak around Shimla, and is famous for its trekking options. The Jakhu hill offers excellent views of sunrise, sunset, mountains and town. The hill is full of narrow paths and roads which are an enjoyable walks.

The Legends
The Jakhu temple is said to be formed when lord Hanuman visited Jakhu hill. As per legends, Hanuman visited this place during the famous Rama - Ravana fight. Lakshman, the younger brother of Rama, was critically injured during the fight and the only medicinal herb which could have saved his life was available in the Himalayan range. Hanuman came to Himalayas, but got confused, so as to which was the particular herb. Out of desperation, he dug out the whole mountain, which contained the herbs and flew to Lanka, where injured Lakshman and his doctor were waiting for him. On his way back, Hanuman rested on the Jakhu hills, and the top of the mountain got flat by his and mountain’s weight. The temple of Jakhu has since been highly revered by the locals. The shrine of the temple is the foot prints of Hanuman. In most of the Hanuman temples in India, one can come across numerous monkeys and Jakhu is no exception. There are hundreds of monkeys in and around the temple. Though mostly very peaceful, they can attack a person, if provocated. Pilgrims offer them eatables, which they readily accept.

Hanumanji

At the top of the Jakhu hill the famous Jakhu Temple of Shimla has another famous feature. A 108 feet tall Hanuman statue, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crores. It has been unveiled by another famous personality, Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan. The Hanuman temple is hardly 2 kilometers from the Ridge with an uphill climb among the Deodar trees. The Jakhu temple is situated at a height of 2455 meters and the highest peak in Shimla.

Weighing 1,500 tonnes, the statue — one of the tallest in the world — is situated at Jakhu Mandir in Shimla. The daunting task was undertaken by JHS Nanda Trust, the philanthropic wing set up by oral health care manufacturers JHS Svendgaard Laboratories Ltd. The statue has sensors that keep birds away.

‘After unveiling the statue, I recalled the time spent with my grandmother who was a huge devotee of Lord Hanuman. She used to tell us stories about his adventures,’ Abhishek said, after unveiling the statue.

‘Jakhu temple is a very strong temple. There is a lot of power in here. When Nikhil (JHS managing director) approached me to be part of it, I readily agreed as I felt this was a call from god himself. It’s fantastic that a statue so tall has been erected in India. It is an achievement that will make the people of India proud,’ he added.

Wearing a brown kurta and white pyjamas, the actor was accompanied by sister Shweta Nanda and veteran actor Parikshit Sahani. He had even kept a fast until the statue was unveiled.

Nikhil Nanda, managing director of JHS, said: ‘All my family members are huge devotees of Lord Hanuman. We laid the foundation of the statue two years back. And today it gives me immense pride to unveil it.’

The idol was built at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore.

‘The working conditions were very tough as we had to work through extreme cold. The monkeys also created a lot of problems. We thought that we wouldn’t be able to complete even in five years but we are happy that we could complete it in two years,’ chief architect Naresh Kumar told IANS.

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Friday, December 3, 2010

Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni arrive in India

 

Bangalore: French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his celebrity wife Carla Bruni arrived here on Saturday morning on a four-day official visit to India aimed at expanding cooperation in defence, nuclear power, sustainable development and culture.

Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in India

Accompanied by a large official-cum-business delegation, 55-year-old Sarkozy and Bruni landed at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) airport in the city at 10.05 a.m. amidst tight security.

While the president was in a black suit, the first lady wore a light peach dress. Sarkozy's only official engagement here will be a visit to the satellite centre of the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will address top scientists, executives and students post-noon on space cooperation between the two countries.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Indian village bans single girls from using mobile phones over forbidden marriage fears

 

Single women have been banned from using mobile phones in an Indian village - to stop them arranging forbidden marriages that are often punishable by death.

Lank village council, in northern India, decided that unmarried men can use mobile phones, but only under parental supervision, while women were forbidden outright.

Local women’s rights group criticized the measure as backward and unfair.

Married women can use mobiles - but not singles in Lank (not shown in picture)

Married women can use mobiles - but not singles in Lank (not shown in picture)

Marriages between members of the same clan are forbidden under Hindu custom in some parts of north India, where unions are traditionally arranged by families.

In conservative rural areas, families sometimes mete out extreme punishments, including so-called honour killings, for those who violate marriage taboos.

In some cases, village councils themselves have ordered the punishments, though police often intervene to stop them.

