LOVING WORLD

'Valentine's Day': Hearts turn to mush in overcrowded rom-com

The cast for Garry Marshall's "Valentine's Day" includes four Oscar winners, two Oscar nominees, McDreamy, McSteamy, two Jessicas, two Taylors, that "Hangover" guy and various other famous folk. With so many people, you'd think Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate could scare up an interesting plotline or two, but no such luck, says Seattle Times movie critic Moira Macdonald.

By Moira Macdonald

Seattle Times movie critic

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Patrick Dempsey and Jennifer Garner in a scene from "Valentine's Day."
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Patrick Dempsey and Jennifer Garner in a scene from "Valentine's Day."

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Movie review 2 stars

'Valentine's Day,' with Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift. Directed by Garry Marshall, from a screenplay by Katherine Fugate. 125 minutes. Rated PG-13 for some sexual material and brief partial nudity. Several theaters; see Page XX.

MOVIE REVIEW 2 stars

Roll call, please: The cast for Garry Marshall's "Valentine's Day" includes four Oscar winners, two Oscar nominees, McDreamy, McSteamy, two Jessicas, two Taylors, that "Hangover" guy and various other famous folk, including Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace (hey, where's he been?) and George Lopez. With so many people hanging around, you'd think Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate could scare up an interesting plotline or two, but no such luck.

It's Valentine's Day in Los Angeles, and our nearly two dozen main characters are in and out of various stages of love. A charming florist (Ashton Kutcher) has just proposed to his career-obsessed girlfriend (Jessica Alba); a sports reporter (Jamie Foxx) is ordered by his producer (Kathy Bates) to do some human-interest stories but wants to follow the saga of a possibly retiring football player (Eric Dane); a phone-sex operator (Anne Hathaway) tries to hide her career from her new flame (Topher Grace); a pair of grandparents (Shirley MacLaine, Hector Elizondo) help their 10-year-old grandson cope with love; a grade-school teacher (Jennifer Garner) blissfully contemplates her new doctor boyfriend (Patrick Dempsey); an army captain (Julia Roberts) flies home for a quick Valentine's Day visit with an unnamed flame; and a pair of teenagers (Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift) grin at each other with their perfect teeth. Oh, and a lot of flowers get delivered. And I'm leaving out a few people, but you know, the day is only so long.

Essentially, it's an American turn on "Love Actually," except that it all takes place in one day and Hugh Grant never shows up and dances to a Pointer Sisters tune, more's the pity. And while a few of the stories are mildly engaging — the charmingly wry Grace, in particular, does a lot to make his particular subplot sing, and Swift displays an unexpected knack for perfectly timed teenspeak — the sheer volume of them means that nobody gets much screen time. (Blink and you'll miss Bates.) Subsequently, we don't get a chance to get attached to anybody, and, lacking emotional involvement, watch the movie placing lackadaisical bets on who'll be together at the end and who won't — which, except for one sweet, unexpected twist, is ridiculously easy to guess.

"Valentine's Day" mostly feels like a big pink-and-red marketing ploy, aimed at female audiences who want something cuddly for the holiday. It is shamelessly and unapologetically cute: toddlers kissing; 10-year-olds sighing about love; Garner beaming cherubically as she instructs her classroom about the history of Valentine's Day; and Kutcher in a pink baseball cap, charmingly overwhelmed by the holiday's floral abundance. It's all harmless but utterly inconsequential — and, worse, rarely genuinely funny or moving. Hang out in any local restaurant on Valentine's Day and you will, I suspect, see some better stories than these.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com

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HAPPY VALENTINE DAY

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VALENTINE BAC'GROUND

World's first printed Valentine's Card
World's first printed Valentine's Card

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This is possibly the oldest printed Valentine’s card in the world. The delicate card has been pierced to produce a lace effect in the corners and is decorated with cupids, doves and flowers which were probably hand coloured after printing. It was published on 12th January 1797 by John Fairburn of 146, Minories, London. It includes a verse printed around the edge:

“Since on this ever Happy day,
All Nature’s full of Love and Play
Yet harmless still if my design,
‘Tis but to be your Valentine.”

