Ahoy, El Loco@Malaysiakini! Crown Now In Our Hands

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United have the edge over Liverpool in the title run in as Sir Alex Ferguson's side look to pull away at the top of the Premier League table this weekend.

Having replaced faltering Liverpool at the summit, United will move five points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea and Liverpool if they defeat Everton at Old Trafford today. (Live, 2/1/09 1.25am MYT, Astro Ch813 Star Sports –ed.)

Rafael Benitez's Liverpool, who have drawn seven of their last 10 league outings, entertain Chelsea tomorrow (Live, 2/1/09 11.55pm MYT, Astro Ch812 ESPN –ed.) in the biggest fixture of the weekend.

By then, Ferdinand is hoping that United, currently two points clear with a game in hand over Benitez's side, will have opened up a significant gap at the top as they eye a third successive title.

Ferdinand believes that United's experience of winning the Premier League will help them in the run-in.
But the England defender is taking nothing for granted.

"It is easier when you have got experienced players in your camp, the likes of (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes, players who have won the league before," said Ferdinand.

"There is the experience in there and maybe that is the edge we have got on the other teams, that we've got the experience of older pros who have been there."

Everton's Australian international Tim Cahill heads for Old Trafford eyeing another century of goals after notching his 100th career strike in midweek.

Cahill reached the landmark when he opened the scoring against Arsenal in midweek although David Moyes's side had to settle for a point after Robin Van Persie scored a last minute equaliser for the Gunners.

Everton go into their toughest fixture of the campaign unbeaten in nine games and with an FA Cup replay against neighbours Liverpool to follow on Wednesday.

Yet Belgium international Marouane Fellaini believes that Everton's recent good form will help them get a result at Old Trafford.

"It was awful to give the goal away on Wednesday and we are so disappointed," said Fellaini.

"But we've got a great opportunity ahead of us. We are a good side -- we have shown that on many occasions -- and we are capable of going to Old Trafford to get a good result." -- AFP via NST

“I will not come to Davos again.”

Erdogan was angry when a panel moderator cut off his remarks, which were in response to Peres’ impassioned speech defending Israel’s offensive.

“I find it very sad that people applaud what you said,” Erdogan said. “You killed people. And I think that it is very wrong.”

The angry exchange followed an hour-long debate at the forum attended by world leaders.

Erdogan tried to rebut Peres as the discussion was ending, asking the moderator, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, to let him speak once more. “Only a minute,” Ignatius replied.

“Mr. Peres, you are older than me. Your voice is too loud,” Erdogan told Peres, saying his emotion belied a guilty conscience.

“You kill people,” Erdogan told the 85-year-old Israeli leader.

“I remember the children who died on beaches. I remember two former prime ministers who said they felt very happy when they were able to enter Palestine on tanks.

“When it comes to killing, you know it too well,” the Turkish leader said.

When the moderator tried to cut short Erdogan’s remarks again, saying that it was past time to adjourn for dinner, he answered, “Don’t interrupt me. You are not allowing me to speak.”

He then said: “I will not come to Davos again.” -- The Buffalo News via Penarik Beca

BN has rest of the match to score

IN recent days, Pakatan Rakyat has been blowing its own trumpet over the defection of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

So sweet was the "victory" that even PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the cross-over as a significant milestone on the road to change.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin announced the possibility of three more Umno assemblymen jumping ship.

While he cannot be blamed for his optimism, Nizar should have held on to his horses.

The trio concerned -- Lintang assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam, Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar and Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar -- have since pledged their loyalty to Umno.

The political scenario in Perak is precarious owing to the razor-thin margin that separates the Pakatan state government and the Barisan Nasional opposition.

Before Nasarudin's defection, the balance of power hung on two seats. Now, Pakatan has 32 seats to BN's 27.

Although Nizar might have thought that Nasarudin's move would secure his job, it might equally mark the beginning of the end for him as the state's 10th menteri besar.

Outgoing Perak BN and state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali was coy when he issued the warning to Nizar.

"This is like a football match. They have got one goal in the first five minutes but we have the rest of the match to score."

Stopping short of saying that BN would go all out to woo Pakatan assemblymen and topple the state government, he accused Pakatan of starting the ball rolling.

If Tajol Rosli sounded bitter, he had every reason to.

When rumours swirled that several Pakatan assemblymen in Perak were on the verge of joining BN last year, Tajol Rosli was accused of being unethical and corrupt.

However, these same people have now welcomed Nasarudin's defection with Nizar even saying that it must be respected.

