Charlie and the Chocolate Factory World Chicago Comic When Wallop became Wonka Original Willy Wonka Kids To Reunite At Wizard Willy Wonka in town now

When Wallop became Wonka

Now don’t be greedy: Harry Wallop at the Nestle factory in Halifax

To many Debbie Clarke has the best job in the world: she is a confectionery taster. Every day she gets to eat lots of sweets and mark down on her clipboard whether they have passed her tests or not.

And then the next day she comes back to the factory in Halifax and eats some more.

But for her this simple joy is a Dantesque hell. The orange creams and the penny toffees swim before her eyes as if they were floating on the River Styx. “It gets really annoying. Every morning we argue which one of us has to do it.”

She says her children all want to do her job, but she would yelp with relief if she never had to nibble on an eclair again.

Part of the problem is that she specialises in testing Quality Street, a line of sweets that has been going – as of next month – for 75 years, making it one of the most enduring confectionery brands in Britain, part of a pantheon of consumer goods products that have been devoured by our parents, as well as our grandparents.

In that time an astonishing 134 billion foil-wrapped sweets have been made by Quality Street. That is the equivalent of more than one sweet for every human being that has ever walked the face of the earth – a fact almost as beautiful and incomprehensible as a walnut whip.

The owners may have changed – Mackintosh, then Rowntree, now Nestlé – but the sweets have continued to tumble down the line at the factory in Yorkshire. And each day Debbie has to try them.

Some mornings she can get away with eating just 10 sweets. But yesterday it was 26. “And each one is 50 calories; it’s like eating a full evening meal.”

Debbie may despair, but she is a crucial part of Britain’s economy. It will not be financial services or semi-conducters that prevent us falling back into another recession. It will be manufacturing, especially food processing – the country’s biggest manufacturing industry by far.

I’ve come up to Yorkshire – the only place that can challenge Birmingham, home of the mighty Cadbury, for the title of the world’s chocolate capital – to discover why we continue to munch our way through £3.66 billion of chocolate confectionery every year, despite our wallets being squeezed and the prices of sugar and cocoa jumping. I’ve also come to see if I can “taste” some free sweets.

The wrapping and shapes of the sweets are immediately recognisable, even when viewed moving along a production line that stretches not just to the end of the vast factory, but far up and above my head. Vast hoppers of gold fingers and oblongs of blue are being sped along by forklift trucks, while the whole cavernous building is filled with the unmistakable and euphoric smell of caramel and glistening, liquid chocolate.

It’s impossible not to morph into the gluttonous Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I have the urge to reach in to every container and grab handfuls of sweets. When I mention this to my guides, they look horrified and remind me of the strict health and safety forms I signed. Curses.

I ask Heather, who is carefully sliding trays of 100 unwrapped triangles on to a line, what would happen if she were ever to pop one in her mouth. “I’d be shot,” she says. I think she’s joking, but I’m not sure.

Either it’s the smell, or the speed of production, but soon I am hypnotised by caramel swirls being wrapped by a nifty gadget at a rate of 439 a minute. A digital panel keeps track of the furious pistoning of the machine, as a blur of brown chocolate meets a whir of gold wrapping.

Mechanised packaging was the key to Quality Street’s success. Only when “twist-wrapping machines” were invented in the 1920s was it possible to provide cheap chocs for the masses.

Quality Street has some claim to being instrumental in fostering Britain’s addiction to cheap milk chocolate, jointly with Terry’s, its fellow Yorkshire manufacturer. Until then, Mackintosh, which had been making toffees since the dying days of Victoria’s reign, had failed to break into the more lucrative chocolate market.

Alex Hutchinson, the company’s archivist explains: “Until the 1930s, chocolate was incredibly expensive, something that only the upper-middle classes could afford.” Individual chocolates were sold in “fancy boxes”, elaborate packaging that cost just as much as the contents and which contained exotic, expensive ingredients shipped in from around the world: vanilla, cane sugar, ginger and cocoa.

Toffees, in contrast, were made from cheap home-grown ingredients: milk, beet sugar and eggs, and were marketed to factory workers.

Mackintosh had the idea of covering the toffees in desirable chocolate – making the chocolate go further and the toffees more interesting. Putting them in a brightly coloured, cheap box, they created a hit.

Half the original sweets have remained the same since the birth of Quality Street in 1936, including the green praline triangle, the toffee penny and the one universally known as “the purple one” (though brazil nuts were replaced with hazelnuts after the Second World War).

Analysts at Mintel have suggested that the reason we continue to pop sweets like pills during the recession is because they are the last luxury you ditch when money is tight. Many people have stopped eating out, leaving families to comfort themselves in front of the telly with a box of chocolates.

I eventually get my hands on some – by the bucketful – when we move from the factory floor to the development kitchen presided over by the company’s two confectioners, real-life Willy Wonkas. I discover that they made all the chocolates that were consumed in the 2005 film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, staring Johnny Depp. (In a typically ruthless move, Nestlé even snapped up the rights to the trade name Willy Wonka.)

Here there are warm tankards of melted chocolate – one of KitKat chocolate, one of Quality Street chocolate. I am encouraged to try them. The KitKat one is distinctly different, richer, sweeter – pure liquid KitKat. Before long, I am gulping it down.

Vikki Geall, the chief Willy Wonka, is another employee who can live without chocolate. “You get sick of it. Everything we make we have to taste and we eat far too much. At home I crave savoury food.”

My chocolate-covered notebook suggests I ignored her words of wisdom and carried on munching. A nibble here, a chunk there. I was meant to be making purple ones with Vikki, but my piping of caramel was pretty shoddy, distracted by yet more gulps of chocolate. Before long I reach the point that most chocolate workers reach after a month or so in the industry – satiety. In fact, I go beyond that. And when I get home I bury my head in some salad and vow never to eat another sweet again.

But, let’s face it, my new-found restraint is unlikely to last long – and even if it did my small act of self-denial would be statistically irrelevant in the face of the 67 million Quality Street sweets made each and every week. Clearly I’m not the only one with an appetite like Augustus Gloop.

Films - CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is a tale about an eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and Charlie, a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in fifteen years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka's fantastic world.

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Unlike the fluffed-up 1971 original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, director Tim Burton puts a decidedly quirkier and darker spin on his highly stylized and brightly coloured Charlie & the Chocolate Factory adaptation. In other words, there are very few warm and fuzzy moments--and that's OK.

