Plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid vehicle with batteries that can be recharged by connecting a plug to an electric power source. With an internal combustion engine and batteries for power, they share the characteristics of conventional hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles. Most PHEVs on the road today are passenger cars, but there are now PHEV versions of certain commercial passenger vans, utility trucks, school buses, scooters, and military vehicles as well. PHEVs are sometimes called grid-connected hybrids, gas-optional hybrids, or GO-HEVs.

The cost for electricity to power plug-in hybrids for all-electric operation in the U.S. state of California has been estimated as less than one fourth the cost of gasoline. Compared to conventional vehicles, PHEVs can help reduce air pollution and dependence on petroleum, and lessen greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Plug-in hybrids use no fossil fuel during their all-electric range if their batteries are charged from renewable energy sources. Other benefits include improved national energy security, fewer fill-ups at the filling station, the convenience of home recharging, opportunities to provide emergency backup power in the home, and vehicle to grid applications.

As of September 2007, plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles are not yet in production. However, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and Chinese automaker BYD Auto have announced their intention to introduce production PHEV automobiles. Toyota obtained permission in July 2007 to sell their plug-in Prius in Japan, BYD Auto expects to introduce their PHEV-60 sedan in the second half of 2008, and General Motors expects to introduce plug-ins in 2009 or 2010. Conversions of production model hybrid vehicles are available from conversion kits and conversion services. Most PHEVs on the road in the U.S. are conversions of 2004 or later Toyota Prius hybrid cars, which extend their electric-only range and add plug-in charging.




Technology
PHEVs are based on the same three basic powertrain architectures as conventional hybrids:

Series hybrids use an internal combustion engine (ICE) to turn a generator, which in turn supplies current to an electric motor, which then rotates the vehicle’s drive wheels. A battery or capacitor pack, or a combination of the two, can be used as a buffer of sorts to store excess charge. Examples of series hybrids include the Renault Kangoo Elect'Road, Toyota's Japan-only Coaster light-duty passenger bus, DaimlerChrysler's hybrid Orion bus, the Chevrolet Volt concept car, and many diesel-electric locomotives. With an appropriate balance of components this type can operate over a substantial distance with its full range of power without engaging the ICE. As is the case for other architectures, series hybrids can operate without plugging in as long as there is liquid fuel in the tank.

Parallel hybrids, such as Honda's Insight, Civic, and Accord hybrids, can simultaneously transmit power to their drive wheels from two distinct sources—for example, an internal-combustion engine and a battery-powered electric drive. Although most parallel hybrids incorporate an electric motor between the vehicle's engine and transmission, a parallel hybrid can also use its engine to drive one of the vehicle's axles, while its electric motor drives the other axle. The Audi Duo plug-in hybrid concept car is an example of this type of parallel hybrid architecture. Parallel hybrids can be programmed to use the electric motor to substitute for the ICE at lower power demands and to substantially increase the power available to a smaller ICE than would normally be used, either mode substantially increasing fuel economy compared to a simple ICE vehicle.

Series-parallel hybrids have the flexibility to operate in either series or parallel mode. Hybrid powertrains currently used by Ford, Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota, which some refer to as “series-parallel with power-split,” can operate in both series and parallel mode at the same time. As of 2007, most plug-in hybrid conversions of conventional hybrids utilize this architecture.


Modes of operation
Regardless of its architecture, a plug-in hybrid may be capable of charge-depleting and charge-sustaining modes. Combinations of these two modes are termed blended mode or mixed-mode. These vehicles can be designed to drive for an extended range in all-electric mode, either at low speeds only or at all speeds. These modes manage the vehicle's battery discharge strategy, and their use has a direct effect on the size and type of battery required:

Charge-depleting mode allows a fully charged PHEV to operate exclusively (or depending on the vehicle, almost exclusively, except during hard acceleration) on electric power alone until its battery state of charge is depleted to a predetermined level, at which time the vehicle's internal combustion engine or fuel cell will be engaged. This period is the vehicle's all-electric range. This is the only mode that a battery electric vehicle can operate in, thus their limited range.[26]

Charge-sustaining mode is used by production hybrid vehicles (HEV) today, and combines the operation of the vehicle's two power sources in such a manner that the vehicle is operating as efficiently as possible without allowing the battery state of charge to move beyond some predetermined narrow band. Over the course of a trip in a HEV the state of charge may fluctuate but will have no net change. The battery in a HEV can thus be thought of as an energy accumulator rather than a fuel storage device. Once a plug-in hybrid has exhausted its all-electric range in charge-depleting mode, it can switch into charge-sustaining mode automatically.


The redesigned Renault Kangoo Elect'road operates in blended mode, using engine and battery power simultaneously.Blended mode is a type of charge-depleting mode normally employed by vehicles which do not have enough electric power to sustain high speeds without the help of the internal combustion portion of the powertrain. A blended control strategy typically takes more miles to use stored grid electricity than a charge-depleting strategy.[28] The Renault Kangoo and some Toyota Prius conversions are examples of vehicles that use this mode of operation. The Electri'cité and Elect'road versions of the Kangoo were charge-depleting battery electric vehicles: the Elect'road had a modest internal-combustion engine (ICE) which extended its range somewhat. 2004 and later model Toyota Prius conversions can only run without using the ICE at speeds of less than about 42 mph (68 km/h) due to the limits dictated by the vehicle's powertrain control software. However, at faster speeds electric power can still be used to displace gasoline thus improving the fuel economy in blended mode, generally doubling the fuel efficiency.

Mixed mode describes a trip in which a combination of the above modes are utilized.[29] For example, a PHEV-20 Prius conversion may begin a trip with 5 miles (8 km) of low speed charge-depleting, then get onto a freeway and operate in blended mode for 20 miles (32 km), using 10 miles (16 km) worth of all-electric range at twice the fuel economy. Finally the driver might exit the freeway and drive for another 5 miles (8 km) without the internal combustion engine until the full 20 miles (32 km) of all-electric range are exhausted. At this point the vehicle can revert back to a charge sustaining-mode for another 10 miles (16 km) until the final destination is reached. Such a trip would be considered a mixed mode, as multiple modes are employed in one trip. This contrasts with a charge-depleting trip which would be driven within the limits of a PHEV's all-electric range. Conversely, the portion of a trip which extends beyond the all-electric range of a PHEV would be driven primarily in charge-sustaining mode, like a conventional hybrid.


Batteries
Further information: Battery electric vehicle
PHEVs typically require deeper battery charging and discharging cycles than conventional hybrids. Because the number of full cycles influences battery lifetime, battery life may be less than in traditional HEVs which do not deplete their batteries as deeply. However, some authors argue that PHEVs will soon become standard in the automobile industry. Design issues and trade-offs concerning battery life (they would last ten years[citation needed]), capacity, heat dissipation, weight, costs, and safety need to be solved. Advanced battery technology is under development, promising greater energy densities by both mass and volume, and battery life expectancy is expected to increase.

The cathodes of some early 2007 lithium-ion batteries are made from lithium-cobalt metal oxide. This material is expensive, and cells made with it can release oxygen if its cell is overcharged. If the cobalt is replaced with iron phosphates, the cells will not burn or release oxygen under any charge. The price premium for early 2007 conventional hybrids is about US$5000, some US$3000 of which is for their NiMH battery packs. At early 2007 gasoline and electricity prices, that would break even after six to ten years of operation. The conventional hybrid premium could fall to US$2000 in five years, with US$1200 or more of that being cost of lithium-ion batteries, providing a three-year payback. The payback period may be longer for plug-in hybrids, because of their larger, more expensive batteries.

Nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries can be recycled; Toyota, for example, has a recycling program in place under which dealers are paid a US$200 credit for each battery returned. However, plug-in hybrids typically use larger battery packs than comparable conventional hybrids, and thus require larger resource flows. Recently PG&E has suggested that utilities would purchase used batteries for backup and load levelling purposes. They state that while these used batteries may be no longer usable in vehicles, their residual capacity still has significant value.

Électricité de France and Toyota are installing recharging points for PHEVs in France, on roads, streets and parking lots.. EDF is also partnering with Elektromotive, Ltd.[38] to install 250 new charging points over the next six months in London and elsewhere in the UK. Recharging points also can be installed for specific uses, as in taxi stands.


Conversions of production hybrids

15 lead-acid batteries, PFC charger, and regulators installed into WhiteBird, a PHEV-10 conversion of a Toyota PriusFor more details on this topic, see Electric vehicle conversion.
Conversion of an existing production hybrid to a plug-in hybrid typically involves increasing the capacity of the vehicle's battery pack and adding an onboard AC-to-DC charger. Ideally, the vehicle's powertrain software would be reprogrammed to make full use of the battery pack's additional energy storage capacity and power output.

Many early plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conversions have been based on the 2004 or later model year Toyota Prius. Some of the systems have involved replacement of the vehicle's original Ni-MH battery pack and its electronic control unit. Others, such as Hymotion as well as builders of the CalCars Prius+, and the PiPrius, piggyback an additional battery back onto the OEM battery pack, this is also referred to as Battery Range Extender Modules (BREMs). This has been referred to as a "hybrid battery pack configuration" within the electric vehicle conversion community. Early lead-acid battery conversions by CalCars demonstrated 10 miles (15 km) of EV-only and 20 miles (30 km) of double mileage blended mode range.

