THEME FOR CHOGM ANNOUNCED

 

The theme for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be Building National Resilience, Building Global Resilience.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia will use CHOGM 2011 to address challenges of food security, sustainable development and natural resource management.

CHOGM 2011 will be held in Perth from October 28 to 30, 2011.

It will bring together leaders from up to 53 Commonwealth nations and up to 3,000 delegates.

About 1,000 representatives from the media are expected to also attend.

CAPTAIN AMERICA PHOTOS REVEALED

 

Paramount Pictures has revealed more photos from Marvel Studios' Captain America: The First Avenger and you can check them out below. Opening in 3D and 2D theatres in Australia  on July 21, the Joe Johnston-directed film stars Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke and Stanley Tucci.

Captain America: The First Avenger will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving.)

THE MYSTIQUE OF OLD BOOKS

 

“THE IRON LADY” TRAILER RELEASED

 

The Weinstein Company has released the first international trailer of "The Iron Lady", a biopic about former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher who is portrayed by Meryl Streep.

The minute-long trailer involves two advisers who would like Thatcher to ditch her signature hat and pearls, as well as to lower her voice.

Streep has been garnering buzz for the role and is touted to receive her seventeenth Academy Award nomination through the film. Speaking of slipping into one of the most important people's shoes,

Streep said, "I am trying to approach the role with as much zeal, fervour and attention to detail as the real Lady Thatcher possesses - I can only hope my stamina will begin to approach her own."

The Iron Lady releases in Australia on December 26, 2011.

DECORATED CAKES TO INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE THE TASTE BUDS

 

NORI, ORI AND DORI FROM “THE HOBBIT”

 

Following the first official photo of Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", Warner Bros. unleashed the one for brothers, Nori, Ori and Dori. The additional characters in the first Hobbit movie are portrayed by Jed Brophy, Adam Brown and Mark Hadlow respectively.

The brothers are three of the thirteen dwarves who accompany Bilbo in his quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Along with the picture, WB released a bio of the three, saying "These three brothers, all sons of the same mother, could not be more different from each other."

"Dori, the oldest, spends much of his time watching out for Ori, the youngest; making sure he's not caught a chill or got himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Nobody quite knows what Nori gets up to most of the time, except that it's guaranteed to be dodgy and quite probably, illegal. Dori, Nori and Ori are intensely loyal to each other - and whilst they are perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves, woe-betide anyone who means harm to one of these brothers."

I CAN SEE A RAINBOW TOO …

 

THINGS LEARNT FROM MOVIES

 

• When they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak English to each other.
• Action heroes never face charges for manslaughter or criminal damage despite laying entire cities to waste by their actions.
• You can always find a chainsaw when you need one.
• Any lock can be picked by a credit card or a paper clip in seconds - unless it's the door to a burning building with a child trapped inside.
• You can tell if somebody is British because they will be wearing a bow tie.
• When driving a car it is normal to look not at the road but at the person sitting beside you or in the back seat for the entire journey.

COOL IMAGES

 

SOME USEFUL CONDESCENDING PHRASES

 

• These humorous cuts were originally listed as useful phrases to use around work but could be used anywhere to bring heated discussions to an abrupt end.
• My toys! My toys! I can't do this job without my toys!
• It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm really quite busy.
• At least I have a positive attitude about my destructive habits.
• You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
• I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
• Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.

MORE BEACHES TO VISIT - YALONG BAY, CHINA

 

YALONG BAY – CHINA

China has now climbed up the third spot in tourism industry and Yalong Bay is definitely the most visited beach in China. Yalong Bay is seven kilometers long and it can provide you all the comforts that you want to make your beach holiday memorable.

