Storyzforu: 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Quantum of Solace

"Quantum of Solace," with Daniel Craig returning as Bond for the first direct sequel in the spy franchise, pulled in nearly $30 million more over opening weekend than its predecessor, 2006's "Casino Royale," according to studio estimates Sunday.

The debut also topped the previous opening-weekend record for a Bond flick, $47 million for 2002's "Die Another Day."

Adjusting for inflation, Sony's "Quantum of Solace" easily drew a bigger audience than that installment, the last Bond adventure featuring Pierce Brosnan. Based on 2002 admission prices, about 8.1 million tickets were sold for "Die Another Day" in the first weekend, compared to 9.8 million for "Quantum of Solace."

Two years ago, Craig was an unknown quantity as Bond, a stage-trained actor with little action experience and a resume that tended toward small, artsier films. Many fans were unhappy with the casting choice, but the critical and commercial success of "Casino Royale" silenced the critics.
"Quantum of Solace" picks up where "Casino Royale" left off, with Bond seeking to avenge the death of his lover.

"With 'Casino Royale,' people were rediscovering the franchise in a way with Daniel Craig as James Bond," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. "Quite frankly, they loved it. They loved the movie, and they loved him in the role, so I think by the time 'Quantum of Solace' was ready, audiences in the U.S. as well as the world audience was way ready."

"Quantum of Solace" began rolling out overseas two weekends before its U.S. debut, and its worldwide total now stands at $322 million.

DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which debuted at No. 1 the previous weekend, slipped to second place with $36.1 million, raising its 10-day total to $118 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP 10
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Quantum of Solace," $70.4 million.
2. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," $36.1 million.
3. "Role Models," $11.7 million.
4. "High School Musical 3," $5.9 million.
5. "Changeling," $4.2 million.
6. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," $3.2 million.
7. "Soul Men," $2.43 million.
8. "The Secret Life of Bees," $2.4 million.
9. "Saw V," $1.8 million.
10. "The Haunting of Molly Harvey," $1.6 million.

"Quantum of Solace" gave a huge boost to overall revenues as Hollywood heads toward Thanksgiving, one of the year's busiest weekends at theaters. The top 12 movies took in $142.9 million, up 54 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "Beowulf" led the box office with $27.5 million.
Movie revenue is running 1 percent ahead of 2007's record pace, when the industry took in $9.7 billion, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers. Factoring in inflation, the number of tickets sold this year is 3.5 percent behind 2007's, though.
The next two weekends will bring more likely hits, including the vampire romance "Twilight," John Travolta and Miley Cyrus' animated comedy "Bolt" and Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn's holiday romp "Four Christmases."

"Hollywood is in the best possible position right now, because it's all about momentum, and the industry certainly has that heading into the all-important holiday period," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

Fox Searchlight's "Slumdog Millionaire" had an impressive debut in limited release, taking in $350,434 in 10 theaters for a strong average of $35,043 a cinema. By comparison, "Quantum of Solace" averaged $20,400 in 3,451 theaters.

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Cancer Therapy:::

Psychological group therapy for women with breast cancer may help them not only to cope better with their disease but also live longer, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
The idea that such therapy can extend survival in cancer patients has been controversial for two decades. Past studies have yielded conflicting results.

Researchers led by Ohio State University's Barbara Andersen studied 227 women with breast cancer. About half took part in a year of therapy in groups of eight to 12 patients led by two clinical psychologists, while the others did not.

After 11 years, the women who participated in the group therapy were 56 percent less likely to die of breast cancer and 45 percent less likely to have their cancer return, the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer.

"Survival is kind of the bottom line when it comes to cancer. So we have people being healthy, productive people for longer -- and that's a huge health outcome," Andersen, who helped lead the therapy groups, said in a telephone interview.

Michael Stefanek, an American Cancer Society behavioral research expert, expressed wariness.
"Psychological interventions have been found in the majority of well-controlled studies to enhance quality of life and reduce distress. It would not be reasonable for patients to participate in psychological interventions with the goal of extending survival," he said in a statement.

BETTER IMMUNE FUNCTION
The women had Stage II or Stage III breast cancer in which the tumor may have spread to the lymph nodes near the breast or chest wall or skin, but not to more distant parts of the body.
Andersen said the group sessions, among other things, aimed to reduce the women's distress, train them how to relax and improve coping skills, improve their diet and exercise habits and discourage smoking and drinking alcohol.

The improved survival may stem from better immune function resulting from stress reduction, the researchers said.

The therapy sessions began after the women had breast cancer surgery but before they started chemotherapy and radiation treatments. They took part in weekly sessions for four months and monthly sessions for another eight months.

Among the 54 women who died during the study period, those who took part in group therapy lived longer than the others. And among the women whose cancer came back, the recurrence happened later in those who had done the therapy sessions.

Lois Friedman, a psychologist at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland, said too few cancer patients take part in therapy.

Friedman, who was not involved in the study, said there is clear evidence that such psychological interventions can improve mood and quality of life, help with adherence to medical regimens and improve general well-being.

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Monday, November 10, 2008

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INDIA won the series by 2-0 and clinched the Trophy

from Australia.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Health Tip:

What's on your plate?

