Eurovision '82 winner Nicole talks about 'Ein bißchen Frieden', her success and the Contest today

It has been nearly 27 years since Nicole, then a high school student from the Saarland in extreme western Germany, sang a heartfelt plea for world peace on the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. That simple message was wrapped with success; she became the first German in Contest history to take home the grand prize. The song was a brainchild of her former record producer, Ralph Siegel, and would be their greatest achievement in their nearly three-decade partnership.

Afterward, she was propelled to stardom across Europe by recording versions of her winning song, "Ein bißchen Frieden" (A little peace), in many European languages. To this day, it was the last winning Eurovision song to top the charts in the United Kingdom; it also has the distinction of being the 500th #1 single on the British charts.

This newfound fame brought her music to audiences across Europe, and in time, into Asia as well. By the end of the 1980s, however, her fame subsided somewhat and she refocused her career domestically. Since 1980, she has released over 30 albums in Germany; her most recent offering, Mitten ins Herz (Right into your heart), was accompanied by a three-month "unplugged" tour that ended in the third week of January.

Now off the road, Nicole spoke with Wikinews' Mike Halterman about her past success, her life and career today, and her overall impressions of the Eurovision Song Contest, both past and present. This is the first in a series of interviews with past Eurovision contestants, which will be published sporadically in the lead-up to mid-May's next contest in Moscow.

((Mike Halterman))  You started out performing at the age of 6. Was this an interest you really wanted to pursue at such a young age? Did you ever feel pressured by your family in any way to succeed musically, or were they very supportive?

Nicole: Actually, I started out performing at the age of 4. When I got my first applause, it was clear to me what my profession would be, and my family gave me the utmost support.

((MH))  When did you start to consider music as a full-time career?

Nicole: At the age of 16, after the great success I had with my first record, Flieg nicht so hoch, mein kleiner Freund (Don't fly so high, my little friend).

((MH))  You started your partnership with Ralph Siegel back when you were 16. How did he decide to give you a record contract? Did you have any doubts about signing it?

Nicole: He was the first one who believed in me after hearing my voice and I had no doubt that he was the right person for a [musical] partnership.

((MH))  Did any of your inspirations and goals change when you signed your record contract, or appeared in Eurovision?

Nicole: I was trying to find my own way. After I signed my record contract everything changed. Especially after winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

((MH))  Were you ever torn about eventually putting your singing over your guitar skills?

Nicole: I liked playing the guitar in "Ein bißchen Frieden". It was a good combination, wasn't it? Afterwards I put the guitar "into the corner" so I could be more mobile on stage.

((MH))  The bookmakers Ladbrokes had the United Kingdom as the favorite to win back in 1982. Going into the Contest, especially knowing that Germany hadn't won at that point, did you feel daunted?

Nicole: I expected to win. After the first rehearsal, everybody could feel the magic of the song and its message. It was my song!

((MH))  Many of the songs and performers who performed for Germany before you performed sweeping ballads, with dramatic melodies, in sometimes very showy performances. And here you come in, a young girl from the Saarland, guitar in hand, singing a modest offering, asking for peace. Do you feel the lack of complexity in the song and performance perhaps gave it a special kind of appeal?

Nicole: I was honest in everything [I said] and sang what the people were thinking at that time. Asking for peace was also in their minds.

((MH))  During the 1980s, you had a string of hits in Germany, and released singles and albums across Europe and into Asia as well. Whose idea was it to give you exposure in Asia?

Nicole: It was the idea of the record company and Ralph Siegel.

((MH))  Did you have pleasant experiences doing promotional tours over there? What thing do you remember most fondly?

Nicole: We went to the Tokyo Yamaha Festival and won second place there with "So viele Lieder sind in mir" (There are so many songs inside me). I learned to introduce myself [to people] in Japanese. That's what I remember fondly and I haven't forgotten one word to this day.

((MH))  You've continued to release albums nearly every year since the early 1980s, but a lot of your mainstream chart success ended in that decade as well. Did you feel discouraged when that started to happen?

Nicole: Not really. I've now been in this business for 29 years. I take it as an Olympic swimming competition. There's an A-final and a B-final. You don't have to be first every time, but you have to take care and swim with the others in the A-final.

((MH))  In many European circles, "schlager" is almost looked upon as if it were a dirty word, synonymous with "uncool" or "out of touch." Do you feel that common threads in schlager songs (namely love and feelings) get stigmatized and mocked, and do you think that's fair?

Nicole: That doesn't faze me much. To me, the audience is the most important thing. I did an unplugged tour a few weeks ago with all the songs from the last three decades. It was fantastic to get standing ovations (nearly 20 minutes every evening).

((MH))  Where was your favorite place to perform?

Nicole: The best place to perform was the "Schmidt's Tivoli" in Hamburg where we also recorded the "Live DVD."

((MH))  In your long career, you have released over 30 albums. Do you have any regrets as far as directions your career has taken? If you could do anything over again, would you?

Nicole: I would do the same all over again, no doubt!

((MH))  And 27 years later, you remain the only Eurovision winner from Germany.

Nicole: In 1982, it was the right song, with the right girl, at the right place. As I said before, it was a three-minute magic moment when I was on stage. An honest girl with an honest authentic song, telling a message everybody understood.

((MH))  Some of the German performers and entries in recent years had inventive themes, especially Roger Cicero's swing song and Texas Lightning's country performance. How do you feel about these "theme" entries?

Nicole: In my opinion, every artist should be authentic, no matter what kind of song.

((MH))  Do you feel the allegations of "bloc voting," favoring Eastern European countries over Western European countries (of which Germany is a part), are true? Also with the advent of telephone voting, do you feel the Contest has drifted in a direction where Eurovision is no longer "about the song"?

Nicole: Yes, it's true. The eastern European countries obviously support each other with the so-called "bloc voting." It's now a political affair and no longer a "song contest."

((MH))  Do you ever see yourself returning to the Eurovision stage as the German representative?

Nicole: No. I can't top being #1.

((MH))  Will you be a part of the German delegation going to Moscow this year? If no decision has been made yet, would you like to go?

Nicole: I haven't been asked yet, but of course I would like to be a part of the German delegation. Eurovision is still on my mind.

((MH))  In closing, what would you like to say to all of your fans who have followed your career these past three decades?

Nicole: I want to thank all my fans for their loyalty and believing in me and my music. Thanks for walking side by side with me through the years.


Interview mit Nicole, der Grandprix-Gewinnerin des Jahres 1982, über „Ein bißchen Frieden“, ihren Erfolg und ihre heutige Sicht des Wettbewerbs

03.02.2009 – Beinahe 27 Jahre sind vergangen, seit eine Abiturientin aus dem Saarland beim Eurovision Song Contest in Harrogate für Aufsehen mit einem gesungenen Appell an den Weltfrieden sorgte. Der einfache Wunsch von Nicole schlug ein: Als erste Deutsche in der Geschichte des Grand Prix konnte sie den Sieg nach Hause tragen. Komponiert wurde das Lied von Ralph Siegel. Es sollte der größte Erfolg einer fast dreißigjährigen Zusammenarbeit werden.

Fremdsprachige Aufnahmen ihres Siegertitels „Ein bißchen Frieden“ machten Nicole im Anschluss in ganz Europa bekannt. In den britischen Charts erreichte sie die Spitzenposition, eine Ehre, die bis heute keinem anderen Sieger des Gesangwettbewerbs zuteil wurde. Eine weitere Auszeichnung erhielt der Song als fünfhundertste Nummer-Eins-Single im Vereinigten Königreich. Dieser Erfolg brachte ihre Musik zu Hörern in ganz Europa und später auch in Asien.

Gegen Ende der 80er Jahre ließ ihr Ruhm jedoch langsam nach, so dass Nicole sich wieder ihrer Karriere in Deutschland zuwendete. Seitdem brachte sie über dreißig Alben in Deutschland heraus. Im Januar endete eine dreimonatige „Unplugged“-Tournee, bei der sie ihr jüngstes Album „Mitten ins Herz“ vorstellte.

Für die englischsprachige Wikinews-Ausgabe stand Nicole dem Redakteur Mike Halterman Rede und Antwort. Im Gespräch erzählt sie über ihre früheren und heutigen Erfolge, ihr Leben und ihre Ansichten zum Eurovision Song Contest im Wandel der Zeiten. Das Interview bildet den Auftakt einer Reihe von Gesprächen mit früheren Teilnehmern des Wettbewerbs. Die weiteren Interviews werden in unregelmäßigen Abständen erscheinen, bevor Mitte Mai in Moskau der nächste Contest stattfindet.


Eurovision 2008: First semi-final held in Belgrade

Last night saw the first semi final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The entries from Israel, Azerbaijan, Norway, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Finland, Romania, Russia and Greece are through to the final, leaving the representatives from Montenegro, Estonia, Moldova, San Marino, Belgium, Slovenia, Ireland, Andorra and the Netherlands failing to qualify for this weekend's final.

The aforementioned countries join host nation Serbia, automatically through as is last year's winner, and the 'big four' - the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. The other entries will compete in the second semi final tomorrow. Below is a summary of each entry in running order:

Montenegro was represented by Stefan Filipović with the Montenegrin-language song Zauvijek Volim Te (Never Forget I Love You), which was written by Grigor Koprov and Ognen Nedelkovski. He failed to qualify.

Comedy act Kreisiraadio (crazy radio) represented Estonia with Leto Svet. One member of the trio is a former politician, and a second is a current one. The song was the first Estonian entry to be in neither the Estonian or English languages. Instead, the song was mostly in Serbo-Croatian with sections in German and Finnish. They failed to qualify for the final.

Geta Burlacu performed A Century Of Love to represent Moldova. The song, written by Oleg Baraliuc and Viorica Demici, failed to qualify.

San Marino, which is entirely surrounded by Italy and has a population of 31,000, debuted at the contest this year. The nation's first representative was Miodio with Complice. Described as "a melodic song from our tradition" by Sanmarinese Eurovision delegation head Alessandro Capicchioni, failed to qualify.

Ishtar represented Belgium with O Julissi. The song, composed by band member Michel Vangheluwe, bears the unusual distincton of being sung entirely in a language which does not actually exist. Sung by frontwoman Soetkin Baptist the words "kolosali krokodili" bear a resemblance to English, while the rest are designed to resemble Ukrainian and Serbian. It was hoped this would appeal to those in the Balkans and the former Soviet Union, but the song failed to qualify.

Israel was represented by Bo'az Ma'uda performing The Fire in Your Eyes. He sang alongside five backing singers whilst wearing a silvery-blue vest. Many members of the live audience could be seen waving Israeli flags. He won a place in the final with his song, which was written by Dana International and Shai Kerem.

Elnur Huseynov and Samir Javadzadeh represented Azerbaijan with Day After Day, which was written by Govhar Hasanzadeh and lyrics by Zahra Badalbeyli. The performance featured backing performers clad in large 'angel' wings, as was one of the performers. The song has won a place in the final.

Norway was represented by Maria Haukaas Storeng singing Hold On Be Strong, which was written by Mira Craig. Almost a million Norwegian viewers tuned in to watch the singer win a place in the final. Both her and songwriter Craig expressed delight at being chosen to go through to the final.

Isis Gee represented Poland with For Life, which she wrote herself. A simple performance was all that was required to secure a place in the final.

Dustin the Turkey represented Ireland with a controversial performance that garnered some boos from the crowd. The comedy puppet sang Irelande Douze Pointe (Ireland 12 points) which despite the mock-French title is actually in English. A number of Irish news organisations were highly critical of the performance, but the bird told Irish state TV he was "disgusted" by the fact that the song failed to get into the final.

Gisela represented Andorra with Casanova, composed by Jordi Cubino. She failed to qualify.

Elvir Laković Laka sang Pokušaj to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina. The song was selected to proceed to the final.

Sirusho was able to earn Armenia a spot in the final with Qele, the lyrics for which she wrote herself while the music was written by H.A. Der-Hovagimian.