The Lank village council feared young men and women were secretly calling one another to arrange forbidden elopements.

Last month, 34 couples eloped in Muzaffarnagar district, where Lank is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

Among the couples who eloped, eight honour killings have been reported in the last month, police said.

‘Three girls were beheaded by the male members of their family after they eloped’ with boys from their same clan, said police assistant director general Brij Lal in the state capital of Lucknow.

Rulings by village councils - called panchayats and comprised of village elders selected by the community - are not legally binding in India, but are seen as the will of the local community, and those who flout them risk being ostracized.

In Uttar Pradesh, panchayats are particularly powerful and have declared that boys and girls of the same clan are essentially siblings.

The mobile phone ban for unmarried women is part of a wider, regional effort to curb intraclan marriage among the 3million population of western Uttar Pradesh.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332656/Indian-village-bans-single-women-using-mobile-phones-forbidden-marriage-fears.html#ixzz16DxKIKOY

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Three decades after playing a sex symbol in 10 Bo Derek can still set pulses racing

 

It's more than three decades since she burst onto the big screen as Dudley Moore's love interest in the comedy classic 10.

But Bo Derek can still set pulses racing with her blonde California good looks, fine features and high cheekbones.

Thirty-one years ago she became an instant sex symbol when the now-iconic image of the lithe actress, clad in a gold high cut swimsuit, her hair in beaded braids, running along the beach became many a teenage boy's pin-up of choice.

Now she's 54 - but she still has an appearance most women would envy.

Bo Derek

Still sexy: Bo Derek cut a fine figure at the second annual Moet and Chandon celebrity auction Tuesday night in Madrid, Spain

The actress was hosting the 2nd annual Moet and Chandon charity auction at the Casino De Madrid in Madrid, Spain Tuesday night, and she was looking beautiful.

Derek wore a stylish ensemble of graduated grey silk skirt with a black chiffon see-through blouse over a black camisole top.

Her honey blonde hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and she finished her elegant look off with some simple jewellery pieces and a stylish pair of peep toe brown suede heels.

Derek helped auction off  bottles of bubbly signed by celebrities including herself, Brad Pitt, Quentin Tarantino and Naomi Watts.

Derek claims that she shuns plastic surgery, because she is happy to age gracefully.

Bo Derek

Natural beauty: Derek says she shuns plastic surgery, because she is happy to grow old gracefully

But she says she sometimes considers anti-ageing procedures if she sees photographs of herself looking 'scary'. 

However, she simply reminds herself that Botox and plastic surgery can often change a person's facial expression for the worse.
She says: 'When you look at women who have had plastic surgery, they have lost something - usually an expression, something unique to their faces.

'They start to look the same. I've always admired the women who didn't do it, so I have to keep reminding myself I'm one of them and not the other.
'When I look at some photographs of myself, I think, "Oh, I look alright. " But, in others, I scare myself; I wish I had my old skin.'

The former model's career in acting started when she auditioned for the legendary director, John Derek.

Derek

Lovely bubbly: Derek helped auction off special bottles of champagne signed by celebrities, including herself, Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino

The director, who was 30 years her senior was so taken with the beautiful blonde that he divorced his wife, Dynasty star, Linda Evans to start an affair with her.

The controversial couple had to move to Germany for two years to avoid John being charged with statutory rape as Bo was only sixteen at the time.

They moved back to the U.S. shortly after her eighteenth birthday and married soon after.

Derek

Iconic image: The famous scene of Derek clad in a gold bikini, with her beaded braids, running along the beach towards Dudley Moore made her an instant pin-up

Despite the huge disparity in years and Bo's young age they remained married right up until John's death from cardiovascular disease in 1998.

John was a dashing romantic whom she 'adored until he drew his last breath,' she told the Mail On Sunday in an interview shortly after his death. 'Most people fall in love, but they don't have love in return, and I had it for 25 years.'

'Bo was a zombie girl,' Sean Derek, John's daughter with Pati Behrs, the first of his three previous wives (Ursula Andress and Linda Evans were 2 and 3) said of her step-mother at the time.

And Evans, who actually formed a strong friendship with Bo despite usurped by the younger actress, said: 'John's death was wrenching for Bo. Yet she had a lot of grace in handling it. She's made of wonderful stuff.'

