Priyanka Chopra happy for cousin’s debut with Yash Raj Films

Actress Priyanka Chopra is very happy that her cousin Pariniti Chopra is making her debut as an actress with Yash Raj Films.

“Pariniti is my sister. Today only she has signed a film with YRF. I am very happy that YRF singned her,” Priyanka told reporters at a promotional event of her film “7 Khoon Maaf” held at JW Marriot hotel Monday.

Pariniti has been signed for the film “Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl” where actor Ranveer Singh and actress Anushka Sharma are yet again sharing the screen space after their recent hit “Band Baaja Baaraat” under the same banner.

Based on the story developed by producer Aditya Chopra “Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl” is a romantic comedy where a charming conman Ricky Bahl cons girls for a living, but finally meets his match.

The film is set to go on floor early April with plans to hit theatres worldwide Dec 9 this year.

Pariniti works with YRF in their marketing department and she did PR for her film “Pyaar Impossible” too, reveals Priyanka.

“She works with YRF’s marketing department. In fact, she worked as PR for my film with YRF,” said Priyanka.

Asked what tips she would like to give to her sister, she quipped, “I would call her and say that.”

- IANS

Lost savings bonds: Treasuryhunt.gov helps find missing bonds.

re you looking to find a missing savings bond from the Treasury Department? A hot topic on the Google trends on Friday, January 14, Treasuryhunt.gov is the place to search for this information.

According to Treasury Direct, there are approximately 25,000 payments returned to the Department of Treasury each year as undeliverable.There are billions of dollars in savings bonds that have stopped earning interest and remain un-cashed.

The Treasuryhunt.gov website may provide you information about a bond that's missing. However, the database only keeps series E bonds that were issued from 1974 on.

Unclaimed money: Treasurydirect.gov helps find missing money, bonds

For missing bonds and notes issued prior to 1974, or bonds that are not series E, you must contac the Treasury Department directly. If you have a lost or stolen bond that has not matured, you must file form 1048 or 3062-4.

Rishi Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit set the stage on fire

What would happen if two of the Bollywood’s dance legends come together on one stage? The stage would indeed be on fire. Something similar happened on the sets of Sont TV’s “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4″ when veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit danced together.

Rishi, who was on the sets of the dance show to promote his new film “Patiala House”, and Madhuri set the stage on fire as they both performed to the popular song “Ek mein aur ek tu” from the movie “Khel Khel Mein”.

The duo have done handful of films together like “Sahibaan”, “Yaraana”. Their last film together was “Premgranth” in 1996.

Rishi is known for dancing on his knees and the actor reveals that it helped him in impressing his actress wife Neetu Singh.

With just Sushant Singh Rajput, Ragini Khanna, Mahi Vij, Yana Gupta, Ankita Lokande, Shekhar Suman and Mieyang Chang left in the field, the competition has got tough. Earlier, these celebrities were just giving one performance and now they have to give two. Besides Madhuri, the judges panel for the show includes Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora Kha

It was time to change focus, get intense – Akshay Kumar

BollywoodWorld.com, Akshay Kumar is in the mood for intense and dramatic roles and will be seen as a Sikh guy trapped in the patriarchal family system in “Patiala House”. He says he accepted the offer as it was completely opposite to his real life story and also because he is keen to change his funny guy image.

“It was a conscious decision to do a serious role because it’s been three years since I’ve done something like this. The last was ‘Namastey London’. I’ve been away from it for quite sometime now and was concentrating on comedy. So I thought of changing focus and doing something serious,” Akshay told IANS in an interview.

“While playing the character, I felt that I’m playing what real people go through in life, what circumstances they face. I’m not playing just a role, it is a culmination of the lives of common people out there,” added the 43-year-old.

Akshay showed his funny side in his first hit comedy “Hera Pheri”, but his comedies like “Action Replayy” and “Tees Maar Khan” bombed at the box office.

Set in London, “Patiala House” sees Akshay Kumar’s character Gattu trapped between his dreams and his father’s aspirations for him.

The film has been directed by Nikhil Advani and co-produced by Bhushan Kumar, Mukesh Talreja, Krishan Kumar and Akshay along with his wife Twinkle Khanna.

Akshay says what attracted him to the role was that his life story was completely opposite to his character in the movie.

Ohio's unemployment rate dips slightly in December

(WOIO) - Ohio's unemployment rate was 9.6% in December, down from 9.8% in November, according to data released Friday morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 567,000, down from 580,000 in November. The number of unemployed has decreased by 71,000 in the past 12 months from 638,000. The December unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 10.8% in December 2009.

The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 9.4%, down from 9.8% in November.