If you're trying to lose weight or create a healthy meal plan, the first place you should look is right on your plate.

According to the American Deabetes Association, you should perform this review of your plate at mealtime to be sure that it contains these portions of different food types:

Ø About one-fourth of your plate should contain starches such as rice, pasta, potatoes, corn or peas.

Ø Another fourth of your plate should be filled with protein such as chicken, fish, meat or tofu.

Ø One-half of your plate should contain non-starch vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, salad, tomatoes or cauliflower.

Ø Finish off the meal with a glass of skim milk, a piece of fruit or a small roll.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

History or Mystery ?????

Have a history teacher explain this----- if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F.. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday .
Both Presidents were shot in the head

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln .

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln , was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln , was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln ' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe , Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

WHO FIGURED THIS OUT?
INCREDIBLE
1) Fold a NEW PINK $20 bill in half...

2) Fold again, taking care to fold it exactly as బెలౌ

3) Fold the other end, exactly as before

4) Now, simply turn it over...

What a coincidence! A simple geometric fold creates a catastrophic premonition printed on all $20 bills!!!
COINCIDENCE? YOU DECIDE
As if that wasn't enough. Here is what you've seen...

Firstly The Pentagon on fire...

Then The Twin Towers.

..And now .. look at this!

TRIPLE COINCIDENCE ON A SIMPLE $20 BILL
It gets even better!! 9 + 11=$20!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

అందరికి దీపావళి శుభాకాంక్షలు

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

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Beware Of China Food Products

several thousand babies in China are seriously ill, having suffered acute kidney failure, with several fatalities, among those given formula milk contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.

Around 1,500 dogs bred for their raccoon-like fur have died after eating feed tainted with melamine, raising questions about how widespread the indurstrial chemical is in china's food chain. The revelation comes amid a crisis over dairy products tainted with melamine that has caused kidney stones in tens of thousands of Chinese children.

The FDA is advising consumers not to consume the following products because of possible melamine contamination:

· Koala's March Crème filled Cookies

· YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink

· YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink

· Blue Cat Flavored Drinks

· White Rabbit Candies

· Mr. Brown Mandehling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

· Infant formula manufactured in China

So far, the FDA hasn't found any melamine contamination of milk-based products imported into the United States from China.

But it is advising caregivers not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. And the FDA recommends avoiding White Rabbit Creamy Candy, based on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority finding that the candies have melamine contamination at high levels.

Here's the background from the FDA release:

Ø On September 12, 2008, in light of reports from China of melamine contaminated infant formula, the FDA issued a Health Information Advisory to assure the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell such products in the United States.

Ø That advisory also warned members of Chinese communities in the United States that infant formula manufactured in China, possibly available for purchase at Asian markets, could pose a risk to infants.

Ø The FDA had contacted the companies who manufacture infant formula for distribution in the United States and received, from the companies, information that they are not importing formula or sourcing milk-based materials from China.

Ø At the same time, the FDA—in conjunction with state and local officials—began a nation-wide investigation to check Asian markets for Chinese manufactured infant formula that may have been brought into the United States.

Ø In particular, this effort focused on areas of the country with large Chinese communities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and New York. To date, investigators have visited more than 1,400 retail markets and have not found Chinese infant formula present on shelves in these markets.

Ø The FDA also advises consumers not to purchase infant formula manufactured in China from Internet sites or from other sources.

Ø The FDA has taken, and will continue to take, proactive measures to help ensure the safety of the American food supply. In conjunction with state and local officials, the FDA will continue to check Asian markets for food items that are imported from China and that could contain a significant amount of milk or milk proteins.

Ø In addition, the FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, and beverages that could contain these ingredients from Chinese sources. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.

Ø In addition to state and local governments, the FDA is working in close cooperation with Customs and Border Protection within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other federal agencies, and foreign governments."

These are some more products that can be dangerous:

· Powdered baby milk.

· HK finds melamine in Chinese-made cheesecake.

· Cookies With Melamine Found in Netherlands.

· Mr Brown coffee products.

· Manufacturing giant Unilever recalls melamine tainted tea. CNN is also reporting that the Hong Kong authorities Sunday (October 5) announced that two recalled candy products made by British confectioner Cadbury had high levels of melamine.

· Melamine Detected in Two More Ritz Snacks.

· More Chinese-made sweets recalled in Japan.

· White Rabbit brand Chinese candy contaminated: Asian health officials.

· Lipton, Glico and Ritz the latest businesses to be affected by milk powder scandal.

· Hong Kong finds traces of melamine in Cadbury products.

· Recalled Melamine Milk Products include Asian versions of Bairong grape cream crackers, Dove chocolate, Dreyers cake mix, Dutch Lady candy, First Choice crackers, Kraft Oreo wafer sticks, M&Ms, Magnum ice cream, Mentos bottle yoghurt, Snickers funsize, Yili hi-cal milk, Youcan sesame snacks and others. Testing of some of those has already proven negative.

· Melamine Found in More China-Made Products, including Heinz DHA+AA baby cereal.

· 305 Chinese dairy-based products temporarily banned in Korea.

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