Bo struggled to get over the loss of her husband and threw herself into work and indulged her love of horses - she owns Andalusian horses and is a spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Institute's campaign to end horse slaughter.

She vowed off dating again and remained single for four years before meeting her current boyfriend, My Greek Fat Wedding and Sex and the City actor, John Corbett.

Proving she definitely doesn't go for a type, Bo went from marrying a man thirty years older to dating a man younger than herself.

Corbett talked about their age difference during an appearance on the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson and said that he's bemused by people's misconception that he's dating a much older woman, when in reality he is actually only four-and-a-half years her junior.

The 49-year-old actor has never been married and has stated on several occasions in the past that he does not see himself ever marrying or having children.

However, it seems the West Virginian has changed his tune of late.

Derek

Natural: Derek's first Playboy spread in 1980 was actually shot by her then husband, John, and featured her jogging naked on the beach with her dog

During an appearance on Live With Regis and Kelly back in June he confessed that he and Derek were planning to tie the knot in the 'not too distant future.'

While talking about his love life co-host Kelly Ripa asked the actor if he and Bo ever considered 'complicating [their relationship] with marriage.'

'We were actually talking about that last night,' Corbett responded. 'We went to a party and we were talking about maybe doing it one day. First time we've talked about it in eight years!'

He also noted that his girlfriend was 'married to the great John Derek for 30 years. A lot of women, that's high on their list - to be married.

'I've never been married. We're not having kids. I think it's important to do if you're going to have kids.'

However, he continued: 'Why not? Yeah, we'll do that one day. For sure. In the not-too-distant future.'

Derek

Happy again: After swearing off dating following the death of her husband, John in 1998, Bo found happiness once again after meeting John Corbett in 2002

Corbett shared the not so romantic circumstances surrounding him and Bo meeting for the first time.

He spilt all the details to George Lopez on his chat show back in April - and it reads as the ultimate Hollywood story.

'My buddy is this great guy… [agent] Norby Walters…he puts this big Oscar party on [Night of 100 Stars]…this was eight years ago, and he said "Come to the party?" and I said "You know, I’m not really dating anyone right now," and he said, "I’ll fix you up on a date."' Corbett explained.

'So he slips this thing under my door with 20 really famous ladies on it. But one name that jumped out at me. I put a one and a circle around it, and I stuck it back under his door and he called me up and said, "One name, you give me one name?"

'And that name was Bo Derek, and we’ve been together eight years.'

Who says romance is dead?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1332458/10-sex-symbol-Bo-Derek-set-pulses-racing.html#ixzz16Drj4bIL

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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Bollywood or busty! Pamela Anderson wears very sexy sari as she leaves Indian Big Brother after three days

 

Pamela Anderson left the Indian Big Boss house last night after her three day-stint on the reality show.

And she wasted no time getting glammed up and having a dance with host and Bollywood star Salman Khan.

The Baywatch star was dressed in a very sexy turquoise sari as she greeted Khan on stage, and then switched to a pink top and red skirt as she and Salman showed off their moves.

Eastern promise: Pamela Anderson leaves the Big Boss house after three days

Eastern promise: Pamela Anderson left the Big Boss house earlier today after three days

Hello boys! Pamela sexes up her sari as she dances on stage

Hello boys! Pamela sexes up her sari as she dances on stage

As the only Westerner, Pamela did her best to fit in on Indian version of Big Brother.

Dressed in a green sarong wrap dress, Pamela showed off her best Bollywood dance moves.

With the male contestants cheering her on from the sofa, Pamela and the other female contestants performed a choreographed routine.

The 43-year-old is appearing as a guest on the Indian reality show - called Bigg Boss - for three days before leaving on Friday.

Boogie down! Pamela and Salman Khan get down on the stage as they show off their moves

Boogie down! Pamela and Salman Khan get down on the stage as they show off their moves

It was an adventure! Pamela and Salman clasp hands as she says goodbye to Indian Big Brother

It was an adventure! Pamela and Salman clasp hands as she says goodbye to Indian Big Brother

Appearing for her second day on the show, Pamela tried to keep herself busy.

After enjoying parathas for breakfast, she started cleaning the utensils and later swept the floors with a broom.

She also practised her Hindi, asking 'Aap Kaise hain? (How are you?)'.

