news2...Nicki Minaj Named Billboard's 'Rising Star' for 2011

Nicki Minaj has been named Billboard's "Rising Star" for 2011, capping off a year that has seen the hip-hop star top the charts with her massive-selling "Pink Friday" album and, most recently, earn a pair of trophies at the American Music Awards. The Rising Star Award acknowledges Minaj's phenomenal year and will be presented at the Billboard Women in Music Event on Dec. 2 in New York City.

Billboard's Women in Music 2011 Hub

Minaj will be joined at the sixth annual event by Billboard Woman of the Year Taylor Swift, her friend and an early booster through radio interviews and a widely seen concert cameo.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized by Billboard," says Minaj. "My nation of barbz and I have come a mighty long way; yet we are nowhere close to where God will take us. Sit back and enjoy the ride."

Much More Minaj • Nicki Sets a Date for Album • Pics: Her Most Outrageous Wigs • Nicki & Taylor Dominate AMAs

She cemented her status as the breakout star of the year early on, when "Pink Friday" helped her become the first female rapper in a decade to top the Billboard 200. Her mega-single, "Super Bass," became a viral sensation and the song reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. The debut album has gone on to sell 1.6 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The 28-year-old star, born Onika Tanya Maraj, began releasing mix-tapes in 2007 and later signed with Young Money Entertainment, a label founded by Lil Wayne. She rapped a solo verse on the 2010 hit "BedRock," which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100.

"Pink Friday," released in November 2010, has yielded eight singles so far, including "Your Love," "Moment 4 Life" and "Super Bass," which is actually a bonus track on a deluxe edition of the album.

On Nov. 20, Minaj cleaned up at the AMAs, earning Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album.

Taylor Swift Named Billboard Woman of the Year

In being named Billboard's Rising Star, Minaj follows in the footsteps ofJazmine Sullivan (2010), Lady Gaga (2009), and Colbie Caillat, who in 2008 was the first artist ever to be given this honor.

"Nicki Minaj has established herself as a force in hip-hop and pop music, and we're thrilled to recognize her accomplishments over the past year by honoring her as this year's Rising Star," says Bill Werde, Billboard's Editorial Director. "Her unique style and powerful sound will undoubtedly lead to a long and lustrous career, and we look forward to seeing where she goes and what she does next."

Billboard's annual Women in Music Event, presented by Crest 3D White and Target, celebrates the most powerful and talented women in the music business, coinciding with the publication of Billboard's Women in Music Power Players list. This year's event, the sixth of its kind, will be taking place on Friday, Dec. 2 at Capitale in New York City.

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Coldplay - Coldplay, Jessie J And Lmfao To Perform At Mtv EMAs

Coldplay, Jessie J and LMFAO will perform at this year's MTV European Music Awards (EMAs). 


 The three acts will join the Red Hot Chili Peppers - who were the first act to be confirmed to play at the prestigious event in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 6 - and they can't contain their excitement. Jessie said: "I can't quite believe I'm nominated for three awards. It's like a dream, I keep pinching myself. And being nominated for Best UK/Ireland Act alongside artists like Adele, Coldplay, Kasabian and Florence is an honour." LMFAO's Redfoo added: "There are only two things that make a man like me happy - that first dunk in a hot fondue and being nominated and performing on the MTV EMA in Belfast." It was recently revealed that for the first time the EMAs will be presented from three locations throughout the show's host city. Belfast's Odyssey Arena will serve as the main stage, with the two other locations in the city to be announced in the coming weeks. Bruce Gillmer, Executive Vice President of Talent and Music Programming/Events for Viacom International Media Networks said: "We're really excited to celebrate Belfast and its rich musical heritage by showcasing MTV EMA performances from multiple sites throughout the city. These three stages will give fans a unique and unprecedented opportunity to experience the live music of the EMA." 


 The awards will be hosted by singer-and-actress Selena Gomez.

