No place to smoke

Soon New York City's one million smokers may have nowhere to light up after city healt commissioner Thomas Farley declared that he wants to ban smoking at city parks and public beaches. Smoking has been illegal in offices, train stations and indoor public places since 2003, and in restaurants and bars since 1995. According to the health department, 17 pr cert of New Yorkers were smokers in 2008, down from 21 per cert in 2002.

Fat-free chocolate?

Discovered by a Swiss chocolate maker, Vulcano has only 10% of the calories of normal chocolate and melts at 55ºC (instead of the usual 30ºC). Due to be in shops in two years, it is not surprising that people in the cocoa industry call it the "wunder bar"!

Cinema 3-D

To say that 3-D movies have taken a long ime to become accepted is an undesrtatement: the first one (now lost) was produced in 1922, and for generations they have been considered as little more than a gimmick. All that changed in 2009, however, with a series of films including Up and Avatar. Whereas previous 3-D technology made objects leap forward grom the screen, the new technology creates a depth-of-field similar to the way we see the real world. And as James Cameron proved with the 3-D realization of his alien planet in Avatar, the technology can now make action scenes more visceral and the visual experience more beautiful. For the film industry, which has lost billions because of internet downloading, 3-D offers the public a good reason to see films in the cinema. One day, no doubt, this advantage will disappear as home screens become 3-D, too. but for the next few years the magic will be back where it is supposed to be - in the cinema.

MUSIC SPOTIFY

The music companies, once rich, have been brought to their knees by Mp3 piracy and a younger generation who think that music should be free. While musicians have responded by returning to live performances, the music industry, desperate to find a way of making money on the internet, is placing its hopes on Spotify. For music fans, this Swedish web service offers the best of both worlds: free music that is legal. You just take a free subscription to the service, listen to (almost) any music you want, and agree to be subjected to the occasional advert in teturn. The music companies, who are all shareholders, get a share of the profits. There is a possible blot on the horizon, however. Despite having more than 2.5 million registered users, it appears that the company is losing money. better enjoy it while it last..

Emma Watson, a model student

Emma Watson, 19, who plays swotty Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, is also brain in real life. The British actress is now studying at the prestigious Brown University on Rhode Island, one of the oldest universities in the USA. The university is expensive but gives financial aid to those who need it. Still, as the new face of Burberry, that shouldn't be a problem for Watson, who could be the best-dressed student on campus.

THE PROPOSAL

Sandra Bullock is a tyrannical book editor forced to her knees by her assistant, Ryan Reynolds.
She is ambitious, tyrannical and hated by everyone who works for her, especially her assistant, Andrew. She has one problem, however: she is Canadian, and the US Immigration Service is going to deport her. Unless, of course, she can marry an American citizen. Like Andrew, for instance. Andrew understands that Margaret is a monster, but accepts her proposition on one condition - that she promotes him to editor.
Initially, it is impossible to care about either Margaret or Andrew because their motives are entirely cynical and mercantile.

Personal Opinion:
I think that this film is a good comedy and I enjoy it a lot.


If you want, you can see the TRAILER.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO, Star with a conscience

DiCaprio has also used his celebrity status to get engaged politically and socially. In 2007 he produced and narrated The 11h Hour, an environmental documentary about the threat of global warming.
As for his future ambitions (doing more environmental work and starting a family), DiCaprio believes there are no limits as long as he doesn't get cynical. "There is a lot I want to do and the more cynical. you become, the more you sit on your butt and do nothing", he says. "What I want is to be known as someone who stood for something".

MARIAH CAREY, Diva forever.

Just one year after declaring that she had "never done a diva-ish thing" in her life, Mariah Carey and her husband were seen arriving at London's Heathrow airport with no less than 23 suitcases. The pop star then insisted that a 100,000 pounds private jet fly her to Monte Carlo for a 15-minute appearance at the World Music Awards show, and that she stay in a 10,000 pounds per night penthouse suite at the exclusive Hotel de Paris.

" I do things my way "

MARLEY & ME

Marley & Me is a film about a dog. It is, as they say, based on a true story: Marley really existed and his owner, John Grogan (played by Owen Wilson), wrote a book about him. Marley, he claimed, was "the worst dog in the world". This is difficult to believe on the basis of the evidence in Marley & Me, in which the dog is disobedient, destroys furniture and is scared of thunder... all of which seems like perfectly normal behaviour for a dog. Certainly, it is not so bizarre that it justifies making a film about the creature - especially a film that lasts two and a galf hours, which is about half an hour longer than Casablanca. Take my advice and waht Casablanca - it has the Second World War, a beautiful story, and some of the greatest dialogue ever. True, it dos not have a canine in a major role, but you will still have 30 minutes left in which to go to the park and watch some dogs.

SMITH for president

Will Smith has staked his claim to play Barack Obama if a film about the president is ever made. He says that he is perfect for the role because he and Obama are both tall and, most importantly, have big ears. "That's the key", Smith says. "America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears. "Smith also said that he would wait until Obama "writes the end of the story" before playing the role.