Full Tomorrow, When The War Began cast breakdown

Last fortnight I promised a full Tomorrow, When The War Began cast breakdown when announced and here I am deliverin’. In order of importance;

Caitlin Stasey is Ellie Linton

As discussed, the Neighbours and Sleepover Club actress is taking the reigns as Ellie, the leader of the group and narrator of the story. If the entire franchise and Ellie Chronicles spin-off plays out on film, Stasey could be onboard for a total of 10 films. Damn.

Deniz Akdeniz is Homer

Seriously, could this guy look anymore like how Homer is described in the books? The answer is no, and fingers crossed Akeniz will be able to inhabit the role as Ellie’s best friend as well as he does physically. He’s also another cast member (along with Pang) to have a background in martial arts, previously a Victorian Jiujitsu Champion.

Rachel Hurd is Corrie McKenzie

The English actress makes her Australian debut as one of the teenage, guerilla fighters. A big break for her, no doubt, but if the original flick is as successful as the filmmakers hope Hurd won’t be coming back for the sequels. Well, her character at least . . .gah, I shall say no more! She’s an interesting addition to the line-up as she’s probably the most accomplished of all the actors on the list, starring as Wendy in Peter Pan a few years back and alongside Ben Barnes in the highly anticipated gothic tale Dorian Gray.

Chris Pang is Lee

(Above L-R: Pang, with co-stars Deniz Akdeniz, Lincoln Lewis and Andy Ryan)

Ellie’s main love interest throughout the series, Lee is one of the more intelligent, deeper characters and hopefully Pang is able to bring that across like he did in The Home Song Stories. He’s certainly going to be able to kick some invader ass on the big screen as the rising star has 12-years of traditional Chinese martial arts training. Hmm, that’s someone you want to have around when a foreign power invades.

Phoebe Tonkin is Fiona Maxwell

Tonkin is trading in her flippers for a rifle and a few grenades for the role of Fiona. The sweet, girly, prim and proper member of the bush kids, Fiona starts off as just another member of the group but comes into prominence through the later novels in the series. One of the most lovable characters, seeing the feminine girly-girl adopt the guerilla-fighter approach should be one of the most entertaining aspects of the movie, if done right. Tonkin is one of the stars of the hugely popular Aussie television show H20: Just Add Water playing one of the three key mermaids.

Lincoln Lewis is Kevin Holmes

A role built perfectly for the Home & Away actor and Dancing With The Stars contestant. Starting out as Corrie’s loyal boyfriend, the slightly obnoxious Kevin originally gets on Ellie’s nerves before proving himself later in the original novel. He goes on to become one of the most influential characters in the series and like Hurd, Lewis could be in for a lengthy franchise. No word yet on whether Lewis’ sex-tape will make it on the DVD release as a very `special' feature.

Andy Ryan is Chris Lang

What I wouldn’t have given to have Chris Pang playing Chris Lang, oh the hilarity that would have ensued writing this post. Moving on, this fella has pretty much been plucked from obscurity for the role so there’s not a whole lot I can tell you.

Ashleigh Cummings is Robyn Mathers

(Above: Cummings, left, with co-star Phoebe Tonkin)

By far one of my favourite characters who contributes to one of my favourite scenes of the enitre series, 16-year-old school girl Cummings has been chosen to play the part of gutsy, fierce and hilarious Robyn. Ellie's other best friend to Homer, Robyn is a character with a huge personality and will surely light up the screen, if depicted like the warrior she is.

The film is currently shooting in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales and around Victoria. For a more in-depth breakdown check out my previous post Tomorrow, When The War Began today! here.

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COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE HIM!?

YES, it is Papa-bear.
This is what we look like when we have our meetings; btw.

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Just a little bit...

of a tease, i know, but check it out-

AIRSTREAM?? WHAT THE FUCK is an Airstream?
Oh don't you worry, you'll soon find out...

Obama knows what's up.

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New Moon three-way

Believe me, it's not as enticing as it sounds.

Three new banners promoting The Twilight Saga: New Moon have just been released starring a collection of the main groups involved in the plot; the Cullens, the wolf pack and the Volturi.

Pay attention now, these are the key players for the remaining movies . . .

The Cullens

The Wolf Pack

The Volturi

Seriously, how awesome is Michael Sheen? Even surrounding by tweens he still has presence.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is released in Australia on November 19.

