January 1, 2013
Times Square, New York — 2013 New Year Countdown
Photo: A view of atmosphere during New Year’s Eve 2013 in Times Square, New York City, on December 31, 2012. (Photo © Mike Coppola/Getty Images).
Photo: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attends Times Square on December 31, 2012 in New York City. (Photo © Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images).
Photo: Carly Rae Jepsen performs at Times Square on December 31, 2012 in New York City. (Photo © Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images).
Toshiba was the exclusive sponsor for the Official Countdown of the Times Square 2013 New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Every year this global event sees over 1 million visitors pack the streets and more than 1 billion viewers worldwide. All eyes were on the giant TOSHIBA VISION LED screen atop One Times Square providing the countdown for the whole world.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Wake! For the Sun, who scatter’d into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night
Drives Night along with them from Heav’n, and strikes
The Sultan’s Turret with a Shaft of Light.— Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Edward FitzGerald’s Translation.
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:29 AM | Link to this Post
November 27, 2012
ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS 2012
Photo: Writer/Director/Producer Emin Alper accepts the award for Best Feature Film, Beyond the Hill, at the the sixth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards on November 23, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo © Chris Hyde/2012 Asia Pacific Screen Awards).
Photo: Nadine Chandrawinata, former Miss Universe Indonesia, and producer of the Best Children’s Feature Film, The Mirror Never Lies, at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards on November 23, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo © Chris Hyde/2012 Asia Pacific Screen Awards).
Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill, Turkey, Greece) has taken out the Best Feature Film award at the sixth Asia Pacific Screen Awards announced on Friday night at a glittering ceremony at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, Australia.
Awards and High Commendations went to films from a further ten countries and areas of Asia Pacific including India, Indonesia, Iraqi-Kurdistan, Israel, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and for the first time, Iraq.
An unprecedented total of 264 films were entered in this year’s competition. Asia Pacific countries and areas represented by the nominated films were Australia, Hong Kong (PRC), India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iraqi-Kurdistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Palestine, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Taiwan and Turkey.
WINNERS
• Best Feature Film: Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), Turkey, Greece
• Best Children’s Film: Laut Bercermin (The Mirror Never Lies), Indonesia
• Best Documentary Feature Film: In My Mother’s Arms, Iraq, UK, Netherlands
• Best Animated Feature Film: Momo e no tegami (A Letter to Momo), Japan
• Achievement in Directing: Anurag Kashyap for Gangs of Wasseypur, India
• Best Screenplay: Reis Celik for Lal gece (Night of Silence), Turkey
• Achievement in Cinematography: Touraj Aslani for Fasle Kargadan (Rhino Season), Iraqi-Kurdistan,Turkey
• Best Performance by an Actor: Choi Min-sik for Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time), Republic of Korea
• Best Performance by an Actress: Nora Aunor for Sinapupunan (Thy Womb). Philippines
• The UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film went to director Wei Te-sheng and producers John Woo, Terence Chang and Jimmy Huang for their Taiwanese film — Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale.
Acclaimed Australian film producer Jan Chapman headed the six-member International Jury. Ms. Chapman follows previous International Jury Presidents Nansun Shi (2011, Hong Kong, PRC), Lord David Puttnam (2010, UK), Huang Jianxin (2009, People’s Republic of China), Bruce Beresford (2008, Australia) and Shabana Azmi (2007, India).
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:06 AM | Link to this Post
November 22, 2012
Motorsports: Formula One returns to the USA
Photos: Formula One - United States GP, Austin, Texas. November 16-18, 2012 (Credit: Red Bull and Daimler AG).
Formula One returned to the United States of America with the penultimate round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship held at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, November 18, 2012.
Austin is the 10th venue for a F1 race in the USA (after Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Phoenix, Riverside, Sebring and Watkins Glen).
2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX RESULTS
Position — Driver — Country — Team
- Lewis Hamilton — Great Britain — McLaren-Mercedes
- Sebastian Vettel — Germany — Red Bull Racing-Renault
- Fernando Alonso — Spain — Ferrari
- Felipe Massa — Brazil — Ferrari
- Jenson Button — Great Britain — McLaren-Mercedes
- Kimi Raikkonen — Finland — Lotus-Renault
- Romain Grosjean — France — Lotus-Renault
- Nico Hulkenberg — Germany — Force India-Mercedes
- Pastor Maldonado — Venezuela — Williams-Renault
- Bruno Senna — Brazil — Williams-Renault
- Sergio Perez — Mexico — Sauber-Ferrari
- Daniel Ricciardo — Australia — STR-Ferrari
- Nico Rosberg — Germany — Mercedes
- Kamui Kobayashi — Japan — Sauber-Ferrari
- Paul di Resta — Great Britain — Force India-Mercedes
- Michael Schumacher — Germany — Mercedes
- Vitaly Petrov — Russia — Caterham-Renault
- Heikki Kovalainen — Finland — Caterham-Renault
- Timo Glock — Germany — Marussia-Cosworth
- Charles Pic — France — Marussia-Cosworth
- Pedro de la Rosa — Spain — HRT-Cosworth
- Narain Karthikeyan — India — HRT-Cosworth
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:19 PM | Link to this Post
November 1, 2012
New “Bond” girl wearing Carrera y Carrera’s Tiger ring
Photo: Actress Berenice Marlohe at the Skyfall film press conference in Berlin. Berenice Marlohe is wearing Carrera y Carrera Tiger ring in a white gold, diamonds and a smoky quartz. Berenice Marlohe is a French actress. Marlohe played Bond girl “Severine” in the twenty-third James Bond film, Skyfall.
