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Founder of the Web named greatest Briton (Go To Top)

      London: Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, was named Greatest Briton 2004 at an awards ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London. According to Daily Mail, he was among seven people who were awarded titles in fields such as the arts, science, business and public service. Philip Pullman, author of award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials, was named Greatest Briton in the arts. Fashion designer Sir Paul Smith was named Greatest Briton in business. while double Olympic gold winner Kelly Holmes was acclaimed as Greatest Briton in sport. Lord Foster, the architect behind the Millennium Bridge and the London tower won the title in the creative industries category. Cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson was named Greatest British Campaigner. Lord Deedes won the award in the public service category.

12-year-old discovers five errors in Encyclopaedia Britannica (Go To Top)

    London: Lucian George, a British schoolboy has uncovered several mistakes in the latest edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is regarded by millions of readers as the 'last word' on everything. Lucian, 12, found five errors on two of his favourite subjects, central Europe and wildlife, and wrote to complain about the errors to the editor. The book's editor wrote back thanking George for pointing out several errors and misleading statements. Lucian, who attends Highgate Junior School, London, spends several hours a week reading through the encyclopaedia's 32 volumes. While reading the book, George discovered a reference stating that the town of Chotyn, in which two battles between the Poles and the Ottoman Empire were fought, lies in Moldova. But he found that the correct answer is Ukarine and not Maldova. "Lucian told me he had found a mistake. Then, a few days later, he found another. Then there was another. By the time he had found five, I said to him that he should write to the editors to complain about it," The BBC quoted Lucian's father Gabriel as saying. "For a 12-year-old, Lucian has a keen eye and we are grateful for his help. We are always grateful to any reader who brings mistakes to our attention," said Tom Panelas, spokesman of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Today's fifties are getting nifty (Go To Top)

     London: Fifty plus Britishers are wanting to live life like never before, and are looking at the rocking lives their kids are leading to make their own dreams come true. According to a YouGov poll carried out for Tesco Life Insurance, the new breed of nifty fifties are doing things which are meant for 25 year olds; they crave more luxury and more risk - including the occasional affair also. "In previous decades, older people would have felt a duty to conserve their assets for the sake of their children but now they want to spend their hard earned cash on their pleasure," the Mirror quoted Tesco spokesman James Yerkess, as saying. The poll surveyed more than 2,000 people and concluded that these Generation Next oldies long to travel the world, to go for sky- diving or motor racing and generally grow old disgracefully.

Reading Jane Austen can curb crime, claims top cop (Go To Top)

     London: A top North Wales cop last night blamed Hollywood for a 450 per cent rise in violent deaths in the region, and has urged people to stop watching Quentin Tarantino's brutal flicks and start reading Jane Austen novels. "We need more Persuasion and less Kill Bill," the Mirror quoted Deputy Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale, as saying. He blamed films such as Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, featuring Uma Thurman on a samurai sword killing spree, for a 450 per cent rise in killings in his area. The North Wales Police investigated 11 killings compared with just two in the same period in 2003, and attempted murders also jumped 50 per cent with woundings registering a 30 per cent increase. "In today's society, more people are likely to spend their evenings watching a Quentin Tarantino DVD than reading a Jane Austen novel. Perhaps we should not be surprised by the consequences," he added.

Is Lisa Marie Presley engaged again? (Go To Top)

     Washington: Lisa Marie Presley was recently spotted wearing a new ring on her wedding finger, giving rise to speculations that she is engaged again. The singer was seen at a memorial service for rocker pal Johnny Ramone, where her ex-husband Nicolas Cage was also present. Presley, who is dating Michael Lockwood, had confessed that she wanted "to get old" with the songwriter. According to the sources, Presley will make a public announcement of her engagement only after breaking the news to her family members. "Until she breaks the news to her family, she won't make a public announcement," Rate the Music quoted a pal as saying.

Kylie is not desperate to marry Olivier (Go To Top)

     London: Pop diva Kylie Minogue has denied reports that she is desperate to marry her French actor boyfriend Olivier Martinez. "I've never tried to pin a man down about walking down the aisle, or wanted a wedding dress. I can't do the important things in my life to a schedule," The Sun quoted Kylie as saying. However, according to Australian media reports, the sexy 'Slow' star has asked the 'Unfaithful' actor to marry her, and the wedding bells could be ringing in June.

