Barack Obama Visits Military Base on Christmas

Barack Obama visited military families while they ate Christmas Day dinner, thanking them for their service and posing for pictures.

Obama on Thursday visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii near his rented vacation home and briefly chatted with enlisted members who ate turkey, ham and roast beef. He didn't make formal remarks or speak to reporters during the stop, one of the few public sightings of the president-elect on what aides call a private family vacation.

"Hey," Obama said as he walked into the mess hall wearing a short-sleeved shirt and slacks. "Just wanted to say 'hi.'"

Obama lingered a few minutes at each table as the Marines and sailors and their families stood to greet their next commander in chief. At other tables, the visitors ate candied sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, mashed potatoes and simmered corn and broccoli.

"What part of Indiana?" he asked one person. To another: "This is the East Coast table, huh?"

Obama and his family planned to spend their Christmas holiday mostly out of sight, an accomplishment given his two-year, high-profile marathon to win the presidency.

Obama, wife Michelle and their two young daughters opened presents earlier Thursday and planned their own dinner of turkey and ham, according to aides. They did not release any other details.

The Obamas arrived in Honolulu on Saturday with four aides, his Secret Service detail and a small group of journalists. Since then, he has been largely sequestered at the beachfront estate.

With less a month before Obama takes office on Jan. 20, he is taking every step possible to make sure this holiday is as private as possible — something he bemoaned while walking to a driving range last Sunday.

"OK, guys," Obama said, recognizing the photographers snapping pictures. "Come on. ... How many shots do you need?"

That was one of only a handful of trips Obama and his motorcade have taken. He and Michelle Obama have visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii for daily morning workouts. Twice, he and friends have played a round of golf. He attended a private memorial service for his grandmother on Tuesday and scattered her ashes into the Pacific Ocean.

And that's been it.

While the Democratic president-elect vacations in his native Hawaii through the New Year, he and his aides have taken careful steps to minimize his profile. He has no public schedule while vacationing, although he remains involved in transition plans and has received intelligence briefings.

While Obama's aides have taken steps to keep the vacation low-profile, he hasn't been entirely successful. Photographers captured images of him scattering his grandmother's ashes from a rock ledge on Tuesday while the press corps waited in a bus. Another photographer captured the future first family — including a shirtless Obama — in the backyard.

The Secret Service has blocked the street where he is staying, citing security concerns. A few cars a day have rolled into the dead-end street, but they did not get past the checkpoint. And a few neighbors who tried to walk past the house on Christmas Day were rebuffed by agents.

One man left with an aide a Christmas card addressed to the Obama family. It featured a palm tree with the word "peace" written on it.

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State Bank Of India s Urged To Raise Ceiling

President said State Bank Of India currently provides up to US $ 200 Million. He revealed that following his request, the Indian government has said that it ...

President Mohamed Nasheed, who returned to Male’ after concluding a three day official visit to India, has said that he has urged the Indian government to raise the ceiling of bank loans provided to Maldivian business community by State Bank of India to US $ 500 Million.

Speaking to Maldivian media from New Delhi, President Nasheed said Indian government has given positive indications to his request.

President said State Bank of India currently provides up to US $ 200 Million. He revealed that following his request, the Indian government has said that it will discuss the issue with the State Bank of India’s management and see what can be done.

He further said during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh he has asked the Prime Minister to afford facilities from the Indian Axim Bank to Indian business community so that they can export goods to Maldives.

“Then there is the issue of our students obtaining higher education here, we are looking at receiving a thousand scholarships from India” said the President briefing the Maldives media from Taj Mahal Hotel.

President Nasheed who is currently on his maiden trip to India after being sworn in as president over a month ago, said discussion were also held on developing human resources in sectors, like nursing, tourism.

President revealed that among the things that has been agreed between both countries include, improving the road systems of some islands, developing and improving the services provided by Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) built by the assistance from Indian government , developing the Hotel School and providing assistance to establish suitable sewerage systems in the islands of Maldives.

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TELUGU MOVIE REVIEWS : KING (2008) MOVIE REVIEW

Happy Christmas for King Fans and Others. Today, after the great expectations, the movie released with much hype. The most vital factor that boosted up expectations is the direction by Srinu Vaitla who made big hit 'Ready' this year. Let us see how far the film reached expectations.

Story:
King alias Chandra Pratap Varma (Nag) is the son of Raja Varma (Sobhan Babu). He becomes the heir of a large estate fatre the death of his father, where his uncles and aunts also live with him along with mother (Geeta). King faces a peril in the form of Swapna (Mamata Mohandas). That stands up to be a suspense element in the narration. Who is Swapna and why she becomes a danger point for King? What happens to King?

On the other hand Sravani (Trisha), an aspiring singer catches the eye of a guy whose name is Bottu Seenu (Nag), a goonda. What's the link between Bottu Seenu and King? That forms another layer in the film.

And last but not least, Sravani falls in love with a software engineer Sridhar (Nagarjuna). Is there any link between Sridhar, Bottu Seenu and King other than the similarities in looks? That's another layer all together.

'Gnan anna' aka Gnaneshwar (Srihari) portrayed the role of Sravani's brother.

Rest to be watched on screen to unleash this knot.

Performances:
Nagarjuna's magnitude is seen fully on silver screen. His grace pulled the attention of entire audiences. It sounds a wonder to know he is 50 now. There are no signs of that age on his face or body and he is looking 20 years younger to what actually the time claims. His performance in three different shades is hilarious and entertaining. He left his starry airs aside and performed up to the role as demanded (like getting bruises from Brahmanandam). That should inspire many younger heroes as well. And coming to dances, he has performed in his trade mark style.

