12/28/2011

The Murder Room by Michael Capuzzo


The Murder Room by Michael Capuzzo tells the true story of the three founders of the Vidocq Society of Philadelphia -- a group of homicide detectives named after the real life detective who inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Three of the greatest detectives in the world -- a renowned FBI agent turned private eye, a sculptor and lothario who speaks to the dead, and an eccentric profiler known as "the living Sherlock Holmes"-were heartsick over the growing tide of unsolved murders. Good friends and sometime rivals William Fleisher, Frank Bender, and Richard Walter decided one day over lunch that something had to be done, and pledged themselves to a grand quest for justice. The three men invited the greatest collection of forensic investigators ever assembled, drawn from five continents, to the Downtown Club in Philadelphia to begin an audacious quest: to bring the coldest killers in the world to an accounting. Named for the first modern detective, the Parisian eugène François Vidocq-the flamboyant Napoleonic real-life sleuth who inspired Sherlock Holmes-the Vidocq Society meets monthly in its secretive chambers to solve a cold murder over a gourmet lunch.

The Murder Room draws the reader into a chilling, darkly humorous, awe-inspiring world as the three partners travel far from their Victorian dining room to hunt the ruthless killers of a millionaire's son, a serial killer who carves off faces, and a child killer enjoying fifty years of freedom and dark fantasy.

Safe House - 2012


An upcoming action thriller film about a group of rebel soldiers from the neighboring region destroy a CIA-operated safe house, the facility's young house-sitter must work to move the criminal who's being hidden there to another secure location. Filming took place in Cape Town, South Africa. As of December 2011, the film is in post-production.

Story is written by David Guggenheim and the film is directed by Daniel Espinosa starring Denzel Washington as Tobin Frost, Ryan Reynolds as Matt Weston, Sebastian Roche as Heissler, Joel Kinnaman as Keller, Brendan Gleeson, Robert Patrick and Sam Shepard.

The film is scheduled to be released on February 10, 2012 by Universal Pictures.

LONDON: Olympic Park Transformation


The London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) has released new aerial images showing the transformation of the Olympic Park as 2012 approaches.

The latest aerial shots show the Olympic Park ‘big build’ now over 90% complete, with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) on track to hand the site in London over to LOCOG early next year.

LOCOG chair Seb Coe said: “A huge amount has been achieved over the past 12 months with iconic new venues completed and test events bringing world-class sport to the Olympic Park for the first time. We still have much to do but there is growing excitement as we count down to the Games next summer.”

Retro Styles Will Translate to Mass Market in 2012


A leading retail trend consultant has predicted a renaissance for 1920s and 1950s fashions next year, while a WWD report suggests a surge of candy colors.

A recent report by The Associated Press via The Daily Mail looks at how runway looks will be translated for high street consumers in 2012.

According to Catherine Moellering, executive vice president of fashion and retail trend consultants Tobe Report, consumers can expect to see "exotic safari looks, candy colors, flattering 50s-style dresses and touches from the 20s" next year, with this being particularly prominent thanks to the release of Baz Luhrmann's movie adaptation of 1925 novel The Great Gatsby.

1920s-themed pieces such as drop waists, beaded chiffon dresses, cloche hats and waistcoats were prominent features in Spring/Summer 12 collections from labels such as Etro, Gucci and Ralph Lauren. Meanwhile, fashion houses such as Prada evoked 1950s Hollywood glamour via Marilyn Monroe-inspired pleats and pin-up style polka-dot bikinis

Luis Suárez banned for one match for Fulham gesture


Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been handed a one-match ban and fined £20,000 by Football Association for making an offensive gesture at Fulham fans during a Premier League game on Dec 5 and will miss Friday's match with Newcastle United.
Luis Suárez has proven a popular and controversial figure since signing
 for Liverpool in January. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Image
The Uruguyan has already been hit with an eight-match suspension after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
A statement on the FA website read: "Liverpool player Luis Suarez will begin a one match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of improper conduct in relation to the same game.
"Suarez was also fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct following a gesture he made towards the Fulham fans at the end of the fixture."
Liverpool have also been fined £20,000 for failing to control the behaviour of their players, in relation to the dismissal of Jay Spearing, against Fulham.
Liverpool players and manager, Kenny Dalglish, wore Suárez T-shirts in the warm-up of their match against Wigan to support Suarez against the eight-match ban.

Adele Notches 2011 Best Sales Year


Although 2011 is yet to pull down its curtain, Adele the 23-year-old British singer has been predicted by many to have the biggest-selling album of the year due to the steady sales of her second studio album "21", but with the new year fast approaching, it's revealed that the album, which came out last January, has not only sold more copies than any other album in the U.S. in 2011 (more than 5.6 million), but which has also moved the most units of any artist since 2004. According to a Reuters report, those gaudy figures (which top 15 million worldwide) make Adele the first artist to cross the 5 million mark in one year. Since Usher did so seven years ago, back in 2004, the R&B performer sold a grand total of 7.9 million copies with his fourth studio album "Confessions".

There have been other big hits along the way to Adele's mark, including Eminem selling more than 3.4 million copies of his comeback Recovery album last year and Taylor Swift taking the honors in 2009 with Fearless, which sold 3.2 million copies. But none have come as close to Usher's mark in the interim.