The card was sent by Catherine Mossday to Mr Brown of Dover Place, Kent Road, London. Inside a handwritten message reads intriguingly:
Mr Brown,
As I have repeatedly requested you to come I think you must have some reason for not complying with my request, but as I have something particular to say to you I could wish you make it all agreeable to come on Sunday next without fail and in doing you will oblige your well wisher.
Catherine Mossday.

ISLAMIC REVOLUTION

Iran marks 31st anniversary of Islamic Revolution
President Ahmadinejad addresses the crowd at a pro-government rally at Azadi Square in Tehran

President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran was now a nuclear state after producing its first consignment of 20% enriched uranium

Thursday 11 February is the 31st Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the day which brought Ayatollah Khomeini and clerical rule to power.
People in a Tehran underground station

Amateur footage shows people chanting 'Mir Hossein, Ya Husayn'

The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has addressed vast crowds in the capital, Tehran, at an official rally to mark the anniversary.

Confrontations have been reported in several parts of Tehran, where police have clashed with opposition supporters trying to mount counter demonstrations to push their demands for political reform.

Newshour's Lyse Doucet takes an in-depth look at events in the country, with contributions from:

* The BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, who is in London after being expelled from Iran shortly after last year's disputed election.
* Abdulkarim Soroush, a former Iranian revolutionary from 1979, currently living just outside Washington DC.
* Siyavesh Ardalan, a reporter with BBC Persian TV and presenter of the interactive programme click Your Turn.

COFFEE ARE DEAL NOW

Tanzania coffee prices hit high levels
Dar es Salaam Friday

Tanzanian coffee prices hit the highest levels of the season this week with demand for the crop far outstripping supply, traders said on Friday.

State-run Tanzania Coffee Board said 4,579 60-kg bags were offered for
sale, with 4,147 bags sold. At the last auction 3,825 60-kg bags were up for
sale and 3,718 bags sold.

Benchmark grade A sold at $132.00-$260.80 per bag, compared with $126.00-$252.80 per bag at the last auction and fetched an average price of $244.98 per bag, up from $233.33 previously.

"These are the highest prices so far this season because of a severe crop shortage," said Vincent Shirima, managing director of Rombo Millers.
Grade A fetched $129.60-$213.00 per bag, from $126.00-$211.00 per bag
at the previous sale and got an average price of $206.25 compared with
$199.70 at the last auction.

East African coffee is normally packed in 60-kg bags but the prices
are quoted for quantities of 50 kg. Buyers and analysts said coffee
prices would continue to rise at the few remaining auctions of the season.

"We didn't expect prices to be this high because the New York levels
are down. Prices are rising because there is more demand than supply for coffee," Adolph Kumburu, director general of the Tanzania Coffee Board,
told Reuters. The coffee board said Tanzania's crop season was expected
to come to an end in the next few weeks as stocks continue to diminish.

"Most of the buyers have already shifted from Africa to Latin America .... the quality of the crop has started to drop because the season is coming
to an end," said Kumburu.

Tanzania mainly produces arabica coffee, which follows New York,
and grows some robusta coffee, which follows London. TCB forecasts the 2009/10 (June/April) crop will fall to 50,000 tonnes in the continent's fourthlargest coffee grower -- after Ethiopia, Uganda and Ivory Coast -- compared with 68,331 tonnes in the last season.

कोल्लेगेर्स फुल SHANGWE

Colleges to be upgraded to universities


The government has announced plans to upgrade some teacher training colleges into constituent colleges of Universities.

The Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, told the parliament in Dodoma yesterday that Tabora and Mtwara colleges would be transformed into affiliate colleges of the University Dar es Salaam College of Education.

Prof. Maghembe said when procedures for transformation of the colleges are completed, implementation would take effect.

Prof Maghembe was responding to a question by Tabora Urban MP Siraju Kaboyonga who had wanted to know about the plans to transform Tabora teaching college into a university college.

The MP also asked the government to allow the Roman Catholic Church use buildings at the Tabora teaching college for their planned teaching university in Tabora region.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said the government, through the ministry of education and vocational training, would consider the request and directed Minister Maghembe to work on the matter.