Nizar should realise that although there might be internal problems in Umno and BN, his administration is no different.

Rifts exist between members of the state administration although these have been placed under wraps.

BN will try and capitalise on them.

The game has just begun and, as the saying goes, he who laughs last, laughs best. -- Husairy Othman, NST

Politikus di Malaysiakini! Siapakah Pembunuh Penjenayah Itu?’

Yeah, el-fared secara umum dapat bersetuju dengan kenyataan Menteri Dalam Negeri, Dato Seri Syed Hamid el-Bar, saperti yang dilaporkan portal berita terkemuka Malaysiakini dengan tajuk berbentuk seruan ‘Jangan layan penjenayah macam hero’ – tanpa ada tanda seruan (!)… alahai Malaysiakini!

Walaupun el-Bar enggan mengaitkan kenyataannya itu, lapor Malaysiakini dengan memetik sumber Bernama, dengan kematian suspek curi kereta A Kugan semasa dalam tahanan di balai polis Taipan, Subang Jaya, Selasa lepas, namun umum maklum dan dapat mengatakan dengan pasti bahawa kes Kugan lah yang dijadikan rujukan oleh el-Bar secara tidak langsung.

Beliau menjelaskan, dalam siasatan 19 kes curi kereta dan samun bersenjata, polis telah menahan tiga penjenayah yang disyaki termasuk Kugan. Maka beliau tidak mahu masyarakat menganggap mereka yang melakukan jenayah sebagai hero dan polis yang menguatkuasakan undang-undang pula sebagai syaitan.

Beliau juga meminta orang ramai supaya jangan mempolitikkan siasatan kes kematian Kugan itu kerana ia boleh menyukarkan lagi tugas polis.

"Mereka hendaklah bercakap mengenai kes itu berdasarkan fakta dan bukannya andaian," el-Bar dilapor Malaysiakini sebagai berkata.

Berita awal yang memetik kenyataan Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar sebagai berkata bahawa kematian Kugan adalah akibat paru-paru berair. Kenyataan ini, el-fared percaya, adalah berdasarkan fakta laporan bedah siasat awal yang menunjukkan Kugan meninggal dunia akibat paru-paru berair. Bagaimanapun, bedah siasat kedua telah dijalankan setelah keluarga Kugan tidak berpuashati dengan punca kematian Kugan itu.

Hingga kini, polis masih menyiasat punca kematian itu dan keputusannya dijangka diketahui dalam masa terdekat. Tapi alahai… Jumaat lepas, Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail telah mengklasifikasikan kes kematian Kugan sebagai bunuh. Jadi persoalannya kini di Malaysia ialah ‘Siapakah Pembunuh Penjenayah Yang Disyaki Itu?’

Takkan polis kut? saperti yang cuba digambarkan sang gembong politikus. Sebab kalo polis nak bunuh biasanya dia orang biarkan suspek terlepas lari dari tahanan dulu, kemudian kejar dan tembak sampai mati. Ingat, polis ada lesen untuk membunuh.

Kalo nak disabitkan juga polis maka tuduhan yang boleh dibuat pihak pendakwa, el-fared rasa, ialah menyebabkan kematian bukannya membunuh. Hahaha… tak caya tunggu dan lihat lah!

Reboot the White House: Email crashes for Obama’s new tech-savvy team

President Barack Obama's aides, who ran the most tech-savvy US election campaign in history, were forced into a red-faced admission Monday -- the White House email system has crashed.

"Our email system is not working so well," press spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters at the start of his daily briefing.

"We'll endeavor to get you information from earlier in the day, hopefully in a little bit more of a timely manner, if we can get the email to work."

At one stage, Obama aides were forced to turn back the clock and hand out copies of memoranda signed by the president on cutting global warming, not via email as is normal, but by the dead tree method, on paper.

The email meltdown was all the more embarrassing as the White House only last week had revealed that the famously connected new president Barack Obama had won a battle to keep his BlackBerry -- albeit a high security encrypted device.

During the 2008 campaign, the Obama team pioneered new ways to put technology to political ends, including the use of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace and even used a Twitter feed.

They even announced the selection of Joseph Biden as Obama's vice presidential nominee by SMS text message. -- Agence France-Presse - 1/26/2009 10:46 PM GMT

Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, releases song for Gaza ~ Malaysiakini

Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, released on Sunday a charity song whose proceeds will go towards assisting Palestinians in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

The new recording of the song 'The day the world gets round', originally recorded by George Harrison, features Yusuf on vocals and Klaus Voorman, known to many as the fifth Beatle, on bass.