Hind Laroussi represented Holland with Your Heart Belongs To Me but failed to qualify. She later said she found this anoying "especially when you see that a country like Azerbaijan makes it".

Finland was represented by heavy metal band Teräsbetoni with the song Missä Miehet Ratsastaa, Finland having earned their only win in 2006 with a similar entrant, hard rock band Lordi. The song, which was written by the band's frontman Jarkko Ahola, was accompanied by large amounts of pyrotechnics and the band were in their self-described "leather and skin" look. Despite Eurovision fans placing them outside the top ten in an advance poll and 62% of responders in a Helsingin Sanomat poll also doubting the band would qualify, the song earned a place in the final.

Nico and Vlad Mirita were the Romanian representatives with Pe-o Margine De Lume. The song went through to the final.

Dima Bilan, who came second in the final in 2006, represented Russia again, this time with Believe. He was joined by champion figure skater Evgenii Plushenko, who has never performed at a song contest before. The song qualified for the final.

Kalomira was the Greek entrant with Secret Combination, written by Konstantinos Pantzis and Poseidon Yannopoulos. She qualified for the final.


Norge videre til finalen i MGP

Målform: Bokmål - Dato: 21. mai 2008 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Serbia: Maria Haukaas Storeng klarte, med sangen Hold On Be Strong, å komme seg videre til finalen i Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). Norge ble ropt opp som finalist helt til slutt.

Jubelen stod i taket i den norske presseleiren, da Norge var det land som stod i den siste konvolutten.

Under en pressekonferanse etter semifinalen tirsdag, trakk Maria Haukaas Storeng nummer 25, og vil derfor avslutte hele finalen, som vil arrangeres på lørdag.

- Dette er helt vanvittig! Wow!, sa Maria Haukaas Storeng til VG Nett på vei inn til pressekonferansen i Beograd.

Den samiske artisten Ann-Mari Andersen, som selv var med i den norske finalen av Melodi Grand Prix, men ikke nådde helt opp, er sikker på at Maria kommer til å vinne ESC-finalen.

– Det var spennende minutter på slutten, men samtidig hadde jeg en følelse av at hun ville gå videre og jeg synes det ville vært utrolig urettferdig om Maria ikke hadde gått videre, sier Ann-Mari Andersen til NRK Sámi Radio.

– Maria opptrer så naturlig og sangen er så enkel og det er også antrekket hennes og selvfølgelig det at hun er fra Nord-Norge.Det kommer til å bli en spennende kveld, men jeg gleder meg veldig, fortsetter Ann-Mari Andersen til NRK Sámi Radio.

Hele 925.000 nordmenn fulgte med på sendingen når Maria Haukaas Storeng og Norge gikk videre til finalen. Dette er rekordamnge seere. Da Guri Schanke røk ut av konkurransen i semifinalen i Helsinki (Finland), med Ven a bailar conmigo, fulgte bare 706.000 seere med på sendingen.

- Interessen er til og med større enn det var med Wig Wam. Maria er vårens store medieyndling, og det virker som om folk ikke får nok av henne, sier Marias manager, Mads Rogde, til Dagbladet.no.

- I vinter var det politisk uro i Serbia, noe som skaper spenning siden både Maria og Mira Craig skulle dit sammen. Dessuten er «Hold On Be Strong» fra før en hit, og hun ligger som nummer fem på VGs albumliste. Det har ført til tung promotering av henne på tv og i media, fortsetter Rogde.

De landene som gikk videre fra semifinalen var (etter i hvilken rekkefølge de ble lest opp i): Hellas, Romania, Bosnia og Hercegovina, Finland, Russland, Israel, Aserbajdsjan, Armenia, Polen og Norge, og disse er dermed klar for finalen på lørdag.


Eurovision'da birinci yarı final sonuçlandı

54. Eurovision Şarkı Yarışmasının, birinci yarı finali sonuçlandı. Birinci yarı finalin sonunda; Türkiye, İsveç, Ermenistan, İsrail, İzlanda, Romanya, Finlandiya, Portekiz, Malta ve Bosna-Hersek finale katılmayı hak etti. Perşembe günü yapılacak ikinci elemede ise 19 ülke yarışacak.

Yarışmanın finali ise cumartesi günü yapılacak. Finale, her iki yarı finalden ilk 10 ülke, geçen yılın birincisi Rusya ve doğrudan final hakkına sahip, Almanya, Fransa, İngiltere ve İspanya katılıyor. Bu sene oylamada eskiden olduğu gibi jüri de yer alacak. Jürinin oylarıyla sms halk oyları toplanarak, yarışmanın birincisi belirlenecek.


Excellent crafts from indigenous peoples showcased in Taipei, Taiwan

To promote the craft design of indigenous peoples in Taiwan, the Council of Indigenous Peoples of Executive Yuan, the show organizer, made an inception on crafts of indigenous peoples with the "2008 Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Craft Exhibition" in the Ketagalan Culture Center in Taipei, Taiwan.

As of the organizer, this exhibition was set to discover more excellent artisans from indigenous peoples and promote the excellent crafts of indigenous peoples in Taiwan to bring on the sustainability of the traditional indigenous tribes.

Not only this show until June 29, but the 2008 Taiwan Designers' Week from tomorrow (June 28), in addition to 2008 Taipei In Style from July 10, will bring on the other opportunities for cultural, creative, and the fashion-related industries.


原住民工藝精品 台灣首辦主題展覽暨競賽

為了推展台灣的原住民工藝，行政院原住民族委員會，在今（26）日公布了獲選的21位原住民族工藝師，並從所有參選的308件精品中，選出40件進行產品認證，於台北市的凱達格蘭文化館進行展示，而這也是台灣第一個針對原住民工藝精品所設立的展覽。

這項特展，主辦單位希望能藉由這項展示，發掘更多原住民族工藝師，將原住民的工藝精品與文化，推展到各界，並帶動傳統原住民部落的永續經營。在展覽中，不乏有深具傳統文化、時尚風格的木雕、織紋、竹編、陶瓷藝品等。

台北市原住民族委員會的主任委員楊馨怡，在頒獎典禮中表示：「原住民的手工藝，不只傳統元素，現在也整合了時尚與創新，也讓單純的原住民文化，更加多元。」而台灣創意設計中心的張光民執行長，也在參觀主題展時表示：「具備創新元素的精品，都是未來的商機所在。」

這項主題展將在29日結束。而在28日登場的台灣設計師週與下月10日登場的台北國際魅力展，預料將為文化、創意等相關產業，帶來新的契機。


Expo 2005 opens in Aichi, Japan

The 2005 World Exposition opened today in Aichi, Japan. The fair, which runs until 25 September 2005, is expected to draw over 15 million visitors from across the globe. 121 countries will take part in what is expected to be a 135 billion yen event.

The first Expo - the Great Exhibition -  was held in 1851 in London. The event had always been held in either Europe or North America, until in 1970, it was held in Osaka, Japan.

One of the major attractions at this year's Expo is the skull of an 18,000-year-old woolly mammoth.


Aichi, Japonia: Expo 2005 otwarte

Expo 2005 – Wystawa Światowa – została otwarta dzisiaj w Aichi w Japonii. Przewiduje się, że ekspozycja, która potrwa do 25 września 2005 roku, przyciągnie ponad 15 milionów gości z całego świata. Weźmie w niej udział 121 krajów, a łączny koszt przekroczy 135 miliardów jenów.

Pierwsze Expo – Wielka  Wystawa – odbyło się w Londynie, w 1851 roku. Do roku 1970 odbywało się ono zawsze w Europie lub Ameryce Północnej.

Jedną z największych atrakcji tegorocznej wystawy światowej jest prezentacja liczącej 18 tysięcy lat czaszki dinozaura.

Przy okazji wyborów kolejnych miejsc, w których odbędzie się Expo (następne planowane jest na 2010 rok w Szanghaju w Chinach), pojawiają się budzące kontrowersje pomysły organizowania Wystawy Światowej w Polsce.


Fan Expo Canada 2019 offers celebrities, cosplay, panels

In late August, the Canadian city of Toronto celebrated the quarter century anniversary of Fan Expo Canada, a massive annual pop culture convention. Running from August 22 to 25, the event featured extensive retail areas, panels, celebrity appearances, an artist alley, and attendees in cosplay. Wikinews attended.

At the panel "Breaking Into Comics," speakers shared their insights into getting started as a comic artist or writer. Comic artist Jenn St-Onge (Nancy Drew, Jem and the Misfits) told of being forced to re-evaluate her life, after growing up with ample positive reinforcement about being an artist. "In my first stint, I didn't get any work. [...] to come back and get that kind of second chance, eight years ago, it feels really good to have people coming to you and being 'I want you to work,' and basically working seven days a week for the last eight years."

"You have to work those seven days to earn a weekend," quipped Valiant Entertainment editor Heather Antos, later in the panel. While all agreed that time off was rare as a freelancer, artist Leisha Riddell emphasized the need for boundaries, saying "this weekend, I'm becoming part of the couch and playing video games until my eyes go blurry."

Actress Denise Crosby is set to appear in the final season of Suits, a Toronto-shot legal series. The actress recalled her season with Star Trek: The Next Generation, when they were the "scrappy little red headed stepchild of the [Paramount] lot."

Underwhelmed with her role, she left the series toward the end of its first season. "This is not what I wanted to become an actor for. I didn't want to stand on the bridge and just go 'aye aye captain,' you know, and not even move. I actually asked them to make up some fake legs" to place at the character Tasha Yar's bridge station, which was on a risen platform. "You could just stick my legs, just fake legs, and I had no lines[....] You gotta know that Tasha's on her command post, but just put the legs there, just keep the camera low."

Actor Brendan Fraser's appearance at the convention was directly from filming The Professionals in South Africa. He quipped "I still have dust in my shoes."

The cast of the sitcom Kim's Convenience had a panel in a room for 700 people. The popular series is based on a 2011 stage play about a Korean-Canadian family that operates a convenience store. Simu Liu, one of the series leads, is to play the titular character in Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021).

Lead Paul Sun-Hyung Lee talked about how the series has been underestimated "up 'til now." During the premiere, "I felt like Cinderella at the ball [...] I'm a jobber, I've been working as an actor for like, close to 25 years, lots of small roles. Expositionary characters, never asked to carry anything, to be a lead, to actually have a background story. And so to finally be able to do an entire season of television as one of the lead actors was tremendous".

Hasbro hosted a panel about their Star Wars products, which promoted their new action figures and helmets. The company's upcoming replica helmet is of Luke Skywalker's X-wing helmet, their "number one requested hero helmet [...] This by far is the most labor-intensive helmet to date." While previous helmets have included movie sound, this product includes lights to simulate the enemy ships going past your head.

Asked about sustainability, the company noted that recently they had switched to a bio-based PET for their packaging, "which was more plant-based plastic for greater environmental concerns. [...] This week, Hasbro announced that we're [...] looking to switch away from plastic altogether, in terms of our packaging [...] we're very much aware that a lot of times times plastic is [...] ripped off and discarded, so we're constantly trying to improve on that as a company to improve our environmental footprint."

The event played host to the Rocket League WGN North American Championship, with the winning team receiving C$10,000 and a trip to a professional circuit event.


Racconto fotografico: Convention di cultura pop di Toronto Fan Expo Canada

Questo fine settimana, Toronto ha celebrato l'anniversario del quarto di secolo di Fan Expo Canada, una massiccia convention annuale di cultura pop. Dal 22 al 25 agosto, l'evento prevede vaste aree commerciali, pannelli, apparizioni di celebrità, un vicolo di artisti e ovviamente partecipanti a cosplay.

In un panel sull'arte comica, la vignettista Jenn St-Onge ha parlato di non riuscire a trovare lavoro nel suo primo tentativo. Al contrario, da quando è entrata nel settore otto anni fa, è stata "al lavoro" sette giorni alla settimana.

