Sunday 31 August 2008

Sukiyaki Western Django

Two connoisseurs of violence--prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike and American icon Quention Tarantino--team up for this genre mash-up. SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO follows two clashing clans in Japan as they both try to lure a talented shooter to their side. Tarantino makes a brief appearance in this film that pays homage to both the spaghetti western and classic Japanese cinema.

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Friday 22 August 2008

Commonwealth Government Settlement With Pan Pharmaceuticals And Its Former Chief Executive, Australia

�The Commonwealth Government in agreement to settle a civil claim which had been lodged in the Federal Court in Sydney by Pan Pharmaceuticals and its former Chief Executive.


The claim which was part heard in the Federal Court during the past month, related to to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's conclusion in 2003 to suspend Pan's fabrication licence and recall the medicines it manufactured.


The agreed settlement amount of $50 billion plus legal costs is considerably less than the $234 meg claimed. The settlement involves a judgement for the claimant, only does not involve the Commonwealth yielding any of the specific allegations in the minutes.

Background


The TGA took regulatory action against Pan in 2003 later on investigating a series of adverse dose reaction reports related to the Pan manufactured "Travacalm" medicine. Deficiencies in Pan's manufacturing of Travacalm were associated with 19 people being hospitalised for serious side effects and more than 100 reports of additional contrary reactions.


Pan Pharmaceuticals later pleaded guilty to a number of criminal charges including inflicting grievous bodily harm and manufacturing counterfeit medicines, and was fined $3 million.

http://www.tga.gov.au


More information

Tuesday 12 August 2008

Soul icon Isaac Hayes dies (+photos)

Oscar-winning soul singer and South Park star Isaac Hayes wHO, along with Al Green, James Brown and Stevie Wonder, was one of the prevalent black artists in the early seventies, has died in Memphis. He was 65.



His champion and former manager, Onzie Horne, told Reuters he spoke to Hayes' wife, Adjowa, world Health Organization confirmed that Hayes had died.


Hayes, world Health Organization said�he was a "health fanatic," was reportedly base unconscious penny-pinching a running treadmill at his home.


He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The causa of death was non known. In early 2007, Hayes suffered a stroke.


The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee enjoyed two decided musical careers, first as a session musician, songwriter and manufacturer at the Memphis soulfulness label Stax Records, where he worked primarily with Sam and Dave; so as a solo artist whose lushly orchestrated albums were some of the first concept works by a black artist.


"He was a real powerhouse in music," Don Cornelius, the founder of the Soul Train TV series, said.


"He took black music to another level, made it more classic."


The deep-voiced performer was the first dark composer to win the Oscar for best strain, with 1971's Theme from Shaft, an irresistibly pressing mix of wah-wah guitars and hi-hat cymbals spiced by the famous line, "They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother-/Shut your mouth!"


STAX STAR


Hayes, born August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, was raised by his grandparents after organism orphaned. He joined Stax in 1963, and often subbed for the label's primary keyboardist, Booker T Jones.


He eventually teamed with lyricist David Porter to write and produce songs for the soul span Sam and Dave, including Soul Man and Hold On! I'm A Comin'.


Hayes told Reuters in 2005 that he came up with the introductory horn line for the latter tune spell Porter was in the bathroom.


He yelled at his collaborator to hurry up, and so Porter barrelled out with pants around his ankles, yelling the words that would become the song's title.


With his shaved head, dark shades, extravagant wear and plenteous jewelry, Hayes was groomed as a star by Stax executives.


He released his debut album, the poor-selling Presenting Isaac Hayes, in 1968. He broke through and through the following year with Hot Buttered Soul, which contained only four songs but sold more than a million copies.


Chastened by his stillborn debut, Hayes took artistic control of the followup. Even though he was a successful songwriter, trey of the four tunes were covers that he reinvented, including an 18-minute version of Jimmy Webb's By the Time I Get To Phoenix.


Hayes' do work on conductor Gordon Parks' urban crime drama Shaft, a project he had hoped to star in, was the first of many forays into flick soundtracks.


He got in front of the camera for the 1974 cult classic Truck Turner and unbroken busy with film make. He had a cameo role in an instalment of The Bernie Mac Show, whose star died on Saturday.