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Aunty Aini Cafe, Negeri Sembilan Heritage Cuisine

Aunty Aini Cafe, Negeri Sembilan Heritage Cuisine

King prawn, beef and squid cooked Negeri Sembilan wayIt is possible to enjoy the best of Malaysian culinary in remote destinations where the noisiest thing heard is the call of the rooster. One such place is Aunty Aini Café located in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan where you have to be mindful of where you alight – watch out for those cow dung blobs on roadsides.

The couple that runs Aunty Aini in the idyllic village setting is an enlightened pair who chooses to go back to the basics in putting good food on the table. A funky woman in her forties, Aini believes in choosing fresh produce, natural herbs (some grow in her garden) and fresh catch of the day to keep things downright simple and tasty. And downright traditional.

The couple's house stands behind the restaurant, kampong style“We are really into tradition and totally into weird things, like brains,” says Aini who helps me to some gulai lemak tempoyak. Thank goodness these weren’t cerebral matter, but tiger prawns cooked in coconut gravy enriched with fermented durians. For those who can’t stomach the smell of the king of fruits, well, this could throw you off your seats. It kept me glued to mine however, as the pungent and sour sauce I scooped into my mouth with steamed rice just rocked my senses. And I helped myself to more.

“I make this just like my grandma did – preserving the durian flesh in a container with salt for weeks. It’s so delicious that even the locals come here to eat,” laughs Aini. Not just this dish, but also the range of food such as daging salai (smoked beef) in gulai lemak cili padi (spicy slosh), soup ekor (ox tail soup), ikan jenahak asam pedas (hot and sour fish) and ayam kampung goreng (fried country chicken) are downright delicious. Here’s why.

“Everything we use in our food is from natural source. We don’t use sugar, artificial food enhancers, preservatives or monosodium glutamate. Our coconut milk is freshly squeezed; chicken is caught off the kampong lanes and slaughtered according to demand, and our prawns are handpicked from the farming pond,” she says.

“Just like our ancestors, we cook what we can source from around here, especially from local farms and gardens,” she adds, revealing that if she had money and time, she would spend them both on nurturing a garden.

Wondrous pungent tempoyak, to me at leastFor dessert we had tapai, which is steamed fermented rice with vanilla ice-cream, once again, a rewarding venture for bravehearts only.

In a quaint village and serene setting away from city glare, Aunty Aini has shown what’s it like to preserve age-old traditions that are a delight to all - even to Anthony Bourdain who slurped their spicy gravy in 2005. It’s definitely a celebration of Negeri Sembilan heritage.

Contact: Aunty Aini’s Café
Batu 16, Jalan Sepang, Kampung Chelet, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan

Open for lunch and dinner, closed on Sundays (rightfully so).

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7yr-old blind ‘Batboy’ sees with his ears

London, Oct 5 (ANI): A 7-year-old blind boy has been given the nickname Batboy, for he has learnt how to “see” by using his ears.

Lucas Murray, who was bornblind, is believed to be the first in Britain to use echoes to visualise his surroundings.

He clicks his tongue on the roof of his mouth, and discovers where objects are based on how the sound bounces back.

The amazing technique allows him to run around his playground, play basketball, and even go rock climbing.

“I really like the clickingsystem but it was quite hard to learn,” the Sun quoted him as saying.

“I love basketball. I can use myclick to find out where the hoop is myself and throw the ball through,” he explained.

The echolocation technique is similar to that used by bats and dolphins, and the little boy can work out how far away an object is by the time it takes the echo to return.

Its intensity tells him the object’s size, and the position is determined through which ear the sound reaches first.

He can even work out movement through pitch – with the echo lower if the object is moving away and higher if it is getting closer.

The lad also uses a cane and has a great memory for places he has already “scanned” with his ears.

He was taught by blind Californian Daniel Kish, 41, who founded the World Access for the Blindcharity.

Murray’s parents Sarah and Iain, from Poole in Dorset, saw Daniel on TV and asked him to visit.

“Lucas learned echolocation in three intense days two years ago,” Sarah, 33, said.

“Now he is so independent he hardly needs to ask for help any more than a normal seven-year-old would,” she added. (ANI)

VIDEO - Lucas Murray