L'attore Denise Crosby di Star Trek: The Next Generation ha detto al pubblico perché ha lasciato la serie dopo una stagione. Sentiva di avere un ruolo limitato nelle trame, con il suo ruolo ridotto a dire "aye aye capitano". Stanca di stare sul set per giorni con solo le gambe visibili, ha chiesto ai produttori di creare un paio di gambe finte per sostituirla. Dicendo "questo non è il motivo per cui volevo diventare un attore", ha lasciato la serie.

La società di giocattoli Hasbro ha parlato dei piani per sostituire gli imballaggi in plastica con plastica a base vegetale. "Siamo consapevoli del fatto che la maggior parte degli imballaggi viene scartata".

Le citazioni dell'Hasbro e dei panel di fumetti sono state raccolte da Nick Moreau, un "reporter accreditato" di Wikinotizie inglesi.


Nieuwe editie van de Fan Expo in Toronto

In Toronto in Canada is opnieuw de Fan Expo georganiseerd, een evenement waar veel mensen in verschillende outfits van hun idolen naartoe zijn gekomen. Een vrijwilliger van Wikinieuws uit Canada was erbij en maakte een originele fotoreportage.


Фоторепортаж: конвент поп-культуры Fan Expo Canada 2019

В эти выходные в Торонто отпраздновали четвертую годовщину Fan Expo Canada, масштабного ежегодного съезда поп-культуры.

Мероприятие, проходящее с 22 по 25 августа, включало в себя обширные зоны розничной торговли, панели, выступления знаменитостей, аллею художников и, конечно, косплееров.

26 августа 2019 года


多伦多加拿大Fan Expo活动的摄影作品

本周末，多伦多庆祝加拿大风扇博览会（Fan Expo Canada）四分之一世纪，这是一年一度的流行文化大会。 活动时间为8月22日至25日，活动包括广泛的零售区，小组，名人出场，艺术家胡同，当然还有cosplay的参与者。


Farrah Fawcett's funeral arrangements announced

The arrangements for the funeral of American actress Farrah Fawcett were announced today, after she died last Thursday after a battle with cancer.

The funeral is to be a private one, open only by invitation, held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles at 23:00 UTC (16:00 PDT) on June 30, 2009.

Fawcett's son, Redmond O'Neal, who is currently in jail on a narcotics charge, has been permitted to attend the funeral under a compassionate licence granted by commissioner Jane Godfrey.  He will not be wearing his jail uniform, but will be required to be in handcuffs.

Fawcett played Jill Munroe in the 1970s television series Charlie's Angels, which made her internationally famous. During her career, she was nominated for several Golden Globes and Emmys.


Fallece la actriz Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett, estrella de la serie "Los Ángeles de Charlie" que fuera un símbolo sexual en los años 70, falleció hoy a los 62 años víctima de un cáncer. La actriz murió a eso de las 9:30 en un hospital en la ciudad de Santa Mónica, California, donde ingresó hace unos días. Ryan O'Neal, su pareja, estaba al lado de Fawcett, al igual que una amiga de ella, Alana Stewart, de acuerdo a Paul Bloch, publicista de la actriz.

"Después de una larga y valiente batalla con el cáncer, nuestra querida Farrah ha fallecido" dijo O’Neal. "Aunque este es una ocasión extremadamente difícil para su familia y amigos, nos consuelan los hermosos momentos que compartimos con Farrah a través de los años y el saber que su vida le llevó alegría a tanta gente en todo el mundo".

Fawcett llegó a las pantallas de televisión en 1976 como una de las heroínas del programa de televisión "Los Ángeles de Charlie". Después, actuó en algunas películas en las décadas de los 80 y los 90 y también participó en una obra de teatro.

A Fawcett se le diagnosticó un cáncer anal en el 2006. Ella buscó una cura en centros médicos de este país y de Alemania. Su lucha fue capturada en un documental llamado "Farrah’s story", el cual fue recientemente emitido por la cadena de televisión NBC.
Su decisión de contar su historia en el documental fue para inspirar a otros, dijeron amigos de la actriz.

La estrella nació el 2 de febrero de 1947 en Corpus Christi, Texas, bajo el nombre de Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett. Fue estudiante de la Universidad de Texas en Austin.

Ella contrajo matrimonio con el actor Lee Majors en 1973, y en el 1982 la pareja se divorció. La actriz tuvo un hijo, Redmond, quien actualmente tiene 24 años de edad, con Ryan O’Neal.


Nécrologie : Farrah Fawcett décède d'un cancer

L'actrice américaine Farrah Fawcett est décédée hier, à 62 ans, des suites d'un cancer. D'abord mannequin à Los Angeles, elle commence sa carrière par quelques apparitions dans des séries télévisées comme Partridge Family. Sa notoriété a vu le jour avec la série « Drôles de dames » dans laquelle elle joue la première saison.

Mariée à l'acteur Lee Majors en 1973, elle divorcera neuf années plus tard. Elle entretient par la suite des relations avec Ryan O'Neil avec qui elle a un fils, Redmond, en 1985. La maladie la frappe à l'âge de 60 ans lorsqu'un cancer des intestins a été diagnostiqué. Ce n'est que deux ans plus tard que l'affection devait l'emporter.


Farrah Fawcett (62) overleden

LOS ANGELES – In een ziekenhuis in Santa Monica is op 62-jarige leeftijd de Amerikaanse actrice Farrah Fawcett overleden. Ze leed al een aantal jaren aan dikkedarmkanker. Ze overleed in het bijzijn van Ryan O'Neal met wie ze sinds 1982 een vaste relatie had. Daarvoor, van 1973 tot 1979, was Fawcett gehuwd met Lee Majors, de Man van zes Miljoen.

Fawcett was vooral bekend van de televisieserie Charlie's Angels uit de jaren zeventig, waarin ze de rol speelde van 'de blonde' Jill Munroe. Later speelde ze ook serieuzere tv- en filmrollen en maakte ze naam als model.


2009-06-25: Zmarła Farrah Fawcett

Zmarła w wieku 62 lat amerykańska aktorka Farrah Fawcett. Zgon nastąpił w wyniku raka jelit. Znana z serialu "Aniołki Charliego".

Trzy dni temu została pilnie przewieziona do szpitala w Kalifornii, jednak lekarzom nie dało się jej uratować.

Jak powiedział jej wieloletni partner, aktor Ryan O'Neal: "jej życie przyniosło mnóstwo radości ludziom na całym świecie."


Morre a atriz Farrah Fawcett

Morreu nesta quinta-feira (25), vítima de câncer, a atriz estadounidense Farrah Fawcett, famosa pelo papel no filme As Panteras, de 1976. Há três anos ela lutava contra a doença.

Farrah, um dos maiores símbolos sexuais da década de 1970, teve diagnosticado um câncer anal no final de 2006. Ela morreu em um hospital de Los Angeles.


Felipe Massa wins 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the FIA Formula One 2008 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. Massa was also the previous year winner. His Ferrari teammate, driver Kimi Räikkönen, ran second after a good start from fourth place on the grid.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton failed his start. During the race Hamilton unsuccessfully attacked his former teammate Fernando Alonso (now again a Renault driver), resulting in him losing his front wing, and dropping to last place. He eventually finished a lowly 13th place.

Pole Robert Kubica became the highlight of the weekend by winning the pole, but was slow off the start and finished third on the podium. Nick Heidfeld, his BMW Sauber teammate finished fourth. The results puts BMW as the new leader of the Constructors' championship, one point ahead of Scuderia Ferrari.

Heikki Kovalainen came fifth and became the only McLaren driver to finish in the points. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) and Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) ran 6 and 7 places respectively with Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) closing out the top eight with 1 point.

Timo Glock (Toyota) was engaged in a hard battle with Fernando Alonso (Renault) and came 9th ahead of the Spanish 2005 F1 Champion.

Results of Bahrain Grand Prix after 57 laps of Sakhir circuit on 6 April, 2008:

1 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari one hour 31 minutes 6.970 seconds
2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari +3.339 secs
3 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber +4.998
4 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber +8.409
5 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes +26.789
6 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +41.314
7 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault +45.473
8 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota +55.889
9 Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota +1:09.500
10 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +1:17.181
11 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda +1:17.862
12 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari one lap behind
13 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes one lap
14 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota one lap
15 Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari one lap
16 Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda one lap
17 Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda one lap
18 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault one lap
19 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari two laps
R Nelson Piquet Jr (Brz) Renault 40 laps completed
R Jenson Button (GB) Honda 19 laps
R Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 0 laps

Fastest lap: Kovalainen, 1:33.193, lap 49.

Key: R = retired

In related news, Max Mosley has requested an Extraordinary General Assembly of the FIA Senate, in relation to the News of the World story regarding supposed "Nazi orgy" allegations.

Also, last week Jean-Marie Balestre, the previous FIA president, passed away at the age of 86.


Felipe Massa vence o GP do Bahrein 2008

O brasileiro Felipe Massa, da Ferrari, conquistou a vitória do Grande Prêmio do Bahrein, terceira etapa da temporada 2008, vencendo seu companheiro de equipe, o finlandês Kimi Raikkonen, que chegou em segundo e a Robert Kubica, correndo pela BMW Sauber, terceiro colocado.

O até então líder do campeonato, Lewis Hamilton, da McLaren, teve problemas, bateu em Nelson Angelo Piquet (que abandonou a prova) e chegou na 13ª posição, uma volta atrás dos líderes. Agora, o novo líder do campeonato é Raikkonen.

Rubens Barrichello, da Honda, fez uma corrida sem erros, mas só chegou em 11º. Ele ainda brigou nas últimas voltas contra o espanhol Fernando Alonso, da Renault, mas não conseguiu a ultrapassagem. O brasileiro não conseguiu uma melhor posição, porque o carro não possui ainda as melhorias aerodinâmicas desenvolvidas pela Honda. O novo carro terá sua estréia no GP da Espanha no dia 27 de abril. Para o próximo GP, Barrichello espera um melhor resultado.

"Foi um dia sensacional", comemorou Massa. "A corrida foi de concentração, de cabeça, sem errar nada, pois as últimas duas foram um desastre. Eu tinha que levar o carro para casa sem exagerar. Tinha um carro sensacional nas mãos, que respondia quando precisava. Um ótimo dia pra esquecer a última corrida. Vamos continuar com essa mentalidade pra tentar vencer o máximo de corridas possível e conquistar muitos pontos".

A grande surpresa na temporada, até o momento, está no Mundial de Construtores, liderado pela equipe BMW Sauber.


Felipe Massa wins 2008 French Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the FIA Formula One 2008 Grand Prix de France at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France.

Though his teammate Kimi Räikkönen started from pole, Massa was able to get closer and overtake after a problem with exhaust lines onboard Räikkönen's car started.

Jarno Trulli did his best to withstand Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren Mercedes, pushing hard on him. Trulli made the first podium finish for Toyota team. This achievement was dedicated to the memory of Ove Andersson, team founder, who died in a rally crash recently.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica, the previous GP winner, finished only 5th this time.

4 Renault-engined cars occupied the placeholders from 6 to 9th of the final protocol. Mark Webber gained 3 points for Red Bull. Fernando Alonso dropped to 8th place from the 3rd upon the start. His teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. passed Alonso on the closing laps of the race after a slight driving error by the Spaniard.

Lewis Hamilton qualified third but was penalized 10 places down the grid after his collision in the previous race. Soon after the start he made an error attacking Sebastian Vettel cutting the Nurburgring chicane and was penalized again by a drive-through penalty. He finished 10th.


Massa vence na França e lidera mundial de pilotos da F1 de 2008

O piloto brasileiro Felipe Massa, da Ferrari, venceu o Grande Prêmio da França de 2008 disputado neste domingo em Magny-Cours. Seu companheiro de equipe, Kimi Räikkönen, chegou em segundo lugar e Jarno Trulli, da Toyota, completou o pódio. Com a vitória, o brasileiro assume a ponta do campeonato de pilotos.

Esta é apenas a segunda vez que um brasileiro triunfa no país europeu. A primeira foi com Nelson Piquet, em 1985, ainda no circuito de Paul Ricard. Nelson Angelo Piquet, da Renault, marcou seus primeiros pontos, ao chegar em sétimo, à frente de seu companheiro de equipe, Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello, da Honda, não marcou pontos.