Hayes left Stax in a dispute over royalties in 1975, the year the faltering label went insolvent. He filed for bankruptcy shortly thenceforth and lost all his songwriting royalties.


In his later years, Hayes reached a new audience by provision the voice for Chef, the libidinous sage on the sketch series South Park.


But he left the show a few years ago because he disagreed with its attacks on Scientology, the religious movement to which he belonged.






More info

Wednesday 6 August 2008

Capitalist Casualties

Capitalist Casualties   
Artist: Capitalist Casualties

   Genre(s): 
Rock: Punk-Rock
   Other
   



Discography:


Capitalist Casualties   
 Capitalist Casualties

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 74


Subdivisions In Ruin   
 Subdivisions In Ruin

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 20




 





Stompin' Tom's 'Bud the Spud' to be made available digitally on Canada Day

Monday 23 June 2008

Illdisposed

Illdisposed   
Artist: Illdisposed

   Genre(s): 
Metal
   Other
   



Discography:


Burn Me Wicked   
 Burn Me Wicked

   Year: 2006   
Tracks: 11


Four Depressive Seasons   
 Four Depressive Seasons

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 9


Kokaiinum   
 Kokaiinum

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 9


Retro   
 Retro

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 11


Submit   
 Submit

   Year: 1995   
Tracks: 9


Helvede   
 Helvede

   Year: 1995   
Tracks: 12


Return From Tomorrow   
 Return From Tomorrow

   Year: 1994   
Tracks: 4




One of Denmark's near respected and longest persistent death metallic element bands, Illdisposed were formed in the townsfolk of Ã…rhus in 1991, and managed to secure a record deal on the forcefulness of their very first gear demo, entitled The Winter of Our Discontempt. Led by unusually named vocalizer Bo Summer (specially unusual for a death metallic element ring!) and guitarist Lasse Bak, the group was rarely able to sustain a regular card for very long, but however recorded a cosmic string of albums, including 1993's Four Depressive Seasons 1994's Refund from Tomorrow EP, 1995's Give in, 1997's There's Something Rotten in the State of Denmark, and 2000's Retro covers set. In 2001, Bo Summer began splitting his fourth dimension between Illdisposed and competing Danish death alloy favorites Panzerchrist, but that hasn't stopped up him from reconvening his original ring for subsequent albums like that same year's Kokaiinum, 2004's 1-800 Vindication, and 2006's industrial-leaning Burn Me Wicked.






Monday 16 June 2008

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Three Boys Win Chance To Play Oliver On Id Do Anything

Gwion, Harry and Laurence have been named as the three boys chosen to play Oliver on I'd Do Anything.

After weeks of intense competition, a trio of young thespians have been picked to take the role of Dickens' orphan boy in Sir Cameron Mackintosh's upcoming Oliver! revival.

The successful three were picked from the final eight Oliver semi-finalists with Chester, Arthur, Kwayedza, Alexander and Jonny missing out after the group had performed Tomorrow from Annie.

Gwion, 11, from Carmarthenshire, said the wait to find out whether he had been picked to take the West End stage was "nerve-wracking".

"When I was told I was Oliver I was ecstatic!" he added. "I couldn't quite believe it and I thought I was dreaming. My mum gave me the biggest hug ever and I couldn't breathe!"

Twelve-year-old Harry, who was the sixth Oliver hopeful to be named as a semi-finalist, said he had dreamt for so long of winning the role that he couldn't believe the eventual verdict of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Cameron.

"It didn't sink in for a few minutes that I was actually going to be playing Oliver!" he explained.

And 11-year-old Laurence from Cheshire described his selection as "completely overwhelming".

Sir Cameron said some "terrific" talent had been unearthed on the show while Sir Andrew promised audiences that "whichever Oliver you go and see you're going to get a fantastic performance".

Just four hopefuls to play the role of Nancy remain, after Niamh Perry was eliminated from last week's show.


24/05/2008 19:50:00




See Also

Friday 6 June 2008

Tribute To Marilyn Manson

Tribute To Marilyn Manson   
Artist: Tribute To Marilyn Manson

   Genre(s): 
Metal
   



Discography:


Tribute To Marilyn Manson   
 Tribute To Marilyn Manson

   Year: 2002   
Tracks: 13




 






Thursday 5 June 2008

Angelina Jolie - Jolies Driving Fears

Pregnant star ANGELINA JOLIE has been forced to quit driving - because she fears the paparazzi who drive recklessly to follow her every move.