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Kris Allen Working With Adele and Duffy's Collaborator

Kris Allen has Eg White, the mastermind behind Adele and Duffy's albums, to help him finishing his November 17 release.

Kris Allen is hitting studio with British songwriter/producer Eg White, the same man who contributed to Adele and Duffy's albums. Breaking the news is the winner of "American Idol" season 8 himself on his Twitter by giving a riddle and inviting fans to guess it.

Kris Allen will release his first studio installment in U.S. on November 17. For the effort, he gets help from The Calling's vocalist, Alex Band, and will enter studio with Kevin Rudolf in October. He is also said to work with The Fray's guitarist Joe King and acclaimed producers Salaam Remi (Nas, Amy Winehouse) and Claude Kelly (Leona Lewis, Akon).

The first single from the album is called "Live Like We're Dying" and has been played on radios since September 21. It is a cover version of The Script's 2008 song which didn't make it to the band's debut album "The Script" but appeared in a b-side of their mini album "We Cry".

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Rob Thomas' 'Someday' Music Video Debuted

'Someday' music video captures Rob Thomas wandering through a parade in downtown New York City.

A music video in companion to Rob Thomas' single called "Someday" has made its rounds. The video features the vocalist of band Matchbox 20 wandering through a massive "hope parade" in Manhattan, New York City.


"The coolest part was just filming the parade," Rob told Entertainment Weekly about the shooting process. "We had a lot of fans come down, and we dressed them all up and had a bunch of gigantic floats flying around."

"Someday" is one of the singles appearing in Rob Thomas' second solo studio project "Cradlesong" which has been is stores since June. In support of the album, Rob is currently hitting the road, starting from September to February next year. Fans can visit his MySpace to check complete details about his upcoming shows.

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Monica Bellucci ... continued

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Can't get enough of Monica Bellucci

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Even more Monica Bellucci

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More Monica Bellucci

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Monica Bellucci

Actress Monica Bellucci is 45 today.

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Singer Malaysia And Seven Eleven Proposed Listing

Many years ago, 18 Jan 2006, to be exact, I wrote the following... I Do.. The Losers!

• So what's left for Intan Utlities?
  
  After scrapping their proposal to buy Berjaya Sports Toto shares, the company announced it plans to consolidate its business by selling all its non-core businesses and concentrate on its chain of 7-Eleven business.
  
  Sounds fair.
  
  But what about the market players who 'invested' in Intan based on their early announcement to buy shares in Berjaya Sports Toto? Without this share purchase, it would appear that the current share price is not justifiable given the historical poor earnings from Intan....
  
  They announced a deal, suddenly value was created.
  They rescinded the deal, suddenly value is destroyed.
  
  Such is the power of corporate exercises.
  
  Oh yes, in the share market, there's always winners and losers, and the losers in this "I Do.. I Don't" flip-flop controversy is Intan.
  
  But is the loser only Intan?

Many months later.. Intan was taken private.

• Vista to take Intan private for RM85.6m
  
  Intan Utilities Bhd’s single largest shareholder Vista Meranti Sdn Bhd, with a 57.7% stake, is taking the company private with an RM85.61 million voluntary general offer for the remaining shares at RM2.10 each.
  
  The cash offer price is a premium of about 10.53% to the five-day weighted average market price up to Monday (Sept 11) of RM1.90 per share. Yesterday, it closed four sen higher at RM1.88, with only 100 shares done.
  
  In a statement yesterday, Intan said Vista had submitted the de-listing proposal to its board to request the company to undertake a voluntary withdrawal of its listing from Bursa Securities.......

So Intan was taken private via a VGO worth about 85.6 million.

In another story, October 2006.

• Cosway minority shareholders prefer sale
  By Chong Jin Hun
  jinhun@nstp.com.my
  
  MINORITY shareholders of Cosway Corp Bhd want the direct-selling firm to be put up for sale rather than let its parent Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) take it private.
  
  "It is a bad idea to take Cosway private as it is a good and profit-making company with a bright future. Investors like to invest in companies with good dividends and bonus issues," proxy holder William Woon told reporters after Cosway's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
  
  He said it would be better to put the company up for sale as competitive bidding can produce higher sale prices.
  
  Woon was commenting on BCorp's recent announcement that it is considering a proposal to buy the remaining shares it does not own in Cosway. BCorp currently owns 74.4 per cent in Cosway.
  
