Celebrities with Cancer............Part 1

Lisa Ray declared few weeks back on her blog that she is battling an incurable bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma. The news shocked me as she was my first memorable crush and still is. I first saw her in Nusarat Fateh Ali Khan’s Music Video ‘Afreen’. And Aafreen she is. She did some awful movies in bollywood after that and moved to international movies and did well for herself. This will be really hard for her. But I am sure she will fight hard against the cancer and prolong her life as much as possible. May god give her Strength..

After knowing about Lisa Ray’s cancer troubles, I tried to find out other celebrities who were hit by cancer and I am listing all of them here. Some of them succumbed to death but some come out as winner.

Lance Armstrong

He is an American cyclist. After surviving a bout with testicular cancer, he won the Tour de France five consecutive times (from 1999 to 2003). His story inspires lot of cancer patients to survive and conquer the world.

Robert De Niro

He is an American actor. Noted for his commitment to his roles, he is also known as perfectionist. He won the Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in “Raging Bul”l and Best Supporting Actor for “The Godfather, Part II.” He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 60.

Walt Disney

He was an American animated film producer and the creator of an American-based theme park called Disneyland and the billion-dollar corporation The Walt Disney Company. He died of complications from lung cancer on December 15, 1966.

Feroz Khan

The ultimate Bollywood style icon of yesteryears and a veteran actor lost his battle against cancer. The flamboyant actor had been fighting cancer for almost a year and died at the age of 69 in his farmhouse in Bangalore.

Catherine Lisa Bell

She is an English-born American actress known for her role of Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television show JAG from 1997 to 2005. Currently she stars in the Lifetime Television hit series Army Wives as Denise Sherwood. When she was in her 20s, she had thyroid cancer and had to have her thyroid removed. She doesn't cover the scar on her neck because she "thinks it's kind of cool". She is all cleared with cancer now but she has to take a pill everyday for rest of her life.

Steve Jobs

Steven Paul Jobs is an American businessman, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc. and former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios. In mid-2004, Jobs announced to his employees that he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. The prognosis for pancreatic cancer is usually very grim. Jobs underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (or "Whipple procedure") in July 2004 that appeared to successfully remove the tumor.

Patrick Wayne Swayze

He was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best-known for his roles as romantic leading men in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991. Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2008. He continued acting until 2009, when he became too ill to do so he died on September 14, 2009 from the disease.

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Modified and Innovative Motor Cycles

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Skull Shape Helmet

This innovative Skull shape helmet will attract onlookers. and it will make a statement about you immediately. Wear it and flaunt your style.

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Honda International Bikes: XR650L

Honda XR650L: Dual Sport Motorcycle

Price: Starting from $5,999

Whether you ride on dirt or on the road, power is everything. Especially when you ride the XR650L. Its bulletproof 644cc overhead cam engine produces huge torque and power, thanks to the Radial Four-Valve Combustion Chamber. While the gear-driven counterbalancer reduces tiring vibrations. Thanks to a chassis that is strong and exceptionally agile, the XR650L makes short work of long rides whether they’re on the road or off.

It all starts in the engine room, where the XR’s potent, Baja-bred 644cc OHC powerplant uses Honda’s patented Radial Four-Valve Combustion Chamber (RFVC) to put out huge torque and power. From there, a gear-driven counterbalancer minimizes vibrations, while a light, rigid chassis and long-travel suspension soak up the bumps and deliver superb handling on pavement and off. Handy electric starting simply makes it all that much easier.

Specifications

Engine

Engine Type: 644cc air cooled dry-sump single-cylinder four-stroke

Compression Ratio: 8.3:1

Induction: 42.5mm diaphragm-type CV carburetor

Ignition: Solid-state CD with electronic advance

Chassis / Suspension / Brakes

Front Suspension: 43mm air-adjustable leading-axle Showa cartridge fork with 16-position compression-damping adjustability; 11.6-inch travel

Rear Suspension: Pro-link Showa single-shock with spring-preload, 20-position compression and 20-position rebound-damping adjustability; 11.0-inch travel

Front Brake: Single Disc with twin-piston caliper

Rear Brake: Single Disc

Front Tire: 3.00-2.1

Rear Tire: 4.60-18

Dimensions:

Rake: 27.0 degrees

Trail: 102.0mm (4.0 inches)

Wheelbase: 57.3 inches

Seat Height: 37.0inches

Ground Clearance: 13.0 inches

Curb Weight: 346 pounds

Fuel Capacity: 2.8 gallons, including 0.6 gallons reserve

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Funny Bone

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Movie Review"Wanted - Dead or Alive"

Movie Review “Wanted”

Genre: Action, Crime

Director: Prabhu Deva

Producer: Boney Kapoor

Language: Hindi

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Aayesha Takia azami, Vinod Khanna, Prakash Raj, Mahesh Manharekar, Govund Namdeo, Manoj Pawa and others

Release Date: 18^th September 2009

“Wanted – Dead or Alive” the latest Salman flick is pure Bollywood meets south film. It has best of south that is violence and foul mouthed dialogues and Salman khan representing the Bollywood. ‘Wanted’ is a remake of Tamil super hit movie ‘Pokhiri’ which was also directed by Prabhu Deva.

