Spielberg's War Horse To Be Released on Christmas Day

The most awaited movie premiere of the year is Steven Spielberg’s War Horse opening on Christmas Day December 25 in the US and on January 13, 2012 in the UK.



War Horse is an adaptation of British author Michael Morpurgo’s children's novel set during World War I. The novel was first published in 1982 and had a successful stage adaptation in 2007.



Spielberg said he had challenges in reworking “a beloved Broadway play into a big screen moment to remember”.

Jeremy Irvine plays the role of Albert Narracott in the war thriller. He was Luke in the television series Life Bites and has remarkable stage experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was in Dunsinane in 2010.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

Cast

• Jeremy Irvine as Albert Narracott
• Emily Watson as Mum, Rose Narracott
• Peter Mullan as Dad, Ted Narracott
• Tom Hiddleston as Captain Nicholls
• David Thewlis as Lyons
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Major Stewart
• Toby Kebbell as Geordie
• Eddie Marsan as Sgt. Fry
• Geoff Bell as Sgt. Sam Perkins
• Patrick Kennedy as Lieutenant Waverly
• Niels Arestrup as Grandfather
• Celine Buckens as Emilie
• David Kross as Gunther
• Rainer Bock as Brandt
• Nicolas Bro as Friedrich
• Leonard Carow as Michael
• Robert Emms as David Lyons
• Liam Cunningham as Army Doctor
• David Dencik as Base Camp Officer

PG-13, 2 hr. 26 min.
Drama, Action & Adventure
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
In Theaters: Dec 25, 2011 Wide
Walt Disney Pictures

War Horse is the second Steven Spielberg film opening this December in the US. The first The Adventures of Tintin was released yesterday Wednesday . December 21, 2011 in Digital 3D and IMAX.

The Adventures of Tintin is Spielberg's first foray into motion-capture filmmaking as well as 3-D. "Tintin," is the famous comic hero created by the Belgian artist named Hergé in the late 1920s. Tintin is a young daring investigative reporter whose travels around the world exposes him to fantastic adventures as he covers big stories and uncovers even larger mysteries accompanied by his dog, Snowy.



~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

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IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde's Visit to Nigeria

20 Dec 2011 12:33 Africa/Lagos

Nigeria / Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the Conclusion of her Visit to Nigeria

ABUJA, December 20, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde made the following statement today in Lagos at the conclusion of her visit to Nigeria.


Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, IMF

“It has been a pleasure to visit Nigeria on my first trip to Africa as Managing Director. I came here primarily to listen to our African members, and to find out how we can better tailor support to countries in this region in the current difficult global environment.

“I have had very productive discussions with President Goodluck Jonathan, Federal Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. They, along with their colleagues, play a key role in economic transformation here in Nigeria—a country of abundant resources, wealth of people, and vast potential. I also had the privilege of meeting representatives of civil society organizations and the private sector, including many women business leaders. All in all, this visit has been a wonderful chance for me to witness first-hand the spirit of opportunity and leadership that befits Africa's most populous country.

“Nigeria recognizes the need to maintain the reforms and policy implementation that helped it weather the crisis of 2008-09. Nigeria's own Transformation Agenda presents a worthy platform to guard against risks and promote shared growth. Most importantly, it is an agenda for Nigeria, driven by Nigerians.

“Three aspects of the government's agenda strike me as crucial. First, it is vital that natural resource revenues be channeled more effectively toward the infrastructure investment needed for growth and jobs. Second, promoting a more diversified economy will help Nigeria better withstand shocks and provide for more broad-based growth, again with opportunities and jobs for the entire population being the priority. Thirdly, continued financial sector reform should build on the impressive progress in resolving the recent banking crisis by further strengthening regulation and supervisory practices, and increasing access to credit. The IMF will do all it can to help support Nigeria in achieving its objectives.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Nigerian authorities for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.”

Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

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Sleep On A Mouka and Wake Up In Dubai!

Yes, you can sleep on a Mouka mattress and wake up in Dubai, one of the most beautiful and wonderful tourist destinations in the world.

Mouka, the leading manufacturers of mattresses, sheetings and other polyurethane based products in West Africa is offering the luxury trip to reward loyal customers in this special ‘Dream Destination Promo’.

The details of the dream trip to Dubai were announced at the opening of Mouka Limited's Showroom at the corporate head office in Ikeja, Lagos.


(Left) Financial Director, Mouka Limited, Mr. Benson Osieme discussing with Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Mrs. Peju Adebajo during the official opening of the company's ultra modern showroom at the corporate office in Ikeja, Lagos.


(L-R) Head of Commercial, Mouka Limited, Mr. Jude Abonu, Financial Director, Mouka Limited, Mr. Benson Osieme discussing with Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Mrs. Peju Adebajo during the official opening of the company's ultra modern showroom at the corporate office in Ikeja, Lagos.


(L-R): Managing Editor, AM Sports, Mr. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Managing Director/CEO, Mouka Limited, Mrs Peju Adebajo and Financial Director, Benson Osieme durng the opening ceremony of Mouka showroom at Mouka Corporate office in Lagos.