Carrera y Carrera is a Spanish jewelry firm. Present in over 40 countries, the company has subsidiaries in the United States, Japan, and Russia, and boutiques in Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo, Moscow, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur, among others.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:36 AM | Link to this Post
October 30, 2012
Formula One World Championship 2012 - India Grand Prix
Photos: FIA Formula One World Championship 2012 - India. From above: Mark Webber in Action, 26 Oct 2012, Delhi; Sebastian Vettel in Action, 28 Oct 2012, Delhi; Sebastian Vettel in Action, 28 Oct 2012, Delhi; Mark Webber in Action, 27 Oct 2012, Delhi; Sebastian Vettel declared Winner, 28 Oct 2012, Delhi (Photos © Red Bull).
Indian GP Top 5 (Position - Driver - Country - Team)
- Sebastian Vettel - Germany - Red Bull Racing-Renault
- Fernando Alonso - Spain - Ferrari
- Mark Webber - Australia - Red Bull Racing-Renault
- Lewis Hamilton - Britain - McLaren-Mercedes
- Jenson Button - Britain - McLaren-Mercedes
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 or Grand Prix is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The F1 season consists of a series of races, held on purpose-built circuits and occasionally on street circuits. The result of each race is combined to determine two annual FIA Formula One World Championships.
Formula One cars are considered to be the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world. Formula One cars race at speeds of up to 318 km/h (192 mph).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:59 AM | Link to this Post
October 28, 2012
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week to take place at Las Vegas
Photo: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, races Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, and Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 7, 2012 in Talladega, Alabama. Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR.
Photo: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for NASCAR.
Photo: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #51 Toyota Toyota, passes Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Zecol/Menards Toyota, for the leads during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR.
Photo: Tissot brand ambassador Danica Patrick poses with the No. 7 Tissot Chevrolet after unveiling the new Tissot lobby clocks at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Tissot.
Photo: Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #20 Freightliner Trucks Toyota, and Justin Allgaier, driver of the #31 Brandt Chevrolet, lead the field to the start/finish line to start the NASCAR Nationwide Series OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway on September 29, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images.
NASCAR will return to Las Vegas for the postseason NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week — a star-studded, entertainment-filled celebration for the series champion and NASCAR fans, culminating with the highly anticipated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards.
This year’s annual awards will take place Nov. 30, returning to Wynn Las Vegas with SPEED, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio providing live coverage. As in past years, fans can expect an exciting interactive week of activities that celebrate the 2012 season and also build excitement for the 2013 season ahead.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series.
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:00 PM | Link to this Post
October 15, 2012
America’s Cup World Series San Francisco Championship
Photo: Oracle Team USA, San Francisco. Photo © Guilain GRENIER.
Photo: San Francisco (USA, CA), 34th America’s Cup, America’s Cup World Series San Francisco 2012 October - Final Race Day. Photo © Gilles Martin-Raget.
Photo: San Francisco (USA, CA), 34th America’s Cup, America’s Cup World Series San Francisco 2012 October - Final Race Day. Photo © Gilles Martin-Raget.
Photo: San Francisco (USA, CA), 34th America’s Cup, America’s Cup World Series San Francisco 2012 October - Race Day 2. Photo © Gilles Martin-Raget.
Photo: San Francisco (USA, CA), 34th America’s Cup, America’s Cup World Series San Francisco 2012 August, Race Day 2. Photo © Gilles Martin-Raget.
Oracle Team USA Spithill (Jimmy Spithill) rebounded from last place at the first turning mark of the “Super Sunday” fleet race finale to win the America’s Cup World Series San Francisco Championship.
Spithill and crew were “dead last” off the start line, but fought their way back through the fleet. They rounded the last windward gate first and held on for a 17-second win over teammates Oracle Team USA Coutts (Russell Coutts).
“The difference is the four guys on the front of the boat,” said Spithill, referencing his crew. “We were dead last off the start line but it didn’t faze these guys. We have a real team of fighters here. We’re really, really happy.”
“We’ve always said we need to be able to come from behind and overcome adversity,” said Spithill, who skippered the team to victory in the 2010 America’s Cup.
The Teams:
• Oracle Team USA Spithill, Golden Gate Yacht Club, San Francisco, USA.
• Luna Rossa - Piranha, Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Palermo, Italy.
• Team Korea, Sail Korea Yacht Club, Gyeonggi, Korea.
• Energy Team, Yacht Club de France, Paris, France.
• Luna Rossa - Swordfish, Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Palermo, Italy.
• Artemis Racing - White, Royal Swedish Yacht Club, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland, New Zealand.
• Oracle Team USA Coutts, Golden Gate Yacht Club, San Francisco, USA.
• Artemis Racing - Red, Royal Swedish Yacht Club, Stockholm, Sweden.
• J.P. Morgan BAR, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth, England.
• China Team, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Mei Fan Yacht Club, China.
America’s Cup World Series San Francisco Match Racing Championship Results:
- Oracle Team USA Spithill
- Emirates Team New Zealand
- Artemis Racing - White
- Artemis Racing - Red
- Oracle Team USA Coutts
- Energy Team
- J.P. Morgan BAR
- Team Korea
- China Team
- Luna Rossa Piranha
- Luna Rossa Swordfish
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America’s Cup match races between two sailing yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America’s Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport.
One of the most fiercely competitive and sought after trophies in all of sport, the America’s Cup was first raced in 1851, 45 years before the modern Olympics. The U.S. yacht America won, giving the international sailing competition its name. It consists of 3 different stages — the America’s Cup World Series, the Louis Vuitton Cup (used as the selection series to determine who will race the Defender), and the America’s Cup Finals.