EDrive Systems use Valence Technology Li-ion batteries and have a claimed 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 km) of electric range. Other companies offering plug-in conversions or kits for the Toyota Prius include Hymotion, Hybrids Plus, and Manzanita Micro.

The EAA-PHEV project was conceived in October of 2005 to accelerate efforts to document existing HEVs and their potential for conversion into PHEVs. It includes a Conversion Interest page. The Electric Auto Association-PHEV "Do-It-Yourself" Open Source community's primary focus is to provide general information to curious parties and detailed conversion instruction to help guide experienced EV Converters through the process, including public conversions, lasting about two hours per car. Many members of organizations such as CalCars and the EAA as well as companies like Hybrids Plus, Hybrid Interfaces of Canada, and Manzanita Micro participate in the development of the project.

German teen escapes prison in suitcase

BERLIN: A 19-year-old German woman has escaped from prison by hiding in a friend's suitcase.

The fugitive hid inside the large case when her 17-year-old fellow inmate was released from the youth prison in northwest Germany on Friday, Lower Saxony ministry spokesman Dennis Weilmann said on Monday.

The girl simply walked out of the building with her friend concealed in her luggage, Weilmann said.

"Our staff are going to make sure they inspect big suitcases more carefully in the future," Weilmann said.

Neither of the teenagers has since been caught. Both had been jailed for theft. The escaped prisoner had less than two weeks left to serve.

Airbus A380 completes maiden voyage

Worlds largest passenger jet makes historic Singapore to Sydney flight



ON BOARD FLIGHT SQ380 - A Singapore Airlines A380 on Thursday completed a long-delayed historic journey — the first commercial flight by the world's largest jetliner that boasts luxurious suites, double beds and the quietest interior of any plane.

With 455 passengers and a crew of about 30 including pilots, the Airbus superjumbo lifted off safely from Singapore's Changi Airport. About seven hours later, it landed in Sydney.

Before take off, passengers clapped as the plane disengaged from the dock on schedule at 8 a.m. and taxied to the runway that was widened and lengthened to accommodate

More cheers broke out 16 minutes later as the double-decker aircraft, powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, soared into the nearly cloudless sky, tinged pink by the light of the early morning sun.

Flight attendants handed out champagne and certificates to passengers, some of whom paid tens of thousands of dollars in an online auction for the seats to be part of aviation history.

"I have never been in anything like this in the air before in my life," said Australian Tony Elwood, reclining with his wife, Julie, on the double bed in their private first class suite.

"It is going to make everything else after this simply awful," he said, sipping Dom Perignon rose after a lunch of marinated lobster and double boiled chicken soup. He paid $50,000 for the two places.

'Milestone in the timeline of aviation'
The double-decker A380 ends the nearly 37-year reign of the Boeing 747 jumbojet as the world's most spacious passenger plane. The A380 is also the most fuel efficient and quietest passenger jet ever built, from inside and outside, according to its European manufacturer, Airbus SAS.

It was delivered to Singapore Airlines on Oct. 15, nearly two years behind schedule after billions of dollars in cost overruns for Airbus. Still, the wait was worth it, says Singapore Airlines, which got the exclusivity of being the plane's sole operator for 10 months.

"This is indeed a new milestone in the timeline of aviation," said Chew Choon Seng, chief executive of Singapore Airlines, or SIA, in a speech before the departure.

The Boeing 747 jumbo jet generally carries about 400 passengers. The A380 — as tall as a seven-story building with each wing big enough to hold 70 cars — is capable of carrying 853 passengers in an all-economy class configuration.

However, Singapore Airlines, recognized as one of the best in the world, opted for 471 seats in three classes — 12 Singapore Airlines Suites, 60 business class and 399 economy class.

Each suite, enclosed by sliding doors, is fitted with a leather upholstered seat, a table, a 23-inch (58-centimeter) flat screen TV, laptop connections and a range of office software. A separate bed folds up into the wall. Two of the suites can be joined to provide double beds, one of which the Elwoods occupied.

On the upper deck, business class seats can turn into wide flat beds, while the economy class seats on both decks will enjoy more leg and knee room, the carrier says. Business class passengers also have a bar area.

Shortage to boost costs:Beer drinkers beware

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. - Fans of Snipes Mountain Brewery’s cloudy Hefeweizen relish the subtle wheat flavor of the bright, summery brew, and like beer drinkers everywhere, they know when their favorite brew tastes a little too hoppy or bitter.

Connoisseurs could be in for a surprise this year, and they may not be alone.

Small brewers from Australia to Oregon face the daunting prospect of tweaking their recipes or experimenting less with new brews thanks to a worldwide shortage of one key beer ingredient and rising prices for others.

Oh, and one other thing: Beer prices are likely to climb. How high is anybody’s guess. Craft brewers don’t have the means to hedge against rising prices, like their industrial rivals.

“I’m guessing, at a minimum, at least a 10 percent jump in beer prices for the average consumer before the end of the year,” said Terry Butler, brewmaster at central Washington’s Snipes Mountain.

Sales have been relatively flat in recent years among the country’s big three brewers — Anheuser-Busch Cos., Molson Coors Brewing Co. and SABMiller PLC. unit Miller Brewing Co — while small, independent brewers have experienced tremendous growth. The craft brewing industry experienced a 12 percent increase by volume in 2006, with 6.7 million barrels of beer. Sales among microbreweries, which produce less than 15,000 barrels per year, grew 16 percent in 2006.

Now the bright spot in the brewing industry is facing mounting costs on nearly every front. Fuel, aluminum and glass prices have been going up quickly over a period of several years. Barley and wheat prices have skyrocketed as more farmers plant corn to meet increasing demand for ethanol, while others plant feed crops to replace acres lost to corn.

A decade-long oversupply of hops that had forced farmers to abandon the crop is finally gone and harvests were down this year. In the United States, where one-fourth of the world’s hops are grown, acreage fell 30 percent between 1995 and 2006.

Australia endured its worst drought on record. Hail storms across Europe damaged crops. Extreme heat in the western United States hurt both yields and quality.

Big brewers can hedge against rising prices for raw ingredients and can negotiate better, longer-term contracts for ingredients, while smaller brewers generally are left with whatever is left.


Snipes Mountain saw its barley malt prices grow between 10-15 percent this year, and paid $12.35 per pound for Cascade hops, far beyond the $5.60 per pound allotted last year.

Those rising prices and, in some cases, shortages, may force Butler to rethink his lineup of 13 beers in the months ahead. He’ll also be tinkering with a Hefeweizen recipe that relies on Saaz hops, a mild variety popular with Bohemian pilsners, after severe weather in Europe dinged as much as 40 percent of the crop.

Iphone software Downloads - Review of Iphone Media Downloads Site

There aren’t many places where you can find good Iphone software downloads, and the software selections don’t even always work. A few monthes ago I started searching places on the web where I could find all the Iphone software downloads that I wanted. I wasted a lot of time and money but I then I came across the Iphone Download Pro.

This site has more than just Iphone software downloads. They have downloads for games, movies, TV shows, music, software, sporting events and much more. For the small one time membership fee I got all the downloads I needed. Other sites charge per download but the Iphone media downloads site gives you unlimited downloads for life. You can go on there 24 hours a day and download Iphone softwares.

The downloads are very fast with no restrictions. You are provided with all of the necessary DVD to PC to Iphone software to make your Iphone softwares work flawlessly at no extra charge. They also give you free step by step tutorials that make downloading and installing very easy. Their media selection is huge and covers every variety of music, movies and games.

They offer top notch free 24 hour technical support. If you ever have any questions or problems, you can contact them with any technical questions. They will walk you step by step, through any problems you may be having with your Iphone software downloads.

This site provides you with one of the access to one of the largest file networks on the planet and it is all 100% legal. Another very nice benefit is that you can start downloading you Iphone softwares, music, movies and TV shows within minutes of joining. I haven’t come across any sites that off as much as this site does for what you pay.

I have seen a lot of sites pop up and fizz off over the past few months but I feel very fortunate to have come across this site because now my Iphone is filled with 100+ movies, some of which are still in the theatres.

This site specializes in Iphone software downloads and because of this, they have covered all the bases and left no stone unturned. This is by far the best collection of Iphone software downloads that I have seen. Hands down, I would give this site 10/10 stars. This site is a no brainer

Converting videos to your iPod or Phone

Are you interested in converting videos to your iPod or iPhone? Are you wondering how do you get DVDs onto my iPod or iPhone? What is the iPod or iPhone video format? Are you interested in ripping DVDs onto iPod or iPhone? This article will answer all those questions for you so read bellow.

To idea is to be able to take whatever source you have (DVD or video file) and rip it to an MP4 (mpeg 4) video file at 320 x 240 resolution so it can be played on an iPod or iPhone. The 5G (fifth generation) iPods will not accept video at resolutions higher than 320 x 240 so you usually need to convert your video. A typical DVD movie will take up about 500 to 700 megs when converted.

Users have always been in a need of program that transforms digital video files into an iPod-compatible format. Such applications should work with AVI, MPEG, VOB, WMV, and RM files and support batch conversion. Users should be able to specify the video and sound quality and have the program automatically shut down the computer when it's finished. A good program like that should feature an easy-to-use interface, produce high quality files in a timely manner. The format of iPod and iPhone for video files is MPEG 4 at 320x240

Blow away any previous tools and software you might have installed that you don't need and you think might conflict with getting a good DVD rip. Also blow away any old media files you don't need. This process is fairly heavy on resources so generally the more room you have and the less things that can get in the way, the better.