Story

Burton wanted this Charlie to be strictly by the book--Roald Dahl's classic children's book, that is. We meet Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), a young boy, who--despite living in deep poverty with his parents (Helena Bonham Carter and Noah Taylor) and both pair of grandparents--has a very positive outlook on life. His biggest dream is to meet famed chocolatetier Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and go inside his great chocolate factory, a voluminous structure that looms over Charlie's little town. Even though great quantities of chocolate are still being made and shipped all over the world, it's shrouded in mystery. No one has either gone in or come out of the factory in 15 years. But that's all about to change. Wonka announces he'll invite five lucky children to his factory--to get ''all of its secrets and magic''--by hiding five golden tickets inside his chocolate bars. The ones who find the tickets get to come. And as luck would have it, Charlie finds the last golden ticket. Taking his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) along with him, Charlie is dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Oompa Loompas and all, as he tries to warm up to the enigmatic Wonka. The others turn out to be a rotten bunch of gluttonous, spoiled, competitive, know-it-all children, whose greedy personalities lead them into all kinds of trouble. That leaves only the sweet Charlie, who wins the absolute grandest prize of all: the keys to the factory itself. But will he abandon his family for all that chocolaty fame? Not a chance.

Acting

Although Burton and Depp have made three movies together so far--Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow--Burton admits Charlie & the Chocolate Factory was the first time he didn't have to beg the studio execs to let him cast the inscrutable actor. That's because Depp's equally unusual but highly successful Oscar turn as Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean finally changed those Hollywood mucky mucks' minds. Doesn't matter to Depp, though; he's going to keep doing what he wants. And it looks like he is having the time of his life playing the infamous Willy Wonka. Rather than infusing the character with a kind wisdom, like Gene Wilder did in the original, Depp's Wonka is more like the book's version: childish, mischievous, standoffish and even a tad klutzy. He's a fellow who certainly listens to a different drummer. In other words, Depp. The rest of the adults in the movie obviously pale in comparison, except perhaps Indian actor Deep Roy, who gets to play all the Oompa Loompas. What fun that must have been, especially in performing the film's only musical numbers. As far as the kids go, Highmore, who also starred with Depp in Finding Neverland, is quite endearing as Charlie. The rest of the relatively unknown children also do a fine job, albeit a bit more snotty and unfazed than the original set. You know, kinda like how kids are these days.

Direction

Here's the burning question that seems to be applying to many a film these days: why mess with a classic? The 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is certainly an undeniable gem, a mixture of Technicolour, elaborate sets and music that, with the engaging Gene Wilder in the lead, leaves a sweet and indelible impression. Is there really a need for another version? Tim Burton thinks so since he didn't really like the original at all. Burton's idea was to make a worthy version of Dahl's darker novel, plain and simple. When he signed to make a Charlie redo, he even forbade the writer, John August, who hadn't ever seen Willy Wonka, from watching it, lest it would cloud his judgment. Burton accomplishes what he set out to do. Charlie captures Dahl's tone succinctly--wildly imaginative, slightly off-centred with a moral centre but certainly more mean-spirited than 1971 version. And, of course, in the hands of a technically proficient director, Charlie is also a marvel of sights and sounds. Burton spared no expense with his luscious sets, multicoloured costumes, Oompa Loompas and lots and lots of rich, creamy chocolate. Yummy. While some may miss Willy Wonka's magical qualities, others may feel a need to run to the concession stand and grab some Snow Caps.

Bottom Line

This slightly more malicious Charlie & the Chocolate Factory may have lost some of the original's wonderment. But coming from the fertile and creative mind of Tim Burton, it is still a marvellous confectionary delight, especially to those who like a darker chocolate.

'Willy Wonka' in town now

POTTSTOWN — "Willie Wonka Jr.," an updated musical version of Roald Dahl's timeless children's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," will be presented at 7 p.m. today and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St.

Lisa Uliasz is stage director for the production by students of the Tri-PAC Performing Arts Summer Camp.

Richard Oberholtzer is musical director.

Cast members include Julia Maenza, Mike Styer, Jordan Hicks, Aslan Berbaum, Wyeth Casperite, Cassandra Marks, Aiden Quigley, Lindsay Lohr, Tiana Gallagher, Nathan Bunyon, Hannah Paczkowski, Emi Aungst, Brad Heinzinger, Tim Turner, Anna Lavelle, Sebastian Coates, Olivia Zitkus, Annie Stockmal, Sarah Bauer and Madison Wingert.

And, Amanda Murray, Lauren Bergen, Cassie Wells, Taylor Ruffo, Kendall Bowden, Madison Kershner, Rachel Julian, JT Clark, Rikki Etter, Kyraen Bittner and Lauren Dougherty.

Original ‘Willy Wonka’ Kids To Reunite At Wizard World Chicago Comic Con

t will be a “scrumdiddlyumptious” gathering when the five child stars from the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory reunite 40 years after the release of the now classic film at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, August 11-14. Peter Ostrum (“Charlie Bucket”), Paris Themmen (“Mike Tee Vee”), Julie Dawn Cole (“Veruca Salt”), Denise Nickerson (“Violet Beauregard”) and Michael Boellner (“Augustus Gloop”) will appear together for an extremely rare reunion, joining more than 500 celebrities and artists at the event, which will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

The original 1971 film, based on Roald Dahl’s book and screenplay, told the story of five children who won the opportunity to tour the fictional, world famous Wonka Chocolate Factory after finding a “golden ticket” in packages of Wonka chocolate. The poor but extremely good-hearted Charlie is joined by the other four, whose quirks have made them among the most memorable characters ever as the film has achieved cult status. All-time greats Gene Wilder, who played the eccentric Wonka, and Jack Albertson, who portrayed Charlie’s beloved Grandpa Joe, starred in the feature roles.

“This is a truly unique opportunity to meet the five child actors who helped make Willy Wonka such a classic movie,” said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO. “It is these kinds of once-in-a-lifetime events that make Wizard World shows so interesting and exciting for fans of all ages.”

The five will be among such other distinguished celebrities at Chicago Comic Con as Patrick Stewart, Bruce Campbell, Christopher Lloyd, Morena Baccarin, Felicia Day, Anthony Michael Hall, Academy Award Winner® Lou Gossett Jr. and James Marsters.