Throwing herself into things: Pamela Anderson dances to a Bollywood song on the set of the Indian reality television show Big brother in Mumbai, India

Throwing herself into things: Pamela Anderson dances to a Bollywood song on the Indian reality show Bigg Boss

In the afternoon contestants Dolly Bindra and Sameer Soni were evicted from the house.

As they left Pamela bid them farewell by saying 'Alvida', an Urdu word for 'bye'.

The housemates are all stars in India - actors Ashmit Patel and Samir Soni, actresses Dolly Bindra, Veena Malik and Shweta Tiwari, male model Hrishant Goswami, singer Manoj Tiwari, soap star Sarah Khan, politican Seema Parihar and WWE wrestler Great Khali.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson

Got the moves: With the male contestants cheering her on from the sofa, Pamela  performed a choreographed routine

This year's fourth series of Bigg Boss is hosted by Salman Khan. Khan is a Bollywood superstar in India, and Pamela caused surprise by admitting she had never heard of him.

'I have seen a few Bollywood films, but I don't remember any of the actors by their name. Maybe, if I see him I will be able to recognise him.'

Pamela is the second Western celebrity to appear on the show - late reality star Jade Goody also starred on the 2008 series, only to leave soon after entering the house after receiving her cancer diagnosis from doctors.

Pamela Anderson

Fitting in: Pamela has been practising her Hindi and Urdu on the show

Explore more:

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1331444/Pamela-Anderson-wears-sexy-sari-leaves-Indian-Big-Brother-days.html#ixzz15pzfhDeQ

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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

She can still attract a crowd: Pamela Anderson gets mobbed by fans as she lands in India

 

She was the ultimate pin-up girl in the early 90's, so it is unsurprising that she still has a ton of fans from all over the world.

Pamela Anderson got a little taste of her international popularity as she touched town at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India this morning.

The 43-year-old Baywatch star got mobbed by fans and the media as she attempted to make her way through the airport terminal flanked by security and airport officials.

 Pamela Anderson

Fan frenzy: Pamela Anderson gets mobbed by fans as she lands at Mumbai airport this morning

The actress even looked a little frightened by all the attention as she clutched on to an escort and pushed her way through the mob, who were all pushing and shoving to get closer to the star.

Pamela is in India to take part in the country's equivalent to Big Brother - Big Boss.

She is set to be next week's celebrity guest on the show and is being paid a reported $350,000 pay check for her appearance.

 Pamela Anderson

Scared: The actress looks visibly shaken by the experience

 Pamela Anderson

Helping hand: Anderson gets escorted through the terminal by some friendly security and airport officials

 Pamela Anderson

Hold on: The crowds were pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of the star

She will stay in the house for three days with some of Indiia's top celebrities, including WWE superstar Khali and the show is presented by Bollywood heart throb Salman Khan.

Pamela shot to stardom in 1992 with her role on the hit U.S. show Baywatch in which she played sexy lifeguard C.J. Parker.

She starred in over 110 episodes over a five year period before going on to star in films like Barb Wire and Scary Movie.

The mother of two has had a fairly quiet acting career in the past few years and become better known for her revealing day to day clothing choices as she spends time with her sons where they live in Malibu, California.

However the actress recently completed filming on Hollywood And Wine, a film about a movie star who falls from the public's graces and is attempting to repair her reputation.

The film, which also stars Jeremy London and Vivica A Fox, is due for release around Christmas time.

Pamela Anderson arrives at Mumbai Airport on November 15, 2010

At ease: Pamela is in India to star on Big Boss, the country's Big Brother equivalent

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1329978/Pamela-Anderson-gets-mobbed-fans-lands-India.html#ixzz15YQocTvf

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Back to reality for Pamela Anderson as she joins Indian Big Brother

 

Two years after she moved into the Australian Big Brother house, Pamela Anderson has joined the cast of the Indian version of the reality TV show.

Dressed in a white sari, the 43-year-old actress surprised the celebrity housemates on Bigg Boss when she arrived unannounced last night.

The former Baywatch star will appear on the show for three days before leaving on Friday.

What am I doing? Pamela Anderson looked bewildered as she entered the Bigg Boss house last night

What am I doing? Pamela Anderson looked bewildered as she entered the Bigg Boss house last night

However, she may struggle to communicate with her housemates - because Bigg Boss rules state they must only speak in Hindi.

Before entering the house, Anderson claimed she wasn't a fan of reality shows - despite starring in her own show Pam: Girl On The Loose two years ago.