The song can be downloaded online at different rates and its proceeds will go towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and Save the Children to aid children and families in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA said in a statement.

Yusuf said on his website he hoped the recording will "help remind people of the immense legacy of love, peace and happiness we can share when we get round to looking at mankind's futile wars and prejudices."

As Cat Stevens, Islam, now 59, recorded several major hits in the late 1960s and 1970s. He converted to Islam at the height of his fame in 1977, devoting himself to education and philanthropy.

Israel's 22-day offensive in the Hamas-ruled territory, which ended on January 18, killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, medics say. It also left widespread destruction.

UNRWA said the song can be purchased online at http://www.jamalrecords.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?display=home -- Agence France-Presse - 1/26/2009 3:21 PM GMT

Rihanna too sexy for Malaysiakini

Malaysia's conservative Islamic party has called for R&B sensation Rihanna to be banned from performing here next month, saying her outfits are too sexy, a report said Wednesday.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), which has mounted protests against the United States over its support of Israel, said that concertgoers would also contribute to an outflow of local currency to the United States.

"Whether Rihanna realises it or not, we know that the taxes she has paid also contributed to the war in Gaza," Kamaruzaman Mohamad, a PAS youth wing leader, told the Star daily.

Kamaruzaman said that the show planned for February 13, part of Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, would be an insult to Asian values as she often performed suggestively and wore skimpy outfits.

The event was "akin to insulting Eastern culture, belittling local artistes, internationally causing losses to the country's economy and supporting Israel's war policy, which is supported by America," he said.

Kamaruzaman urged authorities who issue concert permits in Muslim-majority Malaysia to reject the organiser's application.

The concert's sponsor told the daily that Rihanna has agreed to follow local regulations for her performance but did not give details.

US singer Beyonce scrapped a planned concert in Malaysia last year due to fears of protests, while Gwen Stefani went ahead with a performance but was forced to cover up after complaints about her outfits.

PAS also mounted protests against Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne's concert last year after failing to have it banned, saying her performance would weaken the younger generation "morally and mentally." -- Agence France-Presse - 1/21/2009 4:11 AM GMT

PAS bantah konsert Rihanna 13 Februari

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia:
Dewan Pemuda PAS membantah penganjuran konsert Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur pada 13 Februari ini atas alasan ia tidak sesuai dengan budaya tempatan dan sentimen menghormati rakyat Palestin.

Ketua Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan, Kamaruzaman Mohamad berkata, pihaknya akan menghantar memorandum bantahan dalam tempoh terdekat kepada syarikat telekomunikasi tempatan, Celcom (M) Berhad yang menaja penganjuran konsert tersebut.

KETUA Pegawai Eksekutif Celcom, Datuk Seri Shazali Ramly pada sidang akhbar berhubung penajaan penganjuran konsert "Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur" di ibu negara semalam. - foto The Star oleh LOW LAY PHON

"Penganjuran konsert ini menunjukkan Celcom tidak sensitif dengan budaya ketimuran kerana keperibadian penyanyi tersebut boleh merosakkan akhlak masyarakat di negera kita khusunya golongan remaja," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Tambah beliau, tingkah laku serta cara berpakaian penyanyi antarabangsa itu sangat bertentangan dengan gaya hidup timur dan amalan umat Islam.

"Dalam konsert-konsertnya sebelum ini beliau mempamerkan aksi yang cukup tidak elok dengan budaya kita serta boleh melalaikan," kata beliau.

Selain itu menurutnya, bantahan tersebut juga berasaskan kepada perkembangan terkini apabila rakyat disaran supaya memboikot produk-produk Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang selama ini menjadi sekutu kepada kekejaman Israel ke atas rakyat Palestin.

"Kita perlu boikot bukan sahaja produk malah artis-artis mereka bagi mengelakkan pengaliran wang ke AS.

"Kita sibuk menderma untuk tabung kemanusiaan Palestin, tapi pada yang sama kita sumbangkan duit untuk konsert Rihanna yang secara tak langsung menyumbang kepada kekayaan AS yang akhirnya digunakan untuk kepentingan Israel," katanya.

Jelas Kamaruzaman, pihaknya sebelum ini pernah mengadakan perbincangan dengan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) yang meluluskan permit penganjuran konsert tersebut.

"Kita sudah bincang dan mengemukakan surat bantahan kepada DBKL, tapi tiada sebarang reaksi positif, jadi nampaknya kita teruskan usaha bagi membantah penganjurannya dengan berjumpa dengan pihak pengurusan Celcom pula," katanya.

