WORLD INFO 24x7

Gautham Vasudev Menon's announcement on Twitter that his next production

venture will feature Jai and Richa Gangopadhyay in lead roles has

reportedly not gone down well with the 'Mayakkam Enna' actress.

According to sources, Richa is unhappy that the director-producer went

ahead and confirmed the project before she officially signed off on it.

"Talks were only on and she has not confirmed the film," they said.

Gautham wrote on his microblogging page, "We're producing 'Tamilselvanum

Thaniyaar Anjalum', to be directed by Prem Sai. Jai and Richa will play the

lead in the Tamil version; Nithin will be playing the protagonist in Telugu

one. Some really sweet tunes composed by Karthik. Filming starts on June 14."

On his directorial venture 'Neethane En Ponvasantham', he wrote: "Music of

NEP and its Telugu version 'Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu' will be out very

soon. First week of July. Maybe even 1st of July. Really hoping that

everybody likes the music (by Ilayaraja)."

Kamal Haasan's 'Vishwaroopam' boasts of a young cast and the

actor-filmmaker explains that he has roped them in because he was looking

for talented people and not stars.

Kamal plays the lead role the film, being made in Tamil and Hindi. It also

features Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah and Jaideep Ahlawat as well as Rahul

Bose.

"Casting Jaydeep, Andrea and Pooja was easy as I was looking for talent and

I found it in them," Kamal said at the screening of the excerpts from the

film at the ongoing 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend

and awards.

It was reported that the actor had approached Deepika Padukone to be a part

of the film but she turned it down.

"We didn't get the dates we wanted from her so we let her go. I wouldn't

like to name her. Her name was suggested by my financier, but I am happy

with the people I am working with in this film," he said.

His trick to make films appealing to audiences is that while making them,

he considers himself to be part of the audience and works accordingly.

"Audiences are something that we are scared of. We are so paranoid of

audiences that we forget to realise that we filmmakers are also one of

them," Kamal told IANS.

"I have a philosophy with which I make films, it may not be best or may not

be followed by others. I take the best from my audiences and I consider

myself one of them and make films," he added.

The release date of the film, which has a special appearance by Shekhar

Kapur, is yet to be decided.

Sudeep, who is all excited about the audience response of his latest film Naan Ee, is getting appreciation for his performance from celebrities worldwide. The star has been appreciated by the famous Hollywood film critic Hurtado for his excellent performance in the movie. Famous Bollywood film critic Taran Adarsh also praised Sudeep for his performance. Telugu star Mahesh Babu mentioned Sudeep's acting in Eega as outstanding recently. "Havin soo many top names frm Indian cinema tweeting bout me n adoring...I'm really blessed..Iam smiling endlessly ....gettin emotional too," Sudeep said. "Hw more lucky can I get than havin Raijinikanth sir n Nagarjuna sir callin n appreciating my wrk..thanks Rajamouli sir fr makin all ths hapn, " he added. Naan Ee, a graphical extravaganza, stars Nani and Samantha in lead roles. Sudeep plays an antagonist in the film.

Casting

From the previous film, the producers made it clear that apart from Ajith Kumar, Prabhu and Rahman, most of the other characters would not be retained. The female lead role was expected to be handed to Anushka Shetty, but despite media speculation she was not signed on. The female lead role was handed to debutant Huma Qureshi, a Mumbai-based theatre actor who had previously been featured in commercials, with Toleti finalising Huma after a nationwide search for an actress. However, she was removed from the project by September 2011, owing to changes in the script, and became replaced by Miss India World 2008 Parvathy Omanakuttan later that month, who the director had spotted and offered the role of Jasmine at a fashion show.Parvathy described her character as a "simple girl who transforms into a modern person" and that Billa looks up to, adding that she was had more scenes in the "emotional part" of the film.Bollywood actress and model Bruna Abdullah was selected to portray another significant character, which she went on term as "super powerful, very strong and sexy". Besides Abdullah, another Brazilian model Gabriela Bertante was recruited to perform a dance number alongside one more model. In June 2012, reports confirmed that model Nicole Amy Madell would be doing another item number.

Television actor Krishna Kumar, who made appearances in Kaavalan and Deiva Thirumagal, was signed on to play a "dirty cop". In June 2011, Sudhanshu Pandey, a former model who has appeared in several Hindi films, was given the role of a "greying ganglord", who becomes the mentor to the yound David, whilst Malayalam character actor Manoj K. Jayan was roped in for a "key role". Actress Vimala Raman was signed on to make a special appearance in the film, however she opted out in July 2011 citing date problems. Meenakshi Dixit was later finalised for that role and shot her scenes in July 2011 during the first schedule. Vidyut Jamwal, who played negative roles in the Hindi film Force (2011) and the Telugu film Oosaravelli (2011), was selected to play the villain, also making his debut in Tamil cinema. In December 2011 sources revealed that Sricharan, who starred in Payanam, was shooting for a supporting role in the film. Reports in February 2012 suggested that the team was trying to sign Nayantara, who played the female lead in Billa, for a cameo role; the actress refuted the rumors. Furthermore, composer Yuvan Shankar Raja on Toleti's insistence agreed to make a brief appearance in one of the songs. Sources also reported that director Seeman would be acting in the film.

Filming

T In the third week of November, a unit of thirty-six members left for Georgia in Eastern Europe for the final 20 day schedule of the film. In Georgia, the crew filmed at the country's capital, Tbilisi, Borjomi and Rustavi. Billa II became the first Indian film to be shot at the Likani Palace, which functions as a summer residence of the President of Georgia. Midway through the filming, heavy snowfall began. The crew, however, carried on shooting and later reshot the complete sequence with the snowy background to maintain the continuity. The climax portions were also filmed there against a snowy backdrop, for which aerial shots were done from a helicopter. Approximately half a million dollars were spent for the whole schedule in Georgia, which was finished by mid-December. In February 2012, the remaining scenes, including the film's title song, were canned at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad,[62] despite the ongoing strike in the film industry. An item number featuring Brazilian model Gabriela Bertante was shot in a studio in Goa Although producer Kheterpal had named Bangkok, Thailand as a potential location for filming, shooting was not held there. The entire filming was completed over a period of 90 days.

Three stunt choreographers were involved in the making of Billa II. The stunt sequences in Georgia were partly choreographed by an award-winning German-based company led by stuntman Stefan Richter, while the climax action scenes were done by Kecha Khamphakdee's Jaika Stunt team. K. Rajasekhar choreographed the fight sequences in Hyderabad and Goa. Madhu Sudhanan, a VFX creative director, said that VFX had been used in action sequences, in "set extensions" and in sequences involving 3D

Marketing

A first teaser poster displaying the new logo design was published in Diwali 2011, while the first posters depicting Ajith Kumar's look were released in January 2012 during the Pongal festival. From late February onwards, further posters featuring Ajith were unveiled, with one poster in late March portraying a young Ajith carrying a kerosene can on a boat that led to speculations over the character's origin. On 13 April 2012, a one minute teaser trailer was uploaded to YouTube. The teaser garnered over 500,000 views within the first three days of its release, setting a new record for Tamil films.