Responding to the question, the deputy minister for education and vocational training, Ms Mwantumu Mahiza, said the 2005 Public University Act number 7 allows private institutions or individuals to establish a university if they meet the required conditions.

Meanwhile, pregnancy among students has affected about 6 per cent of school going number of girls' students in the country, it has been learned.

Ms Mahiza told the parliament that the government was reviewing the existing education policy to allow girl students who get pregnant while in school to continue with their education after delivery.

Responding to a question by Special Seat MP Mgeni Kadika, Deputy minister Mahiza said the government will table for amendment the existing laws.

Up'comin' Model

Anakuja na ataibuka mda wowot so funz kaeni tayari kwa mayoweeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

KILIMO KWANZA

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Hicho ndiyo Kilimo kwanza.......... What kind of fertilizer are these people using anyway?????? ????????? ???? COMMENT ON IT

Sean Paul background Info'

Sean Paul
Sean Paul at the B-live concert, September 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques
Born	January 9, 1973 (1973-01-09) (age 37)
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Dancehall, Reggae
Occupations	Deejay, musician
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1996–present
Labels	VP, Atlantic
Associated acts	Dutty Cup Crew, Busta Rhymes
Website	Official Website

WADAU WA DANCEHALL

Life and career

[edit] 1973-1996: Early life

Sean Paul was born in Kingston, Jamaica and spent his early years^[2] in Upper Saint Andrew Parish, a few miles north of his birthplace. His parents, Garth and Frances, were both talented athletes, and his mother is a well-known painter.^[4] His paternal grandfather was a Sephardic Jew whose family immigrated from Portugal, and his paternal grandmother was Afro-Caribbean; his mother is of English and Chinese Jamaican descent.^[5][6] Sean Paul was raised a Catholic.^[7] Many members of his family are swimmers.^[8] His grandfather was on the first Jamaican men's national water polo team.^[9] His father also played water polo for the team in the 1960s, and competed in long-distance swimming, while Sean Paul's mother was a backstroke swimmer.^[8] Sean Paul played for the national water polo team from the age of thirteen to twenty-one.^[8] However, he gave up the sport in order to launch his musical career. He attended the Wolmers High School for Boys, Belair High School and the College of Arts, Science, and Technology (CAST) which is now known as the University of Technology (UTech) where he was trained in commerce with a view to pursuing an occupation in hotel management.^[10]

[edit] 1996-2004: Stage One and Dutty Rock

Sean Paul in September 2005.

He made a quick cameo appearance in the 1998 film Belly on stage performing. In 2000, Sean Paul released his debut album, Stage One with VP Records. In 2002, he began working extensively with a team of producers and choreographers from Toronto, namely Jae Blaze and Blaze Entertainment and announced the release of his second album, Dutty Rock. Pushed by the success of the singles "Gimme the Light" and the Billboard Hot 100 topper, "Get Busy", the album was a worldwide success, eventually selling over six million copies. Simultaneously, Sean Paul was heard on Beyoncé's U.S. #1 single "Baby Boy" and Blu Cantrell's "Breathe", a chart hit in Europe. Both helped to push his reputation further still in the United States.

During this period, he appeared on Punk'd, 106 & Park, Sean Paul Respect, Making the Video ("Get Busy", "Gimme the Light", and "Like Glue") and his music videos have been broadcast on MTV and BET. Paul's biggest hits included "Get Busy", "Like Glue", "Gimme the Light", "Baby Boy", and "I'm Still in Love with You".

[edit] 2005-2008: The Trinity

Sean Paul's third album The Trinity was released in on September 27, 2005. The album produced five big hits, "We Be Burnin'", "Ever Blazin'", "Give It Up to Me","Never Gonna Be The Same" and the U.S. chart-topping smash hit "Temperature" .

The video of "(When You Gonna) Give It up to Me" (featuring Keyshia Cole) was also featured in the movie "Step Up" in 2006.

He was nominated for four awards at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, including male artist of the year, rap artist of the year, hot 100 single of the year, and pop single of the year for his hit "Temperature".^[11] He also won an American Music Award for "(When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me" beating Kanye West and Nick Lachey who were also nominated for the award.