Bagaimanapun beliau berkata bantahan konsert tersebut bukan bererti PAS mengamalkan sikap antihiburan.

"Kita bukanlah antihiburan, tapi kalau hiburan atau konsert yang dianjurkan itu bertentangan dengan tuntutan Islam serta boleh merosakkan akhlak, kita tetap akan bantah.

"Kalau dianjurkan konsert yang mengikut lunas Islam, sudah pasti kita akan menyokong," katanya lagi. -- Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK, mstar - Rabu Januari 21, 2009

Tom Cruise says he dreams of killing Hitler

US actor Tom Cruise said on Sunday he had always dreamt of killing Adolf Hitler, revealing one of his motives for starring in his latest film featuring a plot to murder the Nazi leader.

In "Valkyrie" the 46-year-old plays the role of Colonel Stauffenberg, a German officer plotting to kill Hitler during World War II.

"I've always wanted to kill Hitler. I hate that guy," said Cruise, who was born 17 years after Hitler's death.

"Studying Stauffenberg and his life, I came to greatly admire him... Although the story takes place during World War II, I found the story ageless," he told a news conference in Seoul, where he was promoting the new Hollywood film.

He described making "Valkyrie" as a "very powerful experience" which he hoped his performance would communicate to the audience.

"Valkyrie" arrives in Asia on Thursday, opening in South Korean cinemas, director Bryan Singer said.

"We chose (South) Korea as the first Asian country to release the movie because it's an extraordinary rising market for both local and international films," Singer told the conference, sitting alongside Cruise.

Cruise took part in a hand-printing ceremony in front of some 500 fans in South Korea on Saturday.

One of the most popular Hollywood stars here, he has visited three times before to promote "Interview with the Vampire," "Mission Impossible 2," and "Vanilla Sky." -- Agence France-Presse - 1/18/2009 9:44 AM GMT

So Tom Cruise's aficionados [pr: af-fish-yo-nah-dos] in Malaysia, let's wait and watch this movie... yeah!

Malaysiakini lapor “PAS rampas kerusi Parlimen KT”; Badawi digambar berkata “Pilihan Yang Tepat !!!”

Portal berita terkemuka Malaysiakini melaporkan bahawa: PAS rampas kerusi Parlimen KT dengan majoriti 2,631 undi.

Calon Pas-Pakatan Rakyat Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut (MAWE World, gelaran pop terkini) yang juga ADUN Wakaf Mempelam memenangi pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu dengan memperolehi 32,883 undi menewaskan calon Umno-Barisan Nasional Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh (tidak ada kena mengena dengan el-fared di sini –ed.) yang meraih 30,252 undi selepas kesemua 144 peti undi dikira.

Calon Bebas Bomoh (lepasan Universiti Putra Malaysia, hah?.. ada ijazah jadi bomoh ka?) Azharudin Mamat @ Adam yang memperolehi 193 undi, hilang wang pertaruhan dalam perjudian politik kali pertamanya di KT – alahai… perhatian: calon bebas, lain kali toksah gatai nak pop, buang current saja! Nenek Mai Moon alias Mai Bulan lebih terror, 685 undi.

Sementara itu dinmerican (bukan din beramboi) yang membuat tinjauan dan analisis di lapangan (ground zero, kata pop semasa) dan melapor langsung dari KT menggambarkan PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi , yang dijadualkan akan bersara pada March mendatang , sebagai berkata: ianya “Pilihan Yang Tepat !!!” -- ha ha ha!

“Teruskan agenda perubahan demi masa depan untuk semua,” blog din lagi.
Ha hi hu! -- b-g

Obama refuses to surrender Blackberry

Despite legal and security hurdles, president-elect Barack Obama says he has a plan to retain his beloved Blackberry once he moves into the White House next week.

Interviewed by CNN Friday, Obama said the smartphone was among the tools that he would use to stay in touch with real Americans and avoid becoming trapped inside the presidential "bubble."

"I think we're going to be able to hang on to one of these. My working assumption, and this is not new, is that anything I write on an email could end up being on CNN," he said.

"So I make sure to think before I press 'send'," he said of his Blackberry, which was an ever-present fixture on his belt or in his hand on the campaign trail.

Obama did not divulge just how he will overcome legal constraints, given the requirement of the post-Watergate Presidential Records Act of 1978 to keep a record of every White House communication.

Nor did he say how he would persuade his Secret Service protectors that the Blackberry does not pose a security risk, for instance if it is hacked over the air.