As part of the marketing, the makers planned to release a Billa 2 calendar featuring the two lead actresses, Parvathy Omanakuttan and Bruna Abdulla; the stills were shot exclusively for the calendar in Goa. An event to launch the official theatrical trailer was planned to be held on 2 July at the Anna Centenary Library auditorium in Kotturpuram, Chennai. The entire cast and crew along with Russian dancers were expected to attend the function, which was to be telecast on television later. The event was cancelled at short notice. The trailer was however uploaded to YouTube the same day, gaining record views. Moreover, a promotional video featuring Ajith with composer Yuvan Shankar Raja was shot as well, but was not released either.

Release

The overseas distribution rights were sold for INR 5.3 crores ($ 1 million) to the US-based company GK Media, the highest ever for a Ajith film. In March 2012, the local media corporation Sun TV Network bought the satellite rights for a record price, with sources estimating the price at INR6.25 crore (US$1.25 million). Three prominent production houses were reportedly trying to purchase the domestical theatrical rights then. Venu Ravichandran's Aascar Films eventually acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Tamil Nadu for approximately INR 26 crores. All the distribution rights of the film, except the Kerala and Hindi dubbing rights had been sold at a record price of more than INR 40 crores, making Billa II one of the top pre-release revenue generating films of all time in the Tamil film industry. In early May 2012, the Kerala release rights were finally sold to Sagara Entertainment and Money Tree Entertainment for INR 1.5 crores, likewise a new record for an Ajith film. Billa II received an adult rating ("A" certificate) from the Central Board of Film Certification. In the UK, the film was issued a 18 certificate by the British Board of Film Classification with an advice that it contained "very strong violence and revenge theme".

Skin cancer can be a deadly battle to fight. With most symptoms left undiagnosed, it can become quite a threat to one’s health. The following guide will help you detect those early signs and seek treatment before it gets too late.

1. Actinic Keratosis

Also known as Solar Keratosis, this condition implies natural and scaly patches of skin found most commonly on the head, around the neck or hands, and these are a result of overexposure to the sun. Although these can deemed as the early signs of skin cancer, the chances of these patches becoming cancerous, is entirely subjective. However, most dermatologists recommend patients should attend to these patches to facilitate early treatment.

2. Farmer’s Lip

Clinically termed as Actinic Cheilitis, Farmer’s Lip condition is similar to Solar Keratosis in its manifestation. This is fairly common in older men and light skinned people. Characterised by swelling of lips, disappearance of the lip-skin border, general scaly texture and patches of unexplained redness, this type of affliction may become a malignant carcinoma if left untreated.

3. Cutaneous Horns

The appearance of funnel shaped growths with a red base is usually the most telling symptom of its appearance. The scaly texture is characterised by the presence of keratin, which is the same protein that constitutes nails. They start out with only a few millimeters in length and diameter, but can grow up to considerable amounts. The bases of these horns contain the carcinogenous cells that, later on, give way to skin cancer.

4. Atypical Moles

Clinically known as Dysplastic Nevi, these are larger, irregular shaped moles, occurring all over the body, with a fading border of mixed colour, which tend to grow with time. Although the appearance of these notch-like moles might not signify cancer straight away, if left untreated, it might soon become cancerous.

5. Melanoma

Although not as common as the other symptoms, it, nevertheless, is the deadliest type. A melanoma can be spotted in an unexplained formation of a mole, or a sudden pigmentation of the skin. Changes in the size, shape or colour of the mole are some of the earlier symptoms. However, if the mole develops irregular edges, causes itch, oozes pus or bleeds intermittently, one is advised to seek immediate medical attention.

6. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This type rears its head as a red but firm nodal growth on the skin, which eventually gets crusty and bleeds, or becomes an unsealing sore. Occurring mostly in the areas of the body that are exposed to sun, they tend to form over the neck, arms, head, forehead, nose, cheeks and lips. This carcinoma is completely treatable and if detected early, the affliction can suitably be done away with.

7. Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the most common occurrence and by far the most easily treated carcinoma in the category. Due to its slow expansion, it can take varied forms to manifest itself. Unsightly bumps with visible blood vessels, mostly occurring on the neck or on the face, this type can manifest itself as a scar like patch and grow on to be cancerous.

Skin cancer is a growing ailment among people with constant exposure to the sun. Based on the above mentioned symptoms, if one finds any such occurrence on their skin, they are advised to get in touch with their dermatologists as soon as possible.

Salman Khan has teamed up with ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif in "Ek Tha Tiger" and praised her, saying it is not difficult to fall in love with her.

"I think one can easily fall in love with her (Katrina) on screen and off screen. Even her fans love her a lot. This is why she is standing here and all the cameras are facing her," Salman said at an event here. The duo was last seen as a couple in 2008 release "Yuvvraaj".

"Ek Tha Tiger" is an action thriller, the actor clarifies that there no illogical scenes in it.

"There are a lot of action scenes in the film and I have worked hard for it. It is visually very nice and choreographed very nicely. There is no illogical action," Salman said at the launch of the first song "Mashallah".

Salman will be seen as a spy in the Kabir Khan directed "Ek Tha Tiger", which has been shot in places like Dublin and Istanbul.

The actor feels that Kabir is fond of cold places. "He (Kabir) likes to go to all the cold places to shoot. There was no place above zero degrees."

Rajesh Khanna, the original superstar of the Hindi film industry, died at his home, Aashirvad, in Mumbai on Wednesday at the age of 69.
The yesteryear actor was ailing since quite a while and had just been discharged from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on Tuesday. He had been diagnosed with a kidney problem.

Reports said that Rajesh Khanna was not responding to medicines and had been put on IV and had been grasping for breath since morning. He had been put on life support.

His family was present with him and his doctor and physician were also next to him.

Television reports said that his son-in-law Akshay Kumar had returned from his shoots abroad to be by his side. All his family members had already gathered at his Bandra house which has been cordoned off by police officials.

Born Jatin Khanna on December 29, 1942, he took up the screen name of Rajesh Khanna when he entered filmdom. He acted in 163 films, including 106 as the hero.

The music of Jiiva starrer Mugamoodi will be launched on July 20 at Sathyam Cinemas. Directed by Mysskin and produced by UTV Motion Pictures, Mugamoodi is the first superhero movie in South India. The trailer and first look of the movie which was released recently has received a very good response. While the trailer was launched by Suriya and Gautham Menon, the music will be released by Ilayathalapathy Vijay and the first copy will be received by Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar. Several leading producers, directors and stars from the Kollywood fraternity are expected to grace the occasion. Narain plays the antagonist in the movie. Beauty queen Pooja Hegde makes her acting debut with the movie. Veteran actors Girish Karnad and Nasser play prominent roles in the movie. Music for the movie is composed by K and lyrics are by Madhan Karky. Sathya is the cinematographer, Bala handles art direction and Gaugin is the editor.