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:44 AM | Link to this Post
October 9, 2012
71 Countries Vie for 2012 Foreign Language Film Oscar
Photo: The Academy Presents a 50th Anniversary Screening of “Lawrence of Arabia”. Chris Cookson, President of Sony Pictures Technologies, prior to a 50th anniversary screening of the U.S. premiere of a new digital restoration of Columbia Pictures’ 1962 Best Picture winner “Lawrence of Arabia” presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. © Greg Harbaugh/A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Actress Kym Karath prior to a screening of a new print of the 1965 musical classic “The Sound of Music” presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of its series “The Last 70mm Film Festival” at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. © Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S.
• A record 71 countries, including first-time entrant Kenya, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards.
The 2012 submissions are:
• Afghanistan, “The Patience Stone,” Atiq Rahimi, director;
• Albania, “Pharmakon,” Joni Shanaj, director;
• Algeria, “Zabana!” Said Ould Khelifa, director;
• Argentina, “Clandestine Childhood,” Benjamín Ávila, director;
• Armenia, “If Only Everyone,” Natalia Belyauskene, director;
• Australia, “Lore,” Cate Shortland, director;
• Austria, “Amour,” Michael Haneke, director;
• Azerbaijan, “Buta,” Ilgar Najaf, director;
• Bangladesh, “Pleasure Boy Komola,” Humayun Ahmed, director;
• Belgium, “Our Children,” Joachim Lafosse, director;
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Children of Sarajevo,” Aida Begic, director;
• Brazil, “The Clown,” Selton Mello, director;
• Bulgaria, “Sneakers,” Valeri Yordanov and Ivan Vladimirov, directors;
• Cambodia, “Lost Loves,” Chhay Bora, director;
• Canada, “War Witch,” Kim Nguyen, director;
• Chile, “No,” Pablo Larraín, director;
• China, “Caught in the Web,” Chen Kaige, director;
• Colombia, “The Snitch Cartel,” Carlos Moreno, director;
• Croatia, “Vegetarian Cannibal,” Branko Schmidt, director;
• Czech Republic, “In the Shadow,” David Ondrícek, director;
• Denmark, “A Royal Affair,” Nikolaj Arcel, director;
• Dominican Republic, “Jaque Mate,” José María Cabral, director;
• Estonia, “Mushrooming,” Toomas Hussar, director;
• Finland, “Purge,” Antti J. Jokinen, director;
• France, “The Intouchables,” Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, directors;
• Georgia, “Keep Smiling,” Rusudan Chkonia, director;
• Germany, “Barbara,” Christian Petzold, director;
• Greece, “Unfair World,” Filippos Tsitos, director;
• Greenland, “Inuk,” Mike Magidson, director;
• Hong Kong, “Life without Principle,” Johnnie To, director;
• Hungary, “Just the Wind,” Bence Fliegauf, director;
• Iceland, “The Deep,” Baltasar Kormákur, director;
• India, “Barfi!” Anurag Basu, director;
• Indonesia, “The Dancer,” Ifa Isfansyah, director;
• Israel, “Fill the Void,” Rama Burshtein, director;
• Italy, “Caesar Must Die,” Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani, directors;
• Japan, “Our Homeland,” Yang Yonghi, director;
• Kazakhstan, “Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe,” Akan Satayev, director;
• Kenya, “Nairobi Half Life,” David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga, director;
• Kyrgyzstan, “The Empty Home,” Nurbek Egen, director;
• Latvia, “Gulf Stream under the Iceberg,” Yevgeny Pashkevich, director;
• Lithuania, “Ramin,” Audrius Stonys, director;
• Macedonia, “The Third Half,” Darko Mitrevski, director;
• Malaysia, “Bunohan,” Dain Iskandar Said, director;
• Mexico, “After Lucia,” Michel Franco, director;
• Morocco, “Death for Sale,” Faouzi Bensaïdi, director;
• Netherlands, “Kauwboy,” Boudewijn Koole, director;
• Norway, “Kon-Tiki,” Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, directors;
• Palestine, “When I Saw You,” Annemarie Jacir, director;
• Peru, “The Bad Intentions,” Rosario García-Montero, director;
• Philippines, “Bwakaw,” Jun Robles Lana, director;
• Poland, “80 Million,” Waldemar Krzystek, director;
• Portugal, “Blood of My Blood,” João Canijo, director;
• Romania, “Beyond the Hills,” Cristian Mungiu, director;
• Russia, “White Tiger,” Karen Shakhnazarov, director;
• Serbia, “When Day Breaks,” Goran Paskaljevic, director;
• Singapore, “Already Famous,” Michelle Chong, director;
• Slovak Republic, “Made in Ash,” Iveta Grófová, director;
• Slovenia, “A Trip,” Nejc Gazvoda, director;
• South Africa, “Little One,” Darrell James Roodt, director;
• South Korea, “Pieta,” Kim Ki-duk, director;
• Spain, “Blancanieves,” Pablo Berger, director;
• Sweden, “The Hypnotist,” Lasse Hallström, director;
• Switzerland, “Sister,” Ursula Meier, director;
• Taiwan, “Touch of the Light,” Chang Jung-Chi, director;
• Thailand, “Headshot,” Pen-ek Ratanaruang, director;
• Turkey, “Where the Fire Burns,” Ismail Gunes, director;
• Ukraine, “The Firecrosser,” Mykhailo Illienko, director;
• Uruguay, “The Delay,” Rodrigo Plá, director;
• Venezuela, “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” Hernán Jabes, director;
• Vietnam, “The Scent of Burning Grass,” Nguyen Huu Muoi, director.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013, at The Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:08 AM | Link to this Post
October 6, 2012
Freestyle Motocross: Levi Sherwood of New Zealand wins the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in Sydney — The best FMX Athletes in the World bring an Explosion of Tricks like Never Seen Before
Photo: Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2012 Sydney. Dany Torres (Spain) in Action. 05.Oct 2012. Sydney, Australia. (© Red Bull).