But Obama, who succeeds the unpopular George W. Bush on Tuesday, said the phone was a valuable part of a wider strategy to escape the White House fishbowl.

"It's just one tool among a number of tools that I'm trying to use, to break out of the bubble, to make sure that people can still reach me," he said.

"If I'm doing something stupid, somebody in Chicago can send me an email and say, 'What are you doing?'

"I want to be able to have voices, other than the people who are immediately working for me, be able to reach out and send me a message about what's happening in America."

The mobile device dilemma may have inadvertently been solved on Friday, as Obama's Blackberry tumbled from his belt as he got out of his limousine and onto his plane in Washington.

A Secret Service agent hurried to pick up the pieces, gathering the Blackberry and battery off the frigid tarmac. -- Agence France-Presse - 1/17/2009 2:14 AM GMT

An Internet era ends as technology icons exit

Steve Jobs exiting the Apple stage, perhaps not to return, signals a close to an Internet Age era with roots stretching back to the radical hippie movement of the 1960s.

His departure for health reasons comes some seven months after his renowned rival Bill Gates retired from Microsoft to devote himself to philanthropic work.

The two culture-changing men were seen as leaders of rival camps: personal computer lovers versus the cult of Macintosh computers.

Technology allegiances were the stuff of fierce debates in coffee houses and other Silicon Valley social settings, with vitriol spewed by all sides.

Macintosh devotees were passionate underdogs standing up to PC faithful whose confidence was cemented by the fact more than 90 percent of the computers in the world are PCs running on Microsoft operating systems.

The dueling technologies had faces at which people aimed praise of scorn. Gates was the PC. Jobs is the Macintosh.

Jerry Yang, the very public face of Internet pioneer Yahoo!, was replaced as chief executive this week by Carol Bartz and it seems he has already faded into the purple and gold woodwork at the firm's California headquarters.

"In many ways we are stepping out of the age where the people are defining the company," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

"We talk about the Google kids, but are the founders truly icons. I argue not. We seem to be moving away from the age where there is a face behind the company; a larger than life human component."

Ironically, while Google and other modern Internet superstars use private data about their millions of users to target ads, their founders tend to vigilantly protect their privacy.

"In many ways, Internet companies are losing their personalities," Enderle said. "Ever changing brands in a constant sea of surging names."

Jobs and Gates, both born in 1955, grew up during the socially rebellious 1960s and bear its mark, according to Peter Friess, a historian who is president of The Tech Museum of Innovation in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Gates and Jobs both dropped out of college to pursue dreams of building computers for people.

Before Jobs and his friend Steve Wozniak made the first Apple computer, they crafted a "blue box" to get around paying for long distance telephone calls.

"They came out of a time when culture meant a lot to all of us," Friess said.

"It was a revolutionary time. It is always a time that creates people. Now, Google, Facebook and others align much more with the system. Social networks don't change the world like Jobs and Gates did."

Bringing personal computers to the masses fulfilled a hippie mantra of "Power to the people," according to Friess.

While the first PCs and "Macs" were sold by Gates and Jobs before there was a Web to surf, the men led their respective companies to glory in the Internet Age.

"In time, I suppose we might look back at the leaders of big search companies in a similar way, but it really feels like a thin comparison," said University of California, Berkeley, information school assistant professor Coye Cheshire.

"If only because all these fantastic information services only became practical and truly useful once we had the PCs, Macs, iPods, Xboxes, Zunes, iPhones, etc in our lives."

Crises with climate change and wars fought for control of oil have set the stage for new iconic visionaries in the molds of Gates or Jobs to rise in the area of renewable energy, says Friess.

"Putting personal computers in the hands was really giving power to the people," Friess said.

"I'm waiting for someone in the renewable energy world with the same vision Jobs had in the computer world."

In a rare joint appearance, Jobs and Gates reminisced on stage at an All Things Digital conference in California two years ago. The men joked that their rivalry was misunderstood.

"We've kept our marriage secret for over a decade now," Jobs quipped, eliciting raucous laughter from the audience.

While Jobs and Gates "personified the dispute" between Apple and Microsoft, the two companies are unlikely to change their ways without their iconic founders, according to analyst Michael Cherry of Directions On Microsoft.

"No one wants to die ... and yet death is the destination we all share," Jobs told a stadium packed with students during a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

"Death is possibly the single best invention in life. It clears out the old to make way for the new." -- Agence France-Presse - 1/16/2009 6:39 AM GMT

Indie time: Sundance mixes stars, newcomers, fans

PARK CITY, Jan 15 —
The Sundance Film Festival resumes its duties as a great equaliser of the cinema world.