  Another shareholder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is unfair for Cosway to be taken private as the group has done well financially, thanks to its strong shareholders' funds.
  
  "The company had earlier sold shares to minority shareholders, and now, when it is making money, it (BCorp) wants to take it back from the minority shareholders," he lamented.
  
  It was reported that BCorp's possible voluntary general offer may cost the group between RM105.8 million and RM123.5 million for the remaining 25.6 per cent it does not own in Cosway.
  
  The amount works out to between RM1.20 and RM1.40 per Cosway share, whose price had advanced 73.4 per cent this year.
  
  Shares of Cosway closed higher by one sen at RM1.07 yesterday, while BCorp shares were unchanged at 15 sen.
  
  In the year ended April 30 2006, Cosway's net profit grew 62 per cent to RM98.2 million on a smaller revenue increase of 5 per cent to RM1.12 billion.
  
  Net profit for the first quarter to July 31 2006 decreased 15 per cent to RM10.3 million, while revenue was down 35 per cent to RM180.4 million.
  
  The dip in earnings for the first three months was due to the deconsolidation of former subsidiary Dunham-Bush (M) Bhd, according to Cosway's filings to Bursa Malaysia.

Good point mentioned: "The company had earlier sold shares to minority shareholders, and now, when it is making money, it (BCorp) wants to take it back from the minority shareholders,"

So Intan Utilities was taken private.

So was Cosway.

Yesterday, Businesss Times had this article.

• Berjaya to list Singer, 7-11 via new unit
  
  Published: 2009/09/29
  
  BERJAYA Corporation Bhd has announced the proposed listing of Berjaya Retail Bhd, the listing vehicle for subsidiary Singer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn Bhd, on the main market of Bursa Malaysia.
  
  In a statement to Bursa Malaysia today, the group said B-Retail will be principally involved in the marketing and direct selling of consumer durables with instalment option schemes via Singer Group, and the operation of a chain of convenience stores via 7-Eleven Group.
  
  The proposed listing will be undertaken via the implementation of the following proposals:
  
  i) proposed disposal of Singer to B-Retail for RM360 million;
  ii) proposed acquisition of 7-Eleven by B-Retail for RM600 million;
  iii) proposed dividend-in-specie by BCorporation;
  iv) proposed offer for sale of B-Retail securities; and
  v) proposed listing of and quotation for ordinary shares of RM0.50 each in B-Retail and irredeemable convertible preference shares in B-Retail on the Main Market of Bursa Securities.
  
  The Singer and 7-Eleven acquisitions will be satisfied through a combination of assumption of debt and issuance of new shares.
  
  "The Proposed Listing will enable BCorp to achieve its objective of unlocking shareholder value and distributing to its shareholders via the Proposed Dividend-In-Specie thus enabling its shareholders to have a direct participation in the equity and envisaged growth of B-Retail Group," the company said.
  
  It added that following the Proposed Dividend-In-Specie, BCorp shareholders will directly hold securities in a prominent organization with strong brand values and good growth prospects without the need for any cash outlay.
  
  "The Proposed Listing will also enable B-Retail Group to gain access to the capital markets should it wish to raise funds for its future expansion and continued growth," it added.
  
  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Proposed Listing is expected to be completed in the quarter ending 31 March 2010.

How?

One minute, companies are listed. Next they are taken private. Now they wants relisting again.

Is our local stock market such a easy cheap, easy market where companies can list and delist and relist as per they like?

One minute in and one minute out!

How does one expect our market to attract quality funds to invest in our market when this keeps happening?

Now I also want to spare a moment for Intan Utlities and Cosway shareholders.

I am sure that they would be not happy to read such a development.

For Intan Utlities ex-minority shareholders, how much was they offered for their shares? How much does B-Retail wants to buy Seven Eleven for now? 600 million!

For Cosway ex-minority shareholders. Many had objected but yet the company was taken private. Now a subsidiary of its company, Singer Malayisa, is sold for how much now? 300 million!

How?

Can't help it but does it not look like the minority shareholders got the extra short end of the stick?

And what does this say about long term investing?

Yeah, some say it wouldn't work because long term investors always tend to get the short end of the stick.

However, some say, this is not true. Long term investors just needs to be really prudent. One cannot simply buy any company and declare it as long term investing! Or as some would say, never be a shareholder of a business venture if you cannot trust your partners!