Sex excuse 1: “I’m too tired”


 “Please babe, I’ve been at work all day and I’m tired” – oh, that old chestnut. A recent study has revealed that the “I’m too tired” scenario has become the top excuse to avoid having sex, with “I have a headache” stepping down from first place to third on the list. As many of us seem to be working longer hours than ever before, it’s no surprise that when we reach our bedroom it’s often less of the passionate kissing and sexy underwear, and more about the unattractive pyjamas and comfortable slippers. Sometimes we even use “I’m too tired” as an excuse before we’ve even thought about whether we’re tired or not. In actual fact, sex floods the brain with relaxing chemicals such as oxytocin, which calms down our brains and compliments our sleep. Suddenly sex is back on the menu...


Sex excuse 2: “I’m on my period”


 This is obviously an excuse that the gentleman among us can’t pull out of the bag when they’re just not feeling up to it. For the ladies, it’s a favourite excuse that works every time. When they drop it into a conversation casually, it’s an indirect way of saying “I’m not up for it. It’s just not happening so before we take this evening any further, please remember that the most you’re getting at the end of the night is a snuggle”. They know that the age-old  ‘time of the month’ excuse makes men squirm a little bit before simply being quiet and not asking any more questions on the subject, making this the perfect excuse if they’re looking for a quick get-out that requires little effort or explanation.  You can’t mess with nature, gentlemen.

Sex excuse 3: “I’m angry with you”


 Some sneaky devils try and avoid sex by dragging out an argument for longer than it needed to last or purposely causing one. We’ve all heard of the scenario; you’re having a fantastic evening watching films, gorging on a candle-lit romantic meal, and laughing at each other’s jokes when suddenly the bedroom part comes and boom – you just remembered your argument from the other night. Suddenly the candles are blown out, the oversized comfy pyjamas have made their grand entrance and you’re lying on the bed facing opposite directions. No sex tonight. *Celebratory gasp of relief*

Sex excuse 4: “I’ve got a headache”


 People all over the world seem to get a headache when it’s leading up to the big moment. We can’t think why. In fact, the fake headache excuse has been put to use so much that it made it to third place in a recent survey of top excuses for not having sex. If it’s a real headache and not a euphemism for “I don’t feel like doing it today, sweetheart” studies suggest that sex can actually help. Indeed, scientists believe that the chemicals released in your brain during sex make getting down and dirty 10 times more effective than Valium. It’s the pleasure aspect that provides pain relief though; if you just lie down passively and make your partner do all the work, it isn’t going to happen. If you’re the one playing the “I have a headache” card, make sure your partner doesn’t know this handy piece of knowledge. If they do, it might be worth picking another excuse off this list, just to be safe. If you’re partner’s using this excuse, they’ve just been busted.

Sex excuse 5: “I don’t have time”


 We can feel your pain with this one. As we’re working longer hours, there seems to be less time for sex and more time for hard work. If you’re genuinely struggling for time, throw spontaneity out of the window and schedule sex in. It sounds unsexy, but there’s nothing wrong with planning a session of romance if it’s completely stopped happening on its own. If you’re one of those people who has plenty of time to plant flowers, paint the bathroom and make artwork out of melted wax crayons but suddenly have no time when it comes to sexy time, it might be best to think of a better excuse. They say that women can multi-task but ironing and doing the deed at the same time could be painful...

Laser hair removal is a relieving process for those who seek a permanent solution to their unwanted hair growth problems.

 Although it is being adopted by a number of men across the country, some are actually ignorant of the facts behind this procedure. This article will help shed some light on the same.

Who Should Try This?

 These lasers are specially designed to remove hair from the skin by means of emitting a pulsed light. Most laser hair removal therapies are designed for fair skin with dark hair and seem to work more effectively on them, than the rest. Their effectiveness, however, varies on dark skinned people having lighter hair. For thoroughly tanned skins, the laser hair removal tends to cause skin discolouration. In this regard, using the right machine for the right kind of skin is very important.

How Does this Work?

 These lasers emit a sensitive beam, which destroys the hair cells from the root. The melanin pigment contained in dark hair is targeted causing the hair follicles to fall out over a period of 15 days from the procedure.

What Areas Can be Treated?

 Because of its ability to work on many hair cells at once, large areas of the body can be treated simultaneously. They are most effective on the back, arms, shoulder and chest, with some effectiveness on the chin and upper lip.


How Long Does the Procedure Take?

 Since it is exposing the skin to a mild radiation beam, these treatments need to be placed at a month’s interval to reduce risks of skin damage. But on the whole, it takes about 6 sessions of two hours each, spaced out over a couple of months, to see a marked reduction in hair growth.

How Effective is the Result?

 Re-growth of hair is, unfortunately, subjective. Its rate varies from person to person. Some people notice hair growth after a couple of months, some claim, never having to shave again. At an average, people having undergone the full 6 weeks procedure have claimed to witness a 70% reduction in hair growth.

Does it Hurt?

 It doesn’t, unless you’d count a rubber band hitting your skin, as pain. Again, the pain experienced by different machines is subjective. While some machines tend to cause a mere tingling sensation, the others are known to affect strongly. The on-procedure administration of a mild anaesthetic helps to numb the initial sensation.

How Much Does it Cost?

 Let’s face it. Employing a laser procedure to get rid of unwanted hair is not going to be cheap. The cost of the procedure depends on the body part in question. But the procedure can range from 10,000-100,000 INR per session, excluding taxes.

 When investing in an expensive procedure like this, you must do your research well. Find out the best place to get this done from and do not focus on cheap deals and discounts. If done right, this procedure will provide long and lasting results; if botched up, this can leave your skin permanently scarred. So choose wisely!

CHAVILLE, France  - The Belle Epoque, France's golden era at the turn of the last century, bequeathed Paris elegant landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, but also a more sinister legacy of radioactive floors and backyards which the capital is only now addressing.

 When the Franco-Polish Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium in 1898, she set off a craze for the luminescent metal among Parisians, who started using it for everything from alarm clock dials to lipsticks and even water fountains.

 The companies that manufactured these slightly radioactive objects have long gone out of business, but they left small doses of radium between the cracks of some Parisian parquet floors. These doses, after prolonged exposure, could prove toxic though, officials say, they do not pose serious health risks.

 "The history of radium started in Paris," said Eric Lanes, head of radioactive decontamination at France's national agency for radioactive waste, ANDRA. "Marie Curie never patented her discoveries so a lot of people rode the radium wave."

 After Curie showed that radium could be used to destroy cancerous cells, people assumed that the new element had miraculous healing properties and started putting it in everything from body lotions to cough syrups.

 "Cancerous cells are more sensitive to radiation than healthy ones. Curie understood that," said Lanes. "But some people embarked on businesses more akin to charlatans' tricks."

 Curie herself died at 66 from her prolonged, unprotected exposure to radium.

 ANDRA - in some case using addresses that were written on vintage advertising posters - has identified some 130 sites in France suspected of being at risk. Some 40 of them are set for decontamination, half of those in the Paris area.

 Lanes said the clean-up was being undertaken as a precautionary measure under a recent French law requiring that preventative steps be taken in a case of a suspected health risk even in the absence of conclusive scientific evidence.