The Tomb Raider actress - who is expecting twins with partner Brad Pitt - has resorted to being chauffeured wherever she goes, in a bid to protect herself from aggressive snappers who constantly hound her while driving.

She says, "I love to drive, but I don't get to do it very much these days, because I don't like being followed by the paparazzi."

But Jolie, 32, did recently manage to escape the paparazzi for one day to celebrate her pregnancy - in a very unusual way.

She adds, "My girlfriends rented a sports car for me. So Brad and I just drove around Los Angeles in this Mercedes all day. It was fantastic."




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The Simpsons get more dough!

After months of negotiations, 'The Simpsons' voice cast has agreed a pay increase with 20th Century Fox.
According to Reuters the top actors will be paid €256,000 ($400,000) per episode, a significant increase from their current paychecks of €192,000 ($300,000).
In the new four-year deal Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson and has penned several 'Simpsons' episodes, will be named as a consulting producer.
Castellaneta and most of the other key 'Simpsons' actors; Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa) and Hank Azaria (Moe) are due to begin work today on the upcoming 20th season.
The status of Harry Shearer, who voices Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders, among other characters, is still unclear.

AIMEE MANN

“@#%&*! Smilers” (SuperEgo): A

At first it’s hard to tell what’s different about Mann’s latest. Then it becomes clear: no electric guitars. Instead, 13 new tunes are seasoned with horns, strings, percussive gizmos and retro-electronic bleeps, plus a dash of tack-piano. A welcome freshness prevails, making this Mann’s most accomplished, balanced collection to date. Now 47, Mann left Boston for the smog and sun of Los Angeles many moons ago; now she’s taking jabs at Hollywood’s forced smile. The eloquent character studies, along with the spiritual bankruptcy she so fearlessly exposes, are fascinating as always. And her thin pipes are still able to convey depths of despair bigger-voiced gals just can’t access. Download: “31 Today.”

Charles Dickens' writing desk sells at auction for more than $850,000

LONDON - The writing desk and chair Charles Dickens used while writing "Great Expectations" sold for just over $850,000 Wednesday to an Irish millionaire.

Tom Higgins, who runs a company that provides live tarot card readings over the internet, said he may write letters at the desk. "I don't think I'll write anything more in-depth than that, or try to lift the spirit of Charles Dickens from the desk. But you never know, there might be some spirit left in it for me," he said after his successful bid.

The money raised in the auction will go to the Great Ormond Street children's hospital in London. Dickens was a close friend of the hospital's founder and spoke at its first fundraising dinner in 1858.

The furniture was kept in Dickens' study at his country home Gad's Hill in southeast England and is seen in several portraits of the author.

It was passed down through the Dickens family and was recently donated to Great Ormond Street by Jeanne-Marie Dickens, the widow of Dickens' great-great grandson Christopher Charles Dickens.

Jeanne-Marie Dickens said she felt it was her husband's wish to donate the desk. "My husband shared his ancestor's desire to help the disadvantaged children and when I became aware of the fundraising needs of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, I knew that I had to give the desk and chair to them," she said.










See Also

Broadcasters Rollout Second Generation of HD2 Programming

From Classic to Cutting Edge, Stations Demonstrating Unprecedented
Creativity
With 70 Million Radios Sold Annually, Huge Opportunity for Consumers to
Upgrade All Their Radios and Receive New Programming for FREE

ORLANDO, Fla., May 14 -- The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a
joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate consumer
adoption of HD Digital Radio, today announced that member companies are
continuing the outpour of creativity and ingenuity with the second
generation of HD2 programming by providing airtime to local and unsigned
acts, bringing beloved stations back on the air, and offering unparalleled
relevance for various demographics. Additionally, consumers purchase 70
million radios annually, and there are plenty of reasons to upgrade all
those receivers to HD Radio.

