Earthquake hits Philippines

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off the northern Philippines Sunday morning and was felt as far as southeastern Taiwan.

The epicenter was about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Basco, the capital of the Batan Islands in the Philippines and about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of Taipei, Taiwan.

No injuries, deaths or damage were immediately reported (thank the Lord) by the National Disaster Coordinating Center in Manila, Philippines. The center put the earthquake at a 6.3 magnitude.

"Indiana Jones" unearths more gold at the box office

The massively hyped "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" movie whipped up an impressive $56 million in its first two days of release across North America but will struggle to break industry records during the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the fourth film in the adventure series to hit the big screen (after 19 years), earned an estimated $31 million on Friday, according to Paramount Pictures.

"Indiana Jones" reuniting actor Harrison Ford as the eponymous archeologist, director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas, also opened in 61 foreign countries on the heels of its glitzy world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last Sunday.

In North America, industry observers expect "Indiana Jones" to earn more than $150 million in its first five days.

Comparisons with the record-holder for the Memorial Day weekend, last year's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, are a little difficult. The third film in the swashbuckler franchise also opened on a Thursday -- but in the evening, whereas "Indiana Jones" screened for a full day. Ticket prices have also risen since then. Still, "Pirates" also managed to earn $56 million for the two-day period, on its way to $153 million for the five days through Monday. The five-day record is held by Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith, which opened to $173 million in 2005, a week before the Memorial Day holiday in 2005.

"Indiana Jones" siphoned off some of the audience from last week's leader, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, which opened to a disappointing $55 million last weekend.

The superhero smash Iron Man, which kicked off the summer in fine style three weeks ago, was No. 3 on Friday with $5.3 million, off about 39 percent. The total for the Marvel Entertainment Inc production, also distributed by Paramount, rose to $237 million.

Well, regardless of paradigm reviews & box office collections, I'm eagerly awaiting it's release here in India this Fri, May 30. I've got the champagne & a pair of Gold Class tickets, now all I need to find me is a "pair of Double Ds" with a taste in Crystal Skulls ;-)

Oh! & here's a look at the official trailer (I'm guessin' you haven't seen this version).

Indiana Jones 4 - Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Official Trailer

Playing GOD !?!

This week, 400 of around 600 kangaroos on the outskirts of the city of Canberra, Australia are being killed by lethal injection. Their crime? Living and thriving.

According to officials, this part of Australia has (or had) three times as many kangaroos as human inhabitants. They say the iconic down-under animals have overgrazed grasslands and put other species in jeopardy. These include the Golden Sun Moth and the Grassland Earless Dragon, one of the world's rarest lizards.

Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla)

Resettlement had been considered for the kangaroos, but that was deemed too expensive and too risky, since the marsupials could multiply elsewhere, they said.

Come to think about it, kangaroos aren't the only ones to blame. Studies indicate the worst drought to hit Australia in a century has changed the region, leaving grasslands dry, bare and scarred. Australian Aborigines also used to inhabit the land and were sensitive to ecosystem sustainability issues. Now urbanization and intensive agricultural practices have fragmented the landscape and changed natural water distribution patterns.

Kangaroos are smart and fairly adaptable in their native environment. Like pigeons, they can coexist in areas of high development, taking advantage of human-made food and water sources, such as those set out for farm animals.

Kangaroos grazing at a military site in Canberra.

I honestly wish city officials in Oz would put more effort into developing an effective birth control method for the kangaroos. Someone there apparently had that bright idea but it needs further development, in my opinion. While even that option is risky and rather invasive, I think it beats cutting the lives short of so many innocent creatures. It looks like most researchers support the kangaroo killing, however, to save the other threatened species.

Coldplay, Pussycat Dolls Set To Perform At 2008 MTV Movie Awards

From Jason Bourne to Juno MacGuff, the 2008 MTV Movie Awards are about celebrating the best names in film — but it wouldn't be MTV if some of the biggest names in music didn't get their chance to shine as well.

Set your "Clocks" for June 1, when Coldplay will take the stage live at the Gibson Amphitheatre to perform the single "Violet Hill" from their first new album in three years, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. Released April 29, the song was downloaded more than 2 million times from the Coldplay Web site.

Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow (Chris Martin to his friends) and the rest of the band will no doubt be hoping to follow in the footsteps of already-classic MTV Movie Awards performances like the ones from Rihanna and Amy Winehouse at last year's telecast.

They'll have plenty of friendly competition from their fellow performers, the Pussycat Dolls, who will also hit the stage during the irreverent awards show, broadcast live this year on Sunday, June 1. The girls will grab the mic from host Mike Myers to perform "When I Grow Up" from their upcoming second album.

Only time will tell whether Coldplay and PCD will shine brighter than the other mega-watt stars in attendance, particularly those who find themselves vying for the coveted Golden Popcorn. This year, expect to see stars from movies like "Superbad" (which led all films with five nominations) and "Juno" (which came in a close second with four) — not to mention actors from films like "Enchanted," "Transformers," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Knocked Up" which were right behind the leaders with three nominations each.

FYI voting closes on May 23, so any of you fans interested in voting for your favorites visit MovieAwards.MTV.com now coz you don't have much time.

And in spirit of the upcoming movie awards, how about getting warmed up with a look at Fergie & Cameron Diaz sizzle the already 'Red Carpet' at last year's movie awards !?!

The Sexiest Woman on the Planet

Gentlemen, prepare for a "transforming" experience. FHM Online has revealed its "100 Sexiest Women in the World for 2008," and 'Transformers' babe MEGAN FOX sits atop the list!

I'm sure you'd agree with me when I say there’s not a woman alive who looks better bent over a 1976 Chevrolet Camaro in a denim miniskirt. With a sultry glower, capricious pout and six tattoos, she’s the junior Angelina Jolie (but without the orphan addiction).

I think I'm in love :-)