Friday, April 30, 2010

BILL CONDON TO DIRECT SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT’S THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN

Summit Entertainment has confirmed that Academy Award® winner Bill Condon will direct THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, is currently being written by Melissa Rosenberg, and will star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer will produce the project.

"Bringing Stephenie Meyer's BREAKING DAWN to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity,” said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, for Summit Entertainment.

Added author Stephenie Meyer, "I'm so thrilled that Bill wants to work with us. I think he's going to be a great fit, and I'm excited to see what he does with the material."

“I'm very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen. As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book - and we're hoping to create an equally unique experience," said Bill Condon.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

Condon is well known for writing and directing DREAMGIRLS, KINSEY, and GODS AND MONSTERS, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1999. He was nominated for a second Oscar for his screenplay for the movie musical CHICAGO in 2003. Most recently the multi-hyphenate directed the pilot episode for the Showtime series “The Big C” and produced the 81st Annual Academy Awards telecast, hosted by Hugh Jackman.

The third film in the franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE is due in New Zealand theatres on July 1, 2010.


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Monday, April 26, 2010

Rare Gecko Find At Maungatautari Ecological Island

Reptile experts throughout New Zealand are excited by the discovery of a dead rare Duvaucel gecko within the pest proof fence at the Waikato’s Maungatautari Ecological Island.

This threatened species has been presumed extinct on the mainland for close to a century so this find could lead to ecologists proving there are until-now undiscovered populations surviving outside of the few offshore islands where they are protected through isolation.

If follow-up surveys show there are other individual Duvaucel geckos nearby, that would indicate protection of area through pest-proof fencing is a way to ensure relict populations can regain a foothold again.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island is an internationally unique 3400 hectare forested pest-proof fenced mountain in the Waikato between Te Awamutu and Cambridge.

Maungatautari Trust ecologist Chris Smuts-Kennedy says the tall, dense, old-growth Maungatautari forest habitat, with many refuges, might have provided sufficient escape cover for the lizards to avoid extinction via rat predation.

“This is like a message from the mountain that what we’re doing is really starting to work. The removal of pests is allowing species that have been hunkered down on the edge of extinction for centuries to finally emerge again. It’s been like a war-time resistance movement, and now liberation has come and they can come out and celebrate in the street.”

Smuts-Kennedy identified the find as a Duvaucel’s gecko, or something very similar, and notified lizard experts straight away. They will now be involved in future investigations.

The Duvaucel is New Zealand’s largest living lizard species at 32cm long and weighing as much as a tui or myna.

Smuts-Kennedy says fossils indicate at one time Duvaucel geckos were widespread throughout both main islands of New Zealand but the species is now found only on a small number of protected offshore island sanctuaries.

“It is possible that this could represent a surviving relict population on the mountain. DNA work is needed to see if it does represent a distinct population from those known on protected islands and that it is indeed a Duvaucel’s gecko, and not a new species perhaps related to them. But we won’t know soon as this work is prolonged and expensive.”

The Maungatautari Ecological Island project is a community vision to remove all introduced mammalian pests and restore the forest to a diversity of plants and animals not seen in this life time.

This discovery has come on top of the most successful bird breeding season so far at the fenced ecological sanctuary. Six kiwi chicks were hatched with their weight gains considered exceptional, indicating kiwi food species are also increasing following the removal of pests. Introduced takahe, kaka, hihi (stitchbird), and popokatea (whitehead) have all bred on the mountain for the first time this year adding to the array of resident breeding birds already there.

Smuts-Kennedy says the rebuilding of the native wildlife community has only just begun.

“Over the next few years we’ll be reintroducing many more bird, reptile and invertebrate species, and perhaps a second bat species.

“It’s a wonderful surprise when a species that’s on our provisional reintroductions ‘shopping list’ like Duvaucel’s gecko, actually pops up to tell us it’s perhaps already here.