"The Alliance members and many other engaged broadcasters know it's up
to them to drive and deliver excellent programming on their HD2 and HD3
stations. It's also imperative that broadcasters market that programming to
listeners," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio
Alliance. "Manufacturers are making a plethora of HD Radio receivers,
retailers are putting HD Radios on their shelves (or on-line), and now the
programming must motivate listeners to upgrade their radios to HD Radio."

From classic to cutting edge

With the additional stations that broadcasters are adding to the dial,
new and emerging artists are able to receive airtime. If you want to hear a
local, unsigned band, the nearest coffeehouse isn't your only option
anymore. Stations on HD2 are playing global and unsigned acts, with some
allowing bands to become actively involved with the ability to upload their
music online for possible airplay. Also, local tastes can be experienced in
various markets with these new, fresh formats. Be sure to check out indie
music from these stations:


-- "iChannel" (Bonneville / Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; St. Louis, MO;
Salt Lake City, UT)
-- "Radio You Boston" (Greater Media / Boston, MA)
-- "Local 107 -- Local Artists" (Emmis / Austin, TX)
-- "Indie & Ultra-New Rock" (CBS Radio / Boston, MA)
-- "Local Music" (Entercom / Seattle, WA)
-- "Indie Rock" (Clear Channel / Portland, OR; Oklahoma City, OK, Seattle,
WA)
-- "Rock Independent Radio -- 94.7 Too" (Entercom / Portland, OR)
-- "erockster" (Clear Channel / Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA;
Washington, DC)
-- "RIFF2" (Greater Media / Detroit, MI)

Stations that you thought were long gone are now being revived on HD2.
The extra stations allow for old formats that were once on the radio to
return once again, with some featuring live performances from your favorite
bands of the past. There are also formats that have recently been flipped
on analog FM that are finding new life on HD2. Rediscover some of your
other favorite stations here:


-- "Live Rock -- WMMR Archives" (Greater Media / Philadelphia, PA)
-- "WNEW" (CBS Radio / New York, NY)
-- "Smooth Jazz" -- (Clear Channel / Pittsburgh, PA)
-- "80s Based Adult Hits" (CBS Radio / Las Vegas, NV; McAllen-Brownsville-
Harlingen, TX, New York, NY)
-- "Radio Free Hawaii" (Clear Channel / Hawaii)
-- "Haney's Big House 96.1 HD2" (Beasley / Ft. Myers-Naples-Marco Island,
FL)
-- "Classical Music" (Greater Media / Philadelphia, PA)

Further fulfilling on the promise of HD by offering niche stations that
are hyper-focused to target audiences, HD Radio gives broadcasters the
chance to provide an even more robust radio dial. Stations can focus on a
specific targeted group on HD2 and concentrate to their particular tastes.
Formats that speak to various demographics include:


-- "Gretchen 99.9" (Beasley / Miami, FL)
-- "Country/Southern Rock" (Citadel / Atlanta, GA)
-- "Old Skool Hip Hop" (Clear Channel / Boston, MA)
-- "Punk Young Alternative" (Emmis / Chicago, IL)
-- "Oldies" (Buckley / Hartford-New Britain-Middletown, CT)
-- "80's Channel" (WBEB / Philadelphia, PA)
-- "Chick Rock" (CBS Radio / Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX)
-- "International Hits" (Bonneville / Cincinnati, OH)
-- "Solid Gold 106" (Beasley / Ft. Myers-Naples-Marco Island, FL)

"We know from our research if consumers hear content they can relate to
in their market -- and they can find it easily on HDRadio.com -- the
programming will inspire them to buy an HD Radio," said Diane Warren,
executive vice president of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. "These great new
stations only scratch the surface of the technology's capabilities.
Combined with the station listener's love on the AM and FM dial, a new HD
Radio provides them with an even richer and more exciting experience. The
work the broadcasters are doing is impressive and they're maximizing the
opportunities with these new stations by giving listeners more choices
while demonstrating their capacity for innovation -- so stay tuned."

Station guide available

Finding stations broadcasting digitally has been made easier with the
station guide that is featured on hundreds of Alliance Web sites. They can
tune-in to the stations they love on their radio dial now and the new
formats in their hometown. Donning a flashy new logo, the multicast
stations stand out in a bold orange box, making it simple to locate the new
stations in a market that can only be heard with an HD Radio. Moreover,
users can now print out the station guide to take on the go or carry along
with them on road trips and discover the new stations in various markets.

