Sachin Interview Day 1 4th Test Australia v India Adelaide 2008

Sachin interview after his 39'th unbeaten century

Aishwarya to reveal secrets about Salman

Actress AISHWARYA BACHCHAN will finally reveal many unknown secrets about her life in a book which she will write with the help of her mother Vrinda Rai who is an author. The book will tell the untold tales of her life prominent among them will be her short lived relationship with Salman Khan. The duo's relationship ended on a bitter note when Salman had allegedly threatened her next boyfriend Vivek Oberoi over the phone.

The book will also track her journey from a middle class home to be being crowned Miss World in 1994. The actress who has ruled over the hearts of millions in Bollywood will also talk about her being a part of the Bachchan family and the wife of Abhishek Bachchan. The untitled book which is expected to be a bestseller once it hits the markets.

Lindsay goes nude to recreate Marilyn

The Mean Girls star bared all in the latest issue of the American magazine for renowned photographer Bert Stern who actually shot Monroe for a similar shoot way back in 1962, shortly before the screen legend died.

Stern photographed Monroe in 1962 at the Hotel Bel-Air in California, six weeks before she was found dead of an overdose of barbiturates.

The pictures, for Vogue magazine, show Monroe posing nude with some scarves and jewellery as her accessories and sipping champagne.

The veteran photographer recreated the same images, this time with a nude Lohan in a blond wig at the same hotel.

When it came to being nude before the camera, Lohan said: "I was comfortable with it.”

"I didn't have to put much thought into it. I mean, Bert Stern? Doing a Marilyn shoot? When is that ever going to come up? It's really an honour," The Sun quoted her, as telling the mag.

Stern said that he found women like Lohan and her tabloid companions Paris Hilton and Britney Spears "interesting".

"They're girls that draw attention to their notoriety and their celebrity through their behaviour," he said.

"I thought she was a natural, not at all squeamish," he added.

Lindsay Lohan Finally Nude

Britney Not Allowed To See Sons

Britney Spears was denied permission to see her two sons yesterday (Feb 19, 2008).
The troubled singer’s custody plea was rejected by family court commissioner Scott Gordon, despite ex-husband Kevin Federline supporting Britney’s request to visit two-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, 17 months.

After the day-long closed court hearing, Kevin’s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said: "Both sides want to see the day that visitation can resume."
"It is a question of working out details on how that can happen. Mr. Federline looks forward to his children having their mom back in their life."Kaplan also revealed Kevin is coping well as a single father, adding: "Mr. Federline is doing everything that he can to make up for the fact that the boys are with him."

"He is keeping family around the boys and trying to let them know there is any change whatsoever."Britney’s lawyer Anne Kiley was also unsuccessful in her request for a gag order to be placed on the case to prevent details being made public.
Commissioner Gordon explained: "We’re dealing with very critical issues. The hearings are public. The public has a right to know what the courts are doing." The hearing was the first in the custody battle since 26-year-old Britney was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation earlier this month.

Her father Jamie has co-conservatorship of Britney which gives him control over her day-to-day affairs.Neither Britney - who sparked rumors she is pregnant again after being spotted with a bulging stomach at the weekend - or Kevin were present at yesterday’s hearing.

Britney Not Allowed To See Sons

Britney Spears was denied permission to see her two sons yesterday (Feb 19, 2008).
The troubled singer’s custody plea was rejected by family court commissioner Scott Gordon, despite ex-husband Kevin Federline supporting Britney’s request to visit two-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, 17 months.

After the day-long closed court hearing, Kevin’s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said: "Both sides want to see the day that visitation can resume."
"It is a question of working out details on how that can happen. Mr. Federline looks forward to his children having their mom back in their life."Kaplan also revealed Kevin is coping well as a single father, adding: "Mr. Federline is doing everything that he can to make up for the fact that the boys are with him."

"He is keeping family around the boys and trying to let them know there is any change whatsoever."Britney’s lawyer Anne Kiley was also unsuccessful in her request for a gag order to be placed on the case to prevent details being made public.
Commissioner Gordon explained: "We’re dealing with very critical issues. The hearings are public. The public has a right to know what the courts are doing." The hearing was the first in the custody battle since 26-year-old Britney was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation earlier this month.