Chicago Comic Con is the seventh stop on Wizard World’s 2011 North American tour. Hours are Thursday, August 11, 5 – 9 p.m.; Friday, August 12, noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, August 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworld.com/chicago.html at a savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are priced at $25 ($35 on site); four-day all-session tickets are $50 ($60 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available on a limited basis.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, and is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.

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epl fixtures 2011-12 English Premier League to start Premier League predictions What the bloggers say Cahill backs cancellation of EPL opener

English Premier League to start, but some games in doubt

Spurs fears: there are still extreme doubt over whether or not the White Hart Lane faithful will be able to cheer on their heroes in the EPL opener against Everton. Source: AP

THE new English Premier League season will start as scheduled on Saturday, with no plans for a blanket postponement of matches despite this week's civil unrest.

The Metropolitan Police is due to make a decision overnight on whether it will allow this weekend's London fixtures to proceed.

There is optimism that home matches for Queens Park Rangers, their first in the Premier League since 1996, and Fulham will go ahead but serious doubts remain over Tottenham's fixture at home to Everton because of demands on police resources and continuing tension in the area around White Hart Lane.

Separate decisions will be made by regional police forces about other matches after unrest in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and West Bromwich in recent days but the Premier League and Football League have not received any indications that any other matches are under threat.

There is no appetite at the Premier League or the Football League for their entire weekend program to be wiped out, so matches will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, The (London) Times reported.

Several League Cup ties were postponed on police advice in midweek in addition to England's friendly match against Holland, which was due to take place at Wembley Wednesday night (local time), and Ghana's international match against Nigeria, which should have been played at Watford on Tuesday.

Police advised the postponement of League Cup fixtures at Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and West Ham United, all of which have been rearranged for next week.

Greg Clarke, the Football League chairman, said the clubs and authorities would have no complaint in any cases where the police demand that games are postponed.

"The police have to make these calls," Clarke said. "If they feel they have more important things to do than send officers to football grounds, we will support that decision.

"We want to keep our games going ahead but that is a secondary priority. We have to support the police and the government in making the streets safe, then after that we can think about 'let's get our football games going ahead.' If they need to move police away from football games, we will cancel those games."

2011-12 Premier League predictions: What the bloggers say

We asked some of the best football bloggers in the business to give their predictions for the forthcoming Premier League campaign - here's what they said...

Michael Cox, Zonal Marking - I think United won the title last year without being great, but I think they'll improve again and therefore win the title again. City have more attacking threat now but still collect too many draws instead of wins. Chelsea look promising, but I think Andre Villas-Boas might need a season to get the hang of the club and the English game. Arsenal will do their usual, with Liverpool challenging and Spurs surprising a few people.

1. Manchester United 2. Manchester City 3. Chelsea 4. Arsenal

Kieron O'Connor, Swiss Ramble - Technical analysts are fond of saying that 'the trend is your friend', so I'm going to stick with Manchester United as Premier League winners. Admittedly, they've lost valuable experience in Scholes, Van der Sar and even Gary Neville, but they've bought well and early to replace them.

I would expect serious challenges from both Manchester City, though they may be distracted by their first involvement in the Champions League, and Chelsea, who should have more pace and be more penetrative under Villas-Boas. Fourth place may be linked to transfer market activity: not enough (to date) for Arsenal and Spurs, possibly too much for Liverpool.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Arsenal

Andy Brassell, freelance journalist - I'm expecting Manchester United to retain the title, even if they really ground it out last year. They've added some good options, and Ashley Young should really augment their ability to attack swiftly. Chelsea look strong too, but maybe lack that 'mystery' player to break open tight situations. If they're lucky and he stays fit, maybe it could be Yossi Benayoun.

Man City's squad is impressive, but I just don't get the impression that Roberto Mancini is capable of making them as fluid as they could be. As for Spurs, maybe this could be the season where the fact they have a stronger overall squad than Arsenal will be brought to bear.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Tottenham Hotspur

Brooks Peck, Dirty Tackle - This season we will see the natural progression of 'Fergie Time', which will help Manchester United to their 20th title no matter how many matches it takes (Bonus prediction: They will get 13 added fixtures to win it).

The press will legally change Andre Villas-Boas' name to 'New Jose Mourinho' as he gets the most out of the Chelsea squad he has to work with and Roberto Mancini will get sacked for sitting third and having a Balotelli-induced nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, Arsenal will continue to float in that dim netherworld of Arsene Wenger's creation.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Luis Suarez

Luke Moore, Football Ramble - I think this season will see Manchester United win the title. United have strengthened in the right areas, and with the emergence of Tom Cleverley, they may not even need to sign a midfielder at all. If they manage to sign Wes Sneijder, then as far as I'm concerned it's done and dusted bar the shouting. I expect Man City to be stronger this season though; they've bought well, and look terrifying going forward. The key for them will be to break the shackles of their (in my opinion) overly defensive mindset, and also to maintain some sort of consistency of selection and management. They can run United close, but not close enough.

For me, Chelsea are most likely to finish third, and it remains to be seen whether Abramovich will stand for that. Because the top three are so clearly better equipped than the rest of the league, it essentially leaves a bun fight for fourth place. I've been saying Arsenal will pip Liverpool to it (especially if they sign Scott Dann, who I believe to be a first-rate defender), but the loss of Fabregas and Nasri will be difficult to stomach and, presuming they don't replace like for like in terms of quality, Liverpool could in fact beat them to it. I think Liverpool will be a force again this season.

1. Manchester United 2. Manchester City 3. Chelsea 4. Liverpool

Chris Mann, The Equaliser - I think this could be Manchester City's year. It's fashionable to criticise Roberto Mancini's side, but last season gave signs that the squad was coming together (at least on the field) and the defensive side of their game is particularly impressive. If Sergio Aguero can shine from the get-go then, in my opinion, City have all the components required to stage a serious title challenge, with Manchester United and Chelsea pushing them all the way.

I've gone for Arsenal in fourth, although I expect Liverpool to be much improved on last season and a strong contender for the Champions League places.