His song "Send It On" from "The Trinity" featured on the 2005 Vauxhall Corsa advert. Sean Paul often contributes his songs to various Riddim Driven albums (by VP Records). In March 2007, he returned to his native Jamaica to perform at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremony.

Sean Paul appears on the game Def Jam Fight for NY as part of Snoop Dogg's crew and again in the game's sequel, Def Jam: Icon.

[edit] 2009: Imperial Blaze

The newest Sean Paul album entitled "Imperial Blaze" was released on August 18, 2009. The lead single, “So Fine”, which was produced by Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, premiered on Sean Paul's official website on April 25, 2009.^[12][13]

Speaking to Pete Lewis of 'Blues & Soul' magazine in August 2009, Sean Paul stated that 'Imperial Blaze' "Actually signifies 'The King's Fire'. It's that thing inside of you that gives you the desire to do whatever you do, and be the best in the world at it." ^[14]

The new album consists of 20 tracks including "So Fine", "Press it Up", "She want me", "Private Party" which are party tracks and also love songs such as "Hold my hand" (feat Keri Hilson), "Lately", "Now that I've got your love" among others. Producers on the album include Don Corleone, Jeremy Harding, and Sean's brother Jason 'Jigzagula' Henriques.^[14] All the full songs of the album have been added to Sean Paul's Myspace page ^[15] page on the day of release of the album.

Up until now there have been eight music videos: "Always On My Mind (with Da'Ville)", "Give It To You (with Eve)", "Watch Them Roll", "Back It Up" (with Left Side/Mr. Evil), "(I Wanna See You) Push It Baby" (with Pretty Ricky), "Hit 'Em" (with Fahrenheit and his brother Jason "Jigzagula" Henriques), "Come Over" with Estelle.^[16] and also the video of his first single, "So Fine" from the new album.

He has recently been featured in Shaggy's video, "Save A Life", which also includes appearances from Elephant Man and Da'Ville, among others. In an effort to raise money for a children's hospital, Shaggy, Sean and the others will be having a benefit concert. All proceeds raised will go towards getting new equipment and technology 'For Aid to the Bustamante Hospital for Children'. Also Has Performed a Remix of Dangerous with Kardinal Offishall and Akon.

To promote the Imperial Blaze and to show respect for his fans he has started to use TWITTER as Duttypaul. He writes there about his new songs, his daily life, tour dates, collaborations and different events in his career.