This is where complete unknowns can suddenly find themselves sought-after talent among Hollywood distributors. This is where marquee talent such as Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Chris Rock turn up in thoughtful, non-studio flicks. And it’s where eager audiences get to grill stars and filmmakers about the creative process during question-and-answer sessions after screenings.

Overseen by Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, the festival is the nation’s top showcase for independent film. The 11-day festival includes 118 feature-length films and 96 shorts.

Opening the festival tonight is director Adam Elliot’s “Mary and Max”, a clay-animation tale about a pen-pal friendship between an 8-year-old Australian girl (voiced by Toni Collette) and an obese middle-aged New Yorker (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Filmmakers say one of the festival’s big lures is rubbing elbows with fans who brave the cold, snow and mob scene of Sundance to see something different than what they’ll find at their local multiplex.

“That’s the best thing about going to a festival, especially Sundance,” said Bobcat Goldthwait, writer-director of the dark Sundance comedy “World’s Greatest Dad,” starring Robin Williams. “I feel like I’m a rich guy who pays money to go to one of those fantasy baseball camps and gets to play baseball with the pros. That’s what it’s like for me.”

“The Office” co-star John Krasinski makes his directing debut with the comedy “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men”; Rock plays host for the documentary “Good Hair” exploring African-American hairstyles; and Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan star in the melodrama “The Greatest”.

Brosnan and Sarandon in a scene from Shana Feste’s, ‘The Greatest’, one of the films in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. — AP pic

Other big-name entries include Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke in Antoine Fuqua’s cop drama “Brooklyn’s Finest,” Uma Thurman in the domestic tale “Motherhood”, Kevin Spacey as analyst to Hollywood A-listers in “Shrink” and William Hurt and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the apartheid story “Endgame”.

Festival director Geoffrey Gilmore said key themes this time are “romance and activism”.

Sundance is heavy on cautionary environmental stories, among them the dolphin tale “The Cove”, the oil-pollution chronicle “Crude” and the earthy ecology study “Dirt! The Movie”.

“What you see is people going out and making stories not just identifying problems and documenting what that is, but trying to identify solutions,” Gilmore said. “The environmental work you see these days doesn’t end with a description of the crisis we’re in. It ends with a description of what you can do to help us get out of this crisis.”

On the romantic side, Sundance offers quirky stories of passion and affection, including “Don’t Let Me Drown”, a teen love story set in the aftermath of the Sept 11attacks; “Peter and Vandy”, chronicling a couple’s relationship from hopeful start through slow deterioration; and “Humpday”, a tale of old buddies who attempt a “work of art” — an amateur porn flick of straight guys having sex with each other.

Jim Carrey appears in his first Sundance film with one of those romances, “I Love You Phillip Morris”, playing a gay con man who meets the love of his life (Ewan McGregor) in prison.

“It’s just such a goodhearted, sweet, beautiful, really funny movie. It dares to be romantic,” Carrey said, adding a dig at Utah’s Mormon church over its involvement in the passage of California’s gay marriage ban. “I just think it’s a perfect movie for these days, and I’m just so glad it’s premiering there. First of all, it’s in Utah, which is kind of poignant after Proposition 8.” — AP via the Malaysian Insider

PKR moots regional Islamic body as throwing shoes won't stop missiles

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 –
As Parliament continued to censure the Israeli and United States governments over the Gaza conflict, PKR today mooted the idea of a regional Islamic body to flex its political muscle in the Muslim world.

MPs had expressed frustration over the powerlessness of the public to compel the United States and Israel to bring a halt to the Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza strip that has continued for nearly three weeks.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that "throwing shoes cannot stop Tomahawk missiles," to illustrate the lack of a political solution.

De Facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed in Parliament today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi negotiate with other Muslim nations in the region such as Indonesia and Brunei to do something meaningful.

"This will encourage Arab leaders to do more than just have to beg for mercy," he said.
In a press conference later, he added that as Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country and "an important democratic country that is considered moderate," with an independent foreign policy, a regional coalition could have "a definite influence on the world, as Arab countries may be considered emotionally vested in such issues."

"We must take our own stand as the anger of the public has been made known so it is incumbent upon our leaders to react," he said.

Selangor Menteri Besar and former PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim added more details on the suggestion in his speech in Parliament later.

"A task force with a formal secretariat should be formed to meet and mobilise initiatives with other Islamic nations," he said.