1. Manchester City 2. Manchester United 3. Chelsea 4. Arsenal

Jeff Livingstone, In Bed With Maradona - I've seen this one before. It was in the mid 90s; "You'll never win anything with kids" was Alan Hansen's famous opening line. But they did, and, as far as this pilgrim can see, a hungry and youthful Manchester United are going to win it again. Aside from the usual names, United have bought well. The Da Silva twins, Smalling, Cleverley and Welbeck now look like genuine players, while Hernandez has developed into as dangerous a striker as there is in the league. With talented kids such as Pogba, Morrison and Tunnicliffe likely to step up, everything is falling nicely into place for Fergie's team. A new era of dominance beckons.

I like AVB (the universally accepted acronym for the Chelsea boss), and, given that commodity that Chelsea managers don't get - time - I reckon he'll energise the Stamford Bridge club. Second to United though. I'd have Manchester City down as runners up, but that would involve Carlos Tevez still being around, which doesn't look likely. Spurs, in what is likely to be the Lancaster Gate-bound Harry Redknapp's last season, and Arsenal to slug it out for fourth, with the Gunners clinching the spoils.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Arsenal

Alex Netherton, Surreal Football - Having managed to keep hold of Michael Owen, I can't see past Manchester United for the title. Chelsea certainly haven't improved, Arsenal are losing their two best players and Liverpool will have Charlie Adam in midfield. Manchester City are probably the closest to United, but I imagine they'll persist in defending 0-0 leads away from home.

1. Manchester United 2. Manchester City 3. Chelsea 4. Arsenal

Chris Nee, Two Footed Tackle - There are three horses in this race and nobody will be surprised at which horses they are. I expect at least two of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea to be in contention right up until the last couple of weeks, but I'm afraid I've chosen this season to predict City's triumph.

It's inevitably going to happen sometime and although United have added to their firepower it could be City that are most improved. A gamble, but one I'm willing to take for the chance to create the illusion of smarts come the end of the season. Or not.

1. Manchester City 2. Manchester United 3. Chelsea 4. Liverpool

Ben Shave, Cahiers du Sport - If the weekend's Community Shield is anything to go by, the coronation of Manchester's finest as the leading contenders for the Premier League title may have been somewhat premature. Both United and City exhibited a variety of concerning flaws, and with Arsenal continuing to flounder in the transfer market, perhaps the broadest pre-seasons smiles can be found at Stamford Bridge, where Andre Villas-Boas has joined the club on a wave of success. At the risk of damning us all with a procession, this one appears too close to call.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Liverpool

Scott, Republik of Mancunia - My money would be on United retaining the title this season. We won the league fairly comprehensively in the end last season and have strengthened since then. We've got some great young players coming through too and we might not yet be finished in the transfer market yet.

Where the top teams finish will largely depend on who is bought or sold in the remaining weeks. If Chelsea sign Modric, City keep Tevez, Arsenal keep Nasri and Fabregas, then who knows what impact that will have? Essentially though, Chelsea have the experience to be our closest rivals, although that is dependent on whether their young manager has what it takes.

1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Tottenham Hotspur

Dan Levene, Blueschronicle - Many feel Man United won last year's title by default, thanks to Chelsea's inconsistency. New boss Andre Villas-Boas looks a better tactician than Carlo Ancelotti, and has the owner's backing (for now). If the addition of an imaginative midfielder (ie. Modric) gets Torres scoring, this could be a very interesting season at Stamford Bridge.

1. Chelsea 2. Manchester United 3. Manchester City 4. Liverpool

Antoine Zammit, Empire of the Kop - With Kenny Dalglish at the helm Liverpool should make it back into the top four this season. The new signings and the fact that we don't have any European football we have enough depth to handle the long EPL season. As much as it pains me to admit, I can't see any other team being able to wrestle the league title from Manchester United's grasp. The only team to do this will be Liverpool FC in the 2012/13 season - we are just not ready yet.

1. Manchester United 2. Manchester City 3. Liverpool 4. Chelsea

Jamie Sanderson, Young Guns - It's hard to see beyond another Manchester United title, after a summer of swift transfer business, in which Sir Alex has freshened up in the fringe squad with new signings and promoted some of last seasons loanees. I expect Manchester City will capitalise on another slow United start, but I ultimately feel they're a year away from knitting into a side capable of sustaining a challenge.

I'm also expecting another campaign of ups and downs for Chelsea, as they adapt to Andre Villas-Boas and his way of doing things. Although much hyped, I don't consider Liverpool or Tottenham strong enough to overhaul Arsenal, who will certainly add to the squad in January if they're not there or thereabouts.

Riots cloud EPL fixtures

THE English Premier League will ask clubs to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the weekend’s fixtures - specifically the three games in London - after the England v Netherlands friendly scheduled for tonight at Wembley was abandoned in light of the rioting.

The clubs in London who are playing home fixtures on Saturday - Tottenham, Fulham and Queen’s Park Rangers - will take advice from the Metropolitan Police who will have the final say. If there are further disturbances overnight then the Premier League wants clubs to come to a decision as soon as possible, and by tomorrow evening at the latest.

The decision is based primarily on police resources. The Metropolitan Police advised last night that all major events that required police numbers should be postponed so that the force could concentrate on dealing with the rioters. Although the Football Association could not give precise numbers on the amount of police that would have been required at Wembley tonight, the number is estimated at around 400.

The London games are not the only fixtures being played in a city where there have been disturbances - Liverpool are also playing at home on Saturday - but given the scale of the rioting in the capital they are the only games which face being called off. The FA acted swiftly yesterday, deciding by 9am that, in consultation with the police, the government and Brent Council, the friendly against the Netherlands could not go ahead.

In the Football League there are five London clubs playing at home over the weekend in the three divisions - Crystal Palace, Millwall, Leyton Orient, Barnet and Dagenham and Redbridge. It will also seek police advice before deciding whether to go ahead with its fixtures depending on the situation over the next few days.

After the FA cancelled tonight’s game, the entire England squad, as well as Fabio Capello, accompanied FA chairman David Bernstein to a press conference at their hotel in Hertfordshire. The decision to come en masse was made by John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. Having watched the footage of the previous night’s riots at breakfast together, many of the players told the FA that they expected the match to be called off.

The players thought it would be unwise for them to speak individually about the riots with the situation changing all the time, but a statement was read on their behalf in which they appealed “for calm and an end to the disorder that has been going on”. The players’ statement said: “We’ve all seen the terrible pictures on the television and the most important thing is the safety of the fans and the general public.”