Winxmedia DVD iPod Video Converter converts DVD to iPod video (MP4 with AAC). It can split large files to multi-volumes according to the mode and size you set. You can preview the video and monitor the converting process. The Winxmedia can process DVD, IFO, and MPG/VOB files. You can select just a part of video/audio to convert according to start time and quantity of frames. The software provides luminace filter and deinterlace filter. You can also select audio track and subtitle to convert. Users can set the resolution of the output video and many other options. The interface is easy to use.

If all seems to have gone well, open iTunes and drag your new video onto your Library or directly onto your iPod or iPhone.

Unlimited Software Downloads -

There are many websites that offer unlimited software downloads, but the software is usually not very good quality. I have searched many websites were I can get all of the unlimited software downloads that I would need and want. When I came across the software download site, there was more than just unlimited software downloads.

The unlimited software downloads site has downloads for music software, video games, music, movies, office tools, and much more. Here I can get all of the downloads I need for a one time only membership fee. Other sites charge per download, the site gives you unlimited downloads for life 24 hours a day with just a one time only small membership fee. Click Here

They offer 24/7 free technical support which is second to none. If you ever have any questions or problems, you can contact them with any technical questions. They will walk you step by step, through any problems you may be having with your unlimited downloads.

The have fast unlimited 24/7 downloads, no time limits, resume anytime, no bandwidth limits, no content limits You can download as many games, music, software, and movies as you want. Using their exclusive and easy burning software, copy any file to DVD or CD. Click Here

With Over 1 million files find exactly what you are looking for. All movies, music and games come with excellent quality. The unlimited software download site also provides you with antivirus, firewall, antispyware and design programs software, along with tutorials to get you started immediately.

You can begin downloading your unlimited software downloads within minutes after joining. You really get your money's worth. There are many sites that offer software downloads but I have never come across a site that offers as much as this one does.

On ‘Blackout,’ Britney emerges confident, sensual and in control

Britney Spears, “Blackout” (Jive Records):
Just when it seemed safe to write off Britney Spears as a punch line only capable of entertaining people through tabloid escapades, she goes and gets all musically relevant on us.

“Blackout,” her first studio album in four years, is not only a very good album, it’s her best work ever — a triumph, with not a bad song to be found on the 12 tracks.

Granted, a Spears rave should be put in its proper context — it’s not like we’re talking Bob Dylan here. Spears is a lightweight singer who only flourishes when she has great songs and great producers to supplement her minimal vocal talent.

But when she has that help, she’s fierce. And she gets that boost on every single track on “Blackout,” a sizzling, well-crafted, electro-pop dancefest that should return her to pop’s elite.

This is a shocker, given all the lowlights Spears has given us this year. From her embarrassing MTV Video Music Awards performance to her bizarre public antics to allegations that she’s an irresponsible parent, Spears has been a walking disaster. It seems amazing that she even found her way to a recording studio, let alone did anything of value while in it.

But Spears emerges on “Blackout” as the antithesis of her tabloid persona — confident, sensual, and in control.

I got my eye on you,” she coos on one of the album’s best tracks, “Radar,” a sexy techno groove that you can’t help but bounce to — a feeling that permeates all of “Blackout’s” tracks. You won’t find any saccharine ballads or fluffy pop on this disc — it’s all about generating heat on the dance floor (and if Spears has shown us anything in the last year, it’s that she knows how to party).

On the aptly titled “Freakshow,” produced by Danja (who worked on Justin Timberlake’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds”), Spears gets voyeuristic with a tantalizing promise to get wild in the club. The hypnotic “Get Naked (I Got A Plan),” also produced by Danja, features Spears breathlessly asking, “What I gotta do to make you move my body” before demanding, “take it off, take it off, take it off.”

It’s not all about grinding to the music, though. On rock-tinged “Piece of Me,” produced by Bloodshy & Avant, she defiantly addresses her critics: “I’m Mrs. Bad Media Karma, another day another drama ... I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I’m Mrs. ‘Oh My God That Britney’s Shameless.’ ” And on the slow-burn, Neptunes-produced “Why Should I Be Sad,” the album’s last track, she cops to heartbreak but refuses to let it get her down, a rare vulnerable moment.

Coming soon: Make ad changes without replacing code

We're very excited to let you know about an upcoming feature that lets you easily manage your ad units from within your AdSense account. It isn't live yet, but here's a sneak peek so you'll know what to expect in the coming weeks. (We know many of you have been eagerly anticipating its arrival.)




This new ad management feature means that your ad unit settings (such as colors and channels) for new AdSense for content ad units will be saved in your AdSense account every time you generate ad code. Then, if you'd like to change any of these settings in the future, all you do is make the update within your account -- you'll no longer need to manually replace the ad code on all of your pages. For instance, you can quickly change the borders of all your 300x250 medium rectangles from red to blue with just a few mouse clicks. Fancy! We hope that this new feature will help you save time and will simplify the process of optimizing your ad units.






As we noted above, please keep in mind that the ad management feature isn't yet available in any publisher accounts. We'll be rolling it out in phases in the next few weeks, and we'll follow up with another post at that time to help you better understand how to use the feature. When you see the "Manage Ads" page appear under your AdSense Setup tab, you'll know the feature is available for you to use. Here's what it will look like:





Stay tuned to read more about this new feature!



Posted by Traci Hailpern - AdSense Product Marketing

Entertainment and Nightlife in Nepal

Nepal is an agricultural based society which means most of the locals go to bed early and get up with the rising sun – working like a dog and sleeping like a log but this does not mean that life goes to sleep too. The life is still wide awake and young to many who need to keep themselves fully entertained and you will find plenty of places to fulfill your desire. Most of the restaurants in the main tourist areas like Thamel close after 10 pm but a number of bars stay open until after midnight.

Note that the city laws in Kathmandu means all music needs to be put off by 10 pm and people on the streets should be on their way home. In this magnitude too, you still can be merry in the fascinating action packed Casinos or shake a leg or two in some discotheques.

People travel to Nepal for various reasons and one of the reasons for their travel especially for the South Asian people has been to play in the Casinos of Nepal and try their lady luck smiling upon them.

There are four Casinos in Kathmandu located in the premises of the city’s top hotels which offers 24 hours of non stop fun and games like baccarat, blackjack, flush, poker, pontoon, roulette, and other card games and slot machines. All the games are played in chips and they can be bought with US dollars or Indian rupees. You'll get free food and sometimes a disco if you put some money on the tables. Nepali's are officially forbidden from entering in Casinos.

To keep yourself amused from dawn to dusk, you can get yourself engaged in different things from a short trek, sight seeing, mountain flight, movies to dining in a nice and cozy restaurant that offers cultural programs and witness the diverse and fascinating ethnic and cultural traditions of Nepal. Enjoy your visit to Nepal all the more by visiting in the following entertainment places in Kathmandu:

Casino Nepal - Soaltee Compound, Tahachal, Ph. 4270244
Casino Anna - Hotel de L'Annapurna, Durbar Marg, Ph. 4228650
Casino Everest - Hotel Everest, New Baneshwor, Ph. 4488100,
Casino Royale - Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg, Ph. 4225550

Culture Shows - Almost every restaurant and hotel that caters to the non-backpacking, up-scale market hotels, hosts a nightly culture show complete with local dances, music, songs and costumes. Usually starts at around 7.00 PM and costs about Rs 200 per person.

The Himalchuli Cultural Group is a Classical and Folk Dance group, which performs nightly, at 7.00 PM - 8.30 PM, at The Festival Restaurant and Bar in Lazimpat, (behind the Peace Zone English School) Ph. 4415280. The restaurant serves excellent Nepali and Newari cuisine.

In Pokhara many restaurants have a cultural dance show on every night. Sign boards outside the restaurants advertise what’s happening.

Local Bands, the Bar Scene and Dancing - Look for local bands in the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara that may even get away with staying open past the 10pm curfew. Discos are becoming popular and dancing sometimes breaks out at local bars. Because of cultural attitudes toward men and women contact, local people general dance with the same sex. A general rule: if you see local women dressed in jeans, they've been cultured abroad or family ties extend outside the country.

There are several bars scattered around Thamel in Kathmandu, all close to each other. Each one has its own style so have a look in each one to choose which appeals to you.

Tom & Jerry Pub - upstairs, opposite to Pilgrims Book Store, has been open for along time, it's noisy and has pool tables. Close by on the same side of the road is the New Orleans Cafe - a popular place to eat good food and often has live bands. In the same area is the Jump Club - a popular bar with DJ and a small dance floor. Further north is the Tunnel Club - a popular top-floor place with very loud music and open late hours. Almost opposite is Sam's Bar - a small place with good music that opens after 5 PM.

A well known bar is the Rum Doodle Restaurant & Bar - it's a favorite meeting place for mountaineering expeditions, and you can eat here free for life, but only if you conquer Everest first! The Pub Maya, which is associated with Maya Cocktail Bar - has remained a favorite for along time. Close to Thamel Chowok is the Underground Bar, which always has its music up pretty high. Further along on Tridevi Marg, Studio 54 is currently popular.