He said that by taking an active role, holding talks and discussions with other governments, a regional body could lobby for concerted efforts to curb future atrocities against Muslim nations.

Khalid suggested that foreign ministers could lead the secretariat to ensure eminent persons from each of the three Southeast Asian countries would represent their respective governments when speaking to other parties. – text: By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider, graphic: b-g

Frederic Oumar Kanoute fined for backing Palestinians

Sevilla's Malian international striker Frederic Kanoute has been fined for displaying a t-shirt with the word "Palestine" during his side's 2-1 Spanish Cup over Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish Cup.

The federation did not reveal the amount of the fine but Spanish media said it was between 2,000 and 3,000 euros (2,700 and 4,000 US dollars).

pix:Frederic Kanoute expresses support for Palestine after scoring goal, more pix: Kanoute facing Palestine shirt fine

Kanoute lifted his jersey to show the t-shirt with the word written in various languages after he scored in the 39th minute of Wednesday's match in an act of support for Palestinians in Gaza where an Israeli military offensive has claimed at least 785 lives since it began on December 27.

"It was something that I felt that I should do. Everyone should feel a bit responsible when there is such a big injustice. I am 100 percent responsible for what I did and I don't care about the sanction," he told private television Telecinco on Thursday.

Federation rules prevent players from displaying any sort of publicity or slogan during matches.

The federation said it was not penalizing the political nature of the message but the fact that the player had displayed a message in violation of the rules.

France-born Kanoute, a Sevilla player since a 2005 move from English Premiership side Tottenham, is a practising Muslim who has supported various humanitarian causes in the past.

In 2006 he set up a foundation to help orphans in Mali and the following year he reportedly spent around 500,000 euros (700,000 dollars) of his own money to save a privately owned mosque in Seville from being sold after a contract to use the premises by the local Muslim population had expired. -- Agence France-Presse, Saturday, 10 January 2009

Revealed: Zhang Ziyi in St Barts w/ her Israeli VC fiancé Viv Nevo

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has always had a love-hate relationship with her countrymen.

The 29-year-old "Memoirs of a Geisha" star scores pride in Chinese hearts with her international fame, yet her Westernised ways rile the same fans, who often berate her for turning her back on her roots.

The tensions went into overdrive on Monday, when topless pictures of Ziyi frolicking on the beach with her Israeli venture capitalist fiancé Viv Nevo were splashed across the Internet.

Paparazzi photograhers snapped the couple, on vacation on the ultra-exclusive Caribbean island of St Barts, getting touchy-feely with each other.

The pictures say it all: Ziyi and her beau were obviously enjoying a private moment, at a place where they thought they had all to themselves.

Yet the debate rages on: Was the media once again overly intrusive, or do the couple have no one to blame but themselves for not safeguarding their own privacy? – MORE PIXS here

Hoorah! Ashura, the day of victory

Deepest condolences on the threshold of the arrival of Imam Mahdi (AS) , the real avenger of the blood of Imam Hussein (AS), the promised, the expected one, to all Muslim freedom fighters throughout the world, and especially to his true devotees, on the occasion of Ashura, the most unforgettable tragedy in history, the day when Imam Hussein (AS) and his seventy-two companions were martyred unjustly but were not defeated.

Wednesday the 7th of January 2009 is the day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, the day of victory for Islam and Muslims.

The day of Ashura is commemorated not only by the Shia people but also by freedom-loving nations throughout the world as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S) at the battle of Karbala.

It is especially mourned on the first ten days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, although the mourning continues through the whole month and well into Safar till the eighth of Rabi al Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.

Imam Hussein (AS) was the son of Imam Ali (AS), the first Shia Imam. His mother was Fatima (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (S), and his most famous title is Seyyed ush-Shuhada (Master of the Martyrs). Nine infallible Imams are his descendents, and Imam Mahdi (AS) is the last, the twelfth Imam. His followers await him day and night, praying that Almighty Allah may hasten his reappearance. – MORE tehrantimes.com

Kate Winslet Bersinar di 2009

PESONA Kate Winslet tampaknya kian bersinar di 2009. Terbukti, banyak majalah internasional yang sudah mengantre ingin merangkai cerita kisah suksesnya di dunia hiburan.

Majalah Elle, misalnya. Menurut The Sun, Kamis, (1/1/2009), pemeran utama film "Titanic" ini menerima tawaran menjadi model sampul depan majalah Elle, Februari mendatang.

Hanya saja, Anda jangan berharap bisa melihatnya tampil vulgar tanpa mengenakan busana. Pasalnya, pose Kate kali ini lebih bercitra seksi dan elegan dengan busana yang memeluk tubuh.