She said: 'I am not a fan of reality shows. I love traditional shows like Baywatch.

'I am very excited about the show. I will be just myself and have fun with the contestants in the house.

Making an entrance: Pamela was a vision in white as she suddenly appeared in the Bigg Boss garden

Making an entrance: Pamela was a vision in white as she suddenly appeared in the Bigg Boss garden

'I will miss my two kids when I will be locked in the house. I like doing household work. I do it at my place so I have no issues with it.

'It is my first visit to India so I hope I will be able to get some impressions of the country during my stay. I am very excited to be in India and to meet the Bigg Boss housemates.'

One of her tasks during the three day stay will be to teach her housemates how to purify water.

The current housemates are actors Ashmit Patel and Samir Soni, actresses Dolly Bindra, Veena Malik and Shweta Tiwari, male model Hrishant Goswami, singer Manoj Tiwari, soap star Sarah Khan, politican Seema Parihar and WWE wrestler Great Khali.

Meet and greet: Pamela gets acquainted with her new housemates... but is she speaking Hindi?

Meet and greet: Pamela gets acquainted with her new housemates... but is she speaking Hindi?

This year's fourth series of Bigg Boss is hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who Anderson admitted she had no idea who he was, despite his huge fame in India.

She said: 'I have heard about Salman through media. I have seen a few Bollywood films, but I don't remember any of the actors by their name. Maybe, if I see him I will be able to recognise him.'

A spokesman for India's Colors TV network, which broadcasts Bigg Boss, enthused: 'With Pamela coming as a celebrity guest, the glamour quotient of the show has gone up several notches.'

Anderson is the second Western celebrity to appear on the show - late reality star Jade Goody also starred on the 2008 series, only to leave soon after entering the house after receiving her cancer diagnosis from doctors.

Chores: The actress was scantily clad in a sarong as she chipped in with some sweeping today

Chores: The actress was scantily clad in a sarong as she chipped in with some sweeping today

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1330403/Pamela-Anderson-Indian-Big-Brother.html#ixzz15YPGA8B9

Crackdown on reality TV, Bigg Boss and Rakhi ka Insaaf hit

rakhi-sawant

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Crackdown-on-reality-TV-Bigg-Boss-and-Rakhi-ka-Insaaf-hit/H1-Article1-627494.aspx

Faced with mounting complaints from TV viewers and women outfits about objectionable contents, Government on Wednesday ordered channels airing TV shows Big Boss and Rakhi ka Insaaf to broadcast them only between 11 PM and 5 AM, virtually bracketing them as only for adult

viewing.

Both the shows are not for universal viewing and can be aired only in the scheduled time slot, I and B Ministry officials said.

I and B officials claimed this is the first time that the ministry has compulsorily changed time slots of popular TV shows.

While Big Boss is being aired on Colours, Rakhi ka Insaaf is aired on NDTV imagine.

The shows cannot also be repeated at any other time slot or shown on news programmes, they said.

The Ministry also banned Telegu SS Music channel for a period of seven days for allegedly showing nudity.

The decisions were taken at an inter-ministerial meeting represented at by additional secretaries from the Ministry of Home, Women and Child Development, External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting on Monday.

Numerous complaints have been made by viewers as well as the National Commission for Women and social activists who accused the channels of showing explicit content.

The decision would be effective with immediate effect that is from today, the officials said.

"We have not asked the producers of the show to modify content or have not done any sort of censoring, just shifted the time slots allotted to them," senior ministry officials said.

The meeting had been called after round-the-clock monitoring of the channels.

Rakhi ka Insaaf, compared by actor-dancer Rakhi Sawant, hit the spotlight after Laksham Prasad, a resident of Jhansi, committed suicide, which his family alleged, was following the humiliation meted out to him on the show.

His family said the youth was upset after Rakhi described him as "impotent" and had gone into depression and refused to eat anything for several days.

Complaints have also been received about the "abusive" language and intimate scenes on Big Boss, the officials said.

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Copper load of this! Company digging mine in Afghanistan unearths 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery

 

A Chinese company digging an unexploited copper mine in Afghanistan has unearthed ancient statues of Buddha in a sprawling 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery.

Archaeologists are rushing to salvage what they can from a major 7th century B.C. religious site along the famed Silk Road connecting Asia and the Middle East.

The ruins, including the monastery and domed shrines known as 'stupas,' will likely be largely destroyed once work at the mine begins.