This movie is about a contract killer named Radhe played by Salman Khan. He is a one man army type of guy and smooth killer and enjoys his job. He finds his love in a girl played by Aayesha Takia. The girl is harassed by a corrupt police officer played by Mahesh Manjarekar. Radhe shields her from time to time from Mahesh Manjarekar. The girl madly in love with Radhe wants him to change and be a good guy. This is the story but twist in the story is that Radhe is actually a undercover cop and he is hunting for international Don, Ghani played by Praksh Raj. This is the straight forward story of this movie.

While reading the story you won’t find anything new or interesting. But there are many good entertaining moments in the movies. Such as romantic scenes between Salman Khan and Aayesha Takia, cool guy attitude of salman khan, acting of Prakash Raj & Mahesh Manjarekar, and some of the action & dancing in the film. All in all it is full on masala movie. In this decade after release of ‘Dil Chahata hai’ ‘Hera Pheri’ bollywood is inclined towards experimental, realistic, or comedy movies. It seems bollywood filmmakers lost their interest in Action films. No more we see films where bad guys are beaten up by good guy. Even bollywood’s action hero like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan who made their mark as action hero are moved away to other genres.

But after ‘Ghajini’ and now with ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive’ actions flicks will be back. Salman Khan’s fan will be very happy and this film will be pure treat for them. After long time Salman Khan comes up with credible performance. Aayesha Takia did her part brilliantly. But for me Prakash Raj as don and Mahesh Manjarekar as corrupt cop acted brilliantly and outdone others. Vinod Khanna was totally wasted. There is much more scope of development in the character played by Manoj Pawa. It could have been even better.

All in all it is full on entertainer. ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive’ which has larger than life hero, is a movie which is made for masses. And will be loved by them. Prabhu Deva did commendable job. Technically movie is at par with any other. Action director did wonderful job. He made most of the action in the movie believable.

If I have to rate this film it will be 6 out of 10. Anyone who is fan of Salman Khan or Action flicks must watch this movie.

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Futuristic Cars........Part 4

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Bollywood Breakups........Part 3

21. Zaheer Khan and Isha Sharvani

22. Abhishek Bachchan and Karishma Kapoor

23. Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman

24. Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia

25. Akshay Khanna and Tara Sharma

26. Sushmita Sen and Vikram Bhatt

27. Akshay Kumar and Ravina Tandon

28. Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim

29. Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty

30. Reena Roy and Mohsin Khan

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Funny Bone

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Book Review: "Midnight's Children"

BOOK REVIEW “MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN”

Author: Salman Rushdie

Language: English

Pages: 552

Publisher: Avon Books

First Published in India: April, 1982

Salman Rushdie is a well known author; he earned his reputation and celebrity status more or less because of this book “Midnight’s Children” only. This book enjoyed lot of controversy and as it always happens any controversy make any book overnight hit. I was eager to read this book for very long time. I read one book ‘Fury’ of Salman Rushdie earlier and I did not like that book at all. So I was little circumspect before picking up this book. But the controversy about the book also got better of me. And the fact that book is based on partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. So I had to read it.

The book uses the background of India Pakistan partition. The central character of this book is Saleem born at very moment when India gets its Independence at the stroke of 12 at night. So he automatically receives the semi celebrity status. But that’s not all; he also got some super natural powers. So his future and India’s future coincides with each other. He has telepathical connection with all the children who born on the midnight of Indian independence. All these kids born at midnight had some super natural powers. And Saleem is a platform where these midnight’s children can communicate with each other. This sounds interesting isn’t it? But there is twist in the story. In fact there are too many twists in this story. This book is frictional in true sense. The twist is that Saleem has been interchanged at the maternity hospital by a nurse with another midnight children Shiva. Then Saleem has to go through consequences of that.

The book starts with narrating the story of Saleem’s maternal grandfather, who is a doctor in Kashmir. Book describes his very interesting love story and his moving out of Kashmir. Then it follows with the story of Saleem’s mother Amina, her first marriage second marriage and birth of Saleem. After that story Saleem’s life starts which moves from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and again back to India. While the story of Saleem and his family progress, the book also narrates the transition of India as country from pre-independence to post-independence. It covers whole history of India and Indian subcontinent. Book describes the journey of India from pre-independence days of India of ‘Jalianwala mascara’, independence, partition, post-independence in Bombay and Pakistan. It also describes the birth of Bangladesh.

As I said before book enjoyed lot of hype due to controversial subject of the book. It covers almost all topics out of which if any author selects any one topic to write the book. He will easily attract the readers. ‘Midnight’s Children’ covers various topics from the Indian independence, partition, Pakistan’s militarization, birth of Bangladesh, to emergency period in India. But does it really deserve the popularity it got? I would say no. The book just had too many things happening in it. It is unnecessarily complicated.

If I have to rate this book I will give it 6 out of 10.

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