Photo: Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2012 Sydney. Levi Sherwood (NZL) in Action. 06.Oct 2012. Sydney, Australia. (© Red Bull).
Photo: Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2012 Sydney. Thomas Pages (FRANCE) in Action. 06.Oct 2012. Sydney, Australia. (© Red Bull).
Levi Sherwood of New Zealand won the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour on Saturday with a thrilling victory in the final round of the 2012 season in Australia over his hard-charging rival Thomas Pages of France.
Sherwood was the dominant force during the entire seven-month 2012 season with three wins, getting clear victories in the season opener in Dubai and then in the mid-summer classic in Madrid. But he was beaten decisively in Glen Helen, California by American Todd Potter, who held the championship lead through the middle of the season. Sherwood then opened a big lead after his win in Madrid but was beaten in Munich by red-hot Pages.
Sherwood was finally able to shake off his pesky French rival Pages, getting the clutch triumph he needed in the dramatic showdown battle to win the closest finish in the 12-year history of Red Bull X-Fighters. Pages dazzled the crowd in Sydney with breathtaking moves such as the flair or the volt. The flair is a mind-boggling 540-degree mid-air turn, the volt leaves him spinning in mid-air above his bike.
The best FMX Athletes in the world brought an explosion of tricks like never seen before in a Freestyle-Motocross-Event.
Results Sydney 2012:
- Levi Sherwood (NZL)
- Thomas Pages (FRA)
- Josh Sheehan (AUS)
- Jackson Strong (AUS)
- Eigo Sato (JPN)
- Taka Higashino (JPN)
- Dany Torres (ESP)
- Cameron Sinclair (AUS)
- Blake Williams (AUS)
- Javier Villegas (CHL)
- Todd Potter (USA)
Results World Tour 2012:
- Levi Sherwood (NEW ZEALAND): 335 points
- Thomas Pages (FRANCE): 315 points
- Dany Torres (SPAIN): 215 points
- Javier Villegas (CHILE): 190 points
- Eigo Sato (JAPAN): 190 points
- Todd Potter (USA): 155 points
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:35 AM | Link to this Post
September 22, 2012
ACADEMY TO CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND
Photo: Record album cover, THUNDERBALL, 1965. Courtesy: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Photo: Record album cover, MOONRAKER, 1979. Courtesy: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Photo: Record album cover, GOLDFINGER, 1964. Courtesy: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
As part of the global 50th anniversary celebration of James Bond, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present “The Music of Bond: The First 50 Years,” at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, USA. Held 50 years to the day after the U.K. opening of the first Bond film, “Dr. No,” the evening pays homage to the memorable title songs that have become as celebrated as the films themselves.
According to the Academy announcement, “Hosted by music historian and writer Jon Burlingame, the program will feature many of the people who made the music, including composer Bill Conti (“For Your Eyes Only”), songwriter Carole Bayer Sager (“Nobody Does It Better” from “The Spy Who Loved Me”), lyricist Don Black (title songs for “Thunderball,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “The Man with the Golden Gun” and “The World Is Not Enough”) and guitarist Vic Flick, who laid down the famous guitar lick for the “James Bond Theme.” There also will be a special video message from actor Roger Moore [best known for his role as British secret agent James Bond in the official film series between 1973 and 1985].”
“Over the 22 films released to date as part of the official James Bond series, there have been several constants: suave but deadly leading men, gorgeous Bond girls, over-the-top villains and incredible music,” the academy reminded. “Those notable elements combined with the remarkable scores by composers including Conti, John Barry, Marvin Hamlisch and David Arnold has resulted in a body of work that continues to play a major role in popular film culture.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization. The Academy is known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, informally known as the “Oscars”.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:27 AM | Link to this Post
September 3, 2012
Made in Italy: Lancia is main sponsor of the 69th Venice International Film Festival
Photo: Actor Luca Argentero and Actress Myriam Catania attend the Lancia Cafe during the 69th Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2012 in Venice, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Lancia).
Photo: Actress Barbora Bobulova shows her award during the ‘Premio Kineo’ Ceremony during the 69th Venice International Film Festival at Lancia Cafe on August 30, 2012 in Venice, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Lancia).
For the seventh consecutive year, the Italian automobile manufacturer Lancia (a part of the Fiat Group) is the main sponsor of the Venice International Film Festival, scheduled from August 29 to 8 September 2012.
The new Lancia Flavia ia being used to provide an exclusive courtesy car service. The glamorous convertible embraces the stylistic features of the Lancia brand. Equipped with 175 HP 2.4 litre petrol engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Lancia Flavia boasts generous external dimensions. It can accommodate up to four adults.
During the Venice Film Festival, Lancia will present a special edition of the new Flavia created in collaboration with Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau. This special edition car is distinguished by its seats and armrests completely covered in red Pelle Frau Pieno Fiore leather.
“The new Flavia is the perfect expression of the Italian way of life and the beauty of Italian lifestyle based on taste, imagination, style and refinement,” the company said. “The front wheel drive Lancia Flavia guarantees a refined driving experience unparalleled by any other in its segment, whether tackling the daily trip in town to go to the office or when travelling those spectacular panoramic roads out of town on weekends.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:51 AM | Link to this Post
July 30, 2012
P&G SPONSORS MORE THAN 150 WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
Brand-sponsored athletes include Michael Phelps, Lin Dan, Rudy Fernandez, Roger Federer, Felipe Franca and Nevin Yanit.