TRIVIA BITS

 

• 9% of people skip breakfast daily
• 90% of all volcanic activity occurs in the ocean
• 90% people depend on alarm clocks to wake up
• 93% of households in Denmark consume wine (the highest % in the world with France second with 85% of households)
• 96% of candles sold are purchased by women
• a 1 minute kiss burns 26 calories
• a 1/4 of your bones are in your feet
• a 15th anniversary is called a quindecennial

QUOTABLES

 

VADSTENA CASTLE, SWEDEN

 

Vadstena Castle was originally built by King Gustav Vasa in 1545 as a fortress to protect Stockholm from enemies from the south. The fortress consisted of three smaller stone buildings facing the lake, Vättern, three 31 meter wide ramparts, a courtyard, a moat and four circular cannons turrets. The original ramparts were torn down in the 19th century and the present ramparts were inaugurated in 1999. The stone buildings later formed the ground floor of the castle.

On August 22, 1552, King Gustav Vasa married his third wife, Katarina Stenbock, in Vadstena. One of the castle banqueting halls is called The Wedding Hall (Swedish: Bröllopssalen), although its construction wasn't finished in time for the wedding.

The reconstruction from fortress into a castle began in the 1550s, when prince Magnus Vasa became Duke of Östergötland. Duke Magnus had a mental illness and was the only son of Gustav Vasa who didn't become king of Sweden. Magnus died in 1595 and is buried in the nearby Abbey Church.

In 1620 the castle construction was finished and all the kings of the House of Vasa up till then had led the construction. Since 1620, the castle has been very well-preserved, and is one of Sweden's best examples of Renaissance architecture. Vadstena Castle was a royal palace until 1716, when the royal family lost interest in it; after which it became a storage for grain

THE VIKINGS 1958

 

THE VIKINGS 1958

Director: Richard Fleischer
Stars: Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borgnine

Taglines:

Mightiest Of Men... Mightiest Of Spectacles... Mightiest Of Motion Pictures!

SYNOPSIS:
Einar and Eric are two Viking half-brothers. The former is a great warrior whilst the other is an ex-slave, but neither knows the true identity of the other. When the throne of Northumbria in Britain becomes free for the taking, the two brothers compete against one another for the prize, but they have very different motives - both involving the princess Morgana, however.

RELEASE DATES:
USA 11 June 1958 (New York City, New York)
USA 28 June 1958

Runtime: 116 min
Sound Mix: Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Colour: Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1

DEPP TO STAR IN FIFTH PIRATES MOVIE

 

Perhaps knowing that this franchise could get him further, Johnny Depp reportedly has signed up to star as Captain Jack Sparrow once again in the fifth movie. Words, according to The Wrap, are the Oscar-nominated actor is "close to signing a deal" for the movie which would be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer once again.

Screenwriter Terry Rossio has turned in a script for the fifth instalment even before "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" opened in theatres. "As long as the audience embraces this one, we'll certainly try to make another one. It's really up to Johnny," Bruckheimer said, adding "He loves the character."

ELIJAH WOOD … MODERN DAY PETER PAN?

 

"For a while it seemed like, 'Oh that's kinda cool, he doesn't age,' but now it's getting scary to me." – Conan O'Brien, commenting on the boyish looks of 30-year-old Elijah Wood, on his late show.

JUST FOR FUN

 

MORE EMPLOYER TALK

 

We're all fluent in this modern language. It's what we use when we want to exaggerate a little bit on our resumes or applications. It's also what we adopt when we're looking for a new person to join our company -- or not. Here's one interpretation of this secret labour code that appears in classified ads, cover letters, and resumes:

"SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED:" Some time each night and some time each weekend.

"SALARY RANGE $24k-$32k:" We'll offer you $22k to start.or $20

"A HIGHLY VISIBLE POSITION:" You'll give boring speeches on your own time.

"FLEXIBLE HOURS:" Work 40 hours; get paid for 25.

"DUTIES WILL VARY:" Anyone in the office can boss you around.

"WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED:" Those who missed the last round of layoffs, that is.

"MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL:" We have no quality control.

"ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD:" You whine, you're fired.

DELECTABLE FRUIT