 "We have never found any worrying situations," Lanes said. "We're talking about levels that are too small to create a health impact."

 "DON'T PLANT VEGETABLES"

 In a two-storey detached house in the leafy suburb of Chaville, 12 km (7 miles) southwest of central Paris, masked men in white hazmat suits drilled holes in the wooden floors of what used to be an aircraft altimeter factory before World War Two.

 The factory workers used to colour the dials with glow-in-the-dark paint made from radium powder and zinc sulphide.

 Their plight was reminiscent of the so-called Radium Girls in the United States who contracted radiation poisoning around 1917 from licking their paint-brushes to sharpen them.

 In Chaville, traces of paint are still present in the wooden floor, the house's garden and basement. Though too small to present a risk, they still have to be collected in drums through air-locks and sent to ANDRA's nuclear waste storage sites.

 The decontamination cost for a house like this is 260,000 euros, Lanes said. The agency has a 4 million euro annual budget for decontamination on top of the government's 12 million euro budget for its "radium plan".

 The occupants, who declined to be interviewed because they feared the publicity could lower the property's value, were temporarily rehoused at ANDRA's expenses and will get the renovated house back after three months.

 Some sites deemed too contaminated to make a renovation cost-effective have been bought by ANDRA and razed.

 The Jersyk family's former house in Gif-sur-Yvette, just south of Paris' military airport of Villacoublay, is one of them. It was part of an estate built in the 1950s near a disused factory where radium needles for hospitals had been manufactured.

 "When the factory shut, the land was sold, the ground levelled, and they built houses on it, it was as simple as that. It's monstrous," said Eglet Jersyk, an 81-year-old pensioner.

 After spotting a news item in the local newspaper about the former factory's radioactive legacy, she and her husband Christian joined a local group to demand government action.

 "No one told us anything when we bought it in 1966 but a lot of mystery surrounded that house. We were only told: 'You shouldn't grow vegetables in the garden'," she said.

 Experts from France's CEA atomic research agency came to visit the house in 1974 and found abnormal levels of radium and radon gas, she said, but it took some 30 years before the family could relocate to a nearby town.

 In the meantime, her husband, a do-it-yourself enthusiast who often worked in his basement, suffered from cough and heart problems which she said a doctor linked to radioactive fumes.

 Her complaint was dismissed by a court in the early 2000s, she said, and shortly after ANDRA offered to buy the house at market prices.

New Delhi, July 19  The country's apex child rights panel Thursday sought a report from Karnataka after incidents of discrimination against poor students in defiance of provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) act were reported in the state.

The National Commission on Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also sought reports from all other state governments on any discrimination being faced by the EWS students.

In a shocking incident in Bangalore, four students from poor families, who joined a private school in the state under RTE, recently had locks of their hair cut off to differentiate them from other students.

Taking suo moto cognizance of the case, NCPCR has asked the state education department to investigate the incident and take necessary action. The commission has also sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) within a week.

"It has asked for details to ensure appropriate counselling to students and interaction with parents from weaker communities. Private schools in the state have been directed on RTE implementation," an NCPCR official said.

A statement from NPCR said it has "asked the secretary (primary & secondary education), government of Karnataka to get the matter investigated and take further necessary action".

The commission has also sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) within seven days containing details of the alleged victimisation accorded to the students in the said case.

The commission has asked the state government to "initiate necessary actions against the concerned school authorities and other functionaries, if found guilty, and ensure that the children get immediate counselling at the cost of the state".

The apex child rights body, headquartered in Delhi, has also directed all the states to take immediate action to ensure that no discrimination is meted out to children from poor families. In this regard, the commission has sought ATRs from all chief secretaries within 30 days.

Issuing guidelines to all state governments, the commission has directed all states to establish a Grievance Redressal Cell at district level for such complaints.

State governments have also been directed to hold meetings with principals and governing boards of the private schools and the school education departments have been asked to suspend the recognition of schools against which complaints of discrimination are proved and set up corrective measures expeditiously.

LONDON  - Apple has been instructed by a British judge to run ads saying that Samsung did not copy its design for the iPad in the latest twist in the ongoing patent battles between the two tech giants, according to Bloomberg.

Judge Birss, who ruled last week that Samsung did not infringe Apple's designs because its Galaxy Tab tablets were not "as cool" as the U.S. company's iPad, said Apple should publish a notice on its website and in British newspapers to correct any impression that the South Korean company copied Apple, Bloomberg said.

 The notice, which is in effect an advertisement for Samsung, should remain on Apple's website for at least six months, the report said.

 The judge, however, rejected Samsung's request that Apple be forbidden from continuing to claim that its design rights had been infringed, saying that Apple was entitled to hold the opinion, the news agency said.

 Samsung said in a statement after the hearing: "Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited."

 Apple declined to comment on Judge Birss's instruction.

A Muslim human rights group has issued a strong response to the allegations from House Republican members that longtime Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin's family, as well as other prominent Muslim-Americans working within the U.S. government, have ties to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Corey Saylor, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, calls questioning the loyalty of "patriotic American Muslims" based on what he says are old anti-Muslim conspiracy theories "beyond the pale."

 Five GOP members of Congress, including former presidential candidate Michelle Bachman, sent letters to the Inspector General offices for the State Department, as well as the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, questioning whether Abedin and other prominent Muslims are part of a plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the U.S. government.

 "America wants a serious national security conversation," says Saylor. "Michelle Bachmann is giving us a six degrees of separation drinking game ."

 CAIR, a Washington-based Islamic advocacy group founded in 1994, is not alone in its condemnation. Today veteran  Republican Senator John McCain gave a spirited defense of Abedin, calling the allegations against her "ugly" and "sinister." He chastised his GOP colleagues in the House saying that no one, "not least a member of Congress," should launch such a "degrading attack against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of that they stand for."

 State Department deputy spokesperson Patrick Ventrell also shot down the accusations, calling them "preposterous."

 Saylor says that Abedin and the other Muslim officials listed in the House letter are American citizens who are "asking what they can do for their nation," and now Bachmann "seems to be punishing them for the sin of offering that service during a Democratic administration," he says.

 In addition to Abedin, the letters also cite Mohamed Elibiary, an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security named in the letter, as also having possible ties to extremists. Last year Elibiary was given an award by the Society of Former Special Agents for his counter-terrorism work with the FBI.

 "Now his contributions have been rewarded by Bachmann questioning his patriotism," says Saylor.

 Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison, the only Muslim member of Congress, has sent letters to Bachmann demanding she and her GOP colleagues produce evidence backing up their claims. Ellison told CNN's Anderson Cooper that the allegations are "the worst of guilt by association," said Ellison. "It is a stark affront to American values."

 Bachmann has issued a statement saying that Ellison has "distorted" the letters by taking certain comments out of context. "The intention of the letters was to outline the serious national security concerns I had and ask for answers to questions regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical group's access to top Obama administration officials," said Bachmann.