Her father Jamie has co-conservatorship of Britney which gives him control over her day-to-day affairs.Neither Britney - who sparked rumors she is pregnant again after being spotted with a bulging stomach at the weekend - or Kevin were present at yesterday’s hearing.

Jessica and Tony Perfect Their PDA Skills

Tony Romo may still wallowing in his big playoff loss, but luckily he has Jessica to help nurse his emotional wounds. Last night the couple had no problem proving those breakup rumors wrong with a romantic dinner at Il Sole in LA before hitting the town. Sure, they were joined by eight of their closest friends, but that didn't stop Jess and Tony from kissing, cuddling, and eating off of each other's plates. How appetizing for their buddies. Nothing screams we're still together like a dinner at one of the most popular paparazzi hideouts.

Wedding Bells for Bhansali and Vaibhavi?

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant are all set to tie the knot at the end of next month. According to sources, the wedding will take place in March once Bhansali is back from Paris, where he is working on a musical Padmavati for the French opera houses Theatre du Chatelet.

According to sources, Vaibhavi's family is quite excited about the wedding and the preparations are on in full swing. Bhansali and Vaibhavi have been working together for several years. The choreographer has worked on Bhansali's films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Saawariya. But it is only recently that the two have been romantically linked. In the last couple of months, the couple, quite reclusive otherwise, has been seen together publicly and Vaibhavi's closeness to Bhansali's family was evident at the premiere of Saawariya. She walked into the premiere of the film along with Bhansali's mother Leela and sister Bela Saigal. It was obvious that Vaibhavi was more than a professional colleague. So far, there has been no official announcement from either of the two or their families. One can just wait and watch.

Sanjay And Manyata Wedding Ishue

It was a fast-track divorce that enabled Sanjay Dutt to tie the knot with Manyata early this month. In a rare waiver of the mandatory six months wait for a divorce by mutual consent, the family court in Bandra granted the actor and Rhea Pillai the decree in a month's time, thus paving the way for him to exchange vows with the new lady in his life days later on February 7.

Dutt and Rhea had been leading separate lives for the last eight years, never really got down to filing for divorce till January 2008.

And then they filed a plea by mutual consent - 'F28 of 2008' - citing irreconcilable differences to put a legal end to their marriage.

A divorce by mutual consent requires at least one year of separation which Dutt and Rhea clearly had. The law under the Hindu Marriage Act and even under the Special Marriage Act also stipulates that the court should wait for six months before passing an order to dissolve a marriage in response to a mutual consent divorce plea. The idea is to give a couple time to reconsider their decision to split.

The family court has been following the rule of the six month wait quite scrupulously and in over 99% cases of 'no fault' mutual consent divorce petitions, couples have to wait it out before they can legally go their separate ways.

In Dutt's case, the waiting period was waived, and he went on to tie the knot for the third time in Goa.

Lawyers specialising in divorce cases said a waiver in general should be encouraged and the "unnecessary window period'' done away with when there is little chance of a reconciliation between couples who have already lived separately for over a year before moving the court.

But several high profile lawyers also point out that they have been unsuccessful in getting such a waiver all the same. An application that's required to be made for such waivers usually ends in a rejection. Albeit, the six month wait is often done away with when a unilateral plea for divorce is eventually converted into a mutual request.

In Dutt's case, he and Rhea filed their petition in the Bandra family court in January and after a month made the necessary plea for a waiver.

Abhishek Loses Over Rs 1 cr on Reliance Power IPO

EXCLUSIVE! Abhishek loses over Rs 1 cr on Reliance Power IPO

Had applied for shares worth almost Rs 1,000 cr in Reliance Power IPO; lost over Rs 1 cr on Day 1
AMONG the millions who wished the Reliance Power Initial Public Offering (IPO) would change their fortunes, there was a close family friend of ADA (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani), Abhishek Bachchan.

Junior Bachchan put in close to a whopping Rs 1,000 crore, which is almost 10 per cent of the IPO’s value, hoping for a substantial allotment and good returns. That he lost over Rs 1 crore on Day 1 itself is a different story.