O líder dos pilotos antes da prova, Robert Kubica, da BMW Sauber, chegou em quinto, e agora é o segundo colocado no mundial de pilotos. Entre as construtoras, a Ferrari consolidou a liderança do campeonato.


2008年法國大獎賽：法拉利包辦冠亞軍

法拉利車手费利佩·马萨贏得国际汽车联合会一級方程式2008年法國站冠軍。比賽在法國Magny-CoursNevers賽道舉行。

雖然他的隊友奇米·雷克南排頭位出賽，·马萨乘雷克南因引擎過熱而貼近他，然後超越後，最後法拉利車隊獨佔冠亞軍。

雅诺·特鲁利盡力阻止迈凯轮車隊的海基·科瓦莱宁超前。為特鲁利效力豐田車隊以來第一次站上頒獎台。此成就為悼念近來逝世的車隊創立人Ove Andersson。

上站冠軍寶馬索伯車隊的罗伯特·库比查，今次只得第五。

四輛使用雷諾獨佔第六至第九位。馬克·韋伯為紅牛取得3分。费尔南多·阿隆索雖在第三名起步，但起步後墮到第八名。隊友小尼尔森·皮奎乘阿隆索犯下錯誤而超前他。

刘易斯·汉密尔顿由第三名起步，不過因上次比賽在維修站相撞被退後十名起步。當他嘗試超前塞巴斯蒂安·维特尔時犯下失誤，而且比賽被罰駛過維修站，最後僅得第十。


Felipe Massa wins 2008 Turkish Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa for the third consecutive year won from pole the FIA Formula One 2008 Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Racing Circuit, Istanbul, Turkey. Massa was also 2007 and 2006 year winner.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton came second after overtook his teammate Heikki Kovalainen on start. Kovalainen later suffered a rear tire puncture from Kimi Räikkönen and dropped to the back while on a pit-stop.

Massa's Ferrari teammate, driver Kimi Räikkönen, ran third. This leaves Räikkönen lead in the championship with 35 points, ahead of Massa, Hamilton and Kubica. Ferrari heads over both BMW Sauber and McLaren.

In other related news this week, Super Aguri-Honda withdrew from the Formula-1 after participatng in four races this season. The team principal Aguri Suzuki claimed in the press release it all started when SS United Group defaulted it's payment previous years and the absence of support from Honda. The team was put into external administration. Thus the race featured only 10 teams and 20 cars for the first time since the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix.

Also in the news, Honda’s Rubens Barrichello, who finished 14th in this race, is now the most experienced Formula One driver of all time surpassing the record of 256 Grands Prix held by Riccardo Patrese since 1993. For this occasion, his car and the helmet design included the "257" marking for this race.


Formule 1 : troisième victoire consécutive de Felipe Massa au GP de Turquie

Publié le 11 mai 2008   Le pilote brésilien de l'écurie Ferrari Felipe Massa remporte pour la troisième fois consécutivement le Grand Prix de Turquie. Il devance sur le podium le pilote de McLaren Lewis Hamilton et son équipier Kimi Räikkönen. Ce dernier conserve la tête du classement général devant Massa et Hamilton. Au classement des constructeurs, Ferrari garde la tête devant BMW Sauber et McLaren Mercedes. Le Français Sébastien Bourdais a quant à lui de nouveau abandonné.


Automobilismo, campionato mondiale Formula 1 2008: Massa vince in Turchia

È Felipe Massa il vincitore della quinta tappa del mondiale di Formula 1. Il brasiliano scatta bene dalla pole position, tallonato da Lewis Hamilton, seguito a sua volta da Robert Kubica e Heikki Kovalainen. Alla prima curva un incidente coinvolge Giancarlo Fisichella e Kazuki Nakajima e a causa di ciò entra in pista la safety car. Poco dopo Kovalainen rientra ai box e cambia gli pneumatici, forse per foratura. Rientra in pista ultimo. Dopo l'uscita della safety car Kimi Raikkönen supera in scia Fernando Alonso. Massa prova ad andare via, ma Hamilton riesce a stare al suo passo.

Al 15º giro Alonso apre la serie di rifornimenti. Dopo la prima sosta, Massa riesce a mantenere la testa. Hamilton ha comunque fatto un minor rifornimento e al 24º giro riesce a passare in testa. Con questa tattica, Hamilton riesce a guadagnare terreno, fino alla sua seconda sosta, dopo la quale si ritrova terzo dietro ai due ferraristi.

Al 26º giro si ritira Sébastien Bourdais su Toro Rosso, finendo nella terra, probabilmente a causa di un problema tecnico.

Poi, dopo aver eseguito una rapida terza sosta, Hamilton è secondo, un po' staccato da Massa e con un non rassicurante vantaggio su Raikkönen. L'inglese riesce comunque a giungere secondo tra le due Ferrari. Gli altri piloti a punti sono nell'ordine: Kubica, Nick Heidfeld, Alonso, Mark Webber e Nico Rosberg. Jarno Trulli chiude decimo dietro a David Coulthard.


Massa vence o Grande Prêmio da Turquia de 2008

Felipe Massa, da Ferrari, venceu de ponta a ponta o Grande Prêmio da Turquia de 2008, neste domingo, conquistando sua terceira vitória consecutiva no circuito turco. O brasileiro se tornou o primeiro piloto a vencer três provas seguidas de um mesmo GP, depois de Michael Schumacher (que venceu três vezes o GP dos Estados Unidos).

Nesta mesma prova, Rubens Barrichello tornou-se o piloto a disputar mais provas na categoria (257), suplantando Riccardo Patrese.

O atual campeão do mundo da Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen, viu sua vantagem na liderança do mundial diminuir de nove para sete pontos após chegar em terceiro. O finlandês, o único piloto que marcou pontos em todas as corridas desta temporada, agora tem 35 pontos, Massa e Lewis Hamilton têm 28 cada um.


Fictional documentary about Flemish independence causes consternation in Belgium

The Belgian French-speaking public television channel RTBF interrupted its programming last night for a special news bulletin  reporting that the Flemish Parliament had suddenly created an independent Flemish state separate from Belgium. However, during the broadcast it became clear that the report was actually a documentary meant to stir up the debate on the position of the states and regions in the federal country Belgium. Walloon Minister of Media Fadila Laanan said that the message "this is fiction" appeared only at her request, after she had received several "panic" calls and text messages.

During the report, King Albert II of Belgium was alleged to have left the country to show his disagreement with the unilateral Flemish decision. Several politicians (Jean-Marie Dedecker, Jean-Marie Happart, Herman De Croo etc.) contributed in the making of the program, giving their reaction to the news and explaining some of their views on Flemish independence. There were images of thousands celebrating in Antwerp and flag-waving independence supporters in front of the Royal Palace in Laken, but also trams stuck at the "new border", and traffic jams in the direction of Brussels Airport. After a while more comedy entered the report; two Flemish policemen where shown to be called into action to patrol the border, and Guy Vanhengel (VLD) was interviewed inside the Atomium, the monument symbolic of Belgium, where he spoke of a "monumental" mistake. The report was followed by a debate on the subject of the Flemish independence movement.

The head of news at RTBF reacted: "We obviously scared many people - maybe more than we expected," and this was indeed the case. A spokesman of Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt stated late last night that the newspaper Le Monde had already called them, and that CNBC already thought it was not fictional. Several embassies reported the news to their countries, and a Belgian representative in the European Parliament reported "consternation". A survey by the RTBF shows that 89% of spectators admit being fooled by the report, with even 6% continuing to believe it after the fiction notice appeared.

Leaders on both sides of the country spelled out their appall: Elio Di Rupo said it is "...unacceptable to play with the institutions and the stability of the country.", while Yves Leterme, Minister-President of the Flemish government, regretted that some of the Flemish demands were caricatured. Pro-independence politicians such as Filip Dewinter and Bart De Wever didn't hide their approval of the fake news report. Several politicians have criticized the method used by the RTBF, and expect that this will reflect badly on the credibility and reputation of the channel. The usual RTBF news studio and anchorman were used to make the fictional report.

The incident is headline news in Belgium. The report comes at a time of a growing discussion on the topic of granting Flanders more independence from Belgium, one year before the elections in Belgium. Only last week, the pro-Flemish political parties CD&V and NVA announced that they would demand a major constitutional change during the next federal negotiations.


Scherz des belgischen Fernsehsenders RTBF über Unabhängigkeitserklärung Flanderns rüttelt Belgien auf

Brüssel (Belgien), 15.12.2006 – Der französischsprachige Fernsehsender RTBF aus Belgien hat am Mittwochabend eine fiktionale Dokumentation ausgestrahlt. Er inszenierte eine Spaltung Flanderns und Walloniens, die durch gefälschte Bilder unterstützt wurde. Es war zu sehen, wie Menschenmassen flämische Fahnen schwenkten, es wurden Bilder gezeigt, auf denen Belgier versuchten, an überfüllten Grenzen das Land zu verlassen.

Der riesige Scherz, der seit einem Jahr vorbereitet wurde, sollte in einem stark bipolarisierten Land zu einer Reflektion über die Beziehungen zwischen Wallonen und Flamen führen. Der Aufstieg der nationalistischen flämischen Partei „Vlaams Belang“, die die Unabhängigkeit Flanderns fordert, ist das Zeichen von Verachtung, die viele Flamen gegenüber ihren wallonischen, weniger reichen Landsleuten empfinden. „Wir möchten eine öffentlichere Debatte“, erklärte auch der Direktor des Informationskanals.

Die politischen Reaktionen ließen nicht lange auf sich warten. Der Premierminister Walloniens, Elio di Rupo,
hat die Ausstrahlung als inakzeptabel bezeichnet, während ein Sprecher der Separistenpartei Vlaams Belang bedauerte, dass ein wichtiges Thema in der Form lächerlich gemacht worden sei.


Un canular de la RTBF sur une déclaration d'indépendance de la Flandre secoue la Belgique

La télévision belge francophone RTBF a lancé mercredi soir un docu-fiction mettant en scène une scission de la Flandre de la Wallonie, s'appuyant sur des images truquées de masses brandissant des drapeaux flamands et de « frontières » saturées, faisant croire pendant plusieurs dizaines de minutes qu'il s'agissait de la réalité.

Le canular gigantesque (inspiré de la « Guerre des Mondes »), qui était en préparation depuis deux ans, devait lancer une réflexion sur les relations entre Wallons et Flamands, dans un pays fortement polarisé. La montée du Vlaams Belang parti nationaliste flamand qui demande l'indépendance de la Flandre est le symbole du mépris que beaucoup de Flamands ressentent pour leurs compatriotes Wallons, moins riches. « Nous voulons un débat plus public » déclarait ainsi le directeur d'information de la chaîne.

Les réactions politiques ne se sont pas faites attendre. Le ministre-président de la Région wallonne, Elio di Rupo a qualifié l'émission d'inacceptable, alors qu'un porte-parole du parti séparatiste Vlaams Belang regrettait qu'on ridiculise un sujet aussi important.


Fifth Expo Gastronomía finishes in Caracas

Caracas, Venezuela — The fifth edition of the Expo Gastronomía food event finished its run yesterday in Caracas at the Plaza Francia in Altamira. It was the first time the event was held at this particular location. Starting on Thursday, it was the first edition of the event to be held in 2013, and was organized by Carlos Garcia and Yolanda Martin.

In its fifth version, the exhibition organizers estimated to receive between 10,000 and 13,000 people to the event, which had nine pavilions representing eight countries around the world. The exhibitors were divided into four categories: typical food of the country they represent, handicrafts, gastronomy (comprised of cooking books and products, and metalwork ((es))es:Orfebrería: orfebrería), and hotel businesses and tourism.

The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola, La Granja, Oroweat, G2000 Events, CGYM Group, and the Chacao Mayor's Office. In addition, the food company Cosecha San José participated as one of the exhibitors. According to organizers, the sixth edition of the event is planned for later this year.

