series

Vienna
Did you know that Vienna possesses one of the most beautiful city railway networks in Europe? In the 1890s, Otto Wagner, one of Austrias most important architects, came up with the idea of making the Vienna transport system more than just a regular series of train stations - he wanted to create works of art. From the handrails to the doorknobs on the ticket booths, Wagner made sure that every minor detail was crafted to perfection. Did you know that the most elegant horses strut their stuff in the centre of Vienna? The Spanische Hofreitschule has been going since 1572 and is one of the most famous riding schools in the world. Taking its name from the Spanish Lipizzaner, a breed of horse which was ridden in the area, the school is famous for the classic riding traditions of the Hohen-Schule. The grace of the horses can be seen during morning sessions or at special gala performances, although tickets are often sold-out months in advance. Did you know that the Vienna State Opera is more ...

Wanted
Whats it about? Amid the current spate of comic book adaptations, Wanted is loosely based on the graphic series by Mark Millar which sees a secret order of assassins protect an unsuspecting world from the bad guys by, er, shooting them. Why are we excited? An initial version of the script was rejected on the grounds of being too audience friendly. Cue the second, insanely violent draft by crazed Russian director Timur Bekmanbetov. It was accepted. Angelina Jolie stars as the aptly named Agent Fox, a volatile mix of guns, leather and outrageous sexiness. A winning combination indeed. When? June ...

Exotic Rides: Lexus IS F
In the not-so-distant past, there was a time when the Toyota Motor Corporation’s amenity-laden American affiliate, Lexus, was heavily scrutinized -- not for the grade of the vehicles produced, as most car manufacturers are, but for the catalog itself. This barrage of criticism was spurred by the complete absence of a single performance model rolling off of Lexus assembly lines. Enter the Lexus Intelligent Sport series -- code name: IS. Although the first two generations of 200/300 and 250/350 were well received and a formidable foray into the arena of high-output luxury sedans, rivals like Infiniti, Mercedes, Acura, and specifically BMW were beefing up their offerings to previously unheard of proportions, putting the heat on Lexus to remain competitive. And Lexus took on the challenge with gusto -- thank the vehicular lords. If the IS 430 prototype was to serve as any indication of Lexus performance capabilities, not even that could prepare us for the unveiling of the supremely ...

Motorola RAZR2 V8
Motorola revives the RAZR series with this stylish and impossibly thin update to the original RAZR V3. Measuring only 11.9mm and incased in pearl grey stainless steel, style conscious phone users will not be disappointed. More than just a pretty face, the RAZR2 has some thoughtful features, such as allowing you to read and compose texts without opening the phone, plus new CrystalTalk technology that reduces background noise for improved audibility. One button access to the MP3 player means the RAZR2 is an excellent choice for music lovers, who’ll be able to store up to 125 tracks on the phones generous 512MB internal ...

Cranberries
A cousin of the blueberry, this very tart, bright red berry can still be found growing wild as a shrub, but when cultivated, is grown on low trailing vines in great sandy bogs. The American cranberry, the variety most cultivated in the northern United States and southern Canada, produces a larger berry than the wild cranberry or the European variety. Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Now, recent studies suggest that this native American berry may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, prevent the formation of kidney stones, lower LDL and raise HDL good cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart tangy flavor and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals. When cranberries short fresh season is ...

Why We Fight DVD
More than three years after its first appearance at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury prize, documentarian Eugene Jarecki’s polemic against the American way of war at last makes it to DVD in this country. Jarecki’s film attempts to map the influence of big business on US foreign policy. It takes, as its starting point, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s warning, in his 1961 farewell address, about what he called “the military-industrial complex”: the alliance of military professionals, arms industry executives and politicians who together stand to benefit most from continued overseas military activity. This is a partisan history of the second half of the American century and the beginning of this one, but some facts are indisputable: since WWII, the US has lurched from one conflict to another. Our closest ally really is an exceptionally bellicose nation. To hear Jarecki and many of his interviewees tell it, this aggression is motivated by the greed and ...

The Incredible Hulk
Who: Edward Norton calm, angry, repeat, Liv Tyler loving, Tim Roth psychotic, William Hurt in charge, Robert Downey Jr. cool Background: Aside from its fine comic heritage, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk has no ties to Ang Lee’s 2003 effort Hulk. Which is A Good Thing. Instead, director Louis Leterrier has cleverly sidestepped Lee’s brooding shots of, er, moss to produce a unexpected verdant treat. A smart opening title sequence establishes Edward Norton as the new Bruce Banner in much the same way that Christopher Nolan did with Christian Bale in Batman Begins. And that is a fair comparison, because The Incredible Hulk is great. Not Batman great, but it’s certainly saved the Hulk from ending up in the superhero retirement home alongside Elektra, Ghost Rider and Spider-Man circa three. The story: After ‘Hulking up’ by testing his gamma raygun thing, and nearly killing his girlfriend Betty Tyler, Dr Banner Norton goes on the run from Betty’s dad, Gen. Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Hurt. Gen. ...