Documents with MiD DAY reveal that Abhishek applied for a mind-boggling 2,19,00,000 (Two crore nineteen lakh in words, as applications often ask) shares at Rs 450 base value. That’s a whisker away from Rs ONE THOUSAND CRORE.

While most retail investors have been happy with the 15-odd shares they may have been allotted, as an HNI (High Net worth Individual), Junior B was allotted 1,37,256 shares, according to the application and allotment details available with MiD DAY. Let us do a little bit of math. That works out to shares worth above Rs 6 crore.

Abhi expected to earn Rs 7 to 9 cr

So as the Reliance Power shares dipped 32 per cent to Rs 372, Junior B lost around Rs 1 crore.
But there is more to it. As per the rules, as an HNI, if the allotment was to have been done in totality, Junior B would have had to pay the entire amount.

Incidentally, considering that he paid advance tax of Rs 1.75 crore, as indicated by the income tax authorities, he is expecting to earn approximately Rs 7 to 9 crore this year.

Clearly, to make a payment of almost Rs 995 crore or Rs 250 crore, (whether he paid only 25% which is about Rs 250 crore or the full amount could not be ascertained) he must have had a lot of cash piled up from his earlier years’ earnings to have the resources to apply for so many shares.

"Tata tea joss 11th feb 2008" Saif And Anupama Verma

Sexy Anupama Verma and Saif were at the Tata Tea event at Joss on 11th Feb 2008. Anupama is the same gal who was featured in Biddu’s “Boom Boom” and Bali Brahambhatt’s romantic melody with Bikram Saluja, of the Graviera fame. Having graduated from the music videos she created waves with her unusual screen presence in “Grahan” opposite Jackie Shroff. The Braun-Silk Epil girl with silken charms was also in the news due to her friendship with tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi.

I Have A Good Role In KAYAMATH

You have a good role in Kayamath, but it’s not a prime time show. Is that a setback?

• I don’t think so. It is in fact still among the topmost-watched shows on the small screen. It’s doing really well.
Currently, you’re just doing one show. Is it by choice or lack of other meaningful roles?

* Totally by choice. I prefer to concentrate on one show and do a good job, rather than shuffle between fourfive shoots. Besides, Kayamath takes up a lot of my time anyway!
But don’t you fear being left back in the rat race, with your colleagues doing a number of serials simultaneously?

• I need some time to myself, to think, to rejuvenate. Otherwise one gets exhausted as an actor. I prefer doing just one show well and having a life too!
You’ve been quite low profile off late...

• That’s because I’ve been so busy with work — my TV serial as well as a Bollywood film. Besides, I had nothing to talk about!
Were you happy with your Bollywood debut (Shootout at Lokhandwala) or do you think you were given a raw deal?

• I was very happy with the end product. See, the movie wasn’t only about a single hero, it was about different characters. I was one of those essential characters, and was content with my role.
Was Shootout at Lokhandwala a one-off experiment with Bollywood, or are films next on your career chart?

• I’m already working in Apoorva Lakhia’s next, Mission Istanbul. It’s an exciting storyline. I’d like to shuffle between both television and films, as long as I’m doing good work in both mediums. I’m becoming extremely choosy about my roles now.
You have been linked with Sakshi Tanwar on more than one occasion. So, what’s the real story?

• The real story is nothing! The best way to handle a rumour or a controversy is not to deal with it at all. That’s what I do.

Famous Shilpa Shetty Richard Gere Hug N Kiss

Hollywood star Richard Gere wants to visit India in March, but is wary of being nabbed by either the Rajasthan or UP police, who are still armed with arrest warrants issued by courts for his controversial kiss with actress Shilpa Shetty (right) at an AIDS awareness function last year.
On Monday, he requested the Supreme Court to stay the execution of arrest warrants and a guarantee from the state governments that his exit from India, after the completion of his engagements, would be hassle-free.

Shetty supported Gere’s plea through her counsel Anand Grover, but a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and L S Panta only issued notices to respondents on his plea. The bench pointed out that the proceedings before the trial courts had already been stayed by the SC.

Gere’s counsel Indira Jaising said that though the proceedings were stayed, the actor fears the police could still attempt to execute the arrest warrants that could cause immense harassment to him.