Right near Yin Yang Restaurant is Paddy Foley's Irish Bar - a very popular place, especially on St. Patrick’s day!

Kathmandu has a couple of discos, popular with the more wealthy Nepalis. The Moon Sun Disco - at the Heritage Plaza in Kamaladi, Club X Zone near Durbar Marg. Both are open late every night but are probably not ideal for visiting tourists. If you want to dance bars in Thamel are a lot better.
Caution: with over 50 ethnic groups, drunken brawls are not uncommon whenever people are warmed up enough to cut-a-rug.

Movies - The only theaters in the country play popular Hindi movies from Bollywood, mostly without English subtitles. But catching a Hindi movie is worth it since understanding the language is not essential to enjoy these comedy-musical spectaculars. Recently, a few local venues have popped up serving English language movies that are about 6 months behind their market release.

A number of restaurants in Thamel offer pirated videos or laser discs on TV's, almost as soon as they are released at the cinemas in the west. These places usually require you to eat at the restaurant and the movie is included. You'll see the movies written up on chalk boards on the pavements.

Update: The Inter-Cultural Film Society - Starting in March 2000, this non-profit organization promises to "bring diverse feature films from different cultures around the globe ... for promotion of inter-cultural understanding”. Call Prem Basnet or Susi Groeli at: 4481659 or 5537551 for detail information.

There are films shown at the Russian Cultural Center in Kamal Pokhari. They are foreign language films with English subtitles.

Step on it! Britney drives over paparazzo’s foot

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - It might just be Britney Spears’ latest hit.

Hours after losing visitation rights with her two young sons, the struggling pop star apparently ran over the foot of a photographer for celebrity Web site TMZ.com. Spears was driving away from a Beverly Hills medical building, her car surrounded by photographers, when the incident occurred about 5 p.m. Thursday.

Messages left with her attorney weren’t immediately returned.


Video posted on the Hollywood.TV Web site shows elements of the incident but not the tire rolling over the cameraman’s foot.

The video shows Spears beginning to pull out of the structure when her car is surrounded by more than a dozen photographers. The car comes to a stop.

Spears honks and the car lurches forward a few feet. Shouting is heard, and the camera jerks around as fellow photographers appear to help a man up.

Spears drives off and seconds later video shows what appears to be a tire mark on the photographer’s sock. The man, wearing sandals with white socks, doesn’t respond to questions from the others as he walks away, apparently unhurt.

TMZ producer Gillian Sheldon confirmed Friday that the photographer was employed by the Web site. She said there were no plans to file a police report. In a statement released by TMZ, the photographer indicated he wasn’t angry.

“Things happen at certain times and she was just a little impatient,” said the man, whose name wasn’t released. “She got a little impatient for whatever reason. I say let bygones be bygones.”

Earlier Thursday, Spears, 25, learned she can no longer visit her two preschool-age sons, who are in the custody of ex-husband Kevin Federline, until she complies with an order from Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon.

Gordon’s ruling didn’t spell out what directives Spears had defied, but a hearing was scheduled for Oct. 26.

Previously, though, Gordon has ordered Spears to undergo random drug and alcohol testing twice a week and to meet weekly with a “parenting coach.”






Going pantyless is so last week — except for Brit


As celebrity trends go, the crotch shot is so not hot. Heck, even Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton started putting on panties two seasons ago. But just last week, Britney Spears treated the world to yet another gander at her no-no. Why does the plummeting pop star keep doing it? The latest issue of In Touch Weekly delivers the scoop on Brit’s distaste for drawers.

“The underwear thing is ridiculous — and I’ve told her,” Britney’s pal, jewelry designer Tuesday Knight, told In Touch. “I’ve said, ‘You cannot walk into a store wearing just a shirt with your underwear off.’ I’ve told her that no one will take her seriously when she does this.”

“I love Britney — adore her — but she brings a lot of it on herself” Tuesday said, and went on to explain that parading around panty-free started as prank between LiLo, Paris and Brit. “I’ve heard (them) talk about how they shock Hollywood just for the fun of it. They were discussing how they could play a little joke on all of us.”


It’s not all fun and games, though. Tuesday’s alarmed that her famous friend's revealing habit is sabotaging her image as a mom. “Britney has always been a good mother,” she insisted. “I want people to know that she’s the better parent — not Kevin! (Britney) asked me, ‘Doesn’t anybody get to see this part of me?’ The answer is, no, they don’t. People just read about her not wearing underwear.” Newsflash, Tues. They see it, too.

Is Owen Wilson off the wagon?
Now that embattled Owen Wilson is back in the public eye, it seems he’s exchanged his sober buddy for that alleged harbinger of human downfall, Steve Coogan. Won’t somebody please listen to Courtney Love?! Steve, you may recall, is the British actor and comedian whom ex-gal Courtney blamed for Owen’s emotional and/or substance abuse issues.

Steve and his legal representatives denied his alleged bad influence, and now Life & Style reports the “Night in the Museum” co-stars are hanging together once again, despite Courtney’s warnings. But Steve isn’t the only hard-partying pal Owen’s out drinking with, according to several L&S spies. The magazine reports that Owen “apparently suffered a major setback in his recovery from an August suicide attempt” when earlier this month, he allegedly drank heavily at the Viceroy hotel in Santa Monica.

This is the poop: Owen and crew partied privately in the hotel’s library room. “They had bottle service and were drinking vodka,” one witness claimed. What’s more, when Owen first arrived at the bar, “he looked like he’d already been drinking,” hotel guest Jamie Brandt told Life & Style. “He was stumbling when he came in and literally falling down when he left.”

Despite these accounts, one Owen insider said it’s not the drinking that’s the problem. The Wilson family views Owen’s obstacles “as a mental health problem as opposed to a substance-abuse issue,” the family friend said. “So Owen’s goal wasn’t to sober up, it was to feel better about himself.” And contrary to witness reports re: Owen’s Viceroy partying, the actor’s representatives insist he wasn’t drunk.

Oprah says thyroid problem caused weight gain

Winfrey tells O magazine condition slowed down her metabolism, energy






NEW YORK - Oprah Winfrey is going public about the thyroid condition that slowed down her metabolism and caused her to gain 20 pounds.

Winfrey, 53, was feeling incredibly sluggish by the time her talk show wrapped up its season in May. She eventually discovered the problem: an out-of-balance thyroid.

“My body was turning on me,” she says in the October issue of O, the Oprah magazine. “First hyperthyroidism, which sped up my metabolism and left me unable to sleep for days. (Most people lose weight. I didn’t.)”









“Then hypothyroidism, which slowed down my metabolism and made me want to sleep all the time. (Most people gain weight. I did! Twenty pounds!)”

Hyperthyroidism can also cause a fast heartbeat, among other symptoms; hypothyroidism, the opposite condition, can result in fatigue and weakness.

Winfrey, exhausted and stressed, took a month-long break in Hawaii to regain her health.

Winfrey also discussed her thyroid condition on Tuesday’s “Oprah” show, saying she “wanted so many other women who are going through the same thing to check on yourself and recognize that ... it’s an issue we all share in common.”

She devoted the show to women’s health issues and featured Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of “The Wisdom of Menopause.”

Consumer Reports sees Toyota reliability slip

Two of top automaker’s models earn below-average rankings in a study



DETROIT - Consumer Reports said on Tuesday that it was reversing a practice of recommending all new Toyota cars and trucks after two models earned below-average rankings in a closely watched reliability study.

The step marked the latest setback for Toyota Motor Corp. after a period of fast growth in the United States that has made it the No. 2 player in the world’s largest auto market.

In recent years, Japanese auto brands, led by Toyota, have dominated Consumer Reports’ influential study of the most reliable new vehicles.





Besides its influence with car shoppers, the annual study is used by major automakers as a proxy for their performance in improving and maintaining vehicle quality.

Although Toyota ranked third in reliability behind only Honda Motor Co and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd’s Subaru, Consumer Reports also found two Toyota models had “below average” predicted reliability.

Those two models were the V-6 version of Toyota’s flagship Camry sedan and the four-wheel-drive, V-8 version of its new Tundra pickup truck.

“Consumer Reports will no longer recommend any new or redesigned Toyota-built models without reliability data on a specific design,” the publication said in a statement. ”Previously, new and redesigned models were recommended because of the automaker’s excellent track record.”

The same study found gains for Ford Motor Co., which landed three models on the magazine’s “most reliable” list.

Consumer Reports ranked the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and the automaker’s market-leading F-150 pickup truck with a V-6 engine as among the most-reliable new vehicles on the market.

“Ford continues to improve,” David Champion, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports, said in a statement. “We believe Toyota is aware of its issues and trying to fix problems quickly.”


brief reporters in Detroit on the results of the annual survey on Tuesday.

Representatives for Toyota and Ford were not immediately available for comment.

In the first nine months of this year, Toyota had a 16.2 percent share of the U.S. market for new cars and light trucks, behind only General Motors Corp at 23.8 percent.

But the Japanese automaker’s fast growth since 2000, when it had less than 10 percent of the U.S. market, has left it facing new pressure and scrutiny.

Two high-ranking executives have defected from Toyota’s U.S. subsidiary in recent months to join U.S. automakers. The most recent of those was Jim Farley, who left Toyota’s luxury Lexus division, to take over as top marketing executive at Ford.