Procter & Gamble, a Worldwide Olympic Partner, today introduced the lineup of more than 150 athletes the company and its brands are sponsoring at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The team of international athletes represents P&G and 34 leadership brands including Pampers®, Tide®/Ariel®, Pantene®, Head & Shoulders®, Duracell® and Gillette®. The team has been selected from 48 countries and includes approximately 70 men and more than 80 women.
These athletes will also serve as ambassadors for P&G brands. They will be featured in advertising and retail programs in more than four million stores around the world. Examples of P&G brand campaigns include:
• Gillette - “A Great Start Every Day” campaign featuring Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, British cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, Chinese Badminton player Lin Dan, Brazilian swimmer Felipe Franca, and American swimmer Ryan Lochte
• Ariel & Tide - “Proud Keeper of Your Country’s Colours” campaign featuring Turkish runner Nevin Yanit and Mexican pentathlete Oscar Soto
• Pampers - “Celebrating Babies’ Unique Spirit of Play” campaign featuring U.S. beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings and British marathoner Paula Radcliffe
• Pantene - “Keep Shining” campaign featuring Argentine tennis player Gisela Dulko, Mexican diver Paola Espinosa, and American swimmer Natalie Coughlin
• Head & Shoulders - “Wash in Confidence” featuring American swimmer Michael Phelps and French handball player Nikola Karabatic
“We are delighted to introduce P&G’s family of athletes to the world. The world-class Olympians we’re sponsoring embody the dedication, passion and commitment that inspires us as a company,” said Marc Pritchard, P&G’s Global Brand Building Officer.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:37 AM | Link to this Post
July 22, 2012
Giffoni International Children’s Film Festival 42nd Edition is taking place July 14 - 24, 2012
Photo: American television and film actress Jessica Alba attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival press conference on July 14, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Martina Colombari attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival photocall on July 17, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Italian film director, actor, and screenwriter Leonardo Pieraccioni attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival photocall on July 16, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Italian film director, actor, and screenwriter Leonardo Pieraccioni poses with the Giffoni Award on July 16, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzi attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival photocall on July 16, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Italian Actor Roberto Farnesi attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival photocall on July 17, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Academy Award-winning American actor, producer and director Nicolas Cage attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival press conference on July 18, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. ((Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Italian actor Sergio Assisi attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival photocall on July 20, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images).
Photo: Actress Anna Safroncik attends 2012 Giffoni Film Festival Red Carpet on July 17, 2012 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo © Stefania D’Alessandro/2012 WireImage).
Giffoni Film Festival is the most important international festival for kids and youth.
Hollywood star Nicolas Cage was there in typical cool rock style, wearing jeans, T-shirt and blue jacket. “I’ve literally fallen in love with the Giffoni Film Festival basic idea, which gives voice to kids and youth from all over the world,” he said at the press conference. “It is the unique philosophy in the world which makes us aware that we are all human and with the same feelings. Young people who participate in Giffoni learn to love each other before adults teach them to hate on the basis of their different cultures.”
The Giffoni International Film Festival is the largest children’s film festival in Europe, and possibly the World. It takes place in the little Italian town of Giffoni Valle Piana in Southern Italy. Over 2,000 children attend the festival. During the festival, the children and teenagers watch the films, learn about the filmmaking process, and are called to judge them and award the best ones with prizes.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:24 AM | Link to this Post
July 11, 2012
In Celebration of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Old Spice Teams up with Timothy Wang to Celebrate the "Champion" in Every Man
Photo: In Celebration of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Old Spice Teams up with Timothy Wang to Celebrate the “Champion” in Every Man. Team USA Table Tennis star epitomizes brand’s scent philosophy and gives guys the motivation and self-confidence to “Believe in Their Smellf” and win in the game of life.
“Motivation, self-confidence and the right scent are key elements to becoming a champion in the game of life, and nobody knows this more than Olympic athletes.” Old Spice refers to this winning mix of attitude and scent as “Believing in Your Smellf.” To celebrate the brand’s new Champion grooming line, Old Spice, a Procter & Gamble brand, today announced a partnership with Team USA table tennis representative Timothy Wang, who will look to secure the USA’s first-ever medal in Table Tennis at this year’s London 2012 Olympic Games.
To kick off its partnership with Wang, Old Spice will host a table tennis event in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 12, where Wang will meet and greet fans and provide table tennis pointers prior to departing for the London 2012 Olympic Games to take on the best in the world. The brand will also support its relationship with Wang through a number of Champion-themed digital engagement activations.
“As I prepare to take on the world later this month, I know how important it will be for me to compete with confidence,” said Timothy Wang. “Whether it’s at the Olympic Games or in life, understanding the importance of believing in yourself and smelling great are important tools for achieving personal success. Old Spice Champion offers guys that winning combination.”
Old Spice’s partnership with Wang celebrates the brand’s new Champion scent, which features the Olympic Rings on its packaging. The Old Spice Champion lineup includes a full range of anti-perspirant, deodorant, body wash and body spray products designed to give men the motivation and self-confidence to “Believe in their Smellf” and smell like a champion.
“For world-class athletes like Timothy Wang or ordinary guys, believing in your scent can truly be a powerful personal motivator,” said Josh Talge, brand manager for Old Spice North America. “Old Spice Champion captures the essence of manhood, confidence and a sense of achievement, and celebrates the true champion in every man. It’s designed to give guys the self-assurance that they can do anything if they put their Smellf into it.”
While table tennis (also known as ping pong) is widely popular in the U.S., it has been dominated by China and South Korea since becoming an official Olympic sport in 1988. With a ‘champion’ mentality and scent, Wang will look to bring home Olympic gold.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:57 PM | Link to this Post
July 8, 2012
Fred Spofforth, the first man to take a hat-trick of wickets in Test match cricket, inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
Photo: Relatives of fred Spoffoth receive a cap inducting him in to the ICC hall of fame during the 1st Natwest One Day International match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images. © 2012 Getty Images.)