Ponting, Hussey recovered Australia


Mike Hussey hit an unbeaten 79 after Australia had collapsed
 to 27-4 against India on day three of the first Test.
 Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters
Australia held an overall lead of 230 runs , reaching 179-8 in their second innings, at stumps on day three of the 1st Test match.
A 115-run stand for the 5th wicket between Ricky Ponting (60) and Michael Hussey (79*)  lifted Australia to a descent score after their top order collapsed. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma set Australia reeling on (27-4). After Ricky Ponting departed for the 5th wicket on 142, wickets again started to fell quickly but Hussey still remains on the pitch.
Earlier India continued their 1st innings in the morning in strong position but after Hilfenhaus bowled Dravid on the 2nd ball of the day the remaining batsmen collapsed on Australian fast bowlers. Including Tendulkar's wicket, the previous day, India lost last 8 wickets for 68 to lag 51 runs short of Australia's 333. Hilfenhaus claimed 5 wickets.

Score Card AUS vs IND


Australia 333 & 179/8 (60.0 ov)
India 282
Australia lead by 230 runs with 2 wickets remaining
Stumps - Day 3
Australia 1st inningsRB4s6sSR
View dismissalEJM Cowanc †Dhoni b Ashwin681777038.41
View dismissalDA Warnerc †Dhoni b Yadav37494175.51
View dismissalSE Marshc Kohli b Yadav06000.00
View dismissalRT Pontingc Laxman b Yadav62946065.95
View dismissalMJ Clarke*b Khan31685045.58
View dismissalMEK Husseyc †Dhoni b Khan01000.00
View dismissalBJ Haddinc Sehwag b Khan27701038.57
View dismissalPM Siddlec †Dhoni b Khan41994041.41
JL Pattinsonnot out18542033.33
View dismissalBW Hilfenhausc Kohli b Ashwin19323059.37
View dismissalNM Lyonb Ashwin6111054.54
Extras(lb 21, w 2, nb 1)24
Total(all out; 110 overs)333(3.02 runs per over)
Fall of wickets 1-46 (Warner, 13.1 ov)2-46 (Marsh, 15.1 ov)3-159 (Ponting, 48.3 ov)4-205 (Clarke, 64.2 ov),
5-205 (Hussey, 64.3 ov)6-214 (Cowan, 67.1 ov)7-286 (Haddin, 90.6 ov)8-291 (Siddle, 96.1 ov),
9-318 (Hilfenhaus, 105.4 ov)10-333 (Lyon, 109.6 ov)
BowlingOMRWEcon
View wicketsZ Khan3167742.48(1nb, 1w)
I Sharma2474802.00
View wicketsU Yadav26510634.07(1w)
View wicketsR Ashwin2938132.79
India 1st inningsRB4s6sSR
View dismissalG Gambhirc †Haddin b Hilfenhaus3230013.04
View dismissalV Sehwagb Pattinson67837080.72
View dismissalR Dravidb Hilfenhaus681876036.36
View dismissalSR Tendulkarb Siddle73988174.48
View dismissalI Sharmac †Haddin b Hilfenhaus11690015.94
View dismissalVVS Laxmanc †Haddin b Siddle222009.09
View dismissalV Kohlic †Haddin b Hilfenhaus11211052.38
View dismissalMS Dhoni*†c Hussey b Hilfenhaus680075.00
View dismissalR Ashwinc †Haddin b Siddle31353188.57
View dismissalZ Khanb Pattinson461066.66
U Yadavnot out2160012.50
Extras(w 1, nb 3)4
Total(all out; 94.1 overs)282(2.99 runs per over)
Fall of wickets 1-22 (Gambhir, 7.5 ov)2-97 (Sehwag, 28.2 ov)3-214 (Tendulkar, 64.3 ov),
 4-214 (Dravid, 65.2 ov) ,5-221 (Laxman, 72.4 ov)6-238 (Kohli, 79.2 ov)7-245 (Dhoni, 81.4 ov)8-254 (Sharma, 87.2 ov),
 9-259 (Khan, 88.6 ov),10-282 (Ashwin, 94.1 ov)
BowlingOMRWEcon
View wicketsJL Pattinson2365522.39(1w)
View wicketsBW Hilfenhaus2657552.88(1nb)
View wicketsPM Siddle21.126332.97(2nb)
NM Lyon1726603.88
MEK Hussey501503.00
DA Warner20804.00
Australia 2nd inningsRB4s6sSR
View dismissalDA Warnerb Yadav5270018.51
View dismissalEJM Cowanlbw b Yadav8171047.05
View dismissalSE Marshb Yadav3110027.27
View dismissalRT Pontingc Sehwag b Khan60973061.85
View dismissalMJ Clarke*b Sharma140025.00
MEK Husseynot out791347058.95
View dismissalBJ Haddinc Laxman b Khan6140042.85
View dismissalPM Siddlec †Dhoni b Yadav4220018.18
View dismissalNM Lyonlbw b Ashwin011000.00
JL Pattinsonnot out3260011.53
Extras(b 4, lb 2, w 1, nb 3)10
Total(8 wickets; 60 overs)179(2.98 runs per over)
To bat BW Hilfenhaus
Fall of wickets 1-13 (Warner, 7.1 ov)2-16 (Cowan, 7.4 ov)3-24 (Marsh, 11.3 ov)4-27 (Clarke, 12.5 ov),
5-142 (Ponting, 40.2 ov)6-148 (Haddin, 42.5 ov)7-163 (Siddle, 50.6 ov)8-166 (Lyon, 53.6 ov)

BowlingOMRWEcon
View wicketsZ Khan1313222.46(1nb, 1w)
View wicketsU Yadav1534943.26
View wicketI Sharma1104113.72(2nb)
View wicketR Ashwin1944412.31
V Sehwag20703.50