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Frank Barbera: Stage Is Set For Disappointment Of Most Epic Sort

Posted the other day: If The Economic Recover Is Real...

On today's financialsense market wrap, market commentator, Frank Barbera, talks about the same issue: Market Messages from the Outer Fringe

• As the bullish headlines continue to sway the masses that hope springs eternal, and that global economic recovery lies directly ahead, the outlook in our view for 2010 remains highly uncertain. In the weeks and months ahead, while it will be key to track a number of tried and true leading economic indicators, we also like to look below the surface as some of the lesser follow economically sensitive gauges. Call them - indicators of the outer fringe. In this case, one of our favorite fringe ‘battlefield’ type gauges is the shipping rate or shipping rate indices put out by the famous Baltic Exchange. These various indices measure the day rates for various types and sizes of merchant shipping. There is an aggregate index known as the Baltic Freight Index, which encompasses a number of sub-indices including day rates for dry goods, and a variety of energy related components which track tankers and of different shapes and sizes. The key point here is very simple, when the global economy is genuinely improving, these day rates tend to trend higher, and to that end, guess what is not happening in recent weeks? In the charts below, we take a look at the trend of the Baltic Dry Index, and some of the energy related, crude oil shipping rates. Get the idea, that things are not trending up? ..........
  
  In our view, this means there is still a lot more proof that needs to be seen coming from the market, --- from the frontlines of global business, where goods are bought and shipped, before we can take solace that a genuine recovery is taking hold. For now, the lackluster behavior in these fringe economic indices is strong evidence that a divergence of substance is present, and while this could end up improving as the year wears on, for now, the trends appear to be on the downside. According to a recent study by the National Bank of Greece, “it is highly unlikely that demand from China will be as strong as it was in the first half of the year.” The report goes on to say that, any pick up in demand should global economies begin to recover is expected to be moderate. National Bank of Greece estimated that it will take another two years before demand for dry bulk cargoes will stabilize, and the same applies for the tanker market as well, while the fact that a large number of newbuildings will hit the market, is expected to make matters in the freight market even worse.
  
  In our view, if it should turn out that next year is not the recovery of substance that so many now expect, the stage will be set for disappointment of the most epic sort. Psychologically speaking, if the herd is heading for another episode of fear and disappointment, the potential ramifications will be felt along a very wide fault line as bullish expectations have been riding very high over the last few weeks.
  
  Take a look at the action in some of the high beta ‘discretionary’ spending stocks. During last year’s contraction, where the ‘high-end’ sphere of ultra-wealthy was only dinged by the major contraction. ---Yes, high end home prices began to decline, but only sold off to a much smaller degree then the middle and low end range for homes where sub-prime mortgages dominated and laid waste to the economic landscape. While it is true that capital market portfolios (equity market declines) hurt those on the high-end, to a very large degree their financial staying power was much greater then that of Joe Six Pack, who saw the plunge in 401K values hit much closer to the financial core. This year, 2009- has been a different story, as high end home values are now falling at a much faster pace, with the lower and middle range of home prices heavily bombed out, and beginning a sort of begrudging plateau. The outlook for 2010 is not rosy, as the number of prime mortgage foreclosures and REO’s is rising steadily. This is the ‘high end’ taking its turn as feeling the recession bite.
  
  In our view, real change is always seen at the periphery, often in the underlying message of obscure markets like the Shipping rates, or perhaps to cite another example, in the value of Gaming shares. In the Gaming shares, we have an entire fringe sector that is absolutely manically leveraged to debt and debt dependent to the extreme. They now reside in the giant hangover of the Great Las Vegas/Macau building/development booms of the last decade. “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning”, is not likely to be any kind of quick fix as this industry is in desperate need of a genuine recovery. Yet, at the heart of a recovery that leads people into the gambling dens of Vegas and Macau, there needs to be a sustained asset re-inflation. To this end, the Gaming stocks are on the far end of the high dive board acting like happy days are here again.. In our view, one small misstep and its off the plank and into the drink, snake eyes for the gaming group. Consequently, we like to watch the price action of the GST Gaming Index, which includes a wide variety of usual suspects such as Bally Tech, IGT, Penn National, Las Vegas Sands, MGM, Wynn and others. So far, what we see is a five wave bull market that ended at the peak in October 2007 (at 87.09), followed by a five wave collapse into the March 2009 lows at 9.44, a heart stopping decline of 89.16%. Since those lows, the index has been fueled by the herd mentality of eternal hope, (ed. right along with other heavily marginal sectors such as Housing and REITS) soaring by a stunning 224.8% in just the last 6 months. Now annualized that!
  