Former Australia bowler Fred Spofforth was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in front of a large and appreciative international crowd during the innings break at the first ODI between England and Australia at Lord’s on June 29, 2012.
The commemorative cap was received by relatives, Mark and Alex, of the late Australian international, from ICC Director Giles Clarke and the England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Giles Clarke alongside ICC Director and Cricket Australia Chairman Wally Edwards and MCC President Phillip Hodson. It marks Spofforth’s induction into the Hall of Fame, a joint initiative between the ICC and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA).
Spofforth was born in 1853 and is recognised as Australia’s first fast bowler and was the first man to take a hat-trick of wickets in Test match cricket.
Born in Balmain, Sydney, Spofforth played for New South Wales and Victoria during his first class career between 1874 and 1888. In his 18 Test appearances for Australia, he took an impressive 94 wickets, claiming four 10-wicket hauls, with a career best of 14-90 against England in 1882.
In his first class career the right-armed bowler claimed 853 wickets at an average of 14.95 claiming 32 10-wicket hauls. He played his final Test in 1887.
The Spofforth family sporting tradition continues now in the UK with Gemma Spofforth, the current 100 metre backstroke world record holder in swimming, who will represent Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympics.
Training in the United States ahead of the London Olympics the swimmer said: “I’m so sorry that I can’t be there to celebrate the success of another athlete in the family, but with the Olympics so close my focus just has to remain on final preparations for the Games.”
• ICC Cricket Hall of Fame inductees:
Curtly Ambose, Sydney Barnes, Ken Barrington, Bishen Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Alan Davidson, Kapil Dev, Joel Garner, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Clarrie Grimmett, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Fred Spofforth, Brian Statham, Herbert Sutcliffe, Fred Trueman, Victor Trumper, Derek Underwood, Courtney Walsh, Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell.
Four new inductees will be announced in September ahead of the LG ICC Awards 2012.
• According to experts, however, the list does not include many important players, such as — Ranjitsinhji (the erstwhile Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, India, who invented the leg glance, scored close to 1000 runs for England and averaged marginally below 45 in 15 Tests. Ranji Trophy is named after him.), Duleepsinhji (nephew of Ranjitsinhji, who too played for England in pre-independence days and scored close to 1000 runs in only 12 Tests at a high average of 58-plus), C K Nayudu, Lala Amarnath, Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, Polly Umrigar, Subash Gupte (all from India); Fazal Mehmood (Pakistan) (in the Oval Test on Pakistan’s very first tour in 1954, he took a haul of 12 wickets for 99 runs, 6 for 53 and 6 for 46. Later, he bowled his country to a famous victory over the mightly Australians in their very first encounter in the 1956-57 series at Karachi with a fabulous haul of 13 for 114 in 75 overs); Herbert Sutcliffe, Bill Edrich, Maurice Tate, Godfrey Evans, Hedley Verity, Douglas Jardine, Ted Dexter and Bob Willis (England); Victor Trumper, Stan McCabe, Clarrie Grimmett, Bill Ponsford, Arthur Morris, Lindsay Hassett, Bob Simpson, Doug Walters, Graham McEnzie and Alan Davidson (Australia); Sonny Ramadhin, Alf Valentine, Wesley Hall (West Indies); Jackie McGlew, Dudley Nourse, Hugh Tayfield, Eddie Barlow and Mike Procter (South Africa).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:51 AM | Link to this Post
July 7, 2012
New Finger-Dancing Game Turns iPad Into an Interactive, Colorful Dance Floor for Your Hands
Photo: Jennifer Lopez takes a break to focus on her finger-dancing moves while playing Moonshark’s DancePad app on her iPad between takes on the set of her new music video.
Moonshark, a mobile entertainment start-up, co-founded by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Qualcomm, has announced a partnership with international superstar Jennifer Lopez for the release of DancePad, a mobile finger-dancing game for iPad that lets users of all ages express themselves. With 100 levels of choreographed finger-dancing set to music from top artists, DancePad offers an innovative, energetic gaming experience.
According to Moonshark, “DancePad is a brand new finger-dancing game for the iPad that challenges players to move their hands to the beat. Although the app is easy to learn, it is hard to master as users will have to skillfully jump, slide and jive around the dance floor following dance moves with their fingers. The better gamers get, the more levels they will unlock.”
“DancePad combines great music and cool dance steps to create an amazing experience, so there is no one better to partner with on this app than Jennifer Lopez,” said Matt Kozlov, CEO of Moonshark. “When we first showed the game to her, she was hooked, and now she’s got everyone from her backup singers and dancers to her own kids playing DancePad.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:02 AM | Link to this Post
June 20, 2012
VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12: LEG 8 — SHORT, FAST AND BRUTAL
Photo: Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France chasing Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK during the start of leg 6, from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: The fleet of Volvo Open 70’s power away from the start line, in the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: Team Telefonica, skippered by Iker Martinez from Spain and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing fly their spinnakers as they jostle for first place in the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: Team Sanya, skippered by Mike Sanderson from New Zealand pull their spinnaker down as the fleet bunch up round the mark, during the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: The fleet position themselves for the start of leg 7 from Miami, USA, to Lisbon, Portugal, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: The fleet split as they approach the 25 de Abril Bridge, in the Oeiras In-Port Race in Lisbon, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: Groupama Sailing Team’s Thomas Coville from France, hugs his daughter on the dock after taking first place on leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: Race leaders Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, finish first on leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, in tough seas, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, in tough seas, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: Race leaders Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, finish first on leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
Photo: Leg 8 Finish - June 15, 2012: CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, in rough weather, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
The Leg 8 race from Lisbon (Portugal) to Lorient (France) was short. From drifting in the Azores to racing into the eye of a storm where searing speeds and heartbreaking boat damage resulted, the shortest leg of the race yet didn’t come up short on drama.