Trisha is with full of elegance and the credit should be given to costume designer and cinematographer. She hasn't exposed anything big but touched the senses of audiences.

Mamata Mohandas looked voluptuous and witch-like as per the demand of the role. She once again proved her mettle as complete artiste with own voice for dubbing.

And coming to the most publicized eight-heroine song, except Genelia everybody looked hot (Anushka), romantic (Trisha), lovely (Priyamani), refined (Kamna), sexy (Mamata Mohandas), spicy (Sneha Ullal) and chubby (Charmy). The costumes used for Genelia are inferior when compared to others in that song. That made the difference.

Brahmanandam once again tickled the audiences with his role as music director Jaya Surya. He has been the vital factor in Srinu Vaitla's films since 'Dhee'.

Master Bharat also brought laughs with his role but that is not in the length of his role in 'Ready'. He justified in a small role in this film.

Jayaprakash Reddy also made his presence well with his Rayalseema style of dialogues. Sayaji Shinde and Krishna Bhagawan also portrayed in their trade mark style on negative side.

Sri Hari deserves very good mention in this flick. He worked really well as supporting artiste. He portrayed action and comedy in right doses. His hilarious role will be remembered as Painter Gnaneshwar for sure.

Coming to technical aspects, cinematography by Moorella Prasad is fantastic. The costume designer also deserves great mention. And the story writers Kona Venkat and Gopi Mohan once again grooved in their names for the characters of Sayaji Shinde and Krishna Bhagawan, like they did with their earlier films.

All in all, this Srinu Vaitla's show although inspired from different films (Chandramukhi, Chandralekha, Shankaradada Zindabad etc….), stands to be unique and a wholesome family entertainer.

Analysis:
The movie takes different twists and turns but no where strains the audiences. A laugh is promised at every 10 minutes on an average. Although the length of the movie seems to be long in second half, audiences don't get bored. Even the songs made the audiences sit in theaters by the blend of their right music and interesting choreography as well as costumes.

First half runs with ample humor while second half too does the same with added comedy.

Many films start rolling on mind's screen while watching this flick and that should be understood as parody-like inspiration by the director.

Interesting Comedy Tracks:
Srihari's painting episodes
Brahmanandam-Trisha casting couch
TV Show with Brahmanandam
Nagarjuna's Chandralekha and Chandramukhi parody

Best Scenes:
Bullet scene (although inspired from Hollywood flick 'Wanted')
Action sequences

It's a wholesome entertainer from Srinu Vaitla but here is one suggestion for him. He should change the style by not incorporating similar elements like that of his 'Ready' and 'Dhee'. There is risk as people may get bored watching similar comedy tracks again and again. The movie undoubtedly appeals for masses and entertains families.

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Bruce Pardo: Covina California Santa Shooting

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo

This is Bruce Jeffrey Pardo. He’s the shooting Santa who plotted revenge against his ex-wife by dressing up like Santa Clause, going to his former in-laws’ Christmas Eve party, and slaughtering at least eight people before killing himself hours later. Read more about it below, see his photo, and watch a video.

In a really sick Christmas Eve rampage in Covina, California, Bruce Pardo dressed up like Santa Claus, opened fire on a gathering of his in-laws, and then quite methodically set their house on fire using a bizarre homemade device that sprayed some sort of flammable liquid. He killed at least eight people and injuring several others including an 8 year old and a 16 year old. At this writing, three additional people are listed as ‘missing’ after Bruce Pardo’s rampage — his ex-wife and her parents — and it is very likely their remains are among the ashes of the torched home.

Reportedly about 30 people, among them many children, were inside the home celebrating on Christmas Eve when Bruce Jeffrey Pardo knocked on the door. The gathering was a tradition for the family, an annual holiday party, and Pardo had apparently disguised himself as the hired entertainment to gain access into their home. When a guest opened the door, Pardo stepped inside the house, pulled out a handgun, and immediately started shooting people. Witnesses ran from the home into the neighborhood screaming.

Apparently Pardo and his wife Sylvia had filed for divorce in March, and Sylvia Pardo had been living in the home. The police began a manhunt for Pardo and were searching the area when his body was discovered in a car near his brother’s home in Sylmar which is a community about 40 miles northwest of Covina. He had shot himself in the head.
Bruce Pardo Santa Shooter Video

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BLACK FRIDAY 2: Stores Desperate To Salvage Holiday Sales

Holiday shopping is way down in some areas as shoppers grapple with a weak economy and face potential layoffs and work hour cutbacks.

The result is a desperate group of retailers hoping to lure consumers back into their stores for one last spree before the end of the year. The day after Christmas is now being referred to by some as "Black Friday 2:"

Department stores like Macy's and JC Penney are offering 50-80 percent off sales. Filene's Basement, up to 90 percent off with an extra 20-percent off coupon.


Retailers have their work cut out for them.

Nationwide, retail spending between November 1st and Christmas Eve was down 5.5 to 8 percent compared to last year.

Bloomberg reports on two particularly bleak categories inspiring some desperate "Black Friday 2" efforts:

From Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, women's clothing sales dropped 23 percent and men's fell 14 percent, according to SpendingPulse.


Combined electronics and appliance sales tumbled 27 percent, with purchases over $1,000 suffering the most, according to SpendingPulse data. Luxury sales, including jewelry, plunged 35 percent, the data showed.

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