Selain itu, Kate tidak hanya mengumbar sensualitas dalam deretan foto-foto menarik di majalah Elle. Dia juga meladeni interviu yang mengupas soal kehidupan pribadi hingga proses menantang di balik film "The Readers".

Wow, seru! -- okezone.com - 1/1/2009 1:58 AM Local Time

Dah mula dah! Blog Mahathir jual ruangan iklan ~ Malaysiakini

Blog paling popular milik mantan perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (TDM) akan menjual ruangan iklan mulai tahun baru ini, khususnya untuk syarikat-syarikat kecil, lapor portal berita terkemuka Malaysiakini pada Jumaat (Jan 2, 09).

Kadar iklan di blog tersebut Chedet.cc, ditetapkan antara RM300 hingga RM1K sehari. Kosnya bergantung kepada jenis dan kedudukan iklan tersebut di dalam blog – amalan biasa dalam dunia pengiklanan samada media cetak atau e-media.

Blog TDM menutup tirai tahun lalu dengan rekod jumlah pengunjung sebanyak 10.9 juta – angka yang amat tinggi bagi sebuah blog yang baru tujuh bulan beroperasi.

Keputusan membuka iklan di laman blog TDM dibuat bertujuan memberi ruang kepada syarikat-syarikat kecil mendedahkan diri masing-masing ke dunia “e-market”, lapor Malaysiakini dengan memetik Sufi Yusuf, pembantu khas TDM, sebagai berkata.

Sementara itu ejen iklan blog tersebut Mutual Digital Sdn Bhd menjelaskan kepada Malaysiakini bahawa iklan itu boleh membantu syarikat-syarikat kecil dan bagi menampung kos pengendalian blog paling popular itu.

Walaubagaiamapun "keuntungan bukanlah keutamaan (kami), sebaliknya mahu memberikan pendedahan kepada syarikat-syarikat kecil,” kata Sufi Yusuf dengan menambah “tetapi kalau (dapat) menampung sedikit kos, bagus juga," lapor Malaysiakini lagi.

Bunyi laporan ini sukar untuk dikatakan tidak menjurus kepada “krisis kewangan” --- ehem… tak kan TDM pun terkena tempias “krisis mentaliti kapitalis” kut?

Laporan penuh Malaysiakini di sini.

I'm a Tiger - Angelina Jolie

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love letter from sydney

u shud c d harbor here, dar. it’s beautiful @nite, like d harbor @ sepanggoldcoast when we were there @merdeka day. u wander up &down d waterfront in short sleeves and listen to d fishermen arguing and d cbirds squawking.

fireworks explode over the sydney harbour bridge and the opera house during the new year's celebrations on sydney harbour in sydney, australia, thursday, jan. 1, 2009. -- msn

there’s a funny little restaurant that i’ve taken to eating in. syd is very proud of his bouillabaisse, and i’m rather fond of his taste. he’s from d north, brisbanegoldcoast, where he left his girlfriend, and we spend long evening boring each other silly w/ stories about d girls we’re left behind. he says if i can get u down here he’ll put on something really sumptuous. n i’m sure he wud, especially 4 u, my dearest.

everything’s fine. but it cud be better, and u know y. i’d gladly send u money 4 d ticket if u cud get away. then i’d probably c lees of d fishermen and cbirds as we walk along d jetty and opera house, but i can live w/out them.

click on the link below 2 c more fireworks around the world…

msn: Sydney kicks off New Year celebrations

Beware: Stern action for publishing offensive and indecent contents

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has warned of stern action against those publishing offensive and indecent contents about race and religion.

Any action that constitutes a contravention of the laws of Malaysia in the offline world also constitutes an offence in the online world, including the Internet, an MCMC statement here says.

It also calls on parents and guardians to monitor the use of the Internet by minors and young persons to ensure that they do not fall prey to unscrupulous individuals.

Users of Internet social networking sites should be cautious of the type of information they choose to post or publish online as irresponsible individuals may use these information against them at some future occasion, it adds.

“MCMC is very concerned with the increasing incidence of irresponsible and unethical use of the Internet, in particular comments made in blogs.

“The Internet is a powerful tool for development but is unfortunately misused by a small number of irresponsible and unethical individuals.”

Citing the latest incident where a weblog was reported to have published contents found to be offensive and indecent, in particular comments relating to Prophet Muhammad and Islam, it says the MCMC is working in close cooperation with other enforcement agencies in its investigations. – Bernama via NST