The FA said that it took advice from the police who said they could not guarantee the safety of the players or the fans and, in any event, would not have obtained the safety licence from Brent Council which is a legal necessity for any game to take place at Wembley.

Bernstein said: “It wasn’t the targeting of the game [by rioters that was the chief concern]. It was the question of resource, both of the police and the other emergency services, of transportation, certain concerns about protection of players from both sides, travelling in coaches and so on.

“At the end of the day we were not in a position to be given the licence we needed to open the stadium for this match. We had no choice. But we are in total sympathy and agreement with the police, the government, and Brent Council.”

Bernstein said that the decision was “not driven by money”. He said: “There are much more important considerations here. The costs involved are not great. There is a loss of income but we are hoping and believe this fixture will be rearranged, hopefully next year.”

Asked about whether the Dutch FA (KNVB) chief executive Bert van Oostveen would ask for compensation for the game, Bernstein said that he thought that was unlikely. He said: “I spoke to the president of the Dutch FA [yesterday morning] and he was greatly understanding and very sympathetic to our situation.” The Dutch were told the match was cancelled before they boarded their flight from Amsterdam.

The Minister for Sport, Hugh Robertson, said that the FA had made the right choice. He said: “They had received very clear advice from the Met police that against the backdrop of what was happening last night they couldn’t deploy the number of officers required to police a football game which is far greater than any other sports event. You also have the immediacy of this and it would clearly look bad if you are in a situation where businesses are being pillaged at the same time.”

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ready movie 2011 Talking Fright Night With The Cast The Help popular in Buckhead New Footloose trailer Who's ready to cut loose

Talking 'Fright Night' With The Cast

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With vampires holding strong as the trend du jour, you could suspect that recreating 1985 American horror film Fright Night was a calculated move. But with the glamorization of the blood suckers being what has made them so popular, you could argue that this film goes against formula since Jerry, is not your typical glittery, love-struck creature. I had the pleasure of chatting with director Craig Gillespie and the cast of Fright Night, Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and screenwriter Marti Noxon during a special round table discussion at 2011 San Diego Comic Con late last month. As a collective, everyone talked about why this version stays true to the original but adds the magic available to us twenty six years later to create something fresh and scary to a whole new generation. To kick off this very exclusive discourse, director Craig Gillespie opened up about what convinced him to sign on to this project, one that he confessed he wasn’t ready to take on at first. C. Gillispie: “I wasn’t looking to do this kind of film. I was working on some smaller projects and I was on my way to go to a general meeting at DreamWorks and my agent sent this script over and said just check this out, they are looking for somebody for this movie. I was vaguely familiar with the original. I had these iconic ideas in my head from seeing it as a kid so I reluctantly read the script. But as soon I started reading it just flew, and Marti's script had this great balance of horror and comedy. I put it down and thought it was really good, but my head wasn't there. The next morning I’m sitting there waiting to go into this meeting and I'm thinking of all these scenes in this film and thought, "I know how to make this movie," so I signed on.” Since we are in an era where sexy vampires dominate the airwaves and movie screens with the likes of True Blood, The Twilight Saga, and The Vampire Diaries, Farrell found it refreshing not to have to shimmer in the sunlight. (Though we do find it hard to believe that anyone in casting hoped audiences would fail to find the hotness in the extremely attractive Farrell in fangs!) He also discussed how he first became involved with the project, one that is so different than any other role he had played before. C. Farrell: “I was really looking for something that was lighter, to go to work and have a bit of fun. Something that was kind of expansive and maybe wasn't so emotional or psychologically grounded as some of the things I'd done previously like Triage, Ondine and In Bruges. I enjoyed them all creatively but I was just looking for a change. Fright Night came to me in the same fortnight and it was kind of oh, that’s different. I loved the original. Like Craig said it was a really fast read. I think I flew through it in like 55 minutes and I called my agent and said, "Fuck man, I kinda really liked it." I was playing a vampire that didn’t have any fear at all and had no kind of desire to locate his romantic counterpart. And there was none of that stuff, you know. It was just really an exercise in malevolence and brutality and it was fun.” This film was the first time both Colin and Craig were exposed to 3-D shooting, both in front and behind the lens creating a very different experience from any other projects. While it did not have much of an affect on the actor’s, Ferrell “enjoyed not cutting a scene and letting it play out. “ The film snagged Javier Aguirresarobe as Director of Photography to work closely with Gillespie to create the final masterpiece. The Spaniard is known for his work on countless films including The Others, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and two of The Twilight Saga films, Eclipse and New Moon giving him the perfect background for the creation of Fright Night. C. Gillespie: “We looked at a lot of 3-D films as we were working in prepping this and my DP Javier Aguirresarobe has done some beautiful stuff in the past. We felt like in some ways it takes you back to more classic film making where there are slower, longer moves. You don't want the camera to be too frenetic in 3-D because that is when you start to get the eye strain and the headaches. So it was really classical blocking, the only difference being for 3-D which we sort of discovered for our interpretation of it is that you don't want the camera to stay still because that is when you’re not feeling the 3-D. It always feels better when it feels like its drifting a little bit so you’re always designing stuff that move in the space." One thing that is impossible to shy away from is the fact that Fright Night is a remake and how much (most) fans dislike this idea. I can admit to being guilty in the past of saying such things as “Has Hollywood run out of ideas?,” and I know I am not the only one! Did Craig or Colin feel any sense of pressure to create a final product that both fans of the original and new fans would be happy with? C. Farrell: “I know that the general consensus is that remakes are indicative of a lack of originality in Hollywood so you'd be afraid of that judgment from fans of the original film hating this before they even see it. We weren't really treating it as a remake or reimagining but really treating it as an original script and the original experiences with the story for the first time although it was reflective of a story that had the exact same name, the exact same structure and the exact same characters and all that. So of course it is a remake and there are times where you are consciously tipping your hat to the original. But apart from that, you’re going on a journey of and not try to emulate but hopefully not trying to sell short the idea of the original.” C. Gillespie: I really stayed away from watching the original until right before we started shooting. We didn't want that to contaminate what we were trying to do because it’s really its own thing. We went back to look at it to make sure that we paid homage where it was appropriate. One of those things was the apple that got thrown in on the set literally and that whole scene with the apple rolling in the kitchen, that wasn't scripted.” Colin confessed he has a fear of judgment when his “Jerry” will be compared to that of Chris Sarandon who first gave life to the character in 1985. But he promises there are definite differences between the two versions. C. Farrell: “Marti Noxon did the film and hopefully the audience such a solid by not having the "Jerry's" propelled by the same motor and they are very different characters. Chris Sarandon's felt a lot more debonair a lot more suave a lot more sophisticated and had a greater dignity and also a longing to locate his romantic counterpart. My guy was kind of more of a societal parasite; he's more of a killer more of a cold-blooded cruel survivalist yes but killer. My guy is much more reckless, I think he has a bit of a death wish! It's an unfortunate thing to have when you're immortal.” Speaking of Marti Noxon, talk about someone who is no stranger to vampires! Her street cred includes writing and producing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel, Grey’s Anatomy and Mad Men. Not to mention she will help pen season three of the Fox hit Glee. During our session with Colin and Craig, both applauded Marti’s ability to create characters that kept the integrity of the original but with different personalities. She opened up about the thought process that went behind her decision to not only bring back this 80’s classic but breathe new life into it. M. Noxon: “When i saw the original I was left with all these questions like, "How does Evil Ed know Charlie? "What is the nature of their relationship? So that is something that came to me that I'd like to know about them. And I brought to it something that I think a lot of people go through when you're young and you're really into some kind of subculture be it being a total nerd like me, or roller derby. Then you get a little bit older and you and your friends don't see eye to eye anymore, it can be a very strange rite of passage where you leave friends behind and I just thought there was something really interesting in that. It just meshed with the movie in a really good way. So it was never like "I gotta change it" it was more like "this is so ripe for exploring some themes that I'm interested in" and then it sort of lent itself to a lot of things that I was excited about.” Most famous for his comedic roles in Superbad, Role Models, Year One, and Kick-Ass, Christopher Mintz-Plasse tackled the role of Evil Ed, Charlie Brewster's (Anton Yelchin) former best friend who is upset when Charlie dumps him to hang out with the cool kids. Chris was able to flex his improvisational muscle in Fright Night alongside co-star Yelchin. Creating a lot of the funny dialogue together, the new buddies managed to get some memorable lines in the final cut. C. Mintz-Plasse: “Everything was there on the page that she wrote and I like improv so since Anton and I became such good friends on set we would read what was on the script and if we had some time Craig would let us do a little riffing here and there. Some of the lines made it into the movie so that's cool! There should also be some extra stuff on the DVD!” While living in the Valley in California, neither Mintz-Plasse nor co-star Anton Yelchin crossed paths. But when both were working on this film in Albuquerque, they had nothing but time to bond. And I doubt anyone had any issue letting the beautiful Imogen Poots sit with them at lunch! Anton, who can take credit for helping put life back into remakes like Star Trek and Terminator, has had varied feelings about taking on roles made famous by others. He told us what attracted him to taking on the Charlie character in Fright Night. A. Yelchin: “With other things like with Terminator, I was like "I get this character, I've loved it since I was a kid so I get it." With this the script, it's a re-imagining, you understand that right away. I think Craig is a very interesting film maker and I just thought that that was just an enlightened choice to make this movie. So it said something about where we were going with it. The script to me maintained the fundamental elements and the humor and the horror. The most important thing about Fright Night, to me at least, is that Jerry is dangerous and scary and that motivates the whole story. So if you take that out of the equation and Jerry is just a Twilight vampire then it becomes the same vampire shit. Here he is, a monster in the traditional sense of monster movies.” British beauty Imogen Poots is embracing her “inner American” in this film by portraying Charlie’s popular girlfriend who is oblivious to his past as a nerd. The young actress made her first appearance in BBC’s medical drama Casualty at age 15 before starring in V is for Vendetta, 28 Weeks Later, Miss Austen Regrets, Solitary Man, and Jane Eyre. But did she enjoy playing a suburban, American teenager? I. Poots: “It was really cool! I think it has to stem from my fascination with all things American. I was brought up with American television, which was very accessible in the UK. But also I felt a need and a want to embody that girl, whoever she was, and understand her. If you've read enough American literature and were educated on American films and cinema, then you want to have that opportunity to dismiss your own innate British identity for a short while. It was awesome, I loved it.” Fright Night has a talented group of people both in front of the camera and behind the scenes with a carefully plotted script brought to life by all involved. Make sure to head to theaters on August 19th, 2011 when it hits theaters across the U.S.