Just shy of 2,000 miles, the penultimate leg first lured the teams in with a false sense of security with drifting conditions in the Azores High at the Sao Miguel Island turning mark.
The calm before the storm soon passed as the teams raced into an unavoidable gale-force low pressure system in the North Atlantic that made even the most experienced skipper an anxiety ridden insomniac.
“It’s hard as skipper sailing into a low pressure system that you know is going to be brutal from a safety standpoint,” PUMA skipper Ken Read said. “I think it was the anticipation of that storm that wears me out. Once you’re in it you can deal with it, but it’s that anticipation that’s not much fun.”
It was Telefonica who first notched a record speed, overtaking the 2011-12 race best of 553 nm set by CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand on the Leg 1 race from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. Soon enough, CAMPER were back on top with what would prove an unbeatable result of 565.84 nm.
CAMPER helmsman Rob Salthouse, competing in his third Volvo, said racing at such hair-raising speeds was exhilarating stuff, but crazy too. “I’m told you don’t have to be mad but it helps, and if anyone thought that was fun they’re mad,” he said. “It was dreadful. We were pushing man and boat to the limit for 48 hours. It was a great battle though, and that’s why we do this race. It’s why we keep coming back to this race - for the battle.”
“The last day and a half was really full on,” said Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker. “it was mentally hard knowing how hard to push. It’s so hard to back off in these boats. There’s just such a huge difference between backing off a little and going flat out.”
No one paid a higher price in the high-stakes penultimate leg than former overall race leader Team Telefonica. The Spanish team first struck trouble on June 14 when the team broke their starboard rudder in 25 knots of wind, losing 11 nautical miles on the fleet and dropping from first to fourth. The ever defiant crew surged back to the lead within hours before a second round of problems broke their replacement rudder and damaged the port rudder. As the team dropped off the pace while stabilising their damaged boat the reality sank in. “We have just seen any chance of us winning this round the world regatta slip away,” a heartbroken Martínez said just hours after the incident.
It hadn’t been smooth sailing for Groupama either. Just 48 hours from the finish, Groupama faced a potentially dangerous situation as they tried to reduce sail area in preparation for gale-force winds. The team’s mainsail got jammed at the top of the mast leaving bowman Brad Marsh to carry out some mid-sea heroics, climbing to the top of the 31-metre mast three times in winds of well over 20 knots and rough seas. After two hours of repairs, Marsh’s skills kept the French team in the race and they only lost out 20 miles to the fleet.
With Telefonica now in survival mode and no threat to the lead, Groupama had the break they needed, completing a heroic comeback that firmed their grip on the overall standings and realizing a dream homecoming to their base in Lorient. “It’s a very good feeling for sure,” Groupama skipper Franck Cammas said. “It’s a dream we had 10 months ago and now we have made it reality.”
CAMPER were second, followed by PUMA in third and Abu Dhabi fourth — all within the space of thee hours.
With just one short leg to Galway and two in-port races remaining Groupama are in a strong position to claim overall victory in their debut Volvo Ocean Race. PUMA skipper Ken Read even admitted that while his team certainly could come back and win, it would be tough. “I hope I’m wrong but I have a feeling we’ve seen the opportunity to win this race slipping away,” Read said. “That’s a big 10 points that they (Groupama) just amassed over us. Good for them, they keep sailing fast and smart and that’s a deadly combination.”
Overall Position after Leg 8
- Groupama sailing team
- PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG
- CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ
- Team Telefonica
- Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
- Team Sanya
The Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 started on October 29 in Alicante, Spain and will finish in Galway, Ireland in July. The course of the race includes stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Miami (USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). The 2011-12 race takes the teams over 39,000 nautical miles (45,000 miles or 72,000 kilometres).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:28 AM | Link to this Post
April 18, 2012
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2011 — President Obama honors NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 63rd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. The season included 36 races and two exhibition races, beginning with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The final ten races were known as 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Tony Stewart won the Drivers’ Championship with a victory at the final race of the season in a tiebreak over Carl Edwards. Chevrolet won the Manufacturers’ Championship with 248 points.
Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama (R), and NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart walk into an event on the South Lawn, April 17, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. President Obama hosted the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart to honor his championship season. (Photo © Mark Wilson/Getty Images).
Photo: Kevin Swindell, driver of the #16 RickyVsTrevor.com Ford, leads Josh Wise, driver of the #7 “We Salute You” Chevrolet, and Ryan Truex, driver of the #99 Pastrana Waltrip Racing Toyota, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series 5-hour ENERGY 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 14, 2011 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo © Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, races Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 6, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo © John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #6 Blackwell Angus Ford, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, lead the field into turn one during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway on July 30, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Carl Edwards, driver of the #60 Ford Drive one Ford, celebrates with a backflip after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series 11th Annual Nashville 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on April 23, 2011 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo © Grant Halverson/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #16 NESN Ford, races Carl Edwards, driver of the #60 Fastenal/Lenox Ford, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #33 Rheem Heating, Cooling & Water Heating Chevrolet, three wide during the NASCAR Nationwide Series New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images).
Photo: Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Bass Pro Shops/Realtree Outfitters Chevrolet, leads the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 27, 2011 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo © Tom Pennington/Getty Images).
Photo: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, gets a push from teammate David Ragan, driver of the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, during testing at Talladega Superspeedway on October 20, 2011 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Mark Martin, driver of the #32 Dollar General Chevrolet, celebrates on track after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo © Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR).