 But those who have spoken out, including McCain, Ellison and CAIR, reiterate that Bachmann and her House GOP colleague's questions aren't based on credible evidence. Saylor says it has more in common with the 1950's political witch hunt spearheaded by former senator Joe McCarthy to take down political opponents by claiming they were communists. That period is generally seen as one of the darkest in American political history.

"You can't help drawing parallels between this and McCarthyism," says Saylor. "Half truths? Guilt by association? Overblown accusations? Sounds like Joe McCarthy to me."

WASHINGTON  — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose by 34,000 last week, a figure that may have been skewed higher by seasonal factors.

Applications for benefits increased to a seasonally adjusted 386,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The gain followed a drop of 24,000 the previous week and was the biggest jump since April 2011.

Economists view the recent numbers with skepticism. The government struggles to adjust the data to reflect temporary summertime layoffs in the auto industry, they note. And this year, many automakers skipped those typical shutdowns to keep up with demand. That led to fewer layoffs two weeks ago, which the Labor Department didn't anticipate.

"All of this is statistical noise," Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at MFR Inc., wrote in a note to clients. "What will be more important than these short-term gyrations is where claims settle down after the distortions end. We suspect that the data will point to a soggy labor market."

The less volatile four-week average fell by 1,500 to 375,500.

When applications fall below 375,000, it typically suggests hiring is strong enough to pull the unemployment rate down. Applications had been trending near or above that level this spring.

Nearly 5.8 million Americans were receiving some type of unemployment benefit the week that ended June 30, according to the most recent data available. That was down from 7.3 million a year earlier.

"Although the labor market is stronger than it was in 2011, it is not particularly robust," says Steven Wood, chief economist at Insight Economics.

The economy has slumped after showing signs of life at the start of the year.

Job growth slowed to 75,000 a month from April through June, down from healthy 226,000 pace the first three months of the year. Unemployment has been stuck at 8.2 percent for two straight months.

A survey from the Fed said hiring was "tepid" in most districts in June and early July, and manufacturing weakened in most regions.

Retail sales fell in June for the third straight month, the government said earlier this week. That prompted many economists to downgrade their estimates for growth in the April-June quarter. Many now think it will be even slower than the first quarter's sluggish 1.9 percent annual pace.

The only good news recently has been evidence of a long-awaited recovery in the housing market. The government reported Wednesday that U.S. builders last month broke ground on the most homes in nearly four years. Single-family home building rose for a fourth straight month. And permits to build single-family homes hit the highest level since March 2010.

"Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer says she is sad that the franchise is ending, but is even more blue over the recent death of a fan.

During an interview with Yahoo! Movies at Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego, Meyer took a moment to remember the 53-year-old "Twilight" fan who was tragically and accidentally killed after being hit by a car in front of the city's conference halls on Tuesday.

Like many "Twilight" fans at the conference, and other members of the "Twilight" cast -- including Kellan Lutz -- Meyer wore a black ribbon: "I'm wearing this because of the horrible accident that happened...with Gisela [Gagliardi]... All of this is fun and then all of a sudden that just really puts it in perspective -- what's really important," she told Yahoo! Movies after a discussion about her upcoming alien film "The Host" -- based on her book of the same name.

"Of course, everyone's thoughts and prayers are with her family. It has been really devastating," she said.

Regarding this year's Comic-Con marking the beginning of the end of "Twilight," Meyer said (earlier in the interview): "Today has been sad, and it's only going to get worse. When we get to the premiere and I know that I'm not going to see Kristen and Rob and Taylor again, or, for who knows how long... They have been my companions for quite a while now and we're breaking up. It's really sad!"

Disney showed up full-handed for their Comic-Con Hall H time slot, with Tim Burton talking "Frankenweenie;" Sam Raimi, Mila Kunis, and Michelle Williams unveiling the gorgeous "Oz The Great and Powerful" trailer; and John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, and director Rich Moor showing the first ten really fun minutes of "Wreck-it Ralph". But the big surprise at the end of the show is what really had fans screaming.

In an unannounced move, Disney dropped "The Lone Ranger" teaser trailer. And what a swashbuckling, action-packed surprise it was.

As a desert, western landscape unfolds, the title cards reveal we are witnessing a Jerry Bruckheimer production of a Gore Verbinski film. So we know right away it's going to be big.


Another indication is the vast expanse of the land opening up before us, as the voice over resonates poetically about the essence of power. Old time trains roll up to a station. The speech continues as a darkly veiled man talks to a room full of seemingly powerful men.

All seems well and good, until the room is shot to bits! By whom? We don't know. But suddenly, steaming locomotives are rolling down the tracks. And there's obvious bad guys aboard. The hour seems dire.

Until like a bolt of lightning, we gaze over, where atop the plains we spy a beefy man in a black suit, black mask, and white hat. Our hero, Armie Hammer. Next to Armie's Ranger stands his kemosabe Tonto, played with pageantry and poise by a shirtless Johnny Depp with a crow on his head.

The dynamic duo getty-up after the train (sorry, no "Heigh Ho, Silver"). There are flashes of fighting, struggle, and gunfire, followed by a brief moment where we see a mask-less Ranger in a tense, tight shot. Then we flash to Tonto somehow appearing underneath the train, looking like he's ready to pounce.

And boy do the fans in Hall H seem ready for Johnny to pounce.

The summer movie season has been dominated so far by superheroes. "The Avengers" broke records to kick it all off, and last weekend "The Amazing Spider-Man" showed that audiences still love the Webslinger, even with a new actor behind the mask.  But with fanboys assembled down in San Diego for Comic-Con, and another week left before Batman swoops back into cinemas in "The Dark Knight Rises," we've got a short break from the spandex-clad heroes this weekend.

Instead, Friday sees the return of some familiar and furry faces. "Ice Age: Continental Drift" is the fourth chapter in the series of prehistoric animated comedies, and it brings together the original voice cast along with a boatload of new stars.  And if a family-friendly flick isn't what you're after, there are some acclaimed independent films rolling out in limited release as well.


Ice Age: Continental Drift

Rated PG for mild rude humor and action/peril

What's the Story?

Manny the mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano), Diego the sabre-toothed tiger (voiced by Denis Leary) and Sid the sloth (voiced by Jon Leguizamo) are off on another adventure together.  This time, that hungry little furball Scrat accidentally broke apart the continents, sending the three pals adrift on an iceberg.  As they are tossed around the ocean, they face off against a sinister orangutan pirate, Captain Gutt (voiced by "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage).  And Diego encounters another type of danger, an alluring female tiger name Shira (voiced by Jennifer Lopez).  They will all have to brave some turbulent seas if they are going to get Manny back to his loving family.

Who Will Dig It?

3D animated films have been big draws so far this summer, with "Madagascar 3" and Disney/Pixar's "Brave" bringing scores of families into theaters. So anyone with young fans of the first three movies will surely want to check this out. What better way to beat the heat than to settling into an air-conditioned theater and watch a movie about ice?  Plus, older kids who are into hip-hop might like hearing stars Drake and Nicki Minaj provide the voices for a pair of teenage wooly mammoths.