Shetty was the first to approach the SC, immediately after the courts in Rajasthan and UP took cognisance of complaints accusing her and Gere of indulging in obscene acts in public that hurt the sentiments of people apart from violating several provisions of Indian Penal Code.
After the SC stayed the proceedings before the trial courts, Gere followed suit and got similar protection. However, with the impending visit, it crossed his mind that the police could be the stumbling block for his safe departure from the country.

The bench sought responses from complainants as well as the state governments within two weeks to Gere’s plea and posted the matter for hearing thereafter.

Manyata is pregnant with Sanjay's child

It was an auspicious day yesterday but that's not the only reason why Sanjay Dutt and Manyata hurriedly tied the knot last morning. According to sources, the new Mrs Dutt is pregnant. And that explains the need for the formal shaadi.

Making it known

Last year, in a midnight conversation with a MIDDAY reporter, Sanjay Dutt had admitted that he was married to Maanayata. She has been living in his apartment at Imperial Heights for over a year.

A industry insider says, "His close friends Bunty Walia and Sanjay Gupta had been present at the wedding last year, and everyone knows they are husband and wife, so why did they get married again in front of their friends and family? It was almost as if they wanted to make it known that they are married. It"s obvious they wanted to out the shaadi now because they have a more special announcement to make shortly."

Since Sanju and Maana have denied being married, it would've been uncomfortable for them if the news of her being pregnant got out, so they decided to have the saat pheras. On Sunday, Manyata deliberately showed up at a event teeming with media, with sindoor in her maang. She desperately wanted the news of their wedding to be featured prominently by the press. The source adds, "It was she who conveniently 'leaked' the details of the venue etc, to the press."

The channels showed up at the venue before the couple did. Later, the newly-weds came out and waved to the waiting media happily announcing their married status.

The baby news will follow soon. Both Sanjay and Manyata didn"t revert back to deny that she was pregnant. However, a source close to the couple confirmed that she is pregnant.

Sanjay Dutt, Manyata Tied The Knot On Feb 7 In Goa

Mr and Mrs Dut

Superstar Sanjay Dutt tied the knot with his girlfriend of two years, Manyata, at the Taj Exotica in Goa on February 7 under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, in front of a few close friends as witnesses.

The couple will solemnise the marriage vows according to Hindu rites on Monday in Mumbai.

"It is scheduled to take place at Manyata's friend, Pradeep's house at 9.30 am," claimed a Bollywood insider.

Last month, the actor finally completed the divorce proceedings with ex-wife Rhea Pillai. Before that Dutt had been married to actress Richa Sharma.

A source said, "Two officers from the registrar of marriages in Goa were called to the hotel to solemnise the marriage on February 7.

Among the witnesses present were Dharam Oberoi, the CEO of Sanjay Dutt Production, and the actor's business manager and close friend Bunty Walia, who had flown from Mumbai a day after a TV awards function, for the marriage."

Oberoi, who is Manyata's godfather, reportedly gave away the bride. Oberoi's actress daughter Neha, and Dutt's closest friends Ajay alias Bittu and Prashant (a common friend of Fardeen Khan and Dutt) were the other witnesses at the wedding.

The groom was casually dressed in a yellow T-shirt and jeans and the bride glowed in her simple purple T-shirt and trousers. The Dutt family wanted to keep it a personal affair. Just after the marriage in Goa, the actor went back on the sets of the film Kidnap .

The marriage ceremony took place while Dutt was shooting for Suniel Shetty's production, EMI, in Goa.

TOI has learnt that Dutt presented Manyata a diamond ring worth Rs 40 lakh as wedding gift. "She was spotted wearing sindoor at a school function (see video) on Saturday evening," a source said.

"It was the first time we saw her wearing sindoor , which indicated her married status." Manyata refused to comment, although she did mention to some mediapersons that her husband would be the best person to answer the question. Sanjay and Manyata have been seeing each other since October 2006.

Bipasha and Katrina’s cold war

It is a known fact that Salman Khan and John Abraham do not get along. But it is surprising to see that things are not so rosy between their lady-loves either. It is believed that Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu who will be seen in Abbas Mastan’s forthcoming film Race didn’t even acknowledge each other on the sets of Race.