Millions of radios sold annually

With consumers purchasing 70 million radios every year, including 6
million aftermarket receivers, and over four radio receivers in each
household in the U.S., the prospects for selling HD Radios are
exceptionally bright. Whether for the home, office, your "NOW" car or your
"NEW" car, there's an HD Radio out there to fit your every consumer need.
Also, with receivers now as low as $89.99 and as high-end as home
entertainment systems, there's a price-point that's right for any consumer.

Momentum has been accelerating for HD Radio, with over 1,600 stations
around the country broadcasting in HD and over 800 HD2 / HD3 stations.
There are more than 60 unique HD Radio receiver models available, national
and regional retailers are onboard, and automakers backing the technology
include Toyota Scion, Mercedes, Ford, Volvo, BMW, MINI USA, Jaguar, and
Hyundai.

About the HD Digital Radio Alliance

The HD Digital Radio Alliance is a joint initiative of leading radio
broadcasters to accelerate the successful rollout of HD Digital Radio.
Current members include major radio groups and independent station owners:
Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, Buckley Radio, CBS
Radio, Citadel Broadcasting / ABC Radio, Clear Channel Radio, Emmis
Communications, Entercom, Greater Media and WBEB Philadelphia. For more
information on HD Digital Radio, visit http://hdradio.com

HDRadio.com now offers a full range of radios from a wide variety of
manufacturers for your "NOW" car and your "NEW" car. Select from a
simple-to-use buyer's guide that can sort by device manufacturer and price.
Easily find a station broadcasting in HD and additional formats you can
only hear on an HD Radio with the station guide.




See Also

Kidman confirms pregnancy reports

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has confirmed that she is expecting a baby with her singer husband Keith Urban.
The 40-year-old Australian star has pulled out of filming for her next movie 'The Reader'.
Kidman's publicist, Wendy Day, confirmed the news in a statement, saying: "Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban confirmed today that they are expecting a baby. The couple are thrilled."
Referring to Kidman's decision to pull out of her next movie, her publicist said: "I understand she's had to withdraw from the film and therefore she's had to give them the reason, and therefore she's now able to confirm that she's pregnant."
"I don't know how far pregnant she is, or when the baby's due. She just simply rang me and said, 'Wendy I always told you I would tell you first, and I'd confirm it and you could make the appropriate announcement'."
Kidman and Urban married in 2006. The actress already has two adopted children from her marriage to actor Tom Cruise, 15-year-old Isabella and 12-year-old Conor.

Jennifer Aniston - Hollywood Stars Turn Into Fiction In Models New Mystery Novel

JENNIFER ANISTON, ANGELINA JOLIE and DREW BARRYMORE are among a long list of celebrities living fictional lives in a new mystery novel by director STEVEN SODERBERGH's wife JULES ASNER.

Asner, a former model and TV correspondent, has created a parallel universe in her upcoming tome entitled Whacked - which follows a fictional character as she seeks revenge on a cheating boyfriend and mingles with real-life stars.

Her characters make controversial observations about Barrymore, who is "about to expire like spoiled milk" and Angelina Jolie: "God doesn't really make size-zero women with size-36C bustlines, right?"

Asner insists she didn't ask stars' permission to include them in the book - and isn't worried about a backlash.

She tells the New York Daily News, "I didn't ask permission. Maybe I should have! I know Ryan (Seacrest) - I don't think he'd be bothered. And Jen (Aniston) is the sweetest, nicest person in the world. I'd only mention her in a great capacity."




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Grey's Anatomy star joins Aniston in comedy

'Grey's Anatomy' star Eric Dane, who plays 'Dr McSteamy' in the show, will co-star alongside Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and Alan Arkin in the new comedy 'Marley & Me'.
Wilson plays an ambitious reporter who gets a job in a newspaper and moves to Miami with his wife, played by Aniston.
According to Variety, Dane will play the journalist's best friend, who suggests that the reporter adopt a puppy as a substitute for the children his wife wants to have.
Marley morphs from an adorable little puppy into an enormous handful.
The film, an adaptation of John Grogan's bestselling memoir, will be directed by 'The Devil Wears Prada's David Franklin when shooting begins later this month in Miami.