'Ice Age: Continental Drift' Theatrical Trailer

In limited release this week, Robert de Niro and Sigourney Weaver star in "Red Lights," a scary tale about paranormal investigators trying to unravel the secrets behind a famous psychic.  Also, Freida Pinto ("Slumdog Millionaire") stars in "Trishna," a retelling of Thomas Hardy's classic novel "Tess of d'Urbervilles" set in modern-day India. Documentary fans will appreciate "The Imposter," the true story of a Texas teen who went missing for three years and then mysteriously returned.  And if you like TV's "The Killing," check out its star Joel Kinnaman in a crime drama from his native Sweden, "Easy Money."

Quentin Tarantino deals with violent subject matter in his upcoming film "Django Unchained"-- which comes as no surprise when compared with his body of work.

However, "Django," resonated more intensely with the famed auteur, the film's star Jamie Foxx told Yahoo! Movies during an interview on Saturday at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Foxx said that one scene was so intense, Tarantino got teary on the job: "Quentin Tarantino -- while he was shooting -- his eye piece filled up with water because he was crying." When it came to shooting violent scenes of torture include the whipping of slaves, Foxx added, "I knew it was going to be powerful, but I didn't know it was going to be that powerful."


"Django" is about a pre Civil War-era black slave -- played by Foxx -- who becomes a bounty hunter, and is in a desperate search for his slave wife, played by Kerry Washington. As a bounty hunter, Django plays out ultimate revenge on his and his people's torturers.

Tarantino's last film "Inglorious Basterds" also plays out the revenge of a disenfranchised group -- Nazi-era Jews. Foxx pointed out that geography is key to setting "Django" apart: "The Holocaust... It seemed in a distant land. This [slavery] is right here." He added, "This happened not too long ago. And some of that -- I call it residue -- still lingers."

"Django Unchained" lands in theaters on Christmas Day, 2012.

In a surprise move that wowed the fans in attendance, Marvel Studios officially announced four new films in development during their Saturday panel at Comic Con.

Producer Kevin Feige formally set the titles and release dates for sequels "Thor: The Dark World," (November 8, 2013) and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," debuting on April 4, 2014. In addition, Feige announced that brothers Anthony and Joe Russo will helm the "Captain America" sequel.

Marvel also confirmed speculation that they are developing the cosmic superhero franchise "Guardians of the Galaxy," which is scheduled for release on August 1, 2014.

But the announcement that received the biggest reaction from the crowd was test footage of the forthcoming "Ant Man" from director Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead").

"I've always thought there was a great film to make out of that," Wright told the cheering crowd. "And one that would look better on the screen than in the page."

During the clip of test footage, the film's hero who, can change his size at will, is hiding inside a tiny air duct while two security guards stand in a long hallway.

Ant Man, no more than a few inches in stature, then launches an attack on the guards, morphing into full human size to deliver a punishing kick before shrinking in an instant to literally ride on top of one of the guard's guns.

Even in rough cut form, the footage wowed the audience and seemed to quiet speculation as to whether the character could succeed on the big screen.

"Ant Man will kick your ass one inch at a time," Wright quipped.

Judging by the applause, it seems fairly safe to say that when Peter Jackson unveiled 12 ½ minutes of "The Hobbit," many of the patient fans in Comic-Con's Hall H got what they were waiting for.

Before giving them the goods though, Jackson wanted to get one more shot, using his camera to film the entire Hall H while, on the count of three, we chanted, "Hi From Comic-Con!" After which, Jackson said, "No need for take two, that was bloody good."

And without further ado, Jackson asked for the lights to be dimmed so some footage could be screened.

The presentation started with a featurette examining the last five days of principal shooting, an epic that lasted 266 days all told. The featurette starts with Jackson introduces the labor of love, with stunning pillars beside him, and a green screen behind him. This captures the feeling of the shoot, as all the sets were glorious — particularly the giant pile of gold in the dragon's lair — and all seemed to be shadowed by green screens.

There was a lot of footage of the dwarves, in fact, each of them was given a moment to introduce themselves, all while in various forms of heavy makeup and prosthetics. There was a particularly funny sequence where one of the dwarves, hiding in a barrel, is covered in actual dead fish.

One of the cool aspects of filming shown was the way they built the set for Bilbo Baggins' house, using gigantic tables and chairs, in an effort to make the dwarves and hobbits look smaller.

The featurette also showed Andy Serkis's efforts, not just in usual role of Gollum, but also in his new duty as the director of the second unit. He seemed to be well-loved by his crew. But love was pervasive in the featurette, and from the panel itself. At the end of 266 days, there was a lot of hugging, but none that lasted longer than Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Jackson.

The lights came up and Jackson introduced the illustrious panel: Philippa  Boyons, co writer/ producer, Serkis, Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), McKellen (who received a standing ovation and the biggest applause of the whole day), and Elijah Wood (Frodo), who upon entrance bear hugged Serkis.

Jackson didn't want to waste any time getting to the footage, but he felt compelled to say that the music was held in place by temporary tracks, as Howard Shore hasn't started recording with the London Philharmonic yet. Jackson also made sure to preface the fact that most of the effects shots weren't finished. And also, as a nice added bonus, not all of the footage would be from part 1, "An Unexpected Journey," but also some glimpses of part 2!

The footage itself starts in the Shire, at Baggins' home, where the dwarves have assembled around a large table. There is talk of ominous signs, of dragons. Gandalf is there, and it is agreed that the time has come to take back the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the treacherous dragon Smaug. But how? Gandalf unveils a mysterious key, which he says Thorin's father entrusted to Gandalf. Now Gandalf gives the key to Thorin.

The crew agrees they need a burglar to sneak into the lair. Someone stealth and courageous. All agree that's not Bilbo, especially Bilbo. But Gandalf insists in a very grand and menacing way. The dwarves agree. They hand Bilbo a contract that includes payment plans and funeral arrangements. Bilbo faints.

We cut to Gandalf riding a horse at a rapid pace, sword unsheathed. We see Saroman. We see Galadriel (Cate Blanchet). We see a frozen river.  Gandalf appears at the edge of mysterious place, danger looms. A fellow rider asks Gandalf what if it's a trap. Gandalf knows it is but enters anyway.  A flurry of a mad bearded man, stalking Gandalf through a maze.

Next we see Bilbo and Gollum in a cave, somewhere near the dragon's lair. Bilbo has his sword drawn. Gollum's dual personalities scare Bilbo, yet he senses he can negotiate with Smaegal. They agree to a battle of riddles, where Gollum will Bilbo the way out of the cave.

Now we're in the Rivendell. Galadriel asks Gandalf why he has chosen the Halfling for the job. Gandalf says he doesn't know, except that Bilbo gives him courage when he is afraid.

Back in the cave, we see a flash of the one ring to rule them all. A Hobbit hand picks it up.

We cut to a scene in a field where Gandalf and Bilbo walk together. Gandalf notices a change in Bilbo. Bilbo wants to confess about what he found in the cave. But when pressed, Bilbo only answers that he found his courage. "Good," says Gandalf, "You'll need it!"