As Race is a highly stylized film, it is believed that to avoid problems on the sets, director Abbas Mastan made it clear to the actors that their look and costumes will be designed according to their scenes. This nipped any tiffs in the bud. While Sameera Reddy used to get along with everyone, Bipasha and Katrina were never seen talking to each other on the sets. Knowing the rivalry between Bipasha and Katrina, directors Abbas Mustan would shoot their scenes separately. And thankfully the two had minimal scenes together.

But just when the directors were heaving a sigh of relief with the film being complete and all set to release, there seems to be a new problem. Bipasha and Katrina have refused to promote the film together. Come to think of it, Bipasha avoided being on the sets of Chotey Ustad and a music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee when Katrina was present with the other stars of the film. Bipasha teamed up for a solo couple entry with her co-star Saif for the MTV Hero Honda Roadies promotional event of Race .

Knowing this fact and the cold war between the two actresses, the producers and directors have intentionally planned separate promotional dates for Bipasha and Katrina.

What needs to be seen is that will Yash Raj Films have to adhere to such practices as well, considering the two ladies will be working together in their next project opposite Ranbir Kapoor to be directed by Siddharth Anand.

Baba Amte passes away

Noted social activist and Magsaysay award winner Murlidhar Devidas Amte alias Baba Amte died at his 'Anandvan' ashram in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra on Saturday. He was 94.

Baba Amte passed away at 4:15 am, his son Dr Vikas said.

One of the country's most respected social leaders, Amte devoted his life to the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

He is survived by two sons.

Baba Amte, 94, passed away on Saturday

Paris Hilton's Nipples want Comes Out to Play

I find it so scary to imagine being a celebrity. Each and every move you make, there are constantly cameras watching out for something juicy or reports waiting to catch the latest piece of gossip about your life, but with Paris Hilton it happens every single time she leaves the house!Source

Valentines Day Gift Ideas

This Valentine's Day Capture Their Heart

Valentines-Day-Gift-Ideas - Get Video Code

Kidney Rocket Den

Saif, Kareena have done a nikaah ceremony

Have Saif, Kareena tied the knot?

Actor Saif Ali Khan has denied the rumours that have been doing the rounds for the past few days that he and Kareena Kapoor have done a nikaah ceremony. Sources had said that Saif’s mother Sharmila Tagore had been witness to the nikaah .

But when TOI contacted Saif on Wednesday night, he said, “Such rumours will only upset both families.

’’Kareena, on her part, categorically said in an interview that took place on Tuesday, ‘‘I am not getting married for the next five years.’’

Meanwhile, industry sources insisted that a wedding had taken place. They said that the Khan family had witnessed the nikaah , but the Kapoor family has been kept out of it.

Kareena and Saif had begun a relationship six months ago on the sets of Tashan . Saif has also tattooed her name on his arm in Hindi.

Friends of the couple say Saif has never been more committed in a relationship. A close friend of Saif had recently said, "There's a fierce and single-minded determination in Saif to make this relationship work for keeps. And, it isn’t a defiant determination to disprove the cynics who say it won’t last. Saif doesn’t give a damn about what people say."

The friend further added, "Earlier, after Rosa left, there were whispers of Saif being involved with various ladies. Saif doesn’t like the image of a casanova at all. He thinks he’s too grown up for it. He wants stability in his life and a relationship that’s for keeps. He believes he has found it in Kareena. Saif will make this relationship work."

Apparently, both of them spend as much time together as possible. Lately, Kareena has also been seen in public with Saif’s kids.

Abhishek's No.1 Critic

What you never knew about Abhishek…

Critic No. 1

Abhishek Bachchan claims that his biggest critic is his little niece Navya Naveli and he listens to whatever she has to say.

Be it good or bad, ‘Mamu’ loves whatever the little one opines.

Jordan Hits Out At Ex-nanny

Katie Price aka Jordan hit out at her ex-nanny’s claims accusing her of being a bad mother. The 29-year-old Price, mother of two called the allegations as ‘a total pack of lies’. According to a friend, Jordan is in a terrible state. “Jordan is understandably in a terrible state over this made-up nonsense,” a friend was quoted as saying. Becky Gauld, 25, had recently accused the glamour model of her drinking binges and blamed her of being “selfish”. “Their life is very different to the one on TV. The reality is she’s selfish and self-centred — and not the perfect mum,” said Gauld in an interview.

