Japanese tombs now come with barcodes

Want to reach out to the dead? In Japan, it’s now possible.

Japanese are now able to keep in touch with their loved ones by using mobile phones to scan bar-coded tombstones and view photos and other information about the deceased.

Ishinokoe, a Japanese tombstone maker, places the codes behind lockable stone doors on the tomb so only relatives with a key can scan them.

According to reports, the idea was to create a tomb that would not just be a site for storing the remains of a person, but a place to honor the deceased.

The tomb stones cost around 1 million yen ($10,000).

Katrina Kaif denied entry into NY pub

John Abraham and Katrina Kaif denied entry at a night club

Katrina Kaif and John Abraham might be big stars in India. But they are nobodies in New York. This they realized only a while ago. Interestingly these two are acting in a movie called New York. Such is the irony of the situation. The two were denied entry to a nightclub in New York when they were trying to join a party for a crew member on their movie New York.

A source says, "When they were stopped at the nightclub, they tried to reason with the bouncers that they were well known and respected people from India. John and Katrina told them that they were film stars from India but the bouncers only stared at them. The bouncers had no clue what John and Katrina were talking about." But the experience hasn't stopped Katrina to encourage her sister to study in New York.

The buzz is that she has been encouraging her sister, Isabelle Kaif who wishes to join the industry in a year or two, to sign up at the Lee Strasberg Theatre School in New York. And despite her wooden acting in all her films, things in India have been going great. She's been nominated for a Best Indian Award along with others such as Manmohan Singh and Aamir Khan. She thinks it's a great honour to be considered to be in the same league as great achievers. Well, in spite of everything, Kat sure has lots of reasons to smile about!

Katrina Kaif denied entry into NY pub

The long legged beauty Katrina Kaif and hero John Abraham faced one of the most embarrassing moments in their life. The two were stopped by the bouncers at a swanky pub in New York recently.

The two headed for the pub after wrapping up the day’s shooting. However the bouncers at the pub refused them entry. The two told the bouncers that they were top actors from India but this did not cut any ice with them.

The bouncers insisted on some form of photo identity. John and Katrina had no option but to drive back to their hotel and fetch their identity cards. Only then were they allowed entry into the pub. By that time, it was very late and they lost interest in partying. They just spent a few minutes at the pub and left.

Zhang Yimou to bring Oct 1 to life

Zhang Yimou to bring Oct 1 to life

The brain behind the stunning opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games, Zhang Yimou will direct the country's 60th anniversary celebrations as well, officials said Wednesday.

The 57-year-old acclaimed filmmaker from Shaanxi has been assigned the task of organizing the once-in-a-decade National Day celebrations on Oct 1, a senior Beijing municipal government official, who did not want to be named, said.

Zhang Jigang, one of the vice-directors of the 2008 Olympic ceremonies, has confirmed he will team up with Zhang Yimou to put up a grand show.

Zhang Jigang, who comes from the country's elite army arts troupe, told China Daily that he will be directing a grand dance performance titled "The Road to Revival" during the anniversary celebrations.

Chen Weiya, another vice-director of the Games' ceremonies, said that though he will not be able to partner Zhang in the anniversary celebrations, he was "eager" to see how the master of ceremonies surprises the audiences this time.

"Beijing has chosen such a great director like Zhang (Yimou) to direct performances on such an occasion, so I expect a lot of new ideas from him," he said.

The National Day celebrations will include cultural activities, such as an anniversary gala, officials said during the ongoing annual local legislative session.

Liu Jingmin, the city's vice-mayor and vice executive president of the Beijing Games organizers, will preside over the anniversary gala, officials said.

Last year's Games ceremonies vowed audiences the world over with animated patterns, spectacular group performances and one of the most dazzling firework displays in Olympic history. And Zhang Yimou with his team is all set to repeat the performance in October, said officials.

Jay Chou turns 30

Taiwan pop king Jay Chou celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday with hundreds of fans at a cinema in Taipei.

At the party, Chou premiered the special effects-rich music video for his new single "Dragon Knight".

Among the audience members were Chou's mother and his grandma.

Chou will sing a duet of his song "A Herbalist's Manual" with renowned mainland soprano Song Zuying at China Central Television's Lunar New Year Gala on January 25, the event's general director Lang Kun said on Sunday.

Zhang Ziyi topless On Beach

2009 Zhang Ziyi Sexy Photos Gate! Beach breast-revealing meets shameless secret photographing!

Presently, Zhang Ziyi and foreigner boyfriend Vivi Nevo went to the seaside for a vacation, during which they closely interacted, and were secretly photographed by bold foreign journalists. Afterward, the pictures have been wildly spread on the internet, many of them exposing the two people being amorous beach pictures.

It is reported, amongst the group of 80 plus pictures, Zhang Ziyi wears a red diamond studded bikini with boyfriend Vivi Nevo at a small French island– St. Bart beach resort [?]. During this time, Zhang Ziyi nonchalantly did yoga at the seaside, and once tired, returned to the beach to rest, while her boyfriend was continuously kept her company on her right.

Zhang Ziyi whole-heartedly engrossed in enjoying the seaside leisure holiday, finally took off her swimsuit bottom nonchalantly to tan. Not only did her boyfriend not stop her, he actually helped his girlfriend suntain lotion, even taking advantage of the opportunity to tease her a bit, grabbing Zhang Ziyi’s buttocks and repeatedly kissing it, and frequently giving other faraway strangers winks. Afterwards, Vivi Nevo lay his entire body on top of Zhang Ziyi, whispering with Zhang Ziyi.

With pictures are the truth, 81 pictures, Zhang Ziyi by shamelessly secretly photographed by foreigners.

Zhang Ziyi in bikini with Vivi Nevo

On very same day that the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center criticized many of China's major websites for "vulgar and unhealthy" content, some rather revealing paparazzi photos have appeared all over the Chinese Internet.

The photos apparently show actress Zhang Ziyi and her fiancé Vivi Nevo on a beach.

The photos are available on hundreds of web pages on websites as diverse as the popular Tianya forum (cited in the document criticizing websites for being vulgar) and the website of People's Daily (not cited in the criticism document).



Zhang's manager responded to the photos (translated from QQ):

Ziyi and her fiance were vacationing on a private beach enjoying a normal part of life for the two of them. This is a matter of personal privacy. I sympathize with Ziyi and with all celebrities who have had their privacy invaded. It is difficult for them to enjoy vacations and even ordinary, everyday life.