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Breaking News…….Now Blackcurrants help in battle against asthma

A preliminary study by New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research shows natural chemicals from blackcurrants may reduce lung inflammation with a multi-action assault on allergy-induced asthma.

With winter approaching, Barker’s Blackcurrant Syrup is a great way to boost your family’s health. Barker’s of Geraldine squeeze over 700 Canterbury blackcurrants into every bottle, making it one of the richest sources of antioxidants, including vitamin C and polyphenols. Blackcurrants contain over four times the vitamin C of an orange.

Barker’s also makes a great ‘no added sugar’ berry syrup called Berrylife – perfect for children or those wanting a reduced sugar alternative.

Still based on a corner of the family farm, Barker’s has a wonderful Kiwi heritage and a sensational range of fruit syrups - created by the Barker family for your family.

Breakfast - On the run? So easy - just blend yoghurt, milk, oats and honey to Barker’s blackcurrant syrup to make a wholesome smoothie.
Dinner - Your toddler won’t eat dinner? Add a dash of Barker’s ‘no added sugar’ Berrylife to a night-time bottle to help give them the nutrients they need.
Anytime - Try Barker’s Fruit Tea Warmer recipe – a healthy alternative to caffeine

Barker’s Syrups are available in a tempting range of flavours. Every bottle, when diluted with water, makes up to 5 litres of refreshing drink. Available at your local supermarket from RRP $5.99.

Barkers

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Monday, April 19, 2010

Unbelievable Autumn Package Believable

Crowne Plaza Queenstown has teamed up with Milford Sound operator Mitre Peak Cruises to offer visitors an unforgettable experience at an unbeatable price this autumn.

The ‘Unbelievable Milford Sound’ Package is available at a truly unbelievable price - accommodation with breakfast at Crowne Plaza Queenstown (for up to two people with a minimum two night stay) and two coach-cruise-coach tickets aboard Mitre Peak Cruises, all from just $289.

Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s resident Clefs d’Ors Leisure Concierge, Nathan Wise, has put together the package thanks to his knowledge of Queenstown tourism operators and the services they offer.

“We are always looking for ways to offer our guests the very best Queenstown experiences, and enjoy working with local tourism operators to do this. In developing this package with Mitre Peak Cruises, we wanted to stimulate interest and bookings over the autumn period and create a package that people just wouldn’t be able to say no to,” said Mr Wise.

“Crowne Plaza Queenstown is 4+ star resort, it’s contemporary and stylish and in an outstanding in-town location. The views are spectacular views over Lake Wakatipu and will provide a dramatic setting for an unbelievable weekend.”

Mr Wise says the Mitre Peak Cruises’ Milford Sound trip is intimate and personal.

“Mitre Peak Cruises leads the way in small scenic cruises with limited numbers, giving passengers an ‘up close and personal’ Milford Sound experience, unhurried, un-crowded and relaxed.”

This truly authentic New Zealand experience is valid from Monday 19th April 2010 to 30th June 2010. It is subject to availability and conditions apply.

For more information or to book contact Crowne Plaza Queenstown on +64 3 441 0095 or freephone within New Zealand on 0800 801 111 or visit www.crowneplazaqueenstown.co.nz





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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Five surgeons

Five surgeons are discussing who were the best patients to operate on.

The first surgeon says, 'I like to see Accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.'

The second responds, 'Yeah, but you should try Electricians! Everything inside them is colour-coded.'

The third surgeon says,
'No, I really think Librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order.'

The fourth surgeon chimes in,
'You know I like Construction Workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end, and when the job takes longer than you said it would.'

But the fifth surgeon observed, 'You're all wrong. ANC Youth League Politicians (AKA Julius Malema) are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no brains, and no spine, and there are only two moving parts - the mouth and the arsehole - and they are interchangeable'


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Darwin's are out!!!

Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honouring the least evolved among us.


Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again.. This time it worked.

And now, the honourable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger... The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shovelled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly.. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast... The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for.. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage.. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.




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