Smash cut to lots of fighting. Orcs! Trolls! Creatures great and small and Orlando Bloom. Fade to black. And the shrieks and cries of appreciative fans, who now knew they didn't wait in vein.

After the roar from the crowd, the moderator went straight to fans for their questions. It's important to note that every fan was visibly moved, nearly overwhelmed with emotion. Here are some of the highlights:


A fan asked Jackson about his cameo in the film. Jackson said, "I haven't shot my cameo yet."  But Jackson explained he's going back to shoot his cameo in New Zealand tomorrow. He also mentioned that we probably wouldn't recognize him.

A female fan asked what kind of role Galadriel plays, and if any female characters were added? Boyons remarked that Galadriel is the most powerful being in middle earth at this time. She also said that Tariel is a new female elf created for specifically for the film, played by Evangeline Lilly. She said they treated the character with care, and made sure she belongs in the world.

Another fan asked if it was hard to act in prosthetics, and hard to wear hobbit feet. Freeman remarked, "It's a little like a fledgling duck, finding your flippers" for first few days of wearing hobbit feet. Freeman said he had it easy though, compared to Armitage, and deferred the question to him. Armitage remarked that it was "quite an evolutionm for the look of Thorin and the other dwarves. He noted he had "to work your face harder" because of the prosthetics, and that after day one he didn't think he could do it again, but by end he couldn't do without it.

Another questioner asked Freeman if he was nervous stepping into an already established team. Freeman said, "I didn't feel a huge amount of pressure, I certainly didn't feel intimidated." They just wanted him to be in the film. His job was to play. "I had to find my way into it," he said, mentioning that he and Jackson would negotiate about Bilbo, and that "Pete usually won."

The moderator asked Wood if he had watched footage the yet, to which he replied he hadn't, but made sure he was watching as it was shown to Hall H. "It has amazingly emotional story telling," Wood said, "I was made to feel emotional watching that footage."

A lot of fans were effusive over McKellen, but no one asked him a question, even though he visited fans who camped out last night.

The moderator asked Serkis about the experience. Serkis noted that he was only supposed to be coming back for two weeks to play Gollum. But Jackson asked him to direct the 2nd unit of 160 people, and there was no way he was going to say no. So Serkis spent a year and a half on the project. Serkis called it a "huge film education" enabled by the greatest film mentor ever. He thanked Jackson, genuinely.

Serkis went on to say that Jackson filmed the Gollum/Bilbo scenes for two weeks, and treated them like a theater piece, so they could play.

The moderator asked Serkis for a demonstration of Gollum's voice. After an expletive, Gollum said, "You said you weren't going to whore yourself."

The crowd went wild. Giving the cast and crew another standing ovation.

The early reviews on "The Dark Knight Rises" are in, and they are overwhelmingly positive. (Rotten Tomatoes measures critics reviews in at 96% positive, so far. )

Perhaps most notably, new villain Bane, played by Tom Hardy, is said to measure up to the late Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning Joker in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy grand finale.

Nolan himself has said he sought out "someone completely different from the Joker - that he be a brute force" (via Flicks and Bits). And Hardy has further pointed out key differences: "The Joker didn't care. He just wanted to see the world burn, and he was a master of chaos and destruction, unscrupulous and crazy. Bane is not that guy. There is a very meticulous and calculated way about Bane. There is a huge orchestration of organization to his ambition. He is also a physical threat to Batman. There is nothing vague about Bane. No jokes. He's a very clean, clear villain" (via Entertainment Weekly).

Here are some of things critics are saying about "TDKR" and it's brand new villain Bane:

Perhaps inevitably, one also feels the absence of a villain as indelible as Heath Ledger's Joker, although Hardy does make Bane a creature of distinct malevolence with his baroque speech patterns and rumbling bass tones, provoking a sort of lower-register duet when pitted against Batman's own voice-distorted growl (the sound mix rendered their dialogue mostly if not entirely intelligible at the screening attended). -- Justin Chang, Variety


Chang wasn't the only reviewer to note Ledger's noticeable absence. In The Hollywood Reporter review, Todd McCarthy's opening thoughts included: "Entirely enveloping and at times unnerving in a relevant way one would never have imagined, as a cohesive whole this ranks as the best of Nolan's trio, even if it lacks -- how could it not? -- an element as unique as Heath Ledger's immortal turn in The Dark Knight. It's a blockbuster by any standard." And while Ledger was missed, it didn't stop him from approving of Bane's presence:

And the fact that Gotham City has, for the first time, realistically used New York City for most of its urban locations merely adds to the topical resonance of Bane's brilliantly engineered plot, in which he eventually takes the entire population of Manhattan hostage. Nolan has always been a very serious, even remorseless filmmaker, and never more so than he is here. -- Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter


Many reviews noted Bane's brute physical dominance and a methodical evil -- different from the Joker's unpredictable lunacy:

Bane's plan to bring Gotham to its knees is elaborate and, once revealed, somewhat horrifying.  He is not simply a rehash of the Joker, who was more of a force of chaos than anything.  Bane is evil.  He is unrelenting, unquestioning, destructive evil.  He has no goal other than pain and horror and death, and he represents the first truly irresistible force that Batman has encountered. -- Drew McWeeny, HitFix


On the other hand, after being marketed as heir to the Joker in "The Dark Knight," Tom Hardy's Bane is a different sort of villain — a focused and more ideologically-developed version of Heath Ledger's anarchist — but one with equally ruthless charm. -- Todd Gilchrist, Indiewire


A grandiose theatrical display filled to the brim with a barrage of visual, sound and plot explosions could have easily misfired, says Guardian reviewer Xan Brooks:

[Christopher Nolan] takes these cod-heroic, costumed elements and whisks them into a tale of heavy-metal fury, full of pain and toil, surging uphill, across the flyovers, in search of a climax. "I'm still a believer in the Batman," murmurs Joseph Gordon-Levitt's rookie cop at one point. Arm-twisted, senses reeling, I am forced to concede that I am too. --Xan Brooks, The Guardian


There was at least one dissenting voice:

Now comes The Dark Knight Rises, bringing in the Bane character (played, with my condolences, by Tom Hardy) and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway, one of the movie's few highlights). Nolan gets so caught up in creating an epic adventure that he hammers the "epic" and neglects a crucial component: the adventure. --Marshall Fine, Huffington Post

important date -- which we assume will someday be a German national holiday -- we're posting this completely bizarre, stream-of-twisted-consciousness audio interview with "The Hoff." If words can be considered gold, this interview should be stored in Fort Knox.

While Hasselhoff may have become world famous for his starring roles on "Knight Rider" (1982) and "Baywatch" (1989), at this point, he's probably best known just for being "The Hoff." But who is "The Hoff," exactly? Obviously, he's a complex amalgamation of melodramatic actor, German singing sensation, and embarrassing YouTube video star. But behind all that there is a gloriously unfiltered aspect of The Hoff, which guarantees pop culture relevance: his mouth.