The festival first took place on April 2011, with a attendance of around 3,000 people. On that occasion, eight countries participated in the event.


Se celebra en Caracas la quinta edición de la Expo Gastronomía

11 de mayo de 2013Caracas, Venezuela —

Desde el 9 y hasta el 11 de mayo del 2013 se celebró la quinta edición de la Expo Gastronomía. El evento, organizado por Carlos García y Yolanda Martins, se llevó a cabo en la Plaza Francia de Altamira, en la ciudad de Caracas. Las primera edición del evento tuvo lugar en abril del 2011, con una participación de alrededor de 3 000 personas. En dicha ocasión, 8 países participaron en el evento.

En su quinta edición, los organizadores de la exposición estimaron recibir entre 10 000 y 13 000 personas al evento, el cual cuenta con 9 expositores representando a 8 países. Los expositores están divididos en cuatro categorías: Comida típica del país que representan, artesanía, gastronomía (comprendida por libros y productos de cocina, así como orfebrería) y hotelería y turismo.

El evento fue patrocinado por Coca Cola, La Granja, Oroweat, G2000 Eventos, el Grupo Cgym y la Alcadía de Chacao. Además, la compañía productora de alimentos Cosecha San José participa como uno de los expositores. Según los organizadores, una sexta edición del evento se planea para finales del 2013.


Fighter jet crashes during Children's Day airshow in Thailand

A fighter jet crashed, killing the pilot, at Hat Yai International Airport, Songkhla, Thailand this morning during an annual Children's Day airshow.

The JAS 39C Gripen crashed onto a runway at around 9:30 am local time (0230 UTC) and exploded, closing the airport to commercial flights. The pilot was identified as Squadron Leader Dilokrit Pattavee. Local media reports an airport fire vehicle rolled over while responding.

Children screamed in video footage of the crash. The Royal Thai Air Force asked that images of the accident not be shared, but this has not deterred the press. Air Force spokesperson Pongsak Semachai said an investigatory commission would be formed. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha offered his sympathies to Pattavee's relatives.

Thailand began purchasing the Swedish-built Gripen jets in 2008 and has twelve. None of its neighbours have similar aircraft, which cost the nation around 2.5 billion baht (US$70 million) each.


Avió de combat es va estavellar durant un xou aeri del Dia del Nen a Tailàndia

Un avió de combat es va estavellar a l'aeroport internacional de Hat Yai, Songkhla, Tailàndia aquest matí durant un espectacle anual del Dia del Nen.

Es tractava d'un JAS 39C Gripen que es va estavellar en una pista prop de les 9:30am hora local (02:30 UTC) i va explotar, fent que l'aeroport tanqués i suspengués els seus vols comercials. El pilot va ser identificat com Dilokrit Pattavee.

La Real Força Aèria de Tailàndia va demanar que les imatges de l'accident no es compartissin, però això no ha dissuadit a la premsa. El portaveu de la Força Aèria, Pongsak Semachai, va dir que es formaria una comissió investigadora. El primer ministre Prayut Chan-o-cha va oferir el seu condol als familiars.

Tailàndia va començar a comprar els jets Gripen d'origen suec l'any 2008, actualment compten amb 12 d'aquestes aeronaus. Cap dels països veïns compten amb aeronaus similars, a la nació li va costar al voltant de 2.500 milions d'baht (US$70 milions) cadascun.


Avión de combate se estrelló durante un show aéreo del Día del Niño en Tailandia

Un avión de combate se estrelló en el aeropuerto internacional de Hat Yai en Songkhla, Tailandia esta mañana durante un espectáculo anual del Día del Niño.

Se trataba de un JAS 39C Gripen que se estrelló en una pista cerca de las 9:30am hora local (02:30 UTC) y explotó, haciendo que el aeropuerto cerrara y suspendiera sus vuelos comerciales. El piloto fue identificado como Dilokrit Pattavee.

La Real Fuerza Aérea de Tailandia pidió que las imágenes del accidente no se compartan, pero esto no ha disuadido a la prensa. El portavoz de la Fuerza Aérea, Pongsak Semachai, dijo que se formaría una comisión investigadora. El primer ministro Prayut Chan-o-cha ofreció sus condolencias a los familiares.

Tailandia comenzó a comprar los jets Gripen de origen sueco el año 2008, actualmente cuentan con 12 de estas aeronaves. Ninguno de los países vecinos cuentan con aeronaves similares, a la nación le costó alrededor de 2.500 millones de baht (US$70 millones) cada uno.


Thaïlande : avion de combat écrasé lors d'un spectacle aérien Journée des enfants


Avião de combate cai durante o show aéreo no Dia das Crianças na Tailândia

Um avião de combate caiu no aeroporto internacional de Hat Yai em Songkhla, Tailândia esta manhã durante a apresentação anual do Dia das Crianças.

Foi um JAS 39C Gripen, que caiu na hora local de 9:30 am (0230UTC) na pista do aeroporto, explodindo em seguida. O aeroporto foi obrigado a fechar e suspender os voos comerciais. O piloto foi identificado como Dilokrit Pattavee.

A Royal Thai Air Force solicitou que as imagens do acidente não sejam compartilhadas, mas isso não impediu que a imprensa publicasse a notícia. O porta-voz da Força Aérea, Pongsak Semachai, disse que um comitê investigativo será criado para averiguar os motivos do acidente. O primeiro-ministro Prayuth Chan-ocha ofereceu suas condolências aos parentes do piloto.

A Tailândia começou a comprar os jatos Gripen de origem sueca em 2008, atualmente possuem 12 dessas aeronaves. Nenhum dos países vizinhos têm aeronaves semelhantes, a nação pagou cerca de (US$ 70 milhões) para cada um delas.


Film director Sydney Pollack dies at age 73

Sydney Pollack, Academy-Award winning American film director, producer and actor has died today at his home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 73. The cause of death was announced as stomach cancer.

He was born on July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. He directed films such as The Way We Were, Tootsie, and Out of Africa.

Pollack is survived by his wife, Claire Griswold and 3 children.


Décès de Sydney Pollack

Le cinéaste américain, Sydney Pollack, 73 ans, s'est éteint lundi dernier, dans sa villa de Pacific Palisade à Los Angeles, des suites d'un cancer. Il était né le 1er juillet 1934, à La Fayette, dans l'État de l'Indiana, au sein d'une famille d'immigrés russes.

Le réalisateur américain s'était illustré dans plusieurs films comme Tootsie où il interprêtait lui-même un rôle aux côtés de Dustin Hoffmann. Son plus gros succès demeure très probalement « Out of Africa », lequel a été récompensé par 7 Oscars à Hollywood.

Il se lança dans le cinéma en 1959 aux côtés de Robert Redford. Puis il réalisa son premier long métrage « Trente minutes de sursis » en 1965.


Elhunyt Sydney Pollack

2008. május 26-án kaliforniai otthonában elhunyt Sydney Pollack Oscar-díjas amerikai filmrendező, filmszínész, producer. A 73 éves korában elhunyt művész számos világsikert aratott film, köztük A lovakat lelövik, ugye?, A keselyű három napja, az Aranyoskám! (Dustin Hoffmannal), A cég (Tom Cruise-zal) alkotója volt. Távol Afrikától című filmje 1986-ban a legjobb rendezésnek és a legjobb filmnek járó Oscar-díjat is elnyerte, melynek főbb szerepeiben Meryl Streep, Robert Redford és Klaus Maria Brandauer volt látható. 2007-ben még tévéfilmet készült rendezni a 2000. évi amerikai elnökválasztásokat követő feszült belpolitikai helyzetről, de miután rákbetegséget diagnosztizáltak nála, ezt a munkát már kénytelen volt lemondani.


Addio a Sydney Pollack, regista: 1935-2008

Lutto nel mondo del cinema. Il regista Sydney Pollack si è spento all'età di 73 anni a Los Angeles, ucciso da un cancro allo stomaco. A dare l'annuncio al pubblico è stato il suo agente ed amico Leslee Dart. Tipico esponente della "New Hollywood", ha avuto per molti anni un particolare rapporto artistico con Robert Redford, con il quale ha girato 7 dei suoi film più celebri. Meno celebre è forse il suo apporto come membro fondatore del Sundance Institute dello stesso Redford, e della Film Fondation di Martin Scorsese.

Pollack, 2 premi Oscar per La mia Africa nel 1985, ha avuto complessivamente 46 candidature con appena ventuno lungometraggi. Tra le tante cose che hanno caratterizzato questo autore molto amato e molto polemico con il potere, il fatto di avere ricoperto di volta in volta ruoli di produttore, regista e attore, ma anche l'amicizia personale con Fidel Castro che andava talvolta a trovare guidando il suo jet privato. George Clooney l'ha ricordato con queste parole: «Sydney ha migliorato un po' il mondo, un po' il cinema e un po' anche le cene».

Pollack nasce a Lafayette, il 1 luglio 1934. Il suo cognome tradisce la sua origine non anglosassone, essendo i suoi genitori due ebrei russi espatriati. La sua carriera inizia studiando a  New York recitazione, al Neighborhood Playhouse, poi recita in alcune serie TV. Debutta così, prima ancora che come regista, come attore e per giunta, televisivo, caratteristica non comune rispetto a tanti altri registi. Fu poi John Frankenheimer, regista televisivo passato al cinema, a portarlo nel mondo della regia. Ad Hollywood, Pollack dirige alcuni episodi delle serie televisive dell'epoca, tanto da vincere anche un premio Emmy. Fa carriera, si cimenta in nuove esperienze televisive, incontra grandi attori come Burt Lancaster, con cui lavorerà poi all'edizione americana de Il Gattopardo, per poi continuare con due dei suoi primi film. Sul set di  Caccia di guerra  incontra Robert Redford, e lui sarà poi, come nessun altro, l'interprete preferito di molti dei suoi più grandi film.

Inizia a lavorare come regista nel film La vita corre sul filo, del 1964, che non ha mancato di avere un certo successo, ma che Pollack non ha mai amato (l'unico, forse, dei sui 21 lungometraggi). Seguirà il più costoso ma meno fortunato Questa ragazze è di tutti del '66 (in cui compare anche il giovane Redford), e Joe Bass l'implacabile con Lancaster. Seguono altri film, ma quello che lo impone definitivamente all'attenzione del grande pubblico e della critica è Non si uccidono così anche i cavalli? del '69: 9 nomination per gli Oscar, ma perde contro Un uomo da marciapiede di Sclhesinger.

Sarà il decennio successivo a confermare l'astro di Pollack, che raggiunge il culmine della gloria. E Robert Redford è senz'altro il suo alter ego cinematografico, tanto che interpreta in fila: un western "atipico", un western moderno (e ancora più atipico), un film di denuncia sulle malefatte dei servizi segreti, una lunga storia d'amore e di impegno politico. Queste pellicole sono, nell'ordine: Corvo Rosso non avrai il mio scalpo(1972), Come eravamo  (1973),  I tre giorni del condor (1975) e Il cavaliere elettrico (1979). In pratica, all'epoca Pollack si "divideva" Redford con un altro grande regista dell'epoca, George Roy Hill (quello de La stangata). Da ricordare che Corvo Rosso è un film con uno dei titoli "italiani" meno felici e rispondenti al titolo originale, che era molto più semplicemente Jeremiah Johnson. Oramai quelli di cui sopra sono film raramente visibili nel palinsesto televisivo: ma per gli appassionati di fumetti gioverà sapere che il personaggio (e il volto) interpretato da Redford è il diretto ispiratore di un celebre fumetto: Ken Parker

Pollack fa anche un film molto particolare, Yakuza, la cui sceneggiatura ha la paternità di Paul Schrader, autore poi, in larga misura, anche di Taxi Driver. Pollack, per difendersi dalle pressioni delle major si impegna proprio da questo film a produrre anche i film, sia propri che altrui, con il logo della Mirage Productions.