The promotion is still ongoing till January 31, 2012. The two-in-one promo combines both instant win and raffle draws. Customers who purchase a Mouka mattress worth N12,000 within the promo period gets an instant win and qualifies for a raffle draw to win cash prizes and a trip to Dubai with members of their family.

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Child Abuse in Nigeria

The picture shows a Nigerian mother feeding the innocent child with alcoholic drink straight from the bottle! This is child abuse!

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AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute Calls for Release of North Korean Prisoners

Kim Jong-il (born: Yuri Irsenovich Kim;16 February 1941/2 – 17 December 2011)

I have never paid much attention to Kim Jong-il and his beloved country communist North Korea, because I don't recognize idolatry in any form, from the closet to the street or from the pulpit to the highest office in government. What we have in North Korea is not a communist government, but a cult claiming to be "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". It is nothing more than a totalitarian monarchy of the Kim Dynasty since Kim Jong-il was preceded by his father Kim Il-sung who died on 8 July 1994, and now succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un who has taken over the command of their communist cult. North Korea is being ruled by a cult of psychopaths.

The following is a statement from AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights calling for the release of all the prisoners of conscience in North Korea.


20 Dec 2011 16:02 Africa/Lagos

AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute Calls for Release of North Korean Prisoners

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights called for the release of prisoners in North Korea following the death of longtime ruler Kim Jong-il.

"North Koreans are arguably the least free people on earth, barely surviving under a regime that denies basic human rights and lets its population starve while it pursues weapons of mass destruction," said E. Robert Goodkind, Chair of AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute.

The accession of Kim Jong-un as the leader of North Korea, following his father's death at age 69 last week, offers opportunities "to change this pattern," said Goodkind. The new regime can advance human rights and end some of the worst practices of abuses committed by the government against its own citizens.

JBI recommends that the Kim Jong-un government:

Dismantle the kwan-li-so, political penal labor camps, and release all detained in these and other prison facilities for alleged "political crimes," including those held for religious activities or belief.

End torture and other forms of inhumane treatment or punishment.

Improve delivery and monitoring of humanitarian aid in a transparent manner.

JBI also called on the international community to focus on promoting the stability that comes from improving the human rights conditions of North Koreans, including refugees, and to continue efforts to address nuclear non-proliferation.

AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, founded in 1971, works to protect human rights and to strengthen international institutions worldwide.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

CONTACT: Kenneth Bandler, AJC Director of Media Relations, +1-212-891-6771, +1-917-449-1259 (cell), bandlerk@ajc.org

Web Site: http://www.ajc.org

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Only Trouble Makers Are Still Protesting Against the Lekki Toll Gate

Lagos State Governor paying his own toll gate in Lekki.

Only trouble makers are still protesting against the Lekki Toll Gate after Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has already explained everything and alternative routes have been provided.

These dummies spend more than that on making unnecessary phone calls and unprofitable text messages.

Now people in Lagos will learn to be prudent and stop wasting time and fuel on unnecessary journeys all over the state.

Go out for only your legit daily work and other compulsory purposes and not for unprofitable and unworthy visits or meetings.

Trouble makers are just daft!

The only problem is the traffic jam the toll gate is causing and that must be addressed.

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More Stupid People Are Texting and Driving

Without apologies or regrets I have to call all those who cannot stop texting while driving as STUPID! And the following report has confirmed that the population of stupid people texting and driving is increasing.

Why should stupid people continue to text while driving when there is a cheap and easy to use device for hands free voice texting in motion?
See the demo video below.




Young drivers are most at risk of having an accident as a result of using a mobile phone

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Distracted driving is a dangerous and common practice —and it's becoming an even bigger problem on the nation's roads as more drivers are text messaging while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the percentage of drivers who text messaged or manipulated their mobile devices while driving went up significantly, from 0.6 percent in 2009 to 0.9 percent to 2010. The latest federal figures show more than 3,000 people died in car accidents in 2010 because of drivers who were texting, using a phone or were distracted by something else.

Texting and Driving Can Be a Lethal Combination

Distractions behind the wheel include eating, talking to other passengers, or changing the radio, but there is one that is especially dangerous: reading or writing text messages. Doing this increases the risk of an accident by 2,300 percent.

But you don't have to be typing away to be at risk of having or causing an accident:

Drivers who use mobile devices are four times more likely to have an accident and injure themselves or others.
Using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 percent, the legal limit in most states.
Using a cell phone can reduce the brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent.

Tips for Changing Your Habits

Habits can be hard to break, but these tips can help you get started:

Turn off your phone before driving away, or store it somewhere where you can't reach it.
If you have an urgent call you need to attend, find a safe place to park before using your phone.
Ask another passenger to answer your calls or messages.
Designate a copilot that can help you use other electronics in the car such as your navigation system or the radio.


How to Talk to Your Teens

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In fact, 16 percent of young drivers involved in fatal accidents were driving distracted.

There are several things parents or guardians can do to help reduce the risk of distracted driving in the family. First, set the example by refusing to drive distracted. In addition, you should:

Talk to your children about the dangers of distracted driving.
Make a commitment that no family member will drive and use mobile devices at the same time.

