The black Labrador retriever, who was trained to detect improvised explosive devices in the Oruzgan province, was recovered by a US soldier at an isolated patrol base recently.

The US soldier, known only by his first name John, was aware his Australian Special Forces colleagues were missing one of their explosive detection dogs.

John said it was immediately obvious that Sabi was no ordinary canine.

“I took the dog and gave it some commands which it understood,” he said.

At the time of her disappearance Sabi was coming to the end of her second tour of duty in Afghanistan, having previously deployed to Oruzgan in 2007.

Sabi was declared MIA in September 2008 after the combined Australian, US and Afghan National Army convoy was ambushed by an insurgent force.

Nine Australian soldiers including Sabi’s handler were injured during the attack After the engagement Trooper Mark Donaldson earned the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest military honor for bravery.

After more than a year in South Afghanistan, Sabi was flown to Tarin Kowt to be reunited with one of her Australian Special Forces handlers, who knew instantly it was the team’s missing dog.

“I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It’s a game we used to play over and over during her training,” the trainer said.

“It’s amazing, just incredible to have her back.”

Weeks ago Valve, maker of Left 4 Dead, flew two founding members of a Left 4 Dead 2 boycott community group to Valve headquarters in Seattle for some up close and personal time with the zombie shooter in hopes of changing their minds.

That’s all great, but here’s where the fun starts. An Australian Left 4 Dead modder, Joe W-A-e also wanted to be flown to Seattle to show the development team his mod, and Newell jokingly responded saying he’d be boycotting the  mod and Joe was not flown to Valve HQ.

It gets better! Joe then decided to ask community members, through his website, to donate cash to fly Newell to Australia to try out his mod in the flesh. 48 hours later, the website, Fly Gabe Newell, generated over $3,000, which was more than enough to fly Newell and project manager Erik Johnson to the land down under. The two are currently packing for their trip to the land of the kangaroos next week.

Here’s the last twist, I swear. Newell and Johnson will be flying to Australia on their own dimes and will give the money to the Child’s Play charity. How nice!

Newell had this to say about the entire zany situation:

“The power of the gaming community and their ability to rally around a cause — be it serious or fun in nature — is amazing. In 2003, the community helped the FBI and European law enforcement officials find the people who stole the Half-Life 2 source code. This year, the community is putting me on a plane to the other side of the world to meet Joe W-A and see his MOD. It’s going to be a fun trip.”

We should be hearing more of this story next week, but for now, take comfort in the fact that the gaming community is capable of great deeds.

The Australian ratings board has “refused classification” for the game meaning it can’t be made commerically available in the land down under.

What facet of Left 4 Dead 2 is just “too much” for the Australian gamer? Sure the game is centered around the evisceration and total annihilation of the undead. But undead means zombies, and we all know they’re pretty much dead. No says Australia. Well they put it a little more eloquently. Have a look.

* The game contains violence that is high in impact and is therefore unsuitable for persons aged under 18 to play.

* It notes that this violence is “inflicted upon ‘the Infected’ who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently.”

* The report singles out the use of melee weapons as those that “inflict the most damage” and cause “copious amounts of blood spray and splatter (sic), decapitations and limb dismemberment… or even cause intestines to spill from the wounds.”

* In conclusion, the Board finds that the “interactive nature of the game increases the overall impact of the frequent and intense depictions of violence. This coupled with the graphic depictions of blood and gore combine to create a playing impact which is high.”

Sorry Australian zombie head-hunters. Unless the Australian Government loosens up soon, you’re S.O.L.

Left 4 Dead 2 “Banned” in Australia @ Kotaku

Librarians have stripped the books from shelves in some junior schools because they believe the content is too sexual and goes against religious beliefs, reports the Australian Daily Telegraph.

One Aussie school even ran a special class for young students explaining the “racy and supernatural themes” in the books.

Australian Catholic Education Office spokesman Mark Rix told the newspaper that “individual schools had to decide whether the books were suitable.”

Librarians have pulled the book from shelves, and parents were told not to allow their children to bring the books to school.

“It comes down to the discretion of the school to keep an eye on what the kids read,” said Rix. “Some primary students are not ready to read Twilight. That said, some secondary students may not be either.”