"The Help" popular in Buckhead

The movie version od Buckhead resident Kathryn Stockett’s hit novel “The Help” opened this week to rave reviews by fans and critics alike.

Set in the 1960s in Jackson, Miss., “The Help” chronicles one girl’s return from college to high Southern society, and her dismay at how the black women in her hometown are treated by the people she called her friends before she left.

As is usually the case, fans of the book were wary of a possibly bumpy ride in transitioning this phenomenon hit from print onto the silver screen. It's showing at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead.

“I was hesitant to go and see the movie,” said Buckhead resident Ida Thomas. “I loved this book, and you get an idea of what the characters look like and how they sound in your head. But I have to say I was really surprised at how much I loved this movie. I think the characters were about as true to life as they could be. It really is a moving story.”

The movie deals with racism in the South, as the main character, Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, returns home from Ole Miss with her sights set on becoming a writer. After securing a job with a local paper, she becomes disgusted with her high society friends who inform Skeeter that all of “the Help” must now use separate bathrooms while working in their houses. Skeeter decides to write about life from the point of view of “the Help” and strikes up a friendship with several black women (Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer), and ultimately changes the town of Jackson forever.

Stockett, who wrote the book, is from Jackson, and is now living in Atlanta with her family. The film’s director and screen writer, Tate Taylor is a childhood friend of Stockett’s, who relied heavily on her opinion when writing the screenplay for the movie, according to an article in Entertainment Weekly.

The movie is making as big of a splash as the book, with audiences praising the excellent acting of the cast.

“I loved this movie,” said Donna Harrington. “I cried about half the time. The woman that plays Abileen (Viola Davis) was absolutely amazing. It makes you angry and sad while you are watching it. I hadn’t read the book, but I think I might have to now. The story is so powerful.”

It seems that devoted readers and those fans who haven’t had time to pick through the pages are pleased with this blossoming hit.