Snow up to 9 inches, with 1/4 inch Layer of Ice for Londonderry

According to the National Weather Service low pressure will begin to move northeast from the Gulf of Mexico tonight…then intensify at it heads up the eastern seaboard Tuesday. the low will move through the Gulf of Maine Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Snow will overspread New Hampshire and then Maine during the day on Tuesday. Enough warm air may wrap into the system to change the precipitation over to rain along coastal regions and extreme southeast New Hampshire by Tuesday night. Further inland a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected with all snow anticipaSix inches or more of snow with mixed precipitation causing a thin layer of ice is likely, especially away from the immediate coast. right along the shoreline A few inches of snow will accumulate before the mixing or changeover to rain occurs. The precipitation will wind down on Wednesday. In the meantime expect very slick travel…especially over inland sections.

Winter storm warning in effect from 7 am Tuesday to 10 am est Wednesday

The National Weather Service in Gray has issued a winter storm warning for mixed precipitation which is in effect from 7 am Tuesday to 10 am est Wednesday. the winter storm watch is no longer in effect. Storm duration and accumulation forecast has increased since Monday afternoon.

• Timing: Snow will enter the region Tuesday morning between 7am and 10am in Londonderry followed by mixed snow sleet and freezing rain away from the coast Tuesday night. The precipitation will wind down Wednesday morning.
• Accumulations: 5 to 9 inches or more of snow with one quarter inch of ice.
• Impacts: Travel will be treacherous. Scattered power outages are possible.
• Forecast confidence: Forecast confidence in snow amounts is moderate to high however, there is still some uncertainty in the track of the low. A slightly further east low track will mean lesser snow amounts especially in the northern New Hampshire and western
  Maine mountains. A track further west would yield more snow for the mountains but more of a mix on the coastal plain and perhaps a bit more freezing rain than forecast.
• Instructions: A mixture of snow sleet and freezing rain will make for difficult travel across the region Tuesday into Wednesday.

ted over far northern areas.

Ana Zorrilla

Ana Zorrilla came to Louisiana SPCA to provide her services to animals and human community of New Orleans and now being the CEO of LA/ SPCA along with the Mayor Mitch Landrieu said they would pursue their service for the animals to the city in the year 2011 under a new agreement.

After a long discussions and controversies in the agreement it was a relief for the residents and animals of the city as the amount of money to provide these services were increased to $1.92 million and it is enough as it included a number of service like—bite case response and quarantine, adoption services, lost and found services, disaster and hurricane assistance, stray animal sheltering and trapping, cremation of un-adopted ones and inspection of stables for mules used to pull carriages.

The LA/SPCA have been known already to provide quality services for decades and now with co-operative donors, officials and under the leadership of Ana Zorrilla the people of New Orleans are sure they could be satisfied with all the work which commenced yesterday.

Lost savings bonds: Treasuryhunt.gov helps find missing bonds.

Are you looking to find a missing savings bond from the Treasury Department? A hot topic on the Google trends on Friday, January 14, Treasuryhunt.gov is the place to search for this information.

According to Treasury Direct, there are approximately 25,000 payments returned to the Department of Treasury each year as undeliverable.There are billions of dollars in savings bonds that have stopped earning interest and remain un-cashed.

The Treasuryhunt.gov website may provide you information about a bond that's missing. However, the database only keeps series E bonds that were issued from 1974 on.

Unclaimed money: Treasurydirect.gov helps find missing money, bonds

For missing bonds and notes issued prior to 1974, or bonds that are not series E, you must contac the Treasury Department directly. If you have a lost or stolen bond that has not matured, you must file form 1048 or 3062-4.

Sharukh Khan and John Barrowman

Shahrukh Khan caught kissing a Guy ! Recently a picture of SRK kissing British actor John Barrowman has become a hot topic among SRK fans and gay communities.

From a long time, there are several rumors that SRK is a gay, adding strength so those rumors recently a picture released in internet in which king of bollywood kissing a British actor.

The scene was supposed to be a part of Jonathan Ross show, which was later removed during its telecast.

Interestingly SRK never caught kissing any actress and never lip locked any of his actresses on and off the screen.

Akshay asked Anushka to spit on him !

Anushka Sharma seems to be in the happiest phase of her life. The pretty lady is quite satisfied with the way her filmy career and personal life are shaping up. Anushka who started her Bollywood journey with King Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, didn’t leave that great an impression on the audience in Badmaash Company with Shahid Kapoor .

But her last film, Band Baaja Baaraat covered up for all the complaints and past failures and turned out to be the best out of all the films that she has done so far. Anushka who has just completed her film Patiala House with Akshay Kumar is waiting for its release in February. The actress had a great time shooting with the one and only Khiladi, but also admits to have been quite nervous on her first day.