Starting July 1, Southall will move into a three-bedroom beachfront property overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. For six months, he’ll also clean the pool, feed some fish and blog/vlog about what’s going on around the tropical island in sunny Queensland, Australia. Oh, and he’ll receive a cool 100 G’s for his “troubles.”

A former fundraiser, Southall is an avid traveler. The Brit has traveled to various exotic locations and “love[s] discovering new places.”

“Last year, I drove all around Africa, I crossed deserts, climbed mountains, run marathons, bungee jump, mountain-bike, scuba-dive and snorkel everywhere because I’m practically a fish myself,” he said in his minute-long application video.

Southall will also receive free return airfare from his home in Britain, transportation around the island, a computer and filming equipment as well as the opportunity to travel to other islands.

Tourism Queensland chief Anthony Hayes said the competition has generated more than $110 million in free publicity, according to the Telegraph, a nice economic boost during slow economic times.

Visit the island website to sign up for Southall’s updates.

That’s how our chat with Australian singer, Gabriella Cilmi (pronounced chill-me) begins. And it just kept getting sunnier. Blast got to spend a few moments with the 17-year old who has already become famous in her home country of Australia and across Europe, and we learned that the singer is down-to-earth, interested in American culture and has the talent needed to become a big hit in the U.S.

“I really haven’t toured around the U.S. so its nice to have a sort of fresh start or clean slate her, I am older now and I know what I am doing and I have done it in Australia and Europe before. I am looking forward to traveling America like you see in movies where you’re traveling on the open road and see cactuses,” Cilmi raved.

Cilmi is an Australian but is of Italian descent. Since she was young(er), she has expressed interest in music but was told she did not have the discipline needed for a music career. Not accepting the criticism of teachers, she joined a band performing cover songs by Led Zeppelin, Jet, Silverchair and others.

“I listen to different things. Growing up I listened to Led Zeppelin. I love Kings of Leon and Jett, and I would listen to them when I went to school,” Cilmi said. “I love listening to old blues stuff too, so I love different things, and I guess I’m a mixture of things. I love Blondie and Stix, so maybe my genre is ‘popular glam rock.’”

While singing at a community festival in Melbourne, Warner Music executive Michael Parisi was amazed with the singer’s vocal abilities. Parisi brought Cilmi to major records labels in the U.S. and the U.K. where she was offered record deals at four different companies. Finally in 2004 she joined Island Records UK.

While working on her debut album Cilmi co-wrote singles for the Australian movie Hating Alison Ashley. In December 2007 her ‘Sweet About Me’ single broke on the radio as a Top 100 hit from her Lessons to Be Learned CD. 

“Gabriella possesses every attribute that music fans across the world are hungering for,” said Monte Lipman, president and CEO of Universal Republic. “U.S. fans are about to see first-hand what European audiences have been raving about, whether it’s her poise, her passion, or unbridled ability to deliver a song like you’ve never heard it before — Gabriella is this year’s breakthrough artist.”   

The album will be released in America on March 17, with her single already being played in radio and featured on VH1’s You Oughta Know.

“If I can get my album recognized here too it would be amazing. People are hitting me up on MySpace, so it’s really cool to have that reception too,” Cilmi added.

For such a happy-go-lucky young woman, it seems hard to believe Cilmi has already won or been nominated for artist of the year awards or hailed by publications like Britain’s Q Magazine. But what the girl lacks in stuffiness she makes up in creativity. Her voice is reminiscent of blues legends like Etta James and similar to today’s sounds of Duffy.

“I write everything from personal experiences, everything that catches my attention influences me and I like to write on that and use music that inspires me to make old things new, ‘Sweet About Me’ is a nursery rhyme about people who never want to grow up so if you don’t want to grow up listen to it,” she added.

Whether or not she gets the attention divas like Beyonce and Britney do in this country, one thing will remain the same: Cilmi’s abilities and friendly manner, which has already survived European media scrutiny and temptations of the music industry, are unchangeable.

“Just check out my MySpace, I’m obsessed with my MySpace page and I answer all my messages, I swear!”

In cue with her joyful spirit Blast is giving away a special Cilmi pack, so check our contests page next week and enter to win by March 28!

Markson has already organized speaking tours for #41 George H. W. Bush and #42 Bill Clinton.