In September, Toyota’s North American chief, Jim Press, left the automaker after a 37-year career to become vice chairman at newly private Chrysler LLC.

Toyota, which has won credit with consumers for its reputation for quality and fuel-efficiency, has also come under fire from environmental groups.

Although Toyota dominates the market for fuel-efficient hybrids with its Prius, it has joined Detroit-based automakers in lobbying against stringent increases in fleetwide fuel economy.

Consumer Reports is published by the nonprofit Consumers Union. The magazine accepts no paid advertising.

The publication’s “predicted reliability” study for new model vehicles is based on an average of consumer ratings of the same model in the recent years.

The magazine surveys readers and visitors to its Web site about their experience with the cars and trucks they own.

Top 10 most fuel-efficient luxury SUVs

New breed that's bursting onto car scene, 'crossover' tops the 2008 list





All of the most fuel-efficient sport utility vehicles forsake their truck roots for car-like qualities that not only improve fuel economy, but make for a better ride on the road. A lot of people, from automotive analysts to manufacturers to marketers, are pretty excited about the growth prospects of this new breed of SUV called the “crossover.”

Sales of these vehicles are climbing while traditional SUV sales are declining. One reason often cited in these times of lofty gas prices is crossovers’ better fuel economy. But there are other factors at play.

“This year, the traditional SUV market will fall below 2 million units sold in the U.S. for the first time since 1995,” says George Pipas, U.S. sales analysis manager at Ford, the company that perhaps reaped the most rewards from the 1990s SUV craze with its then best-selling Ford Explorer and Lincoln Navigator. “At the same time, the crossover utility market this year will be 2.7 to 2.8 million,” a fivefold increase since 2000.


Back then, the term “crossover” didn’t even exist, unless you were talking about a basketball move; these in-between vehicles were often dubbed “sport-cutes” or “cute-utes” by industry insiders. Now they can be called crossover utility vehicles, or CUVs. Regardless of the name, it’s an incredible growth rate considering the slight decline in overall SUV sales since then. “Crossover utility vehicles have been, and, in our view, will continue to be the fastest growing category in the U.S. industry,” Pipas says.

What are crossovers?
Named for the way they blend the characteristics of cars, minivans and SUVs, crossovers are often touted for combining the high seating position and utility of an SUV with the better on-road handling and less stigmatized image of a car.

There’s another meaningful, if less visible, difference: Like cars, crossovers are built on unibody platforms, which are typically smaller and lighter than traditional SUV body-on-frame designs that are based on pickup trucks.

Both crossovers and SUVs usually offer four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) systems; 4WD is intended more for serious off-road use, while AWD implies a system designed more for foul-weather security and traction on paved roads.

In exchange for their better ride and on-road handling, crossovers lose some of the ruggedness of traditional SUVs, such as the ability to tow or haul extremely heavy loads and, in some cases, the ability to tackle rough terrain. Considering that most SUV buyers rarely, if ever, go off road, the compromises crossovers create aren’t an issue for many drivers.

Are crossovers really better?
Traditional SUVs might be brawnier, but crossovers tend to get better gas mileage. All of the vehicles on our list of Top 10 most fuel-efficient luxury SUVs are crossovers. See the full list in the slideshow.

To illustrate the fuel economy differences in a fair comparison, we looked at crossovers and traditional SUVs of similar size, weight and specifications. According to the latest EPA fuel-economy data, two crossovers — the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano — have a 3-mile-per-gallon advantage in combined city/highway driving over comparably sized and equipped traditional SUVs — Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

Here’s how the Edge stacks up against the Explorer: The base Ford Edge with a V6 engine and front-wheel drive gets 19 mpg overall, while the rear-wheel-drive Explorer with a V6 engine achieves 16 mpg, according to the EPA. Both figures drop by 1 mpg with optional four-wheel drive.


Likewise, the Murano bests the Pathfinder: The front-wheel-drive Nissan Murano with its V6 engine returns an estimated 20 mpg, while a similarly equipped Pathfinder gets 17 mpg. Fuel economy for both Nissans also drops by 1 mpg with the addition of four-wheel drive.

Much of the Ford Edge’s and Nissan Murano’s (the two crossovers) advantage in fuel economy lies in their smaller V6 engines and more efficient transmissions.

“It is clear that crossovers achieve better mileage, and often mileage that is within 2 to 3 miles per gallon of the figures achieved by the sedans that they are based on, particularly if they are two-wheel drive versions,” says NADA’s Taylor.

But keep in mind that the EPA’s fuel-economy estimates are produced in a lab. Real-world numbers are a function not only of the vehicles, but of their drivers — as well as the terrain.

Jaxtr links your phone

What is jaxtr?
Jaxtr links your phone to the web, so you can hear from callers worldwide while keeping your existing phone number private.

Can I control who calls me?
Yes. Jaxtr’s PrivacyShield™ automatically routes calls to voicemail. You can then easily control which friends you want to ring through to your phone.

Do I need a headset?
No, it works with any phone you already use, including ordinary landline phones. No download required.

How much does it cost?
Jaxtr is free. In the future, we will offer premium services for jaxtr power users, but our basic service will remain free.

Can jaxtr save me money?
With jaxtr, you bypass expensive international mobile fees. Now, for the first time, you can call friends and family overseas at the same cost and with the same convenience as calling a friend down the street.

just try nothing loose

http://www.jaxtr.com/rauniyarrajesh

“The Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf

Modern women are free and independent and the objectification of women is no modern phenomenon. Women were always against the image of decorative objects as they are allocated. There is a famous book “The Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf. In this book she explains why women are treated this way. She says that women’s obligation to a diet and doing make up is something that society prescribed to her. This society assigns significance to women in the vertical hierarchy according to culturally set physical model. Men always think that women are so interested in their appearance, that they have no time for other problems. As long as women are conscious about their bodies and their shortages, their self-esteem is weak and they have no desire to think over politics or any other global problems.
In the media there are a lot of works, which try to demoralize women’s identity. They try to dissect, decorate and attract attention only to the body of women. Many people still stick to the point that women can only be regarded as object of beauty and sexuality. By dividing the whole person into parts such as hands, legs and breast in advertisements, women not only see themselves as sexual objects, but they are coerced into the degrading recognition with their interiorized bodies. This is some type of link between the beauty and clearly sexuality, invading the mainstream to weaken women’s new and defenseless sense of sense worth. This linkage means that without idealized body type, women are not supposed to be sexy and desirable. As a result, one can say that in any case women are always connected with their sexuality and beauty and the movement of feminism gave them certain rights but it did not deliver them from their main physical features and sexuality.

Welcome to the Nokia 7373 phone support pages, where you can find assistance and information to help you make the most of your Nokia 7373 phone.

For an overview of product details and technical specifications, please go to the Nokia 7373 product pages.

If you have trouble opening a file, right-click and open in a new window or disable your pop-up blockers.



Innovative swivel design, vibrant QVGA display, integrated 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom and video recorder, stereo player, convenient push-to-talk and Nokia Xpress Audio Messaging functions

Painting

Painting, meant literally, is the practice of applying color to a surface (support) such as paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer or concrete. However, when used in an artistic sense, the term "painting" means the use of this activity in combination with drawing, composition and other aesthetic considerations in order to manifest the expressive and conceptual intention of the practitioner.

Painting is used as a mode of representing, documenting and expressing all the varied intents and subjects that are as numerous as there are practitioners of the craft. Paintings can be naturalistic and representational (as in a still life or landscape painting), photographic, abstract, be loaded with narrative content, symbolism, emotion or be political in nature. A large portion of the history of painting is dominated by spiritual motifs and ideas; sites of this kind of painting range from artwork depicting mythological figures on pottery to biblical scenes rendered on the interior walls and ceiling of The Sistine Chapel to depictions of the human body itself as a spiritual subject.

Spending '30 Days of Night' With Josh Hartnett

A starring role in the WWII melodrama “Pearl Harbor” put Josh Hartnett at the forefront of the emerging twenty-something actors of the time, though it was not the most indicative work of an actor who preferred the murky waters of dark indie drama. His breakout role in the horror hit “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) jettisoned him to teen heartthrob status, but Hartnett was able to break from the post-adolescent pigeonholing that might have resulted from “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) and the multiple appearances on People magazine’s “Hottest” lists....


Full Biography

A starring role in the WWII melodrama “Pearl Harbor” put Josh Hartnett at the forefront of the emerging twenty-something actors of the time, though it was not the most indicative work of an actor who preferred the murky waters of dark indie drama. His breakout role in the horror hit “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) jettisoned him to teen heartthrob status, but Hartnett was able to break from the post-adolescent pigeonholing that might have resulted from “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) and the multiple appearances on People magazine’s “Hottest” lists. He went on to build a solid reputation with his strong, understated Midwestern presence in films like “Lucky Number Slevin” (2006) and “The Black Dahlia” (2006).
Josh Hartnett was born on July 21, 1978, and raised in St. Paul, MN. He played soccer and football in high school; not thinking much about acting until he was sidelined with a knee injury. He looked to the school’s drama program for an alternative extracurricular activity and found himself cast in “Huck Finn.” Hartnett had always enjoyed watching classic films like “On the Waterfront” (1954) with his father, but now he became interested in acting on a whole new level by getting involved with regional theater productions with the Steppingstone Theater and the Youth Performance Company in Minneapolis. He even worked at a video store. It was enough of a dedicated background to woo the drama department at the State University of New York in Purchase, where Hartnett began as a student in 1996. In an interview, Hartnett claimed that irreconcilable differences with the school’s administration were to blame for his departure after only one year. The move did not seem to hinder the upward trajectory that the boyishly handsome, quietly imposing figure was clearly heading on.