Un altro film fondamentale è Diritto di cronaca del 1981, con Paul Newman (che Pollack non dirigerà mai assieme a Redford), poi Tootsie con Hoffman e la Lange, la sua prima commedia di un regista usualmente ben più attento a temi "impegnati". Perde il confronto contro Gandhi, ma verrà poi inserita al secondo posto tra le migliori 100 commedie statunitensi dall'American Film Institute. In ogni caso è proprio questo film che gli permette di disporre di un budget di oltre 30 milioni di dollari per girare La mia Africa, ancora con Redford; romantico e passionale, questo film ottiene 128 milioni di dollari e vince ben 7 oscar degli undici a cui era stato nominato. È certamente il maggiore dei trionfi di Pollack e stavolta riesce a vincere contro un avversario molto accreditato, il dramma intimista Il colore viola di Steven Spielberg. Ma altrettanto certamente, è anche il segno dei tempi: la storia d'amore, che era comprimaria del cinema 'impegnato' che negli anni '70 era in auge, qui diventa la ragion d'essere del film, mettendo il conflitto politico nello sfondo.

Sembra l'ultimo ruggito del vecchio leone, visto che Havana, del 1990, non ha successo né per la critica, né per il pubblico. Ma come produttore è determinante per un film che, invece, di successo ne ha: Presunto innocente. Poi segue Il socio con Tom Cruise, del '93. Costruito su misura per il divo, fu un film di successo; 6 anni dopo lo avrebbe poi incontrato quando entrambi parteciperano all'ultima fatica di Kubrick. Ma intanto perde ancora sia con Sabrina del '95, remake del celeberrimo lungometraggio di Billy Wilder con Audrey Hepburn, che con Destini incrociati la sfida. Con questo film del '99 si chiude piuttosto mestamente la sua ventennale carriera di regista.

Pollack è stato regista di 21 film e aveva partecipato come attore in circa trenta tra film e show televisivi.

Corvo Rosso non avrai il mio scalpo e I tre giorni del condor sono film che hanno fatto letteralmente epoca. Come premi il più grande successo è stato il molto più tardo La mia Africa (Out of Africa) del 1985, con Meryl Streep e Robert Redfort, con il quale vinse ben sette premi Oscar, due David di Donatello e tre Golden Globe.

Il regista fu sin dagli inizi in grado di portare grandi novità. Negli anni Settanta, infatti, si presentò con il western Corvo rosso non avrai il mio scalpo al festival di Cannes che, a detta del Mereghetti (il dizionario di film), risulta essere «uno dei contributi più significativi nella revisione del genere».

Tra le altre sue produzioni non si possono dimenticare film come Tootsie del 1982, con Dustin Hoffman; Come eravamo (The way we were) del '73, con Robert Redford e Barbra Streisand e, più recentemente, L'interprete, con Nicole Kidman, del 2005.

Come attore non possiamo dimenticare l'importante partecipazione nel film ultimo di Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut dove interpreta il milionario Victor Zielger. Ma anche altre apparizioni, in serie tv come Will & Grace e I Soprano.

Pollack lascia la moglie Claire Griswold e le due figlie Rebecca e Rachel.

Come aggiunta a quanto sopra, da ricordare che alla notizia della morte di Pollack alcune televisioni hanno prontamente mandato in onda alcuni dei suoi film: Retequattro con Tootsie, La7 con Come eravamo.


Morre o cineasta Sydney Pollack

O produtor e diretor Sydney Pollack, que conquistou um Oscar pelo romance "Entre Dois Amores", morreu nesta segunda-feira (26) aos 73 anos, após uma longa batalha contra o câncer, informou o The New York Times. Pollack morreu em sua casa em Los Angeles, no subúrbio de Pacific Palisades.

Seus filmes mais conhecidos são "Tootsie" (1982), "A Noite dos Desesperados" (1969, indicado ao Oscar), "A Intérprete" (2005) e "Conduta de Risco", que em 2008 deu à britânica Tilda Swinton o Oscar de melhor atriz coadjuvante.


Final Harry Potter book goes on sale

The final Harry Potter book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has gone on sale today. The book was launched simultaneously across the world.

The book launched first in the UK, where the book went on sale from midnight. Fans in one central London bookshop started joining the queue from 10:30 p.m., which soon reached the door of the shop and out onto the street. The book chain Waterstone's held 'Harry Potter parties', giving out free glasses of wine and snacks. The mood was good-natured and jolly, with some fans dressed up in costume.

New Zealand fans of the series had a launch time of 11.01 a.m. (NZST). Due to high competition among major retail chains, the book was being sold for as little as NZ$32.99 at Whitcoulls; a profit margin of four cents with each book sold. The recommended retail price was NZ$55.00. Many supermarkets in the UK cut prices even further as a publicity stunt with, for example, ASDA selling copies at a loss, at about 1/4 of the recommended retail price.

It was also an early release for Australian fans of the series, at 9.01 a.m. (Sydney). A Sydney Borders store had a line reaching out halfway across the street. In Brisbane City, Borders had a line from the shop, down the street and around the corner.

150 fans in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, were waiting outside a Border's bookstore at 8.00 a.m. to be some of the first to get their hands on a copy. A bookstore nearby, Dymocks, also had a large crowd, an estimated 100 people were waiting. One person arriving there at 6.30 a.m. At one New Zealand Whitcoulls store, they had a entertainer/magician keeping fans entertained while waiting for 11.01 a.m. In Germany, however, some bookshops were disappointed with the turnout for the Harry Potter book launch events.

The Harry Potter series has already sold 325 million copies worldwide. 1.3 million of those were sold in New Zealand, a quarter of New Zealand's population. The Wikipedia article on the latest book became disabled for editing by unregistered and newly registered users within 5 minutes of the book's release.


Le dernier Harry Potter est disponible à la vente

Le dernier volume des aventures d'Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (en français Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort), est disponible à la vente aujourd'hui dans sa version en anglais. Le livre a été lancé de manière simultanée sur toute la planète.
Le livre est sorti tout d'abord au Royaume-Uni, où il a été mis en vente à partir de minuit. Des passionnés avaient commencé à faire la queue dans un magasin du centre de Londres dès 22h30, queue qui a rapidement grandi au point de sortir du magasin et de s'étendre dans la rue. La chaîne de magasins Waterstone a proposé des Harry Potter parties, où des verres de vin et des casse-croûtes gratuits étaient distribués. L'humeur était bon enfant, festive, et certains fans s'étaient costumés pour l'occasion.
L'auteur, J.K. Rowling, auquel son personnage a apporté la fortune, a donné lecture du premier chapitre du nouveau roman, pour 500 amateurs tirés au sort en juin dernier au musée d'Histoire naturelle de Londres.

Le roman devrait, selon les estimations des vendeurs comme Amazon (qui a enregistré plus de 2,2 millions de réservations) ou Waterstones, s'inscrire dans la lignée de ses prédécesseurs et s'écouler à plusieurs millions d'exemplaires dans sa seule version en anglais.

Cependant, des révélations sur les dernières péripéties, bien que l'éditeur ait pris des précautions drastiques pour les dissimuler avant la sortie officielle, se sont produites, ce qui a permis à plusieurs quotidiens (dont le New York Times) de produire des critiques de l'ouvrage le jour même de sa sortie.


בריטניה: פוטר נמכר ב-15 ספרים לשנייה

היום בשעה 2:01 לפנות בוקר (שעון ישראל) נפתחו שערי חנויות ברחבי העולם ורבבות מעריצים נהרו לשים ידיהם על הספר האחרון בסדרת "הארי פוטר". המעריצים חטפו הספרים מהמדפים במהירות עצומה, ורשת חנויות הספרים WH Smith הבריטית דיווחה כי לפי חישובים - הספרים נמכרו ב-400 חנויותיה בקצב של 15 לשניה. בסך הכל נמכרו עד היום כ-325 מליון ספרים מסדרת הארי פוטר, בחנויות ברחבי העולם.

הספר שוחרר בו זמנית ב-93 מדינות, זאת בנוסף למליוני הזמנות אשר בוצעו דרך חברות אינטרנט והוצאות ספרים מקומיות. אתר המכירות הגדול אמזון לבדו דיווח על כ-2.2 מליון הזמנות מראש לספר השביעי. למעריצים הממתינים חיכו אטרקציות נוספות, כמו תחרויות היתוליות בנושאי הספר, בהם זכו אלו ש"הטילו קסמים" מקוריים במיוחד או שהתחפשו היטב לאחת הדמויות. בעלי חנויות בבריטניה השוו את האירוע לטירוף המעריצים בשיאה של תקופת הביטלמניה.

500 מעריצים מאושרים זכו לשמוע את הקטעים הראשונים של הספר מאת המחברת עצמה, ג'יי קיי רולינג, אשר הקריאה קטעים נבחרים ממנו עם שחרורו במוזיאון הבריטי לטבע בלונדון. ההקראה שודרה בשידור חי לכל רחבי העולם, כמו גם לישראל, אם כי חלק המעריצים הישראלים אשר ציפו להקראה התאכזבו קשות כאשר האורות כבו עקב הפסקת חשמל.

עם זאת, לא היה מדובר בהפתעה גדולה. אנשי החנויות השונות התכוננו מבעוד מועד להיסטריה הרבה ולביקוש הגדול. באוסטרליה דיווח כתב ה-CNN כי התור לפני מספר חנויות החל להתבסס כבר לפני שלושה ימים ואנשים חנו מחוץ לחנות בתקווה להיות הראשונים. בעת קניית הספר מעריצים רבים התיישבו לקרואו כבר בחנויות ואחדים הצהירו כי יוותרו על שנת הלילה למען השלמת הספר.

ביקורות אשר התפרסמו לספר מדברות שבחים רבים בעדו. מבקרים רבים הריעו לרולינג על העלילה המותחת. מבקרים אחרים העירו כי זהו הספר הבוגר והאפל ביותר בסדרה, ומבקר אחד הגדיל לעשות והשווה את הספר לספריו של ג'. ר. ר. טולקין. עלילת הספר זלגה לתקשורת מספר ימים לפני כן וביקורות התפרסמו מעט לפני שחרור הספר, עליהן זעמה רולינג.


De laatste Harry Potter

Almere is een wereldstad; een rij was zich aan het vormen, een rij om het genot van een nacht zonder slaap te genieten. Een nacht vol horcruxen, bezemstelen en uilen. Het is de laatste Harry Potter-nacht; om één uur precies gaat de deur open en naast uw Wikinews-reporters was de camera van Radio Flevoland aanwezig om de gespannen gezichten te registreren want, zal Harry sterven?

Om 17:30 waren de eerste mensen al aanwezig. 24 uur later waren er in deze ene winkel alleen 260 Harry Potter-boeken verkocht.

In een vraaggesprek werd aan de auteur J.K. Rowling gevraagd: "Ga ik huilen". Het antwoord was heb je al vaker om een boek gehuild... Over het plot mogen en kunnen we u nog niets berichten immers uw reporters hebben het boek ook nog maar net in handen. Bovendien, als u ook een Potter-fan bent, dan leest u het toch ook liever zelf.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is het zevende en laatste boek uit de magisch reeks die uit de pen van JK Rowlings mocht rollen. Een Nederlandse vertaling wordt op 17 november in de Nederlandse winkels verwacht.


Finnish metal band win 51st Eurovision Song Contest

Lordi, described as "cartoon metalheads" wearing latex monster masks, beat runner-up Russian "heart throb" Dima Bilan to win this year's 51st Eurovision song contest held in Athens, Greece.
Bosnia's Hari Mata Hariwas came third.

In a spectacular show, hosted by Maria Menounos and Sakis Rouvas, Lordi amassed 292 points after a public vote - 44 ahead of Russia. Greece's singer Anna Vissi, who was one of the favourites to win, came 9th, followed by Ireland's Brian Kennedy. From the start of the song contest as well as during the televoting, the Greek organisers presented viewers choreographies and dances inspired by Greek culture and music, both ancient and modern. In addition, the world famous Greek singer Nana Moushouri was presented by the hosts and gave the sign for the start of televoting.

Wielding spark-spewing instruments, the "Monster-themed" rock band beat 23 other competitors, scoring 292 points from telephone voters in 38 countries with its song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" in a performance that both shocked and amused viewers.