She says, “Working with Akshay Kumar was a dream come true experience. But the first day I reached the shoot, we had a scene where I was told to spit on his face. It was my first day and I was anyway quite nervous and he (Akshay) kept saying ‘thook thook, spit on my face’. That really got me stunned.” Akshay really wanted to bring out the best from his actress, even if it was something as gross as spitting. Anushka says, “Though I was nervous, Akshay made it easy and comfortable and the shot went smoothly.” Akshay has always maintained a good rapport with all the newcomer actresses, so is the beautiful Anushka Sharma.

The Daily Fives for January 8th, 2011 From the Sports Mac

1. Jim Harbaugh agrees to become the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, signing a five-year, $25 million contract.

2. Louisiana State runs all over Texas A&M to blow out the Aggies and win the 75th Cotton Bowl.

3. Amar'e Stoudemire scores 23 points for the New York Knicks in his first game back in Phoenix since leaving as a free agent last summer.

4. Toronto scores four power-play goals in less than five minutes, the first team to do so in over 12 years, in a demolition of the Thrashers in Atlanta.

5. The NCAA rules that Enes Kanter is permanently ineligible and will not play basketball for the University of Kentucky.

Results of 2011 Cotton Bowl: final score: 41-24

LSU rallied from an early deficit to dominate the Cotton Bowl, with Jordan Jefferson throwing three touchdown passes to Terrence Toliver en route to a 41-24 win.

Coryell Judie started the game on a high note for A&M with a long kickoff return that set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Uzoma Nwachukwu. When Randy Bullock added a 39 yard field goal for the Aggies it was 10-0 early.

But LSU's Jordan Jefferson was about to have one of the best games of his career. He hit Terrence Toliver for a 42 yard touchdown late in the first quarter, then ran it in from a yard out early in the 2nd, and LSU had the lead, 14-10.

A&M responded with a great play when running back Cyrus Gray, seemingly caught in the backfield, threw to a wide open Nwachukwu in the end zone, and the Aggies were on top again 17-14.

But that would be their last lead of the game. LSU's Stevan Ridley, who was declared eligible for the game just days before, scored on a 17-yard run, then Toliver caught his 2nd TD pass from Jefferson late in the half to make it 28-17 LSU at halftime.

Toliver and Jefferson hooked up once again in the 3rd quarter, this time for 41 yards, to make it 35-17 LSU.

A&M's last chance came early in the fourth quarter after Tannehill found Kenric McNeal on a 4 yard touchdown strike to pull within two scores at 35-24. Then the Aggie defense stopped LSU on a 3rd and 10 on A&M's 33 yard line.

But LSU's Josh Jasper, one of the nation's best kickers, connected on a 50 yard attempt, making it 38-24. Worse for the Aggies, Tannehill was intercepted two plays later. The Tigers drove again inside the 10 and Jasper made another field goal, making the score 41-24 with 2:30 left. A&M fumbled on the next play from scrimmage.

Jefferson had 158 passing yards, most of those to Toliver who had 112 receiving yards. Ridley had 105 rushing yards and Spencer Ware 102 as the normally stout Aggie defense couldn't handle the Tigers on the ground. Tannehill had 204 passing yards but was intercepted three times; Cyrus Gray had an even 100 yards rushing to go with his TD toss.

MOKONDO

The Texas A&M Aggies shot out of the gate in the Cotton Bowl, but it was Les Miles and the LSU Tigers imposing their will down the stretch to cruise to a 41-24 victory in Dallas. The Aggies scored the first 10 points of the game and looked to have LSU on their heels early, but the Tigers responded. A flurry of touchdowns in the second quarter was all it took for the Tigers as they rolled down the stretch.

It was a record-setting performance for LSU wide receiver Terrence Tolliver. His three touchdown catches were the most in Cotton Bowl history, and came as a surprise to anyone that's watched LSU this year. Know for their running, and a passing game bordering on inept, the Tigers finished with three passing touchdowns in an aerial attack that proved to be quite efficient.

Of course, the rushing attack was still there, with the Tigers rushing for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Tolliver finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on five catches to lead all receivers while Stevan Ridley carried the ball 24 times for 105 yards and a score. Spencer Ware added 10 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as well.

Texas A&M got an up-and-down performance from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The junior finished with 182 yards and two touchdowns through the air, but also threw three costly interceptions. Cyrus Gray hit the century-mark on the ground, rushing for exactly 100 yards on 20 carries. Uzoma Nwachukwu caught four passes for 38 yards and hauled-in both of the Aggies passing touchdowns.

Maryland Staged Terror Theories Develop After Package Explosions?

Many people are now coming up with Maryland staged terror conspiracy theories after shocking news broke out earlier Thursday that said two packages exploded at the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover and at a government building in Annapolis. Would the FBI stage such a thing?

The packages apparently emitted smoke and a sulfur smell, when opened. They slightly burned the fingers of the employees who handled them, but nobody was seriously hurt. The Associated Press notes in their report:

"When both packages were opened there was a reaction that caused a flash of fire, a brief flash of fire, smoke and a smell," state police spokesman Greg Shipley said. "This is not to be compared with a significant explosion that you think of when you say that word."