“I think it is right I should also get number 43 out here,” said Markson.

The agent said he’s confident Aussies would shell out the money to see Bush, because he sat in the Oval Office during one of the most difficult times in U.S. history. 

Markson also said he’d like for former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to join Bush, possibly further down the road. ”I could arrange for them to come as a package, but I think Condoleezza is a star in her own right,” he said.

I don’t think people will avoid the talk because they hate Bush, the simple fact that so many believe he’s the worst president ever (which he’s really not, but he did suck) might draw a large crowd. The price is hefty though, $1000 AUD per head and $10000 AUD per table, but there’s obviously enough wealthy Australians to fill the seats.

The talk is planned for next year. The nature of the talk wasn’t specified by Markson, but if it’s in any way “motivational” it’ll be a bust.

BRISBANE, Australia — At least 181 people have been confirmed dead and thousands of homes have been destroyed in Victoria’s worst bushfire disaster.

According to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) online, Victorian police are prepared for the death toll to reach 300 pending formal identification and retrieval of the dead.

Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon has warned the public to be prepared for more fatalities.

“We are going house by house and street by street to search for bodies … and we have some cause to believe there are clearly more people who have died in this fire,” she said.

Many of the deceased died in their cars whilst trying to escape the fires but were quickly overcome by the flames.

Over 4200 calls were made to the state’s emergency hotline as fires approached residential areas.

According to the Herald Sun, emergency hotline operators (000) were forced to listen “to terrified Victorians dying over the phone,” when help could not reach them in time.

Police forensic experts have the grim and time consuming job of identifying the dead, a nearly impossible feat considering the extreme heat of the fire.

Police are also looking for a man suspected of starting two fires on the outskirts of Melbourne (the capital city of Victoria.)

Although the blazes were quickly extinguished, the Country Fire Authority warns that they had the potential to become major fires.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has angrily condemned any arsonists responsible for lighting fires while speaking with Channel 9 reporters, saying that there are no other words to describe the arson than “mass murder.”

Survivors of the bushfire disaster have taken refuge in hastily erected centers and continue to wait for funds and supplies.

Australians have rallied for the bushfire victims raising $21.5 million for the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, which aired on the Nine Network last night.

Several A-list stars such as Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Kerr, Orlando Bloom, Ellen DeGeneres, Hugh Jackman and Rachel Griffiths, lent their support to the cause.

Australian Olympians as well as NRL (National Rugby League) and AFL (Australian Football League) players worked in the call center, as people from all over Australia phoned in to donate money.

BRISBANE, Australia — As bush fires continue to devastate the southern state of Victoria, residents in far north Queensland are still battling floodwaters resulting from ex- Cyclone Ellie’s torrential rainfall.

The cyclone, which was downgraded to a tropical low after crossing the coast on Feb. 2, has dumped rain continuously for the past week, causing massive flood damage to the state’s roads and infrastructure.

According to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) online, the Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has declared more than 62 percent of Queensland a “disaster zone.”

“Rainfall of between 200-300 millimeters (8-12 inches) has fallen in the Cairns to Mackay region since tropical cyclone Ellie crossed the coast and it has recharged already flooded rivers,” he said.

Over 330 millimeters (13 inches) of rain has been recorded in the town of Ingham alone, which has been cut off for the past eight days as flood waters hit record levels. At least 3000 properties have been affected by the floodwaters, the town only recognizable from the roofs visible above the water.

More than 50 percent of Ingham residents have been forced to seek accommodation at the evacuation center, as food and water supplies begin to run low.

Not only have schools and businesses been closed but local authorities are also urging citizens not to go into the water after several reports of crocodile sightings close to residential areas.

In Cairns it is already feared that a five year old boy is dead, following a suspected crocodile attack.

The Army and the Red Cross have been called in to help with the relief effort in the far north and other affected areas, with weather forecasts suggesting that the waters will finally begin to recede.

However the damage bill is estimated to cost Queensland $109 million, with that number expected to rise once the full extent of the destruction is ascertained.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described the fires as “hell in all its fury.” Firefighters are still battling more than a dozen blazes, as the fire quickly advances further into several towns, fanned by winds.

The flames are moving so fast some people burned to death in their cars trying to escape. Others, who refused to flee their residences, burned to death in their homes.