Photo: Jeff Gordon giving autographs during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series COKE ZERO 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on June 30, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo © Geoff Burke/Getty Images).
Photo: Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo © Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:22 PM | Link to this Post
March 11, 2012
Volvo Ocean Race: Groupama Claims a Dramatic Leg 4 Victory
Photo: Pro-Am Race day during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Alicante stopover. Groupama Sailing Team. (Credit: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race).
Photo: The V&A Waterfront In-Port Race in Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Marc Bow/Volvo Ocean Race).
Photo: Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France finishes third on leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain, to Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race).
Photo: Pro-Am Race day during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Alicante stopover. Team Telefonica. (Credit: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race).
Photo: Team Sanya arrive in the start city of Alicante, where they will continue training for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race).
Photo: The V&A Waterfront In-Port Race in Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Marc Bow/Volvo Ocean Race).
Groupama sailing team survived a late scare to secure a dramatic victory on Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on Saturday, crossing the finish line shortly before midnight in Auckland, New Zealand, to end Team Telefonica’s winning streak.
The French team, appearing in the race for the first time, had to isolate a leak and furiously pump out around a ton of water after suffering damage to the bow within hours of the finish line, following repeated upwind pounding in eight-meter waves.
“I’m feeling very excited. It’s a great day for Groupama 4 and it’s great to arrive here first into Auckland,” said Groupama skipper Franck Cammas. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a good time here with all the sailing fans. It’s a good place to win for sure.” Cammas, a first time Volvo Ocean Race competitor, said the race was won and lost on a bold decision made by navigator Jean-Luc Nelias. “The key thing for this leg was to be quick and to make good decisions,” he said. “We knew we had to do both of those things and we did. This is where we ended up.”
Meanwhile, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG won an epic battle for second place on Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday, clinching the runner’s up spot on a rainy morning in Auckland.
Team Telefonica followed them in just under 50 minutes later for third after holding off CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand in a fight that continued gybe-for-gybe all the way to the finish line.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing came in just under 34 minutes later for fifth, with Team Sanya the sixth boat in just over 35 minutes after that.
Thousands of fans jammed into spectator craft to welcome the boats in and thousands more packed Auckland Viaduct Harbor.
“My God, I feel good to be in Auckland,” said PUMA’s American skipper Ken Read after the team had received a traditional Maori welcome into the harbor. “From day one of this leg, ever since we sailed into the South China Sea, it’s been tough. I know that’s what we signed up for but man this was a challenging leg. This result is something we can build on.”
• During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain in October 2011 and concludes in Galway, Ireland, during early July 2012, the teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient.
• The Volvo Ocean Race is an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavor which has been built on the spirit of great seafarers - fearless men who sailed the world’s oceans aboard square rigged clipper ships more than a century ago.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:09 AM | Link to this Post
February 27, 2012
Academy Awards: “The Artist” wins the Oscar for Best Picture
“The Artist” won the Oscar for best picture on Sunday night at the 84th annual Academy Awards.
The producer, Thomas Langmann, and the director, Michel Hazanavicius, accepted the award.
The film also won awards for best director, best actor, best original score and costume design.
Photo: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences poster for the 84th Academy Awards. The art features the iconic Oscar statuette alongside memorable images from eight films spanning eight decades: “Gone with the Wind” (1939), “Casablanca” (1943), “Giant” (1956), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “The Godfather” (1972), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “Gladiator” (2000). Credit: © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: For the category Best Motion Picture of the Year, the Oscar goes to “The Artist” produced by Thomas Langmann. Thomas Langmann, Michel Hazanavicius and cast accept the award during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 84th Academy Awards from the Hollywood and Highland Center, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26, 2012. Credit: Matt Brown / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Tina Fey and Bradley Cooper present the Oscar for Achievement in Film Editing during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 84th Annual Academy Awards from the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26, 2012. Credit: Matt Brown / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Jessica Chastain, Oscar nominee for Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards from Hollywood, CA, February 26, 2012. Credit: Bryan Crowe / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Sandra Bullock presents the Oscar to Asghar Farhadi for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year from Iran, “A Separation” directed by Asghar Farhadi, during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 84th Annual Academy Awards from the Hollywood and Highland Center, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26, 2012. Credit: Michael Yada / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: George Clooney, Oscar nominee for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and Adapted Screenplay, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, Hollywood, CA, February 26, 2012. Credit: Richard Harbaugh / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Tina Fey and Bradley Cooper pose with Oscar winners for Achievement in Film Editing for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall backstage during the live ABC Televison Network broadcast of the 84th Annual Academy Awards from the Hollywood and Highland Center, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26, 2012. Credit: Rick Salyer / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Actors Meryl Streep and Jean Dujardin pose in the press room at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic. © 2012 Jeff Kravitz).
NOMINEES
Best Picture
• “The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer — Winner
• “The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
• “The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
• “Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• “Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• “Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• “The Tree of Life” Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill, Producers
• “War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Actor in a Leading Role
• Demian Bichir in “A Better Life”
• George Clooney in “The Descendants”
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” — Winner
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”
Actor in a Supporting Role
• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” — Winner
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Actress in a Leading Role
• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
• Viola Davis in “The Help”
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” — Winner
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”
Actress in a Supporting Role
• Berenice Bejo in “The Artist”
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help” — Winner
Directing
• “The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius — Winner
• “The Descendants” Alexander Payne
• “Hugo” Martin Scorsese
• “Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
• “The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick
Cinematography
• “The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
• “Hugo” Robert Richardson — Winner
• “The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
• “War Horse” Janusz Kaminski
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 were presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was also televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:05 AM | Link to this Post
