Main Page                                                 Archive

BOTTOMLINES

 

Crooner Crowe goes solo

     Sydney: Having some spare time on his hands because of the postponement of the filming of his latest movie, "Eucalyptus", Hollywood actor Russel Crowe is recording a solo album. According to his website, Crowe has reportedly penned the lyrics of the solo album himself, raising doubts about the future of his existing music band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts. The album titled My Hand, My Heart, would include a choral piece written in Dublin on a beer coaster after the funeral of veteran actor Richard Harris. "I've taken the opportunity that the postponement of Eucalyptus gave me and I've poured my heart into songs instead," the Herald Sun quoted the 40-year-old "Gladiator" star, as saying. "What you (fans) possibly won't be pleased about, nor understand fully until you hear this record, is that Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts would seem to have dissolved/evolved," he added.

Cold water fish dramatically cuts Alzheimer's risk (Go To Top)

     Washington: Fish just got another feather in its cap with researchers from the Department of Vterans Affairs (VA) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) claiming that diets high on Docosahexenoic acid or DHA - an omega-3 fatty acid found in relatively high concentrations in cold-water fish, could reduce the risk of Alzheimer by close to 70 per cent. According to the study published in the latest online edition of the Journal of Neuroscience, fish oil cuts the harmful brain plaques that mark the disease. The scientists also said that fish oil therapy was already recommended by cardiologists for heart problems and it was one of the most safe medical courses. "The good news from this study is that we can buy the therapy at a supermarket or drug store. DHA has a tremendous safety profile- -essentially no side effects--and clinical trial evidence supports giving DHA supplements to people at risk for cardiovascular disease," senior author Greg M. Cole, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System and UCLA was quoted as saying.

     The study involved older mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease. They were observed in separate groups having DHA full diet and normal or DHA - depleted diet. After the observation period, it was found that the high-DHA group had 70- per cent less buildup of amyloid protein in the brain, which makes up the plaques or patches which are the signs of Alzheimer's. Earlier, Cole's group had published a similar study which had showed that DHA protected against damage to the "synaptic" areas which are the communicating points of brain cells and strengthened memory power. According to the scientists, the studies also found that even people who are genetically prone to the disease can get it delayed with greater DHA intake. DHA is vital to proper brain function, eye health. There are various food sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, including fish such as salmon, halibut, mackerel and sardines, as well as almonds, walnuts, soy, and DHA-enriched eggs.

Robbie Williams sells kitchen ware to stop piling on pounds (Go To Top)

     London: Pop star Robbie Williams has declared war on his weight by putting up his kitchen gadgets, that help him whip up fattening snacks, on the auction site e-bay. "I have a bread maker, a popcorn maker and all sorts. But these things make you fat so they are all going" , Britain's Daily Star quoted Robbie as saying. "He doesn't need the cash, but the appliances are likely to fetch a pretty penny from Robbie fans trying to outbid each other", one of his close associates added. Robbie, who has had along and ongoing tussel with his flab has reportedly stopped taking drugs a year ago because of the affect it had on his weight.

Beckham at breaking point with paparazzi (Go To Top)

    London: David Beckham is no stranger to the media blitz that his presence creats, but it seems that the attention in Spain is taking its toll, forcing him to contemplate returning home to England. His six-year-old son Brooklyn was recently left "scared and in tears" after he was chased by a Spanish photographer at a soccer school, according to media reports. "Brooklyn's six and goes to a football school. I was working (and) Victoria was looking after Cruz. The paparazzi showed up and harassed Brooklyn and chased him into the football school. He's a little boy, and for me that's crossing the line," Hello magazine quoted Beckham as saying. The Real Madrid star said that while he and his wife always accepted the terms of their celebrity status but "when it comes to our children being out on their own or at school, that's crossing the line," he was quoted as saying. According to him, not only Brooklyn but also his middle son Romeo had fallen victim of obsessive press intrusion. "There was an incident when he was going to nursery and the press started taking pictures of him while he was playing with the other kids, " the magazine quoted him as saying.

Spiderman meets his 'nemesis' (Go To Top)

     London: Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church will lay the villainous trap for Spider man Tobey Maguire, and promises to be a "challenging nemesis" for Spidey in the third sequel of Spider Man, which is scheduled to hit theatres in 2007. Fax News quoted movie bosses Sony pictures and Marvel as confirming 43-year old Church's role casting as a villain, and may play the role of either Electro or Venom in the movie. The star cast includes British actor Alfred Molina, who played Dr Octopus, and Willem Dafoe, as the Green Goblin.

Formula for happy relationship (Go To Top)

     London: Every time you criticise your partner, follow it up with five compliments for a smooth and happy relationship, says a German scientist. Dr. Hans Werner from the sociology department at the Ruhr University Bochum suggests, that couples must shower enough compliments on their partners once they express their anger, and couples should ideally compliment their partners five times for every single bashing. "Then people feel good in their relationship. Goodwill increases your potential to be happy", Fox News quoted Werner as saying. He came to this conclusion after he conducted a research in co- operation with his colleague Elke Rohmann on more than a thousand individuals and couples. He has also penned a book called "What makes love strong" based on this study.

Nicole Kidman tongue-tied by kids (Go To Top)

     London: Nicole Kidman who visited her alma mater, the Australian Theatre For Young People to offer words of wisdom to aspiring starlets , was left tongue-tied by some of the posers that were put to her. When asked "What's the worse movie you have ever made?" Kidman had to turn on her diplomatic skills to wriggle out of the uncomfortable situation ."I'd better be careful answering that,'' Hello magazine quoted the the Cold Mountain star as saying adding, ``I'd be getting letters from producers saying 'How could you say that about my movie?". Nicole also revealed she's been taking photography lessons in preparation for an upcoming role. "That's one of the great things about being an actress... you get to learn new things," the report quoted Kidman as saying.

---