In total, four peoplersons went to the hospital, as a result of these two packages which slightly exploded. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt by these incidents. Two were injured slightly, while two others wanted to be checked out, due to the fact they were in the vicinity of the exploding packages. At this time, it's hard to speculate on what the purpose was behind these mailings.

Still, it seems as if this incident has lead to conspiracy theorists starting up their ideas of how the FBI and the US government may have been involved. None of these theories can be readily found online, meaning they are probably lurking in secretive forums or private groups on the web. According to one website's take on the matter:

"Despite such news reports, conspiracy theorists have surfaced online calling the incident a Maryland staged terror plot. Some are even claiming that the FBI staged the explosions. Seriously!? Who actually believes that nonsense? "

What do you think of this latest news? Was it a Maryland staged terror incident? Were the explosive packages caused by an individual acting alone or some other group?

Maryland Staged Terror Theories Develop After Package Explosions?

Many people are now coming up with Maryland staged terror conspiracy theories after shocking news broke out earlier Thursday that said two packages exploded at the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover and at a government building in Annapolis. Would the FBI stage such a thing?

The packages apparently emitted smoke and a sulfur smell, when opened. They slightly burned the fingers of the employees who handled them, but nobody was seriously hurt. The Associated Press notes in their report:

"When both packages were opened there was a reaction that caused a flash of fire, a brief flash of fire, smoke and a smell," state police spokesman Greg Shipley said. "This is not to be compared with a significant explosion that you think of when you say that word."

In total, four peoplersons went to the hospital, as a result of these two packages which slightly exploded. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt by these incidents. Two were injured slightly, while two others wanted to be checked out, due to the fact they were in the vicinity of the exploding packages. At this time, it's hard to speculate on what the purpose was behind these mailings.

Still, it seems as if this incident has lead to conspiracy theorists starting up their ideas of how the FBI and the US government may have been involved. None of these theories can be readily found online, meaning they are probably lurking in secretive forums or private groups on the web. According to one website's take on the matter:

"Despite such news reports, conspiracy theorists have surfaced online calling the incident a Maryland staged terror plot. Some are even claiming that the FBI staged the explosions. Seriously!? Who actually believes that nonsense? "

What do you think of this latest news? Was it a Maryland staged terror incident? Were the explosive packages caused by an individual acting alone or some other group?

'Million Dollar Money Drop': Target logo, Orkin pest questions puzzle fansThursday's episode of "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that the easiest

Thursday's episode of "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that the easiest questions can cause the biggest headaches. On the popular game show, contestants Sherman Mitchell and Omar Williams were asked two questions that, on the surface, seemed to have the most obvious answers: 1) How many red rings surround the bullseye on the Target logo and 2) According to Orkin, what creature is the No. 1 pest problem in America (ants, bedbugs, or roaches)?

Without using Google, were you able to figure out the answers?

Despite most of America shopping in Target on a daily basis, it's likely that that particular question caused you to strike the "Thinker" pose. If your brain hurts from pondering the answers or you're just too lazy to search the Internet, here it is--the Target logo has just one red ring (it does have a small red circle at its center), and the biggest pest problem is America is none other than the ant.

On Fox, "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that, at the end of the day, no matter how many college degrees you hold, we really aren't as smart and observant as we think we are.

Local Mega Millions winner could mean windfall for ailing governments

onight, some lucky person might win the $355 million Mega Million multi-state lottery jackpot, which is sold in the District, Maryland and Virginia, among other states. And while thousands of people across the region are lining up to buy tickets, there's a reason to root for an area resident even if you don't personally win: A local winner could mean a serious windfall for government treasuries in dire need of help these days.

In the District, a sole winner who accepts the lump cash payment of $224.2 million would pump a full $19 million into the coffers of a city anticipating a fiscal 2012 shortfall of $400 million or more, via an 8.5 percent withholding for income tax. (That's after the feds take 25 percent, or $76.8 million.)

In Maryland, where lawmakers must close a $1.6 billion gap, a sole winner opting for up-front cash would send $20.7 million into the state treasury, via a 9.25 percent withholding.

And in Virginia, where Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) needs to find $191 million in savings, a 4 percent withholding would raise just shy of $9 million.

"We could definitely use it," said Buddy Roogow, executive director of the D.C. Lottery.

Unfortunately the chances aren't great: Mega Millions is sold by 40 other jurisdictions besides the three in the Washington area. And the high interest in the record jackpots means more players are playing more numbers, increasing the chances of a split pot.

But Roogow said that even if a D.C. resident doesn't hit it big, the jackpot has been good for city coffers. "People are buying other things [at lottery agents]; it's good for the retailers," he said.