Obama's first 'tweet' for the aid of Haiti quake victims

US President Barack Obama `tweeted` his very first message, joining the millions who have used the Twitter micro-blogging site as a vital information vehicle for the Haiti disaster.

The president and First Lady Michelle Obama visited an unadorned office in the American Red Cross headquarters serving as a disaster operations centre, and lent encouragement to staff and volunteers helping coordinate humanitarian aid activity in earthquake-devastated Haiti.


"We`re just here to say `thank you` for the great work you`re doing," Obama said as he entered the operations centre with American Red Cross board chairwoman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter.

As he moved about the room, where large maps of Port-au-Prince were tacked to the walls, he stopped at a media team desk and hit the "Send" button on a message that had just been typed on Twitter: "President Obama and the First Lady are here visiting our disaster operation centre right now."

This was followed by: "President Obama pushed the button on the last tweet. It was his first ever tweet!"

During his presidential bid in 2007 and 2008, Obama`s team harnessed the power of the Internet to raise record funding for his campaign.

His administration, too, has been praised for its tech-savvy use of the web. Advertisement

I have become more aware about the poverty in India: Genelia

Actress Genelia D`Souza says she has become more aware of the extent of poverty in India after hosting reality TV show 'Big Switch', which featured 10 rich children who gave up their comfortable lifestyles to fulfil the dreams of slum children.

"`Big Switch` was about a rich dreamer giving up his dreams to make another dreamer`s wish come true - helping someone who couldn`t afford to realise his or her dream. I have seen some of the most emotional moments between the rich and poor kids, which has given me a serious reality check in life," Genelia told reporters.

"There`s so much poverty in India, yet the people in slums have the courage to dream. I took up `Big Switch` simply because it was a reality show in good light. The concept exuded positivity, and the soul of the show was very clean," she added.

The show, which aired on UTV Bindass, had its finale Saturday. Genelia played a host, a friend and an advisor to all the children throughout the show. She says she was extremely touched during one episode.

"I have seen the rich kids do some of the sweetest things for their slum friends. I have seen them going to the extent of collecting cow dung with their bare hands - and all this for someone they have no relation with. I had tears in my eyes that day and it really gave me a reality check," the 22-year-old said.

Though Genelia is happy with the way her small screen debut turned out, she isn`t too sure if she will be seen on television shows again soon.

"I haven`t really thought about doing any other shows on TV. Films are my main focus at the moment. I have been working very hard for them," she said.

Genelia has been juggling between the southern film industry and Bollywood for the past five years but it was Imran Khan-starrer `Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na` that brought her to the forefront of Hindi movies.

Her latest movie `Chance Pe Dance`, which paired her with Shahid Kapoor, released to average reviews Friday. Genelia is now working with the likes of Anees Bazmee in `It`s My Life` and David Dhawan-John Abraham in `Hook Ya Crook`.

Asked if there were any specific roles she wanted to do, Genelia said: "I have never planned my career. Whatever comes my way, I try and make the best of it." Advertisement

Impromptu billboard film stops traffic

An enormous television screen showing a pornographic film caused a midnight traffic jam in central Moscow recently as stunned motorists slammed on the brakes to gawk at the writhing naked

The owner of the advertising screen, which sits atop a main road about two km south of the Kremlin, told the state-run RIA news agency that hackers had broken into the screen's computer system and turned on the porn.

"They were either acting out of hooliganism or were from a rival company," Viktor Laptev, commercial director of advertising firm Panno.ru, told RIA.

A short clip showing cars slowing to a halt to look at the screen sprung up on youtube.com and internet sites Friday across Russia, a country which banned nudity on television before the Soviet Union fell in 1991.

Authorities said they are investigating, RIA added. Advertisement

Salman to romance Preeti

Preeti, like every other girl, lives in her own world of dreams in which she eternally dreams of getting married to a perfect man that resembles Bollywood's most handsome men like Salman, Saif, Shahid to name a few!

Her dream finally materializes and she will share special moments with the most adorable actors from Bollywood with an impressive use of computer graphics.

For late-starters, this Preeti is the protagonist of Rajshri Productions and Imagine's new serial 'Do Hanson Ka Jodaa'.

Thanks to this extraordinary technology, Preeti will now star in Rajshri Production's blockbuster MAINE PYAR KIYA opposite Salman Khan! She will also be seen romancing this Bollywood hearthrob and exchange famous dialogues from the movie!

"I have done a lot of graphics in my earlier shows and in my film, but this one is really different. I did this for the first time. It took a lot of effort to do this. Right from scripting, storyboarding, shooting, editing, computer graphics, sound editing - the whole team really worked hard!" said Kaushik Ghatak, director of the show.

"And it was really fun.... I hope our audience will also enjoy. Another most important reason why this sequence is very near to my heart is that all the shots are from Soorajji's films. I grew up watching his films. This small effort is my tribute to the legendary film maker," he added. Advertisement

Megan Fox’s Sexy New Ads for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans

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Savita Bhabhi in trouble again?

Savita Bhabhi, India’s first porn toon star, is courting trouble yet again. Bollywood in Love - les Aventures de Savita Bhabhi, a new comic book, based on her sexcapades, by French publisher Editions Blanche, may have got her fans excited, but not everyone is amused.

Rajesh Chharia, president of Internet Service Provider Association of India, one of the people who pushed for the ban on the original Savita Bhabhi website, says, “This needs to be stopped, in whatever form it is, since the original website is banned in India.”

But her followers stay loyal. After being banned by the government last June for obscenity, last month Savita Bhabhi returned on new URL, www.kirtu.com. And now, with the comic book, SB has found fans in France too. Writes Adam Viviane, “Too good. This comic awakens the senses!!! She’s so hot man!” Vin4u blogs, “This is cooler than a site. We can pass it around... I’m so ordering it.”

The 96-page comic book is authored by Deshmukh, the UK-based brain behind the SB website, and designed by graphic designers Dexstar and Madman. Currently it is available at online retailer www.amazon.com’s France website for €13.25 (Rs 875). The book is yet to come to India. Advertisement

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