Perhaps there is no one in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter, who says as much crazy stuff as "The Hoff." Some prime examples:


" I feel like Elvis. Only alive."
"Beyond its entertainment values, 'Baywatch' has enriched, and in many cases, helped save lives."
"These products will be an extension of who I am, and what better way to start your day than by spraying yourself with me and then heading out to face the world?" (About his signature fragrance.)



Hasselhoff was just as quote worthy when I spoke to him in May about playing himself in the T&A/ horror film, "Piranha 3DD" (due out on DVD and Blu-ray September 4). While the interview is jam packed with quality quotes, there is one in particular that I have chosen to live by: "Once you realize life isn't fair and it's a bit of a joke, then you can get on your Hoff Train and take a ride." I've been much happier ever since.

To celebrate 60 years of "The Hoff," we invite you to climb on board the Hoff Train and enjoy this most entertaining interview, either the recording, which begins with Hasselhoff yelling at his assistant, or the transcription below. Either way, it's one amazing ride.


Adam Pockross: Mr. Hasselhoff, how did you prepare to play Mr. Hasselhoff?

David 'The Hoff' Hasselhoff: I went into a deep trance, and every night I meditated, and I read David Hasselhoff's book to try to find out who he was about. I spent probably two days eating cheeseburgers. I also prepared by looking at old "Baywatch" episodes that he was in. And then I talked to his children, Taylor-Ann and Hayley, and spoke to them at length about what it's like living with their father. And then I visited the Berlin Wall and saw exactly the part where he cracked that exact spot. I stood on the wall for a while and I cried, because it was so emotional. And then I went onstage with the director, and we did some emotional recall where you lie down and you go into your childhood memories. Like, 'If you were David Hasselhoff, what would have been your first big toy?' And it was a go-kart that came to me, like in 'Knight Rider.' It was really weird. And, 'What was your second-favorite thing?' It was the beach, and I was like, 'Wow!' So, that's how I did it.

And I think it worked because I was able to play him and kind of get to the essence of him, especially with the line, 'Holy f---, I'm old.' That was a hard line for me to do because I don't feel old, and I never say the word 'holy' and 'f---' together. I've said 'f---,' but never 'holy f---.' But that was the hardest part, to say, 'Holy f---, I'm old.' But I got to do it. And then also, I did get some blood in my eye when I was making the film, but the best part about it was I just kept going. And the director said, 'God, that's fantastic!' And if you look really closely, you'll see me trying to clear my eye during the movie.

AP: You're a pro. No doubt about it. So, you say you got to the essence of David Hasselhoff? In a sense you were born to play this part. So what is the essence of David Hasselhoff?


The Hoff: The essence of David Hasselhoff is … mostly sushi. I think that without sushi there would be no David Hasselhoff, because sushi is like the perfect way of describing the insides of David Hasselhoff. He is like a protein, clean and easy. That's how I feel about myself. I feel I'm protein, I'm clean, and I'm very easy to eat.

AP: That is a remarkable combination.

The Hoff: Thank you.

AP: Did you make sushi out of any piranhas?

The Hoff: No. The piranhas on the set were disgustingly stupid and not real, similar to the breasts on a lot of the girls. … In fact, the piranhas were actually more attractive than a lot of the girls, because the girls were laying there in blood and half-eaten, and not eaten in a nice way. It was horrible. But I had to endure it. It was a very tough shoot for me.

AP: It sounds very difficult. Did your experience on "Baywatch" prepare you for this?

The Hoff: No. Nothing prepared me for this movie. And I'll never be the same ever again. Nothing. Especially when I watched the movie and they used a lot of outtakes that I didn't know we even made. The movie was over, and the movie was not over, and the movie wasn't over for about a year and a half. And it just kept going on. So I think every stupid outtake that I did was left in the movie.

AP: Were there any lines you were embarrassed by?

The Hoff: No, nothing. Nothing embarrasses me.

AP: You've never uttered an embarrassing line in your life?

The Hoff: No. The hardest line that I ever had to say in my life was, 'I'm David Hasselhoff.' And that was in 'Sponge Bob' and I couldn't figure out how to say it. So I had the director come over and give me a line reading, which was really kind of demeaning and humiliating, but he did give me the line.

AP: What was so difficult about phrasing that line?

The Hoff: I couldn't say it. And that's the truth. I could not. 'How the f--- do I say this line?' 'Well, you say it like you're a superhero: "I'm David Hasselhoff!"' So I said, 'Oh OK. I'm David Hasselhoff!' It was just too funny.

My problem is people seem to laugh at me, but the one that laughs harder than anybody is me. I mean, I laugh at everything and I laugh at things that are supposed to be drastic and 'Oh my God.' It's like my manager doesn't want me to do 'Chelsea Lately.' I said, 'Why not? What's wrong? Come on. I'm going to have a blast. Who cares?' Once you realize life isn't fair and it's a bit of a joke, then you can get on your Hoff Train and take a ride.


AP: Is there a difference between David Hasselhoff and The Hoff?

The Hoff: The Hoff has taken over David Hasselhoff. David Hasselhoff really doesn't know who he is anymore. Everywhere I go, it's The Hoff. I did a video with Train. And the guy, his name is Pat, the lead singer, he says, 'Should I call you Hoff or Mr. Hoff or…' I said, 'No. You should call me "The."' So, I'm The now.

AP: Well, that doesn't sound confusing at all.

The Hoff: Yeah, The.

AP: Now The, did you compose the song that you sing in this film?

The Hoff: We made that song up on the spot! We had a keyboard. You can have a little keyboard on your little iPhone, right? So we're playing on the keyboard, and we just started hitting these notes. The director was Clu Gulager's son. What is the director's first name, John? I can't remember. John Gulager?

PR Lady: Yes, John.


The Hoff: And Clu Gulager was like a superhero to me when I was growing up. Clu Gulager was Billy the Kid. You wouldn't even remember him. And I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And John really had a take on, 'Let's play your character really real, you know, like you really believe this.' So, we just sat there and started singing, 'Love hunter … hear what I say. Love hunter … two chicks for me.' And we just made that up. And I said that all I require for the scene is two girls. I cannot have just have one girl. My reputation will be over. And they wanted them naked, but I said, 'No. If they're naked then no one will watch me.'

So, we made sure that the girls were clothed. But in the end, I kind of wished they were naked because they were really pretty.

AP: Are you a fan of the genres and, if so, what are your five favorite horror movies?

The Hoff: Well, 'Exorcist' is No. 1. I think 'Cape Fear' is No. 2. 'The Shining' is No. 3. The one with Sissy Spacek, was it 'Halloween'?

AP: 'Carrie.'

The Hoff: 'Carrie'? Yeah, 'Carrie.' Oh God, 'Carrie!' And then the other one for me was 'Jaws.'

AP: Yeah, very horrific, similar to "Piranha 3DD," but without the double D's really.

The Hoff: I think when they look back, you'll see 'Citizen Kane,' 'The Seventh Seal,' '2001,' 'Gone With the Wind,' and then 'Piranha 3DD.' It will definitely be there. There is no question about it. I'm hoping to be in the sequel. I've already heard that it could be called 'Piranhas on a Plane,' which could be really interesting.