From the very start, Hartnett seemed less concerned with fame and the Hollywood lifestyle than with following his interest in a challenging variety of material. And the offers came quickly. Months after leaving school he was cast as the troubled son of a crime stopper in a remake of the British series "Cracker" (ABC, 1997-99). But he first turned a lot of heads with his big screen debut in "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998), playing the son of Jamie Lee Curtis' tormented Laurie Strode. The newcomer was on a roll, next being asked to join the ensemble cast of Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Williamson’s sci-fi teen thriller "The Faculty" (1998). Hartnett played the roguish cool kid and resident smart aleck of a group of high school students warding off an alien. The popular film and its promotional tie-in campaign with Tommy Hilfiger – including print ads featuring Hartnett – launched the actor reluctantly into teen heartthrob status. An engaging turn as teenage lothario Trip Fontaine in Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides" (1999) introduced Hartnett’s surprisingly sturdy handle on art house fare, which he exercised in several independent shorts before snagging the lead in the 2001 blockbuster “Pearl Harbor.” Everything was about to change.

Hartnett still was not sure if he was mentally prepared for the new level of fame his co-lead role was likely to bring when he signed on to play a US Air Force pilot caught in a love triangle in Michael Bays’ sweeping period piece. At press time, "Pearl Harbor" was likened to Jim Cameron’s "Titanic" (1997) in sheer size, scope and historical context, but even if it did not mirror its predecessor's monumental success, it did put Hartnett at the top of the hunk heap. In fact, he gave his co-star, well-established heartthrob Ben Affleck a run for his money onscreen.

In contrast to the gauzy, romantic edges of Bay’s film, Hartnett next appeared in “Black Hawk Down” (2001), Ridley Scott’s harrowing look at the botched United States humanitarian mission to Somalia. The film was well-received by critics and Hartnett proved he could hold his own alongside a seasoned ensemble cast including Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Sam Shepard. The respected film might have left Hartnett wishing that “40 Days and 40 Nights” (2002) – the romantic comedy about a guy who gives up sex for lent that was shot in 1999 – but not released as a follow up. Fortunately, the unfortunate timing did little to take away from Hartnett’s growing dramatic reputation – with his loyal ‘tween fans probably preferring this film – allowing him to continue his focus on more consistently darker onscreen themes.

Hartnett spent a year or so out of the spotlight before pairing with Harrison Ford in the buddy cop flop "Hollywood Homicide” (2003). After struggling to carry the erotic thriller "Wicker Park" (2004), Rodriguez and Miller recruited Hartnett again for a brief but memorable turn as a suave, chameleon-like assassin in "Sin City" (2005). All those years spent watching old movies with his dad came in handy for Hartnett’s ensuing run of film noirs. The mistaken identity thriller “Lucky Number Slevin” (2006) was praised by critics and earned a Best Film honor at the Milan Film Festival. It also primed Hartnett for a lead in Brian De Palma’s “The Black Dahlia” (2006), a richly-textured noir about two hard-edged cops investigating the brutal murder of would-be actress. The highly anticipated remake made a strong debut at the 2006 Venice International Film Festival but ultimately did not win over critics or audiences stateside.

Hartnett’s starring role as a journalist who unwittingly discovers a presumed dead former boxing champ in “Resurrecting the Champ” (2007) barely made a blip on the radar in the summer of big-budget blockbusters, but there was plenty of hype for his fall release – “30 Days of Night” (2007) — a stylized thriller about a flock of vampires descending upon an Alaskan town during the one dark month of winter.










Absolute, bleak and relentless, the bitterly cold night descends without permission upon the town of Barrow, Alaska, ravaging all signs of hope in its path--much like the blood-sucking vampires who stop by, without invitation, for a frosty, month-long carnage feast. Only one thing can stop them: the light. But little does Sheriff Eben know that his gun is about as helpless as is his plan to outsmart the cunning eating machines.

Thoughtfully laconic, Josh Hartnett’s emboldened Sheriff Eben is a finely cast pluck. He's who horror-thirsty audiences want to see in the role of a flustered, soft-on-the-eye good guy, with a few bad solutions for a problem much larger than he can surmount: the living dead! Harnett’s wholesome, toned-down hipster flavor strikes the right balance of vulnerability and strength to play a fragmented hero, such that you’re constantly wincing and cheering and cheering and wincing--just what you’re supposed to do while watching the blood get slurped out of desperado screaming citizens, wishing they had gone south for the season.


Melissa George and Josh Hartnett star in 30 Days of Night
Hollywood.com caught up with Hartnett to talk about his romantic, paternal Sheriff Eben, who had to battle super-strength forces and viciously ghoulish encounters in order to save his town--and fellow, tough mamita, sheriff-wife (Melissa George)--from being an appetizing platter of vampire frozen food!

HW: Are you a fan of the genre?
Josh Hartnett: Yeah, yeah! I grew up watching vampire movies and I don’t think there’s been a really interesting look at the vampire genre in a long time. The biggest reason I wanted to do the film was mostly because of David Slade’s vision. He came up to where I’m from, Minnesota, and laid out what he wanted the movie to be like and it seemed completely different from anything I’ve ever heard of before, kind of visceral and dark but also artistic.

HW: Rumor has it there was an issue with you wanting to have a beard for the whole shoot...
JH: They wanted me clean-shaven at the beginning of the film and it would’ve been a lot easier if I could have grown as much as I can grow, and then add pieces as we went along…I mean, it is Alaska, it is cold there--and I thought the guy should have a beard. There were just people who didn’t believe it was a good idea for me to start the movie with a beard. [Wryly smiles] I actually sent [the producers] a letter including a list of very successful people who had beards; and I tried to explain how much I wanted it, by who had made how much and where I would fit in that progression. [Laughs] It didn’t work!


Danny Huston stars in 30 Days of Night
HW: How is it to be on a production where you’re shooting nights, non-stop?
JH: It depends how well organized it is, really. This film was really well-organized, so we shot for nights--for what a 100 weeks? And then days for the rest so we didn’t have a bunch of going back and forth. Yeah, of course, it messes with, you but it’s a movie about vampires, so you kinda get a sense of what it’d be like [to be one]. It’s method acting!

HW: This was based on a novel?
JH: I read the novel before, but when I read the script David Slade also gave me the graphic novel as well. So, I re-read it and looked at the script and saw what I thought he wanted to do with it. I did one other graphic novel adaptation, Sin City, so I kind of understood that this was something that was supposed to be half-fantasy and half-reality.

HW: The bitter climate, the oppressive dark, reuniting with your wife--so many issues happening at once!
JH: It’s fun to have multi-layers of turmoil. The idea of being trapped in this horrible situation--you kind of want to feel like everybody is alone. If everybody has someone to latch onto, there’s even conflict between young Jake and myself, and the conflict enriches the whole feeling of isolation and impending doom. I think it was a good choice, honestly.


Melissa George, Rachel Maitland-Smith star in 30 Days of Night
HW: What was it like working with Melissa George, who plays your estranged wife?
JH: I like Melissa a lot. We had a great time. [Matter-of-factly] We showed up, and we started rehearsing. We spent a couple of weeks before shooting getting to know each other. Melissa is a really sweet, really intelligent, ambitious, cool actress. I think she’ll go really far. And, she’s obviously incredibly beautiful!

HW: In real-life, what’s your biggest fear?
JH: Sharks. That’s a fact. I’m not lying.

HW: Can you talk about your rehearsal process, and what you appreciated most about it?
JH: Absolutely, what I really appreciated about David was that we did all this back story. We worked on all of these scenes that may not have made it into the film--that we knew, at the time, that they probably wouldn’t make it into the film. Because we had extra time to shoot the film, we wanted to make sure there was a real life there, and that these guys [Barrow's terrified citizens] actually "lived" together. I think that it worked. I think there are relationships that aren’t really highlighted in the film that exist below the surface [in a] kind of way. The subtlety is the key to going back and watching a film again.

HW: What would you consider the pivotal turning point for your character, Sheriff Eben?
JH: [*Spoiler alert!] I think the pinnacle point in the movie was when he had to cut off Carter’s head. Ah-ha. Hmm. Never thought I’d be saying that sentence. I think up until that point, he’s surviving and trying to find a solution to all this--and after that, it’s no holds barred. It’s not about finding a solution and it’s pure survival.


Ben Foster stars in 30 Days of Night
HW: Ben Foster clearly dug his heels into this role. Can you talk about his vibe on the set?
JW: Ben is a very capable and committed actor. He would do things to himself that nobody should do to themselves in order to feel pain, anguish and anger. He’s a very interesting actor.

HW: Was it difficult to film the scenes out of sequence order, given the physical range your character has to stretch to protect the town?
JH: Yeah, it’s always difficult to make all the pieces match up but that’s the puzzle; that is being an actor in film!