“It is the kind of movie that has you thinking the entire time,” said Buckhead resident Mary Shetlerfield. “I had thought it would be a little sappy, but it’s a smart movie about smart women. It really makes you think about where we’ve come from and how much we have to appreciate. Great, great movie.”

New 'Footloose' trailer: Who's ready to cut loose?

As a child of the ’80s I admit I was skeptical when I heard about the upcoming remake of the 1984 dance-tastic drama Footloose. But now that I’ve seen the new trailer for the film, I’m feeling a lot better about it. If the preview is any indication, it looks like director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) brings a hip urgency to his version, starring newcomer Kenny Wormald and Dancing With the Stars standout Julianne Hough as the rug-cutting central couple. Meanwhile, Dennis Quaid brings his usual gravitas to his conservative-preacher role, one that in lesser hands could easily fall into caricature. And it helps that one of the film’s producers, Craig Zadan, also worked on the original. I admit that it’ll be a little tough for me to buy the 23-year-old Hough as a high-schooler, but the advance buzz on the movie (out Oct. 14) is so strong that I may just let it slide. Take a look at the new trailer—does it look almost like paradise to you?

'Planet of the Apes' Team Ready for a Sequel ... or Two

There "haven’t been any official conversations.” But after big "Planet of the Apes" opening last weekend, the movie's writer/producers not only expect a sequel or two to -- they are prepared for them.

They already know the story they want to tell, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver tell TheWrap. Jaffa said that even in early drafts, they “set up things we’d like to play off in the next and even the next."

"We’re definitely teed up. We feel very confident that there will be (a sequel), but at this point it’s still wait-and-see,” he said.

While they did admit they are trying not to think too much about it (“Everyone is kind of superstitious,” Silver said), it does seem a good time to put superstition aside.

The movie is killing. In its first five days of release, it grossed $91.5 million worldwide. Its domestic gross for its opening weekend was $54.8 million.

On top of that, the critics loved it: It has an 82 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, and there is talk of Andy Serkis deserving an Oscar nod for his motion-capture performance as Caesar, the chimpanzee whose plight is the heart of the picture.

Also read: Andy Serkis: Can't a Guy With an Ape's Face Get Some Oscar Respect?

Their "Apes" project began in 2006, when married couple Jaffa and Silver were trying to figure out what their next project would be. Jaffa, who keeps a folder stuffed with news articles, “kept going back to these two articles about these chimpanzees who had been raised in homes as children and loved as children, and always, these situations ended up badly,” Silver said. “The chimps would grow up and become naturally more aggressive.”

Jaffa said he knew there was a movie in that story.

Then one day, he thought, “Planet of the Apes.”

“He said, ‘I’ve found a way to reboot ‘Planet of the Apes,’ and I laughed nervously,” Silver said. “Then he started talking about the chimpanzee and the character of Young Caesar was born. We started talking about this chimpanzee who feels very human but isn’t human. We just fell in love with him.”

From there, the story came together very quickly.

But they were sure the movie itself couldn't. “We thought, Fox must already be developing something,” Silver said. “In fact, the idea felt so good we thought, ‘They’re probably developing this idea.'”

Jaffa, a former agent at the William Morris Agency, and Silver, the granddaughter of blacklisted “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” screenwriter Sidney Buchman, put together a meeting at Fox.

To their surprise, studio executives loved the idea of revisiting "Apes" -- despite Tim Burton's much maligned 2001 reboot. But still there were reasons to be intimidated. The 1968 original was written by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson -- “so that’s a little bit of pressure,” Jaffa said.

They knew that fans of the original movies would be dubious, so they kept to the "Planet" mythology -- and "we have lots of Easter eggs in there and fun little things and surprises that hearken back to the earlier movies," Jaffa said.

It wasn’t clear at that point whether the motion-capture technology would be impressive.

“So we tried to separate that out and just concentrate on the characters,” Silver said. “The crazy thing about this story is, yes it has action, yes it’s science fiction and maybe you could say adventure-thriller, but at its heart, it’s a character picture.”

By sticking to that and sticking to a theme – hubris can be humanity’s downfall – they stayed focused.

They credit director Rupert Wyatt for pulling great performances out of the actors. And they credit the studio for sticking with the project with the uncertainty of the motion-capture technology.

They said watching Serkis (above, with his character) perform onset was like watching Charlie Chaplin – except in a gray leotard.

“I’ll never forget it,” Jaffa added. “The first shot that came in was of Andy, and he has set the virus loose, or set the 113 loose in the primate house … He’s waiting to see if it took effect and he does that side-glance as Tom Felton walks past. We all screamed and juMped up in the air and it was, ‘Oh my God, it’s going to work.’ It’s literally one-and-a-half seconds.”

Now, Jaffa and Silver are pitching some television ideas and have a time-travel movie set up at Sony.

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national flag Fly the flag every day Will Rahul unfurl national flag at party headquarters on August 15

Legacies Clash as Civil Rights Leader Is Laid to Rest in the Shadow of Racism

As the late civil rights leader Rev. Howard Creecy Jr. was laid to rest in Atlanta on Aug. 6, mourners noticed something odd. At the cemetery where the reverend was buried after a lifetime of work in the civil rights movement, Confederate flags flew, and now, so do tempers of both those who think the flags should go and those to whom the flags represent a proud history.

"For me, it is just an affront to everything that has happened for civil rights and justice for all people that are concerned that this flag still hangs," U.S. Rep. John H. Lewis told the Associated Press.

Protesters gathered this week and publicly called for the removal of the flags that fly over a sculpture of a soldier designed to represent the 400 Confederate veterans buried in the cemetery. The memorial hosts both the familiar Confederate design as well as the Confederate national flag that served as the official banner of the seceded states at the time of the Civil War.

In favor of the flags is the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group whose members boast their lineage of those who fought in the Civil War. Unashamed of the negative connotation that the Confederate flag carries, the group is proud of the flags and intend for them to remain as a symbol of their legacy.

"Those flags have flown there for many years and will continue to fly there for many years honoring our Confederate heroes and Confederate dead," the organization told WAGA-TV according to AP. "It is not a racial issue."

Rev. Creecy Jr. died July 28 at age 57, just six short months after taking the helm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped found in the aftermath of the Montgomery bus boycott. His funeral was attended by civil rights leaders such as SCLC president emeritus Joseph Lowery, U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

Officials from the Westview Cemetery say they are unable to remove the flags because the rights to erect and maintain the monument are owned by Confederate veterans groups.