Gauld said that the model did not bother about her children. Gauld also revealed how Jordan would allow her overweight thyroid disorder sufferer Harvey to eat twenty chicken nuggets at once when she was told by doctors he could die if he didn’t diet. Price and hubby Peter Andre even taught Harvey to say “f*** off just so that they could raise a laugh from their friends at a barbecue. Price had even sent a text to Becky from her bed from her cottage in the grounds of the 2.5 million pounds mansion as the star couldn’t be bothered to get up and cope with Junior crying in a nearby room.

Ajay Devgan Directs Kajol Again

Actor-debutant director AJAY DEVGAN seems to love directing his dear wifey KAJOL. Yes, she is a part of his directorial debut U, Me Aur Hum, but she is also a part of a jewellery ad commercial, which in fact Ajay took upon himself to direct. It'll feature both Ajay and Kajol. Shot in Filmistan only recently, the ad will hit the small screens in mid-March. Also, the storyline of the ad commercial has been formulated keeping in mind the theme of the romantic, feel-good U, Me Aur Hum. Well, let's hope the movie proves to be a gem, and worth it's weight in gold, too.

Celebrity Cartoons

Shilpa Shetty Real Life Photos

SHILPA SHETTY REAL LIFE PHOTOS

Lucky, Safe Landing

SAFE LANDING:

A two-year-old boy being hurled by his parents (seen crowded around a tiny window) from atop a third-storied apartment that was caught in a horrific fire in Germany’s Ludwigshafen town to awaiting members of the fire brigade (not seen in picture) on Monday. Nine people, including five children were killed in the fire. While the boy survived the ‘fall’, the fate of the parents and two other adults is not known

“To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.”

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, guru to the Beatles, dies

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a guru to the Beatles who introduced the West to transcendental meditation, has died at his home in the Dutch town of Vlodrop, a spokesman said on Tuesday. He was thought to be 91 years old.

"He died peacefully at about 7 pm," said Bob Roth, a spokesman for the Transcendental Meditation movement that the Maharishi founded. He said his death appeared to be due to "natural causes, his age."

Once dismissed as hippie mysticism, the Hindu practice of mind control that Maharishi taught, called transcendental meditation, gradually gained medical respectability.

He began teaching TM in 1955 and brought the technique to the United States in 1959. But the movement really took off after the Beatles visited his ashram in India in 1968, although he had a famous falling out with the rock stars when he discovered them using drugs at his Himalayan retreat.

With the help of celebrity endorsements, Maharishi parlayed his interpretations of ancient scripture into a multimillion-dollar global empire.

source:timesofindiaC

The Tourism Ministry From Aruba Has Invited KAREENA KAPOOR

Kareena Kapoor has acquired a huge fan following in Aruba Island, in the Caribbean. The incident brings to mind her grandfather, Raj Kapoor’s fan following in Russia.

The tourism ministry from Aruba has invited her over for a visit. To add to the honour, Kareena will be taken to the island on a cruise liner. A close friend of Kareena says, “Kareena has never been to Aruba Island. However, she is aware that Aruba is a popular holiday destination with the Hollywood stars. Kareena’s fan following in Aruba has increased after the locals watched Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. Some people from Aruba Island were recently in India and they invited her to visit their island.”

The friend tells us that Kareena has accepted the offer but will not be able to visit the island immediately as she is caught up with her film commitments. “Kareena was overwhelmed by the offer and has agreed to visit the island. Right now, she is busy shooting for Golmaal Returns. She will also begin work on Kambakth Ishq, Agent Vinod and Ashtavinayak’s film with John Abraham. She will be visiting the island as soon as she gets some time off,” the friend adds.

Talking about Kareena’s popularity in Aruba, the friend says, “Kareena’s character Poo in K3G is extremely popular in Aruba. People from Aruba love fashion and hence the clothes she wore in K3G were a big hit. They have also asked for DVDs of her recent film Jab We Met.”