Establish consequences for not following the rules.
Speak up if the driver of the vehicle is using a cell phone.
Take the time to get to know your state's cell phone laws and share them with your children.

USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov are the U.S. Government's official web portals in English and Spanish, and part of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

SOURCE GobiernoUSA.gov/USA.gov

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Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL THE IMAX Experience
Explodes Into IMAX® Theatres Across North America Five Days Early On Friday, December 16



Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience One-Sheet Art

Highly Anticipated Fourth Installment Marks the Widest Early IMAX Engagement for a Domestic Feature; Film to Also Release Early in IMAX in Key International Territories

Film Features Approximately 30 Minutes of Footage Shot with IMAX Cameras


Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Director Brad Bird with IMAX® camera (Photo credit: David James(c) 2011 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved).

Los Angeles, CA — Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Paramount Pictures today announced that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience will begin previews in IMAX on Friday, Dec. 16, five days in advance of the film’s North American wide release on Dec. 21. Domestically, the film will open in approximately 300 IMAX® theatres and play through the film’s run at the box office.

Internationally, the film will open on approximately 200 IMAX screens beginning on Dec. 14, with several markets receiving an early window release in IMAX ahead of their wide release, including six days in the Netherlands, five days in the UK, three days in France and Poland, two days in Korea, Spain and Taiwan, and one day in various other countries worldwide.

In addition to the early window of engagement, the IMAX release of this fourth installment of Mission: Impossible features approximately 30 minutes of scenes shot with IMAX® cameras. These specific sequences, including the unbelievable stunt performed by Tom Cruise as he scaled the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, will expand to fill the entire screen, exclusively in IMAX, and further immerse the audience in the explosive action and vast scope of the film.

“We’re excited that audiences will be able to preview this film at its best a full five days in advance,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “This early engagement demonstrates the confidence that both the studio and filmmakers have in ‘The IMAX Experience’ to reinforce the event nature of the film and generate positive word-of-mouth to support the wider launch of this favorite franchise.”

“The edge-of-your-seat, heart-stopping suspense that Brad Bird masterfully delivers in this film is brought to life in IMAX, providing an up-close, you-are-there experience that is unparalleled,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Advance screenings of select film sequences shot with IMAX cameras have received overwhelmingly positive reactions from audiences across the globe.”

The IMAX release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

About Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
This holiday season, two-time Academy Award®-winner Brad Bird directs, with producers Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams, the action-packed spy adventure Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin, IMF operative Ethan Hunt is disavowed along with the rest of the agency when the President initiates “Ghost Protocol.” Left without any resources or backup, Ethan must find a way to clear his agency’s name and prevent another attack. To complicate matters further, Ethan is forced to embark on this mission with a team of fellow IMF fugitives whose personal motives he does not fully know.

Tom Cruise returns in the starring role as Ethan Hunt and is joined by an international cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapoor and Léa Seydoux. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is directed by Brad Bird, in his live action film debut, and written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec. Cruise, who produces the Mission: Impossible films, is joined by producers J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. The film will be co-financed by Skydance Productions. Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Paul Schwake and Dana Goldberg are the executive producers.

www.missionimpossible.com

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX theatres across North America on December 16 (Click here for theatre list)

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX international theatres beginning on December 14 (Click here for theatre list)

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry’s top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company’s new digital projection and sound systems – combined with a growing blockbuster film slate – are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX theaters deliver the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of September 30, 2011, there were 583 IMAX theatres (441 commercial multiplex, 23 commercial destination and 119 institutional) operating in 48 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on management’s assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, competitive actions by other companies, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes in law or regulations, conditions, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions and any future international expansion, foreign currency fluctuations and the Company’s prior restatements and the related litigation. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

For additional information please contact:

Entertainment Media:
IMAX Corporation – Santa Monica
Rebecca Klein
310-255-5656
rklein@imax.com

Principal Communications Group – Los Angeles
Melissa Zukerman/Paul Pflug
323-658-1555
melissa@pcommgroup.com
paul@pcommgroup.com

Investors:
IMAX Corporation – New York
Heather Anthony/Blaire Lomasky
212-821-0100
hanthony@imax.com
blomasky@imax.com

Business Media:
IMAX Corporation – New York
Adam Davis
212-821-0100
adavis@imax.com

Sloane & Company – New York
Whit Clay
212-446-1864
wclay@sloanepr.com

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Monica Shines and Wins MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 4

Monica

She may not be a pretty face and does come walking tall like a super model on the runway, but Monica, 22, has a voice that you cannot ignore and that her vocal dexterity lifted her higher above the other finalists in the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 4 grand finale on Sunday night December 18, 2011 and she went home with the grand prize of a brand new RAV 4 jeep, 2.5 million naira and an international recording deal.



The first runner-up Roy won 1.5 million naira and a Toyota Corolla Saloon car.


Roy collecting his cheque from famous Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs.


Ese, the second runner-up won 1 million naira and a Toyota Yaris Saloon car.


Ethel, the third runner-up won 1 million naira.

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Travel Into the Future Beyond Today

Can you imagine how we are going to travel in 2012 and beyond?

How about having cars that drive themselves?



Click here for more astonishing ways travelling will change soon.

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