Fly the flag every day

IN conjunction with the 54th Anniversary of our Hari Merdeka or Independence Day, Malaysians are encouraged to fly the Jalur Gemilang.

A national flag symbolises the spirit of patriotism and pride, unity and love for the nation. Under a common flag, we attained independence and built our lives harmoniously, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

Under one flag lies the symbol of unity for all our communities as we strive towards building a united Malaysian nation in which our future lies.

I have no doubt Malaysians are proud of their flag as it symbolises nationalism and patriotism, which are needed to strengthen the process of nation building.

In fact it is not just for Independence Day that the Malaysian flag should be flown. We should fly the flag on all important occasions and, if practical, every day. In many countries I visited, I observed that national flags were flown daily at government and private buildings, such as business premises, schools and community centres.

In Malaysia, with the exception of some, many building owners do not make it a practice to fly the national flag, except on Independence Day. Even on that important day itself there are many premises which do not fly the flag.

What is most important here is teaching our younger generation to love our flag. The future of our nation lies with our youths, so it is essential that we inculcate in them the spirit, love and pride for our flag. Schools should have a daily ceremony to hoist the national flag, besides singing the Negara-ku.

Ensuring our young respect and love the national flag is essential to building future generations of Malaysians imbued with a strong sense of patriotism and national pride.

At the same time, I also need to stress here that flying the Jalur Gemilang is not the only way to express one’s patriotism.

Patriotism can come in various forms. When we speak up in defence of our nation, it is a patriotic act.

When we refrain from committing acts of vandalism on public property or throwing garbage in public places indiscriminately, we are patriotic.

Malaysians can display their patriotism through their words, thoughts and actions in the interest of the country and in nation building.

Being patriotic also means contributing one’s views and opinions in areas that can bring good to the country.

Expressing one’s feelings through the right channel is a basic right that should be practised by all patriotic Malaysians who love the country and who want the best for the nation.

In this regards, making constructive criticisms in the interest of the nation does not make a person less patriotic and his loyalty to the country should not be questioned.

Will Rahul unfurl national flag at party headquarters on August 15?

Senior Congress leaders have decided to ask general secretary Rahul Gandhi to unfurl the national flag at the Independence Day celebrations at the party's headquarters here on Akbar Road on Monday, a task customarily performed by the party president.

Mr. Gandhi, who has been with his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi, who underwent a major surgery in a hospital abroad, will return to Delhi on the eve of Independence Day, senior party sources confirmed to The Hindu. “Mr. Rahul will be asked to unfurl the flag,” these sources said, adding, “But if he doesn't agree, then Motilal Vora will do the honours.” Mr. Vora is the seniormost party functionary.

Sources close to Mr. Gandhi say, he is unlikely to take up the offer, as it would send out a political signal of a transition in the making. However, other party sources say, regardless of whether Mr. Gandhi unfurls the flag at the party headquarters or not, it is apparent that a transition is in the offing.

The party has, so far, released very little information on Ms. Gandhi's illness, beyond saying that she underwent surgery on August 4 and is now “convalescing successfully” (Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram), and “on expected lines” (a senior party functionary). But in the Congress circles, it is a matter of grave concern — and intense speculation.

Beyond the personal equations that individual members may have with Ms. Gandhi, her medical condition — if it is serious — could mean that she will no longer be as active as she has been since she took over the reins of a demoralised Congress in 1998, nursed it back to strength, and led it to two successive victories in 2004 and 2009. This is something the average Congressman is worried about — and is talking about privately.

Responding to the decision to ask Mr. Gandhi to unfurl the flag, a party functionary said, “It only means one thing — the party belongs to the family. But, on the other hand, if we go to elections without a member of the family at the helm, the party could collapse again.”

All eyes will be on Mr. Gandhi over the next few weeks, as he is called upon to stand in for his mother, in the next phase of his apprenticeship: he has already apparently agreed to stand in for his mother at the presentation of the 19th Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana award at Teen Murti House on August 20, Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary.

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www.csvtu.ac.in CSVTU BE 6 SEM (Regular & Backlog) Exam Result 2011 Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University

The University

Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University (CSVTU) has been established by an Act(No.25 0f 2004) of Legislature passed by the Chhattisgarh State Govt. Assembly, wide notification No.639/21-A/Prarupan/2004 date 21^st Jan 2005 and published in the State Govt. gazette 24^th January, 2005. The University incorporates the purpose of ensuring systematic, efficient and qualitative education in engineering and technological subjects including Architecture and Pharmacy at Research, Postgraduate, Degree and Diploma level. The foundation stone of the University was laid down by Hon'ble Dr. Manmohan Sigh, the Prime Minister, Govt. of India on April 30^th 2005.

Admission Notification For M.Tech in STEEL TECHNOLOGY

Modify Result Declaration Date

1) BE 6th Semester Reg/Back - 13/08/2011

2) Diploma 6th Semester Reg/Back (Excluding MOM Branch) - 23/07/2011

Enrolllment Rules For Session 2011-2012

All Engg College Permission for Internal Counsellin_11

New Syllabus& Scheme of MBA(PG) Course

Notice :-5 th Sem College Transfer & 3 rd Sem College Transfer & Internal Counseling

Odd Semester Admission

• (REG/SUPPY) RESULTS
• RT/RV RESULTS
• M Pharmacy Reg/Back results

MBA,PART TIME MBA MCA REG/ BACK Results

Dr. Bimal. Chandra. MAL
(Vice-Chancellor) CSVTU MAIL
SWAMI VIVEKANAND TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY,
NORTH PARK AVENUE, SECTOR-8, BHILAI, CHHATTISGARH
TELEPHONE- +91-788-2261311, FAX- +91-788-2261411

20-04-2011 BE Ist,IInd Year (Reg/Backlog) Exam Link-1 Link-2 Link-3
Last date for submission of Retotalling forms is ^30th April 2011 13-04-2011 PTDC 1ST- 8TH Sem(Reg/Back) Exam Link-1 Link-2

Last date for submission of Retotalling/Revaluation forms is ^23TH April 2011

09-04-2011 Diploma 1st,2nd Sem(Reg/Back) Exam Link-1 Link-2

Last date for submission of Retotalling/Revaluation forms is ^19TH April 2011

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