Britney Spear's Father Retained As Conservator

Spears' father retained as conservator

Britney Spears' father was granted control of her finances until Valentine's Day by a judge who also barred the troubled pop star from contacting her friend and sometime manager, Sam Lutfi.

Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz also appointed a physician Monday to evaluate whether Spears, who is in a psychiatric ward, is competent to make decisions.

Her father, James Spears, and an attorney were granted conservatorship last week after the 26-year-old was hospitalized for the second time in two months following increasingly bizarre behavior.

The commissioner extended that conservatorship until Feb. 14. It allows Spears' father, and attorney Andrew Wallet, to make decisions involving the singer's assets and even who enters her home.

The commissioner also tried to further distance Spears from Lutfi, who sometimes spoke on her behalf and had been seen escorting her about town.

Spears was ordered to have no contact with him by phone, texting, or any other means.

The commissioner extended a restraining order against Lutfi that was issued last week, although court spokesman Allan Parachini said the original order had not yet been served.

In a Monday text message to The Associated Press, Lutfi said: "I have no problems with anyone writing anything negative against me. My image is not of concern, hers is."

A police motorcade helped shepherd Spears to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday for a 72-hour mental evaluation. She was originally to be released Sunday but doctors and a ward medical officer decided to keep her for two more weeks. They cited a state law that allows holding patients for treatment if they are found to be gravely disabled or a danger to themselves or others.

The question of Spears' competency came up again Monday as an attorney, Adam Streisand, unsuccessfully argued that the pop star told him by phone that she wanted her father removed as conservator.

"She has expressed to me very strongly (her wish) that her father not be the conservator," Streisand said. "There has been an estrangement for quite some time. With him as conservator, that is causing her more agitation and more distress."

Streisand, who placed Spears' estate assets at $40 million or more, also said he believed he had been authorized to represent Spears.

But court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham said he interviewed Spears on Sunday at the hospital and determined she didn't understand the court proceedings, and "she lacks the capacity to retain counsel."

Attorney Vivian Thoreen, who represents Spears' father, said her client should continue to be conservator because "his daughter is in great distress."

"He's not here to take over her assets," Thoreen said. "He's here to get her medical help. He's here to take over while she's healing."

Billy Will Make The ‘Perfect Dad’; Kelly Brook

KELLY BROOK thinks fiance BILLY ZANE will make a great dad. And though the 28-year-old beauty says the pair don’t have any immediate plans to start a family, they definitely want children together. She says, “Will we have kids one day? Definitely. But at the moment, I’ve got four nieces and four nephews and that’s enough for me. It’s non-stop.” Kelly also revealed that the Titanic actor once dressed up as Santa Claus to impress her nieces and nephews. She adds, “In my first Christmas with Billy, he dressed up as Father Christmas. He had the big belly, the boots and the beard and all the kids were running around the house trying to find him, looking up all the chimneys.

He hid behind the sofa, rolled over the back of it and landed on the floor and they just screamed. One of my friend’s little boys went up to him and said, ‘I love you Father Christmas’ and cuddled him. My mum and friend started crying. It was just the most touching thing. I think he would make the perfect dad.” Kelly and Billy met on the set of the movie Three in 2005 and got engaged in 2006.

Game researcher ducks millions in royalties

Co-developer of multi-million seller 'Brain Age' gave royalty share to college construction efforts.

Ryuta Kawashima, the researcher behind Nintendo's Brain Age series of games for the DS portable system, would rather be working than enjoying $11 million in royalties he could have earned from his creations.

"Not a single yen has gone in my pocket," Dr. Kawashima told the AFP in a recent interview. Kawashima, whose likeness was heavily featured in the best-selling Brain Age games, is instantly recognizable to almost 12 million gamers worldwide.

Under the terms of his agreement with his employer, Tohoku University in Japan's north-east region, Kawashima was entitled to accept half the Brain Age royalties personally. Instead, he used the proceeds to help fund $6.5 million in construction projects on Tohoku's campus.

"My hobby is work," he said. "Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it."

Kawashima, who strictly monitors his teenage sons' gaming time, is currently working on a four-year project to study brain development in children. He's also cooperating with Toyota to develop a car designed to keep elderly drivers alert.