The ruins were discovered as labourers excavated the site on behalf of the Chinese government-backed China Metallurgical Group Corp, which wants to develop the world's second largest copper mine, lying beneath the ruins.

Historic find: Ancient Buddha statues inside a temple in Mes Aynak, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. Chinese labourers digging a copper mine made the astonishing discovery

Historic find: Ancient Buddha statues inside a temple in Mes Aynak, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. Chinese labourers digging a copper mine made the astonishing discovery

Hanging over the situation is the memory of the Buddhas of Bamiyan — statues towering up to 180 feet high in central Afghanistan that were dynamited to the ground in 2001 by the country's then-rulers, the Taliban, who considered them symbols of paganism.

No one wants to be blamed for similarly razing history at Mes Aynak, in the eastern province of Logar. MCC wanted to start building the mine by the end of 2011 but under an informal understanding with the Kabul government, it has given archaeologists three years for a salvage excavation.

Archaeologists working on the site since May say that won't be enough time for full preservation.

Ancient: An Afghan archaeologist stands next to the remains feet of the Buddha statues discovered in Mes Aynak. The ruins, including the monastery and domed shrines known as 'stupas,' will likely be largely destroyed once work at the mine begins

Ancient: An Afghan archaeologist stands next to the remains feet of the Buddha statues discovered in Mes Aynak. The ruins, including the monastery and domed shrines known as 'stupas,' will likely be largely destroyed once work at the mine begins

The monastery complex has been dug out, revealing hallways and rooms decorated with frescoes and filled with clay and stone statues of standing and reclining Buddhas, some as high as 10 feet.

An area that was once a courtyard is dotted with stupas standing four or 5ft high.

More than 150 statues have been found so far, though many remain in place. Large ones are too heavy to be moved, and the team lacks the chemicals needed to keep small ones from disintegrating when extracted.

'That site is so massive that it's easily a 10-year campaign of archaeology,' said Laura Tedesco, an archaeologist brought in by the US Embassy to work on sites in Afghanistan. 'Three years may be enough time just to document what's there.'

Dig: A wooden Buddha statue, estimated to be about 1,400 years old, is discovered during the excavation at the sprawling 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery

Dig: A wooden Buddha statue, estimated to be about 1,400 years old, is discovered during the excavation at the sprawling 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery

Philippe Marquis, a French archaeologist advising the Afghans, said the salvage effort is piecemeal and 'minimal', held back by lack of funds and personnel.

The team hopes to lift some of the larger statues and shrines out before winter sets in this month, but they still haven't procured the crane and other equipment needed.

Around 15 Afghan archaeologists, three French advisers and a few dozen labourers are working within the 0.77-square-mile area - a far smaller team than the two dozen archaeologists and 100 labourers normally needed for a site of such size and richness.

'This is probably one of the most important points along the Silk Road,' said Marquis. 'What we have at this site, already in excavation, should be enough to fill the (Afghan) national museum.'

Deadline: Archaeologists digging at the site of the ancient ruins have three years to finish the excavations

Deadline: Archaeologists digging at the site of the ancient ruins have three years to finish the excavations

Mes Aynak, 20 miles south of Kabul, lies in a province that is still considered a major transit route for insurgents coming from Pakistan.

In July, two US sailors were kidnapped and killed in Logar. Around 1,500 Afghan police guard the mine site and the road.

Mes Aynak's religious sites and copper deposits have been bound together for centuries — 'mes' means 'copper' in the local Dari language.

Throughout the site's history, artisanal miners have dug up copper to adorn statues and shrines.

Afghan archaeologists have known since the 1960s about the importance of Mes Aynak, but almost nothing had been excavated.

When the Chinese won the contract to exploit the mine in 2008, there was no discussion with Kabul about the ruins - only about money, security and building a railroad to transport the copper out of Logar's dusty hills.

But a small band of Afghan and French archaeologists raised a stir and put the antiquities on the agenda.

The mine could be a major boost for the Afghan economy. According to the Afghan Mining Ministry, it holds some 6 million tons of copper, worth tens of billions of dollars at today's prices. Developing the mine and related transport infrastructure will generate much needed jobs and economic activity.

Waheedullah Qaderi, a Mining Ministry official working on the antiquities issue, said MCC shares the government goal of protecting heritage while starting mining as soon as possible.

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