  Here’s the real point. Typical bear market rallies, however powerful, very often retrace about 50% to 61% of the prior decline. In the case of the GST Unweighted Gaming Index, the striking rally of the last few months has led the index back up to a virtual bulls-eye on the 50% bear market retracement mark. This is going to be very telling as to which direction the next 10% to 15% move happens to be. If a real recovery lies dead ahead in 2010, then the heavily leveraged gaming issues should soon be latching onto the pungent aroma of fresh dollar bills heading for the crap tables and the slots. If on the other hand, the outcome for 2010 turns out to be the stench of a double dip contraction, well, then in that case, the Gaming Stocks are likely to start under performing the S&P. That means a declining relative strength ratio in the weeks ahead, and lots of divergence with the S&P...

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Marc Faber: This Crisis Is Just The Appetizer

Just for the record, published on CNBC: This Crisis Was Just the Appetizer: Marc Faber

• "It's a total and complete disaster and the crisis we had is just the appetizer to the big total breakdown of financial markets and of governments in five or 10 years time when the whole system goes bust," Faber told "Worldwide Exchange."
  
  The G20 meeting is not likely to find a solution that would prevent a future meltdown, as the people who are supposed to implement the new measures are the same people who were unable to foresee this crisis, he said.
  
  The issues of excessive leverage and the "uncontrolled, unbound credit growth," as well as the bulging deficits and interest rates at zero are not being addressed, he added.
  
  "My view is that this G20 meeting is a complete and total waste of time," he said. "Nothing will be achieved except that they will implement regulations that are even worse than the regulations that brought us all these problems."
  
  Starting with 2002, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and current chairman Ben Bernanke "managed to create a bubble in everything." But inflation pressures are building up, and the Fed's measure of inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is not relevant, according to Faber.
  
  "If you have interest rates at zero essentially you discourage people to save and encourage them to speculate," he said. "I look at the US dollar. Whenever a currency is weak, it's weak because of some inflationary pressures."
  
  Emerging markets are the place to be in the long term, because their economies are gaining importance in the world, bit this will lead to geopolitical tensions, Faber warned.
  
  "I think that people will have to rethink the world and that they should have little money in the US and have 50 percent of their funds in emerging economies," he said.
  

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Sylvia Kristel

Actress Sylvia Kristel is 57 today.

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Mira Sorvino

Actress Mira Sorvino is 42 today.

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Carre Otis

Actress-model Carre Otis is 41 today.

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Even more Naomi Watts

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More Naomi Watts

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Naomi Watts

Actress Naomi Watts is 41 today.

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Brigitte Bardot

Actress Brigitte Bardot is 75 today.

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More Hilary Duff

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Hilary Duff

Actress Hilary Duff is 22 today.

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Did I Misunderstood The Comment From Green Packet?

Posted the other day: Incredible Talk From Green Packet Yet Again!

Got the following comments from singer ...

• I think you have misunderstood the comment from Green Packet.
  
  As I understand the target is 'revenue' of RM1bn, and not profit as stated in your article.
  
  RM1bn is big target but possible and if an operator in this telco space is not aiming and planning big then they are unlikely to survive.

Singer, I merely commented what I read from the local press and in this instance, I was commenting on what was published on Business Times. Here is the link to that Business Times article: here

Do note that Business Times links are not permanent. Links tend to be missing after time.

Here is the snap shot of the article.

And the arrow indicated exactly what Business Times had published.

Well, I do not not think I misunderstood the comments at all.

Did the reporter misunderstood what was said by the boss or this was exactly what the boss said?

And if the reporter misinterpreted the boss comments, why didn't Green Packet attempt to retract such a massive statement in the press?

Last but not least... what's the point of a company boasting its sales revenue? Isn't it more important that the company shows the investing public it can make money instead of losses?

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MIAMI TRIATHLON

Our good friend & business partner, Richard Philippe, took part in The Miami Triathlon today... Not only did he DOMINATE, but he won it WHILE sporting The Good Life TM t-shirt. Now that's what I call FUCKING AMAZING.

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is 37 today.

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More Avril Lavigne

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