Doherty is determined to marry Kate Moss (Go To Top)

     Washington: Ex-Libertines frontman Pete Doherty is determined to marry ramp queen Kate Moss despite the fact that she dumped him just two weeks after they started dating. Doherty and Moss's relationship began from the supermodel's 31st birthday bash, but Moss ended her relationship with Doherty, who is a self-confessed heroin addict, because she could not bear his 'wild lifestyle'. Doherty, however, has blamed Moss' family for her decision to leave him, and claims that he will tie the knot with her after he proves that he is not interested in drugs or her huge fortune. "I'll do anything to stay with Kate. I'll give up the drugs. She's the woman I want to marry. I think the reason was she was getting a lot of pressure from her family. I went out for Sunday lunch with them and they nicknamed me The Crackhead," rate the music quoted Doherty as saying. "They think I'm bad news, but I'm not after Kate's money and I'm not interested in her fame. I don't know what's going on with the relationship right now, who knows what the future holds? She's beautiful and amazing and I want to marry her," he added.

Federline enjoys lapdances with Britney's consent (Go To Top)

     Washington: Pop diva Britney Spears' hubby Kevin Federline and his friends treated themselves to a series of lapdances during a weekend trip to Las Vegas, with the blessings of the 'Toxic' star. Federline and his friends checked into the VIP suite at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel Casino before dining at the Pink Taco. They enjoyed a steak meal the next night, before heading for the popular strip club, Spearmint Rhino. "Kevin had several lapdances. But they didn't get out of line," rate the music quoted a source as saying. Britney, who was enjoying a spa trip with her friends, arrived in time to see the show by circus troupe Cirque Du Soleil the following night, after which the lovey-dovey couple spent the night in Federline's hotel room. "Big deal. Lapdances is a guy thing," said Britney's representative Leslie Sloane.

Timberlake equal partner in crime for 'Nipplegate': Janet's mom (Go To Top)

     Washington: Janet Jackson's mother Katherine believes that Justin Timberlake got off very easily during her daughter's infamous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction last year. According to Rate the Music, Katherine said that she was horrified to see the way Janet was maligned and that too when it was claimed to be a mistake, while Timberlake escaped unharmed. "What I didn't like is there wasn't one person on that stage. There were two people. After a while, there was only Janet Jackson," she said in an interview with American TV show "48 hours". Janet's mother admitted that she was upset with whatever happened and also had a few harsh words for Janet. "I called her and I told her, I said, 'You know what? I'm the first to tell you: That shouldn't have happened," the report quoted her as saying. In 2004 Janet had sparked furore when her breast was exposed at the end of a stage performance with Timberlake.

Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in a catfight (Go To Top)

     New York: The opening of a theme club should be marked with celebrations but this is not what the founders of the Nerveana, the '90s-themed club have in mind. According to The New York Daily News, Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky look-alikes will stage a catfight at the opening of the '90s-themed club at 179 Varick, near King Street. The dicor includes a full-size white Bronco that serves as the club's VIP room, where one can order such drinks as the "OJ - it's to die for."

Los Angeles is 'Lucky' for Drew Barrymore (Go To Top)

     Washington: Drew Barrymore is all set to play a struggling Las Vegas singer opposite Eric Bana in the Curtis Hanson-directed film 'Lucky You', the shooting for which will begin in March. According to Zap2it, the script of the movie is written by Eric Roth and Hanson, and centres on Huck Cheever (Bana) and his involvement in the world of high-stakes professional poker. The pretty 'Charlie's Angels' star will also be seen playing another romantic lead opposite Jimmy Fallon in the upcoming baseball comedy flick 'Fever Pitch', likely to hit theatres in April.

Dustin Hoffman used fart machine to derail De Niro (Go To Top)

     London: Dustin Hoffman has revealed that he terrorised his co-star Robert De Niro on the sets of 'Meet the Fockers' with an electric fart machine. Hoffman confessed that he ruined 100's of takes for the 'Godfellas' star by setting off the crude machine whenever he was filming. "De Niro had the most trouble with it. It was a prop man who gave it to me," femalefirst quoted Hoffman as saying in Britain's Radio 2. "It was a revelation for me, because I come from an older generation than the prop man and the fart bags I'm used to you had to inflate them yourself. The fact that I used this, I think it's a first generation remote, imagine the third or fourth generation. I mean we'll be able to emanate farts from royalty from around 400 yards away," added the 'Rain Man' actor.