A spokesperson for Lordi said: "We won the contest, looking like this,” he said. “It just goes to show that Europe is not such a bad place." The Finnish band thanked viewers for voting for their song, which featured the lead singer hoisting a double-headed-axe microphone stand above his head. The win has been dubbed as a "radical departure" from the catchy pop tunes, folk songs and emotional ballads normally associated with Eurovision.

Complete with distorted guitars, a catchy chorus and "mock-demonic imagery," Lordi is reminiscent of 1970s American band Kiss - an inspiration acknowledged by lead singer Mr Lordi. "What this has shown is that there are different styles of music than just pop and rock," Mr Lordi told news media after the surprise victory. "That should be the goal of Eurovision," he said.

Mr. Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Putaansuu, hails from Lapland and says his band's masked personas are just characters. "The guys behind the masks are not interesting - underneath, there's just a boring, normal guy who walks the dogs, goes to the supermarket, watches DVDs and eats candies. You really don't want to see him." he said. But the characters "live on stage and they live in a fantasy world", he said. "This element of mystery is one of the cornerstones of Lordi."

The band has upset many Finns with their outrageous behaviour. "This is a victory for rock music... and also a victory for open-mindedness," Mr Lordi said. "For the millionth time, we’re not Satanists or devil worshippers. This is entertainment. The masks are like our calling card and we’ll never perform without them. It would be like Santa Claus handing a child his gifts at Christmas time and then pulling off his beard…"

The 51st annual Eurovision was broadcast live across Europe, watched by an estimated 100 million viewers. Regarded by many as the "contest good taste forgot," Eurovision is adored by fans of kitsch and camp everywhere.

Lordi join the likes of Abba, Bucks Fizz, Dana and Celine Dion on the elite list of Eurovision winners.

Because of Lordi's first place finish, next year the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest will take place, for the first time, in Helsinki, Finland.


Lordi gewann 51. Ausgabe des Eurovision Song Contest

Athen (Griechenland), 21.05.2006 – Der 51. Eurovision Song Contest fand am Samstagabend in Athen statt. Die finnische Gruppe Lordi gewann mit 292 Punkten. Auf Platz zwei landete Dima Bilan aus Russland mit „Never Let You Go“. Dritter wurde Hari Mata Hari aus Bosnien-Herzegowina mit „Leijla“. Lordi bekam die maximale Punktzahl (12) aus Polen, Estland, Norwegen und Griechenland. Die Gruppe fiel besonders durch ihre Horror-Masken auf, die sie in der Öffentlichkeit niemals abnehmen. Sie betonten aber in einem Interview, dass sie keine Satanisten oder Teufelsanbeter seien.

Der deutsche Beitrag „No No Never“ von Texas Lightning lag am Ende abgeschlagen auf Platz 15. Trotzdem waren die Musiker nicht enttäuscht. Sie äußerten sich im Anschluss zufrieden darüber, dass sie dabei sein konnten.


Fiński zespół Lordi wygrał 51. edycję Eurowizji

Wczoraj wieczorem fiński zespół Lordi wygrał 51. edycję Eurowizji, zostając tym samym pierwszym zwycięzcą z Finlandii. W finale zgromadził największą w historii konkursu ilość punktów (292).  Drugie miejsce zajęła Rosja z 248 punktami, a trzecie Bośnia i Hercegowina z 229 punktami.

Zespół Lordi otrzymał maksymalną ilość punktów (12) w sumie od ośmiu krajów: Danii, Estonii, Grecji, Islandii, Norwegii, Polski, Szwecji, oraz Wielkiej Brytanii.

Muzycy wystąpili na scenie przebrani za demony. Swój występ na Eurowizji promowali sloganami: Rozwalmy Eurowizję oraz Dajmy im popalić.

W finale nie wystąpił polski zespół Ich Troje, który nie awansował z półfinału.

Podczas finału pojawił się pierwszy w historii zespół grający a cappella, łotewska grupa Vocal Group Cosmos. Najmłodszą uczestniczką finału była siedemnastoletnia duńska muzyczka, Sidsel Ben Semmane.


Fire in Universal Studios backlot

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a fully involved structure fire on the back lot of Universal City Studios in Universal City, California which occurred shortly after dawn. Reports indicate a fire and a explosion occurred around 4:45 local time.

The fire continues to burn in the Universal Studios backlot, which is adjacent to the Universal Studios theme park.

The "New York Street" sound stage was completely destroyed and the Courthouse Square backlot from Back to the Future, an exhibit on the movie King Kong, the video vault, and a ride known as the "Cyclone" were damaged. County fire inspector Daryl Jacobs said at least three blocks of movie façades may have been destroyed.

More than 400 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire, with helicopters dropping water on the blaze in an attempt to contain it. Three firefighters suffered minor burns, one reportedly from smoke exhaustion. No other injuries have been reported. Several urban search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area.

Daryl Jacobs said that the firefighters ran out of water at least twice while battling the flames. "There was an issue with water, but that has been rectified," Jacobs said. "They are shuttling water in." He also said firefighters encountered explosions from propane tanks as they entered the backlot.

County fire captain Frank Reynoso said the cause of the fire is still unknown. "It will be a while before we have it under control," Reynoso said.

The 2008 MTV Movie Awards, which are scheduled to be broadcast live from the studio theme park Sunday afternoon, will go on as planned, according to an MTV representative. The theme park's opening time has been moved back to noon local time, said a Los Angeles city councilman.


米の映画テーマパーク「ユニバーサルスタジオ」で火災事故

47NEWSによると、アメリカの報道機関が同国・ロサンゼルスにあるユニバーサルスタジオ・ハリウッドというテーマパークで現地6月1日未明4時45分ごろに大火災が発生したと伝えた。

日経新聞によると、AP通信は映画製作用の建物1棟が倒壊し、そこにあったセットも焼けたというが、時事通信によると建物4-5棟程度が燃えた他に園内にある乗り物にも延焼したと伝えている。また日経新聞によると当時は映画、またはテレビの番組の撮影が行われていたという情報もある。開園前だったということでけが人の情報は一般客を含めて報道されていない。


First computer game in Piedmontese language

Freecol, a free software (under the GNU General Public License) has been released in Piedmontese. This makes the game, clone of Sid Meier's Colonization the first game to have been released in this language which is only spoken by about two million people.

Freecol, the simulation of the historical process that lead to the Declaration of Independence in North America, is the first computer game to be localized in Piedmontese language. Players of the game need to take administrative and political actions to reach its goal.

Version 0.7.0 in Piedmontese was released on July 13, 2007. Speakers of regional languages hope this will serve as an examplar, so that more localizations of the game in other regional languages will be released over time.

The localization was done on Betawiki, the platform which is also used for the localization of the Mediawiki software.


Erstes Computerspiel in piemontesischer Sprache

16.07.2007 – Der freie Clone „Freecol“, der auf dem PC-Spiel Colonization (Kolonisierung) basiert, ist in piemontesischer Sprache veröffentlicht worden.

Bei dem Spiel handelt es sich um eine Geschichtssimulation, in der es um den Aufbau von Kolonien und schließlich die Unabhängigkeitserklärung in Nordamerika geht. Es ist das erste Computerspiel, das in piemontesischer Sprache veröffentlicht wurde. Die Spieler müssen administrative und politische Aktionen ausführen, um das Ziel des Spiels zu erreichen.

Die Version 0.7.0 wurde am 13. Juli 2007 veröffentlicht. Experten hoffen, dass diese Version als Beispiel für andere Regionalsprachen angesehen wird, so dass mit der Zeit immer mehr Lokalisierungen des Spiels verfügbar sein werden.

Die Lokalisierung erfolgt über Betawiki, der Plattform, auf welcher auch die Lokalisierung der Mediawiki Software erfolgt.


Primo gioco di computer in lingua piemontese

FreeCol, il clone libero basato sul videogioco per PC Colonization, è stato pubblicato in lingua piemontese.

FreeCol, la simulazione del processo storico che portò alla dichiarazione di indipendenza degli Stati Uniti, è il primo gioco per computer localizzato in lingua piemontese. I giocatori devono eseguire le azioni amministrative e politiche per raggiungere lo scopo del gioco.

La versione 0.7.0 in lingua piemontese è stata pubblicata in data 13 luglio 2007 e i traduttori sperano che ciò venga preso come esempio in modo che, con il tempo, saranno disponibili le localizzazioni del gioco nelle altre lingue regionali.

La localizzazione è stata effettuata su Betawiki, la piattaforma utilizzata inoltre per la localizzazione del software MediaWiki.


First play after retirement a success for former Czech president

The first play written by former Czech president Václav Havel after his presidential retirement saw a great success at its first showing outside of the Czech Republic. Leaving was staged by the London Orange Tree Theatre starting on September 20.

The audience in the sold-out theatre reacted spontaneously to the play’s text and to Havel’s own notes. The playwright commented his play and characters' acts through his pre-recorded words. He was not present at the premiere himself, his visit is expected on Friday, September 26.

Geoffrey Bevers played the main role of chancellor who is suffering when leaving politics. The play was translated to English by Canadian writer Paul Wilson and directed by Sam Walters, the artistic leader of the Orange Tree.

Wilson knows Czech society and language because he stayed in Prague in the 1970s (he was also member of a famous underground musical group The Plastic People of the Universe). In 1977, he was forced to leave former Czechoslovakia after The Plastic People were disbanded. Wilson has rich experiences from translating Havel’s texts into English; he has translated two more Havel plays. He thinks Leaving can be the work that can be best accepted outside Czech Republic because of its dateless topic.

Director Sam Walters named the play "funny and sad, about big things, about politics, but also about personal fortunes." His company will perform Leaving till the middle of December and it will add other Havel plays Mountain Hotel, Audience, Private View and Protest.

Havel's Leaving was first staged in Czech language in Prague May 22, 2008. Havel tried to have the play in the National Theatre, but the premiere took place in the Archa Theatre at the end. The expected participation of Havel's wife Dagmar Havlová was also cancelled.


Havlovo Odcházení poprvé za hranicemi: v Londýně mělo úspěch

První divadelní hra, kterou bývalý český prezident Václav Havel napsal po odchodu do politického důchodu, zažila po české premiéře úspěch i se svým prvním uvedení v zahraničí. Jeho Odcházení nastudoval v Londýně soubor divadla Orange Tree.

Hlediště divadla bylo vyprodané a reagovalo spontánně na text hry i na scénické poznámky, kterými svou vlastní hru i osudy postav komentoval z audiozáznamu Havel. Sám autor v divadle nebyl přítomen, očekává se jeho návštěva v pátek 26. září.

V hlavní roli kancléře, který má problémy s odchodem z politiky, hrál Geoffrey Bevers. Hru přeložil do angličtiny kanadský literát Paul Wilson a režíroval ji Sam Walters, umělecký ředitel Orange Tree.

Wilson, který v Praze hrál v sedmdesátých letech jako člen hudební skupiny The Plastic People of the Universe, má s Havlovými texty bohaté překladatelské zkušenosti. Do angličtiny převedl i další dvě jeho hry, ale právě Odcházení považuje za dílo, které může v zahraničí lépe uspět svým nadčasovým tématem.

Režisér Walters hru označil za „humornou i smutnou, o velkých věcech, o politice, ale i o osobních osudech“. Jeho soubor bude na podzim uvádět Odcházení až do poloviny prosince a doplní ho dalšími Havlovými dramaty, Horským hotelem, Audiencí, Vernisáží a Protestem.


Formula One teams to set up breakaway championship

Formula One was in disarray last night after eight members of the F1 Teams Association (FOTA) announced they are going to set up a rival championship to the current series next season.

The reason for this drastic move is Max Mosley's plan to introduce a voluntary £40 million budget cap in order to make it easier for new teams to enter & existing teams to continue.

The association refused to agree to this, worried it would result in two divisions. After a four hour meeting last night, Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso announced their decision.