HW: On thinking about Alaska, do you feel that climate impacts a community, having grown up in Minnesota’s coldness?
Absolutely. There’s an enormous amount of creative people who come out of my home town because we literally spend six months of the year sitting inside having nothing to do but imagine. A lot of really great musicians come out of Minnesota, too, because there’s just so much time to practice. We had a couple of true geniuses like Bob Dylan and Prince and then there’s a bunch of other people who are quite good as well. I come from an artistic family and I think the climate ultimately affects everything. If you have nothing but beaches around you you’re probably going to surf. You’re probably going to have a great tan. It’s going to effect the way you look and the way you act. Period.

Brad Pitt

Despite his pretty boy looks and movie star charisma, actor Brad Pitt spent most of his career trying to avoid bloated box office leads, in favor of riskier, lower profile roles. After achieving heartthrob status with revealing performances showing off his “six-pack abs” in “Thelma and Louise” (1991) and “Legends of the Fall” (1994), Pitt actively subverted his hunky blond image by taking on ugly and often crazed characters – most notably in “12 Monkeys” (1995), “Fight Club” (1999) and “Snatch” (2001)....





Full Biography



Despite his pretty boy looks and movie star charisma, actor Brad Pitt spent most of his career trying to avoid bloated box office leads, in favor of riskier, lower profile roles. After achieving heartthrob status with revealing performances showing off his “six-pack abs” in “Thelma and Louise” (1991) and “Legends of the Fall” (1994), Pitt actively subverted his hunky blond image by taking on ugly and often crazed characters – most notably in “12 Monkeys” (1995), “Fight Club” (1999) and “Snatch” (2001). While en route to becoming one of the top box office draws of his generation, Pitt generated a substantial amount of tabloid press – particularly for his headline-grabbing romantic entanglements, which provided ample fodder for supermarket stands across the country. His high profile marriage to Jennifer Aniston – once tagged as being the perfect storybook Hollywood romance between the boy and girl next door – crashed and burned in the flames of his alleged affair with proverbial bad girl, Angelina Jolie. The result, however, was a new image of Pitt as multi-racial father and globetrotting activist – thanks to Jolie’s serial adoption of impoverished orphans from Africa and Southeast Asia – a transformation that was underscored by a strong and mature performance in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s meditative “Babel” (2006), for which the actor earned his second Golden Globe nomination.
Born on Dec. 18, 1963 in Shawnee, OK, Pitt was raised in a devout Baptist home headed by William, a trucking company manager, and Jane, a high school counselor. The family moved to Missouri, where Pitt attended high school in Kickapoo. After graduating, he went to the University of Missouri, where he studied journalism and belonged to the Sigma Chi fraternity. But two weeks prior to earning his degree, Pitt suddenly decided to pile into his Datsun with $300 in his pocket and move to Los Angeles, CA to become an actor. Pitt started out in television guest spots, including a recurring role on the CBS primetime soap "Dallas" in 1987 that tended to capitalize on his wiry good looks. He co-starred in "Glory Days" (Fox, 1990), a short-lived drama about post-high school angst. Pitt entered features via the well-traveled low road, appearing in supporting roles in such standard teen fodder as slasher flicks, sex comedies and family-oriented sports dramas.

In that rarest of film moments, Pitt gained instant stardom as the hitchhiking hunk – part charmer, part thief – who seduces Geena Davis while brandishing a hairdryer and sporting a cowboy hat in the female buddy movie, "Thelma & Louise" (1991). The following year, he achieved leading man status while sporting a formidable pompadour as the fictitious, aspiring teen idol "Johnny Suede;” he maintained the hairstyle as a soft-hearted yet hard-boiled vet-turned-cartoon cop in "Cool World” – Ralph Bakshi's uneven blend of live-action and animation. Pitt gained some critical esteem playing the troubled younger brother who casts a mean fishing line in Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It" (1992), but fared less well as a bearded psycho killer in "Kalifornia" (1993). He provided a delightful character turn as the stoner roommate of a struggling actor (Michael Rapaport) who connects his Detroit buddy (Christian Slater) with a Hollywood producer (Saul Rubinek) for a coke deal gone bad in the Quentin Tarantino-scripted "True Romance" (1993). Despite his relative minor degree of celebrity at that time, there was already considerable interest in Pitt’s romantic involvements. Around the release of “True Romance,” he called off a reported engagement to three-year girlfriend, actress Juliette Lewis.

Pitt subsequently played his first high profile lead in a Hollywood blockbuster as Louis, the lachrymose narrator of "Interview with the Vampire" (1994). His depressed bloodsucker seemed all the more anemic when paired with a lively Tom Cruise. Pitt's star qualities were better displayed as the wild, middle brother of a colorful Western clan in "Legends of the Fall.” In a change of pace from glamour roles – and to subtly subvert his being dubbed the “Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine – the actor played a scruffy, arrogant policeman tracking a serial killer with Morgan Freeman in "Seven" (1995), before earning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination as a twitching mental patient/animal rights activist in Terry Gilliam’s manic futuristic dystopia, "12 Monkeys" (1995).

After a turn as a prosecutor in Barry Levinson's "Sleepers" (1996), Pitt adopted a passing Belfast accent as an IRA gunman seeking refuge in the home of a New York City cop (Harrison Ford) in "The Devil's Own" (1997). What had been a long a troubled shoot resulted in a muddled and uneven drama. Pitt caused some controversy with a Newsweek interview, in which he made disparaging remarks about the film’s script. With "Seven Years in Tibet" (1997), he adopted an Austrian accent to play an egotistical man who undergoes a spiritual conversion when he is befriended by the youthful Dalai Lama. That film was also the subject of debate when it was revealed that Heinrich Harrer (Pitt) had been a Nazi Party member – the resulting negative publicity and mixed reviews hurting the film's box office. Pitt followed up by reuniting with his "Legends of the Falls" co-star Anthony Hopkins in the languid "Meet Joe Black" (1998) – a loose remake of "Death Takes a Holiday" (1934) – with the younger actor playing the Grim Reaper in human form.

Further downplaying his attractive facade, Pitt was cast as Tyler Durden, the straight-shooting but charismatic mastermind behind "Fight Club" (1999), an underground society of disaffected young men who engage in brutal fisticuffs as a means of reclaiming their masculinity. He continued in a similar vein with a turn as an Irish gypsy with a flair for bare knuckles boxing in "Snatch" (2000). In both of these films, Pitt's muscular physique was on display, but in "Fight Club,” he favored a scruffy look; while in "Snatch,” he was covered in tattoos. Off-screen, however, Pitt's celebrity status as a hunky Hollywood icon soared into the stratosphere, after his romantic relationship with the equally beautiful and popular “Friends” (NBC, 1994-2004) TV star Jennifer Aniston culminated in 2001 with a storybook wedding – complete with fireworks – in Malibu, CA. The golden couple's every move quickly became must-have fodder for entertainment-oriented media outlets everywhere.

In "The Mexican" (2001), he offered a relaxed, loose turn as a somewhat dim, low-level gangster sent south – over the objections of his long-time girlfriend, played by Julia Roberts – to retrieve the title object, an antique pistol that supposedly carried a curse. He remained busy portraying the protégé of a retiring CIA operative (Robert Redford) in "Spy Game” (2001), before joining George Clooney and an equally beautiful ensemble cast for Steven Soderbergh’s wildly fun remake of "Ocean's Eleven" (2001). That year, Pitt also made two notable TV guest appearances – first, on his wife's sitcom, "Friends," playing a now-thin high school pal of Monica's (Courteney Cox-Arquette) who has long harbored an animosity toward Rachel (Aniston); secondly, in a much discussed slot on MTV's stunt-prank series – and a personal Pitt favorite – "Jackass," where the actor was violently "kidnapped" from L.A.'s Pink's hot dog stand, as several dumbfounded witnesses observed. In 2002, Pitt made brief cameo appearances in Soderbergh's experimental film "Full Frontal" (as himself) and Clooney's directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.” In 2003, he made the jump to animated features, voicing the title character in the quickly forgotten "Sinbad."

After years of downplaying his handsome, heroic looks by appearing in scruffy beards and long hair, Pitt finally took a role that cast him as every bit the Golden Boy, playing legendary Greek hero Achilles in director Wolfgang Petersen's epic, "Troy" (2004) – a role that inspired excitement among his male and female fans alike. The actor also agreed to rejoin Clooney, Soderbergh, et al, for the sequel romp "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), this time playing a Rusty with his own love interest (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Unfortunately, the male camaraderie was wearing thing and the film lacked much of the charm of the first outing.

In early 2005, the film work became secondary, when Pitt found himself at the center of an intense media whirlwind when he announced he was splitting from Aniston. One of the speculated reasons for the divorce of the dream couple centered on rumors of an on-set relationship with Angelina Jolie during his next film, the Doug Liman-helmed action-fest "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005). Long hours spent choreographing fight scenes and special effects could have done the trick, when onscreen, the actors played a bored married couple surprised to learn that they are each secretly assassins and are ultimately hired to kill each other. Though both actors initially refuted rumors of their affair – and after frequently being photographed together in their private lives, took a less coyer stance later on, with Pitt petitioning to adopt Aniston’s two children – the intense media and public interest in their possible relationship propelled the film to huge box office receipts, thanks in large part to their palpable onscreen chemistry. Their "are they or aren't they?" coupling captivated star watchers and was the most written-about celebrity story of 2005 – prompting the coining of the term "Brangelina." As their relationship gradually emerged in the public eye, Pitt accompanied Jolie on her missions of mercy to third world nations to adopt children. The couple ultimately revealed that they were expecting their own biological child together – daughter, Shiloh Nouvel – while articles trumpeting Aniston’s reportedly ongoing anguish over the loss of Pitt continued to propel the spectacle forward. In fact, the public’s intense interest in the split-turned-love affair heard round the world eventually came down to camps – with Team Aniston and Team Jolie T-shirts being sold off the shelves that summer.

