| Pakistani stars desert Lollywood for Bollywood
There's a rather unexpected fallout of the India-Pakistan peace process: film stars are deserting Lollywood for better pastures in Bollywood. The lack of good quality productions and the slump in local cinema have led Pakistani movie stars to India, "where they are tripping over each other" to sign up for Bollywood ventures, according to the Daily Times. "These actors and actresses like to highlight that their performances across the border give a boost to India-Pakistan relations," the newspaper said on Saturday. "However, while the top talent enjoys the more professional, and lucrative, experience of working in India, less glamorous film industry professionals are running out of work." Ironically, Indian movies are still banned here.
Apps: Adobe Premiere CS3 Pro 3.1.1
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 3.1.1 ($15) video editing and production application. The new release includes Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard) compatibility updates and important bug fixes. It is highly recommended for all Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 users. Requires Mac OS X v10.4.910.5 (Leopard), 1GB of RAM for DV; 2GB of RAM for HDV and HD, and 10GB of available hard-disk space (additional free space required during installation). [Download - 54MB] Jisho 2.2 ($15) Japanese-English dictionary. Jisho 2.2 brings improved zooming functionality allowing an infinite amount zoom into characters, results sorting, and other enhancements. Among the enhancements to Jisho 2.2 beyond infinite zoom and results sorting include a new 512x512 Leopard friendly icon, an updated eSellerate framework, and including searches done via the service to the search history.
Oracle asia pacific announces winners of oracle partnernetwork awards ...
The ability to innovate and create value for our customers and partners are integral to Oracles continued success, said Oracle Asia Pacifics vice president for Alliances & Channels, Bronwyn Hastings. As Oracle continues to broaden its business and solutions portfolio, our partners in Asia Pacific are also stepping up their resources and investments to fully leverage the Oracle applications and technology product lines to create innovative, market-leading solutions for our joint customers. The Oracle Partner Network (OPN) Partner Awards is an excellent opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievements of our partner community across Asia Pacific. The 17 Oracle PartnerNetwork Partner Award winners includes Beijing Digital China Limited, Accenture, IBM Global Consulting Services and Dell Computer Asia.
Only 3 more days ...
Have the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years. I deeply appreciate the attention you folks pay to Hot Potatoes. It's a humbling experience to be the gatekeeper for this blog. And I've made some good friends in doing so. See ya next year. .
U.S., local immigration teamwork is hailed
The rapid growth of a little-known program that teams federal agents with local authorities to identify and deport jailed immigrants is being embraced as a way to reduce crime and illegal immigration simultaneously. The expansion has been felt throughout South Central Texas, with 22 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents added to the area last year. The Travis County Sheriff's Department approved an ICE request last month to open an office at its lockup. A similar acceleration is planned for Bexar County Jail, which ICE agents already visit daily. Under the Criminal Alien Program, the agents check inmates identified by jail administrators as foreign nationals. Those who are not legally in the country — a determination that only federal agents can make — receive "detainers," meaning ICE agents have one day after their release date to take them into federal custody once their criminal cases are resolved.
Microsoft moves deeper into the software services arena
Microsoft also is working on a bundle of Microsoft-hosted business services, which it is calling its Business Productivity Online Suite. That bundle will include Microsoft-hosted Exchange, SharePoint, OCS and Live Meeting. Microsoft has added a "provisioning layer" to Exchange and SharePoint to make them multi-tenant-ready, explained Eron Kelly, Director of Product Management for Business Online Services. And it is adding a new, per-user license subscription as a new pricing option for the forthcoming release of its Microsoft Online wares. Microsoft is going to allow customers who have purchased licenses for Microsoft's Exchange and SharePoint Server software (not the Microsoft-hosted versions of these products) to trade-in license credits for Microsoft Online managed service versions of these products; or a mix of on-premise and Microsoft-hosted versions.
PC Magazine: $20 Touch update "a bargain"
Apple's recent $20 content update for the iPod touch has some users expressing discontent with the company's approach, but others still see a great value in the update package. PC Magazine writer Sascha Segan reports that despite the perception that Apple is charging too much for the update, the software that is installed is well worth the money, and even a bargain. Segan says that the best values in the bundle are the re-designed home screen, as well as the Mail and Maps applications. The home screen now allows users to keep multiple pages worth of applications no doubt in anticipation of the February due-date for the developer's kit and now, Safari bookmarks. Segan says that this is "almost as good as having real third-party applications." Segan also likes the mail application, which works with many different services, such as Google's Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and Apple's own .Mac email service.
Circus denies its use of animals is ‘cruel’
Appeals have appeared on blogging websites asking people to complain to Brent Cross and boycott the circus, because of the use of horses and budgies in the acts. Paul Thomas, campaigns assistant for the Captive Animals' Protection Society (Caps), said the group had urged the centre not to allow animal circuses for a number of years. .
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