CSEE '09 RESULTS

Nimeshindwa kuvumilia, acheni tu leo niseme, nimeshikwa na hasira ni vile nimekosa viwembe na chupa za kutosha za kujimaliza. Nitatafuta sumu ya panya baadaye nikishamaliza kumwaga hasira zangu leo. Nasema wizara ya Elimu na vitengo husika hasa cha IT na mambo ya tovuti mnatia aibu, mnakera na kuchefua. Nasema hivi kutokana na usumbufu ambao wahitimu wa kidato cha nne na sita wamekuwa wakiupata kila msimu wa matokeo unapowadia. Leo najivisha cheo cha kuwasemea wadogo zangu hawa. Iko hivi:
Kila matokeo yanapotangazwa kuwa yametoka rasmi, vijana wamekuwa wakijituma kwenda Wizarani; punde wanapofika huko hutakiwa kupunguza msongamano na kuelekezwa kwenda mashuleni ambako nakala za vitabu vyenye matokeo hayo vimewekwa. Huko kwenye mashule nako ni usumbufu ule ule. Mara mwalimu husika na vilipo vitabu hivyo haonekani. Mara ofisi yenye vitabu haijafunguliwa. Mara mwalimu ana shughuli maalumu subirini. Alimradi tu watapewa vijisababu mia kidogo wakitakiwa kusubiri pasina kujua wasubiri hadi muda gani. Hivi lengo lenu kuwafanyia hivyo ni kuwakatisha tamaa au mnadhani kwa kufanya hivyo mnakwepa usumbufu? Kwa taarifa yenu tamaa hawakati wala usumbufu hauondoki msipowaonesha matokeo; zaidi sana mnawatia hasira tu za bure, bure kabisa! Mtu mwenye akili timamu lazima ajifunze kuona mbele kuwa mtu uwapo katika hali ya uhitaji iliyo na simile ndogo (desperation) ni rahisi kupandwa jazba (to be provoked) kutokana na kunyimwa iliyo haki yako. Hili likitokea bila shaka tutasikia katika vyombo vya habari wahusika wakisema wanafunzi si wastaarabu na wavumilivu. Nashindwa kuelewa wahusika hao wanashindwa vipi kukumbuka saikolojia ya vijana? Lau hawana elimu ya saikolojia hiyo, japo wakumbuke wao wakiwa katika umri huo walikuwa wakijisikia vipi wanapohangaishwa na majibu yao? ule mchecheto walikuwa wanauzima vipi? wao wanadani vijana wa sasa hawana mchecheto? Historia ya tatizo:
Kwa mara ya kwanza kusoma vilio hivi ni wakati wahitimu wakitafuta matokeo ya mtihani wa mwaka 2007. Tukajipa moyo kuwa kwa bahati mbaya huenda maji yamezidi unga, si neno, tusubiri mwakani. Mwaka ulofuatia kelele ilikuwa ni ile ile na pengine kuzidi. Tena mwaka huu 2009! Jamani eeh, imezidi hii. Miaka mitatu (2007, 2008, 209) mfululizo tatizo ni lile lile, ina maana kuwa hamsikii au hamtilii maanani kadhia hii mnayosababishia vijana wetu? Yaani ni kweli kuwa Wizara imeshindwa kutenga fungu la kununua bandwidth kubwa kwa wizara hii nyeti ya Elimu ili kukidhi mahitaji ya muda huu mfupi? Isisingiziwe gharama au hasara hapa jama. Sioni hasara yoyote kwani bandwidth itakayotumika ni maalumu kwa kipindi kifupi tu lakini muhimu sana hivyo inaweza kulipiwa kwa kipindi fulani tu. Naomba mtu asiniongopee kuwa haliwezekani kwani ninafahamu, tena si kufahamu tu, ninajua kuwa inawezekana. Tatizo lililopo ni la wahusika kutokutaka kuuliza na kupata maoni ya kipi cha kufanya. Wahenga walisema kuuliza si ujinga, na asiyeuliza hanalo ajifunzalo. Enyi wahusika wa kigengo hiki, kila leo mambo hubadilika; ulilojifunza jana leo laweza kuwa halifai, elimu ya usiku yaweza kuwa kiporo cha asubuhi, tena katika ulimwengu huu wa teknolojia ambapo kila leo zinazaliwa scripts na codes mpya. Tafadhali muache 'kujiona' na mkubali kupatiwa ushauri na kuufanyia kazi ule unaofaa. Suluhisho ama pendekezo langu?
Mi nadhani suluhisho mojawapo ni kwenu ninyi wahusika wa IT kuwa elekezeni maswali yenu kwenye kundi la eThinkTankTz (eTTTz) kwani ninayo imani kubwa kuwa mtapatiwa ufumbuzi kutoka kwa wataalamu wengi wanachama wa kundi hili. Nafahamu mnaifahamu eTTz, ila ni 'ego' yenu imekuwa kubwa kuliko masilahi yetu tulio wengi. Linki yake ni www.ethinktanktz.org. Humo wapo watu ambao wamejitolea kabisa ku-host tovuti hii bila malipo yoyote ili tu kuondoa kadhia hii. Ninajua Wizara itajitetea kuwa ni chombo cha Serikali hivyo mtu binafsi au shirika lisio la kiserikali haliwezi kupewa ruhusa ya kufanya hivyo; ikiwa huo ndiyo utetezi na taratibu za kiserikali, basi tupatieni tovuti inayofanya kazi hasa katika kipindi inachohitajika kuliko wakati mwingine wowote. Nimekasirika?
Ndiyo! Tena sana tu! Ni aibu na inakera! Ninyi watu kweli mfikage mahali muondoe 'ego' zenu zilizojaa maringo mbuzi na mvae utu na maslahi ya wote mbele. Yaani mi nachukiaga! Sasa nimesema sana, naweza kwenda kutafuta ile sumu ya panya ninywe.... Loh! Thubutu yake. Hanywi mtu sumu wala nini hapa. Ttutapambana na kero hizi hadi liamba walahi. Ala!