A FOTA statement read the following: "Since the formation of Fota last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder (Bernie Ecclestone), to develop and improve the sport.  Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. Fota is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport. In particular, the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the Fota initiatives.  The Fota teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.  Following these efforts, all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012. The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide Fota. The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Despite this, and the uncompromising environment, Fota has genuinely sought compromise. It has become clear, however, the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 world championship."


Principais equipes da Fórmula 1 anunciam criação de competição paralela

A Fota (Associação das Equipes da Fórmula 1) anunciou nesta quinta-feira (18) que não concorda com as condições da FIA (Federação Internacional de Automobilismo) para a realização do Mundial da categoria em 2010 e que planeja criar um campeonato paralelo.

Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing e Scuderia Toro Rosso reuniram-se na sede da Renault e decidiram não acatar o teto orçamentário de £ 40 milhões (US$ 64,2 milhões) que é opcional, mas garante vantagens para quem o adotar.

Segundo a Agência Reuters, o presidente da FIA, Max Mosley, estava disposto a fazer concessões às escuderias, como o aumento do teto para € 100 milhões em 2010. Das atuais participantes do campeonato, apenas Williams e Force India estarão na temporada de 2010 da Fórmula 1.


Fortieth anniversary of first manned Moon landing

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first ever landing of humans on the Moon. Launched on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 touched down on the lunar surface at 20:17 UTC on July 20.

The historic anniversary was marked by the current United States President, Barack Obama, meeting the crew, Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin, the first men on the satellite's surface, and Michael Collins, who remained in lunar orbit. Obama praised the men and commented on the global historical significance of their deeds. At the time of the initial landing Aldrin and Armstrong spoke to then-president Richard M. Nixon by radio shortly after landing.

The culmination of the 1960s space race between the Soviet Union and the U.S. was not solely the work of the Americans. Among the statements surrounding the anniversary, Armstrong had written a message praising the Australian team at Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station near Canberra. Without their involvement there would have been no black and white television pictures for the millions worldwide who watched man's first step onto the Moon. Armstrong stated he had been surprised when Mission control told him they had pictures, commenting about the camera, "in all that testing, I never saw a picture successfully transmitted. But the chaps assured us that it would, in fact, work. And it did."

NASA's current plans to return to the Moon by 2020 have been derided by Buzz Aldrin. Today at a reunion of lunar astronauts he dismissed these proposals, "America to Mars is what ought to be, not America back to the moon". Plans for a lunar base to practice for a Mars trip also met with his scorn.

The journey to the Moon was initiated by then-President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The last time an astronaut walked on the moon was in 1972. In 1989 then-President George H.W. Bush used the twentieth anniversary to announce plans to fly back to the Moon and then on to Mars, but these never materialized. Obama has set up a commission to provide advice on where to take the U.S. space program next.


Il y a 40 ans, Apollo 11 partait à la conquête de la Lune

Le 16 juillet 1969, il y a 40 ans, trois astronautes, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin et Michael Collins montaient à bord de la capsule Apollo 11, portée par une gigantesque fusée Saturn V. C'était le départ d'une mission historique : marcher sur la Lune pour la première fois dans l'histoire de l'humanité.

Quatre jours plus tard, Armstrong et Aldrin étaient au rendez-vous. Un milliard d'être humains suivaient l'événement en direct. Le module lunaire d'Apollo 11, surnommé Eagle (« Aigle »), se posait sur la Lune, et Armstrong descendait lentement son escalier avant de faire un premier pas et prononcer ces mots célèbres : « C'est un petit pas pour un homme, mais un pas de géant pour l'humanité ».

Ce premier pas, était en quelque sorte l'apogée d'une course qui avait opposé les États-Unis à l'Union Soviétique dans la conquête de l'espace. Douze ans avant la mission d'Apollo 11, les Soviétiques avaient été les premiers à placer en orbite un satellite, Spoutnik. Peu après, en 1961, le cosmonaute Youri Gagarine devenait le premier être humain à partir dans l'espace et faire le tour de la Terre. L'administration américaine réagissait la même année, le président John F. Kennedy prenait un engagement.

« Je crois que cette nation devrait s'engager à atteindre ce but avant que cette décennie s'achève, à savoir, faire atterrir un homme sur la Lune et le faire revenir sain et sauf jusqu'à la Terre », déclarait-il.

L'Agence spatiale américaine (NASA) allait relever ce défi puisque, le 20 juillet 1969, le module lunaire Eagle se séparait d'Apollo, qui restait en orbite autour de la Lune, et entamait sa descente vers une région plate dans la Mer dite de Tranquillité. « Houston, ici la base de la Tranquillité. L'Eagle a atterri », annonçait Armstrong

Six heures et demie après cet alunissage, Armstrong posait un premier pas sur la Lune et décrivait un paysage inconnu de l'humanité.

« C'est d'une beauté absolue et tout à fait particulière. Cela ressemble beaucoup au haut désert des États-Unis. C'est différent mais c'est très beau ici », affirmait-il.

Le président américain Richard Nixon, qui avait suivi l'alunissage, téléphonait alors aux astronautes pour les féliciter et les remercier. Moins d'un jour après leur exploration lunaire, après avoir planté le drapeau américain, Armstrong et Aldrin décollaient pour rejoindre Collins, toujours en orbite, pour rentrer sur la Terre.


Данас 40 година од првог човековог спуштања на месец

НАСА/ САД (Blic/Бета) Данас се обележава 40 година од историјског, првог људског спуштања на Месец, америчких астронаута мисије Аполо 11, једног од најзначајнијих догађаја 20. века.

Нил Армстронг и Баз Олдрин крочили су на месец 20. јула 1969. године, а у посади Апола 11 био је и Мајкл Колинс. Поводом обележавања 40-годишњице амерички председник Барак Обама примиће посаду Апола 11.

Подвиг слетања првих људи на Месец у историју је ушао телевизијским преносом током којег је астронаут Нил Армстронг, крочивши на тло Земљиног сателита рекао:

Развијање америчке заставе на до тада "неосвојеном тлу" пратило је око 600 милиона људи.

Баз Олдрин је поводом данашњег обележавања догађаја рекао да би НАСА себи у будућности требало да постави веће циљеве попут Марса, објаснивши да је површина Месеца потпуно пуста и беживотна.
"Марс је далеко више погодан за земаљска бића и далеко погоднији за насељавање од Месеца", рекао је Олдрин.
Колинс, који је кружио у Месечевој орбити док су Армстронг и Олдрин шетали по Месецу, оценио је да је Марс много занимљивији од Месеца.

"Понекад мислим да сам био на погрешном месту. Као дете, више сам волео Марс, а тако је и сада", казао је Колинс.
"Плашим се да нас садашње истицање значаја повратка на Месец не наведе у технолошки ћорсокак, чиме би, беспотребно, на више деценија било одложено истраживање Марса, много кориснијег одредишта", рекао је он.

Од тренутка слетања на месец у Америци трају и оспоравања овог догађаја. Барт Сајбрел, кога многи називају "краљем теорија завере",  аутор је више документарних филмова у којима је покушавао да докаже да се подвиг у ствари и није догодио.
"Снимци које имамо показују да лажирају да су на пола пута до Месеца. То показује да нису могли да стигну ни до пола пута. Сви су имали исту опрему. Ако мој Фолксваген не може да јури 500 миља на час, а не може ни један, то значи да ни они нису могли да напусте орбиту Земље", тврди Сајбрел.

Први човек америчког Националног музеја ваздухопловства и астронаутике Роџер Лониус одбацује такве тврдње.
"Ми смо заиста стигли на Месец. Били смо заглављени у Хладном рату са Совјетским Савезом, који је имао свој свемирски програм и то врло добар. Да смо варали, имали су техничке могућности да то открију и разлоге да нас разоткрију. Па, ипак, нису рекли ни реч. Чак су нам и честитали на успеху", објашњава Лониус.


FOX to produce new 'Futurama' episodes

20th Century Fox will produce at least 13 new episodes of the animated series Futurama, scheduled to air on Comedy Central in 2008.  Futurama, an animation from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, was canceled by FOX in 2003.

Comedy Central has recently acquired the rights to the back catalogue of 72 Futurama episodes and any eventual new episodes.

"We are thrilled that Matt Groening and 20th Century Fox Television have decided to produce new episodes of 'Futurama' and that Comedy Central will be the first to air them," announces Comedy Central  senior vice president for programming David Bernath.

Voice actors Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth), Katey Sagal (Leela) and John DiMaggio (Bender) are all contracted to return.


Comedy Central kündigt neue Futurama Episoden an


A Fox irá produzir uma nova temporada de 'Futurama'

A 20th Century Fox irá produzir pelo menos 13 novos episódios da série Futurama, que irão ser transmitidos na Comedy Central em 2008. A série criada pelo criador dos Simpsons Matt Groening tinha sido cancelada pelo Fox em 2004.

A Comedy Central adquiriu recentemente os direitos dos 72 episódios de Futurama e de quaisquer eventuais novos episódios.

Os actores Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth), Katey Sagal (Leela) e John DiMaggio (Bender) foram já contratados para o regresso.


French author Le Clézio wins the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature

French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio has been awarded by the Swedish Academy with the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature. Le Clézio thus wins the prestigious prize of 10 million Swedish krona (US$1.4 million), for being "an author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, an explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilisation," according to the Academy.

His first book, Le Procès-verbal, was published in 1963, when the novelist was 23 years old. Now, aged 68, he receives the Nobel Prize in Literature being recognised as a key figure of French literature.

"As a young writer in the aftermath of existentialism and the nouveau Roman, he was a conjurer who tried to lift words above the degenerate state of everyday speech and to restore to them the power to invoke an essential reality," the Academy wrote in its communiqué. "The emphasis in Le Clezio's work has increasingly moved in the direction of an exploration of the world of childhood and of his own family history."

The writer, now a juror of the Prix Renaudot, wrote pieces such as La Fièvre, L'Extase matérielle, Terra amata, Le Livre des fuites, La Guerre, Désert and Le Chercheur d'or.


Nositelem Nobelovy ceny za literaturu se stal Francouz

Francouzský spisovatel Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio se stal laureátem Nobelovy ceny za literaturu pro rok 2008. Ve Stockholmu to oznámili představitelé Švédské akademie věd. Francouzským publikem i kritiky uznávaný Le Clézio je prvním spisovatelem píšícím francouzsky, který získal ocenění od roku 1985, celkově již ale čtrnáctým v řadě počínající vůbec prvním laureátem Nobelovy ceny za literaturu Sullym Prudhommem.

Výbor udělil ocenění Le Cléziovi jako „autorovi nových začátků, poetického dobrodružství a senzuální extáze, průzkumníka toho, co je skrytou za vládnoucí civilizací a pod ní“.

Le Clézio za 68 let svého života napsal více než 40 esejí, románů i knih pro děti, z nichž řada vyšla i v českém jazyce. Ve své zemi se dočkal uznání již před deseti lety, kdy byl například vyhlášen jako vítěz ankety o nejvýznamnějšího francouzského žijícího spisovatele.

Le Clézio ve svých knihách vychází z mnoha cestovatelských zážitků. I na tiskovou konferenci, na které poděkoval v budově svého nakladatelství Galimard, dorazil krátce po návratu z poslední cesty, tentokrát do Koreje. Mimo jiné na ní doporučil lidem, aby dál četli romány. „Romanopisec není filozof, není strojník jazyka; je to někdo, kdo píše, kdo se sám sebe ptá. Poselství, které posílá dál, je, že si musíme klást otázky,“ řekl.

Stálý tajemník Švédské akademie Horace Engdahl ho charakterizoval slovy: „Není tak docela francouzský spisovatel, když na něho pohlížíte z kulturního úhlu pohledu. Jako spisovatel prošel řadou fází vývoje a dosáhl toho, že do svého psaní zahrnul jiné civilizace a jiné způsoby života než jen západní.“

Už Le Cléziova prvotina, kterou napsal ve 23 letech, získala ocenění. Postupně napsal řadu děl, například do češtiny přeložené knihy Bludná hvězda, Horečka nebo Mondo a jiné příběhy.