After a noted absence from the big screen – but not the tabloid pages, which seemed to concoct a new and ridiculous story about Brangelina every week – Pitt returned with a strong and rather mature performance in “Babel” (2006), a dense and heartbreaking look at confusion, fear and the depths of love. Set on different continents – Asia, Africa and North America – “Babel” told three separate stories brought together by a single random act of violence. Pitt played an American tourist traveling to Morocco, when a stray bullet from a rifle crashes through a bus window and seriously wounds his wife (Cate Blachett), touching off a series of events – including the couple’s Mexican housekeeper (Adriana Barraza) trying to cross the border, a neglected Japanese girl (Rinko Kikuchi) scouring Japan for love in all the wrong places, and two Moroccan boys (Said Tarchani and Boubker Ait El Caid) dealing with their responsibility for the shooting. Meanwhile, Papa Pitt – by now, the father of three adopted children and one biological w/ Jolie – reunited with Soderbergh, Clooney, Damon and the rest one more time for “Oceans 13” (2007), the third installment to the hipster caper series that saw the gang exacting revenge on a ruthless Las Vegas casino owner (Al Pacino) after becoming the victims of a double-cross. Hijinks and hilarity ensue.


Profession(s):


Actor, chauffeur, delivery man Sometimes Credited As:
William Bradley Pitt Family
brother:Doug Pitt (owns computer company; born c. 1966)
daughter:Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt (legally adopted in 2006; mother is Angelina Jolie)
daughter:Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt (born May 27, 2006 in Namibia; mother is Angelina Jolie)
father:William Pitt
mother:Jane Pitt
sister:Julie Pitt (born c. 1969; married with at least one child)
son:Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt (adopted at three years old from a Vietnamese orphanage in 2007; Angelina Jolie adopted the boy as a single parent because Vietnam's adoption regulations don't allow unmarried couples to co-adopt; name was legally changed to Jolie-Pitt three months after his adoption)
son:Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt (legally adopted in 2006; mother is Angelina Jolie)
wife:Jennifer Aniston (met in 1998; married July 29, 2000 in Malibu, California; announced separation on January 6, 2005, after more than fours years of marriage; Aniston filed for divorce March 2005; divorce finalized October 2005.)
Companion(s)

Angelina Jolie , Companion , ```..met while filming "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"; rumored to be romantically involved throughout filming, but this was denied by both parties; began being photographed together as a couple in spring 2005
Gwyneth Paltrow , Companion , ```..met on set of "Seven" (1994) where they played a married couple; became engaged in November 1996; separated in June 1997
Jill Schoelen , Companion , ```..met on set of "Cutting Class"; (1989); broke up in 1989
Jitka Pohlodek , Companion , ```..dated briefly in 1993
Juliette Lewis , Companion , ```..met on the set of the 1990 TV-movie "Too Young to Die?"; together for three years; broke up c. February 1993; reportedly were engaged
Katja von Garnier , Companion , ```..German; born c. 1966; dated in 1997
Robin Givens , Companion , ```..dated briefly in 1988 after working together on episodes of the TV sitcom "Head of the Class"



Education

Kickapoo High School Springfield, Missouri
University of Missouri at Columbia Columbia, Missouri journalism 1982

Awards


Venice Film Festival Best Actor "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" 2007
MTV Movie Award Best Fight "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" 2006
People's Choice Favorite Leading Man 2005
MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Male 1996
Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor "12 Monkeys" 1995
MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance "Interview with the Vampire" 1995
MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Male 1995


Milestones

2007 Reprised role along with the original cast for "Ocean's 13"
2007 Produced "A Mighty Heart," the film based on the book by Mariane Pearl, wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, and which starred his partner Angelina Jolie
2007 Portrayed outlaw Jesse James in "The Assassination Of Jesse James" by Coward Robert Ford"
2006 Co-starred with Cate Blanchett as a tragedy-stricken American couple in "Babel"; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2005 Starred opposite Angelina Jolie, as a bored married couple that is surprised to learn that they are assassins hired to kill each other in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
2004 Portrayed fated warrior Achilles in director Wolfgang Petersen's epic "Troy"
2004 Reunited with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh
2003 Voiced the title character in the animation feature "Sinbad"
2002 Cast as the lead in the sci-fi film "The Fountain" directed by Darren Aronofsky; film fell through
2001 Teamed with Robert Redford in "The Spy Game", playing the protege of a retiring CIA agent
2001 Had featured role in the ensemble of "Ocean's Eleven" which included Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Matt Damon
2001 Co-starred with Julia Roberts in "The Mexican", playing a mafia bagman sent to retrieve the titular object, an antique pistol that supposedly carried a curse
2000 Portrayed an itinerant Irish gypsy bare knuckles boxer in "Snatch", written and directed by Guy Ritchie
1999 Co-starred with Edward Norton in "Fight Club"
1998 Reteamed with Anthony Hopkins for "Meet Joe Black", a loose remake of "Death Takes a Holiday"
1997 Engendered controversy for making negative comments about "The Devil's Own", in which he played an Irish revolutionary opposite Harrison Ford as an NYC cop
1997 Successfully sued Playgirl magazine to stop distribution after it published unauthorized nude photographs of Pitt and then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow
1997 Film "Seven Years in Tibet" was subject of controversy when it was disclosed that the character Pitt played, Heinrich Harrer, had ties to the Nazis
1995 In January dubbed "The Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine
1995 Co-starred with Morgan Freeman as detectives tracking a serial killer in "Seven"
1995 Earned Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a mental patient in "12 Monkeys"
1994 First worked with Anthony Hopkins playing one of his sons in "Legends of the Fall"
1994 Co-starred with Tom Cruise in "Interview With the Vampire", playing Louis, the aristocratic Southerner made turned reluctant bloodsucker
1993 Played featured role in "True Romance"
1992 Had major role in "A River Runs Through It", directed by Robert Redford
1991 Cast in breakthrough role of drifter J D in "Thelma & Louise" after Billy Baldwin bowed out to star in "Backdraft"
1991 Debut as a feature lead, "Johnny Suede", about an aspiring pop singer
1990 Co-starred with Juliette Lewis in the fact-based NBC TV-movie "Too Young to Die?" , about a teenage girl put on trial for murder
1990 Appeared in the regular role of Walker Lovejoy, a high school graduate working as a reporter, in the short-lived Fox drama "Glory Days"
1989 Made second guest appearance on "Growing Pains", playing a different character
1989 Feature acting debut, "Cutting Class"
1988 TV-movie debut, "A Stoning in Fulham County"
1987 Did extra work in the film "Less Than Zero"
1987 Had small role on the NBC soap opera "Another World"
1987 Primetime TV debut in a guest role in an episode of the ABC sitcom "Growing Pains"
1987 Cast as the boyfriend of Jenna Wade Ewing's daughter in three episodes of the CBS primetime soap "Dallas"
1986 Moved to Los Angeles claiming to his parents that he was attending the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena
Grew up in Springfield, Missouri
Worked at odd jobs including as a chaffeur to Strip-O-Gram strippers, delivering refrigerators to college students and dressing up in a chicken costume outside the El Pollo Loco restaurant
Will star in David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (lensed 2006)

How to Take Great Photos!

Well, this isn’t something that happens overnight, and people spend years of their life perfecting this skill, but I can give you all a few pointers.



First is exposure. You don’t want the pics to be too dark or too light, but rather just in the middle. Many cameras have auto exposure and do this for you, but it can't always be trusted; so sometimes you might have to take control in manual mode to adjust. Every camera is different, so I suggest you take the time to read your manual. Ugggh! I know you don’t want to, but i'ts really important.

Secondly, once you've perfected this, your creativity can really shine through. One thing that I find a lot of amateurs do is not look at their background close enough. A lot of times you can be shooting, but if you don’t have a clean background, it can look as if a telephone pole is growing out of your model's head. So always be aware!!

I, personally, like to shoot at the beach because it makes things clean - all you have is sand, water and sky in the background. But even at the beach, the time of day you shoot is really important in all your photographs always.

The sun can create harsh shadows that are not flattering to your model's face. Sometimes an overcast day can be really nice to shoot in, but a favorite for many photographers is something called the “magic hour," which is usually during sunrise or sunset. The sun is less harsh, and it turns a golden color that is just beautiful on your model's skin.

The only problem is this time of day only lasts about 45 minutes; so you have to design your shot and work quickly. A nice effect during sunset is having the sun behind your model, highlighting her back and using a flash on your camera to light the frontal. If you have the chance to put a gel on (which you can get at a camera store) you can put a warming gel, which is a yellowish red color, on the flash.

If you have to shoot during the middle of the day, which is the absolute worst, try and find some open shade that is completely covered. This way there will be no ugly shadows on your model. Just try and experiment! Usually your best pics will come by something you do by accident. So keep at it, and good luck!!!!