Officials still need to sift through the more than 700 houses that have burnt to the ground and affected by the fires, some of which have been blamed on arsonists. The death toll cannot be finalized until that happens.

The fires, in large part, are due to Australia experiencing it’s hottest summer in nearly a century. In Australia’s southeast, flames were fanned by wind as the temperature reached 115 degrees. The flames travelled quickly, destroying everything that came in their way.

The fires, so far, have affected nearly 1,160 square miles, more than twice the size of New York City.

The Prime Minister has deployed more than 3,000 firefighters to fight the flames, one for every square kilometer affected. Rudd has expressed his condolences and grief to those who have lost family members or their homes, and has vowed to do everything he can to fight the fires and prevent more deaths.

Australian Social Security entitlements, Medicare health care, tax, and employment benefits were some of the areas where gay and lesbian couples would receive equal rights.

Openly gay Labor Senator Penny Wong said her government had followed through on last year’s election promises to remove discrimination from Australian Commonwealth laws.

“They deliver, on an important day for us, on a very important election commitment”, she said. ”More importantly, they will deliver the sort of equality before the law that same-sex couples have never previously experienced.”

Liberal opposition Senator George Brandis acknowledged the significance of the bills saying they would complete law reform in the area of same-sex relationships which began 40 years ago when homosexual relationships were decriminalized. Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens party and also openly gay, was not so commending. While he commended the  recognition of rights, he was scathing for the  lack of leadership to include equality in same-sex marriage.

“Both the older parties have a task to undertake: to communicate better with the Australian community and to understand that the pressure coming from sectional groups, minority groups, to sanction marriage for all couples regardless has great public support”, Brown said.

A poll taken by Australasia’s largest online lesbian dating and community site Pink Sofa supported Senator Brown’s sentiments with 88 per cent of the more than 4000 respondents wanting same sex marriages legalized. Website member Jenny Ball was thrilled with the outcome but also wanted more.

“This really is a milestone for the Australian Gay and Lesbian Community and is something that has been long-awaited and now brings us in line with a number of other forward-thinking countries,” Ball said.  ”The next key step is for the government to ratify the laws that currently prevent same-sex marriage, thereby removing the final piece of discrimination and marginalization against the community”.

Marriage for same-sex couples remains on the horizon however with the Labour Government as well as the opposition parties refusing to be swayed by public opinion.

1. Wall-E

One of the most beautiful and charming films of 2008 would have to be Pixar’s latest offering, “Wall-E.” Not only is the animation spectacular – just watch as Wall-E first enters outer space – but the story is so engaging it’s hard to believe that there is barely any dialog. With only a few beeps and bops, sound designer Ben Burtt was able to infuse Wall-E with more charisma and personality than most of Hollywood’s leading men. He is a little robot with a heart of gold, cleaning up Earth and dreaming of the day when he can hold the hand of his true love. Enter Eve, a new robot sent to the human-devoid Earth to search for signs of life on the dying planet. The resulting courtship between Wall-E and Eve is affecting and very funny (for adults and children alike). Wall-E is a bumbling fool, awkwardly trying to impress the object of his infatuation. Even as the film moves into the faster second act, Wall-E and Eve’s misadventures on the human controlled Axiom spaceship continue to amuse, especially when they join forces with other charismatic robots in the repair shop. On a serious note the film also creates a very real dystopia, in which mass consumerism has forced all humans to abandon Earth, leaving the clean up job to little robots like Wall-E. The human characters are depicted as fat and lazy, almost completely oblivious to their state of denial, in what is a very pointed commentary about society today. But “Wall-E” is ultimately a kid’s film, with absolutely beautiful animation, endearing protagonists and a third act which has one of the most heart- breaking and tear inducing scenes I have ever seen. Relax though – it’s a Disney film so you can be sure of a happy ending.

Best Scene: Wall-E and Eve share an intimate moment while floating in the star-studded abyss of outer space.

2. The Dark Knight

“Why so serious?” Heath Ledger’s tour de force performance as The Joker is truly the icing on a cake layered with many levels of cinematic spectacle. Beautifully orchestrated by director and screen writer Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight” starts where prequel “Batman Begins” left off – Batman has joined forces with Commissioner Gordon in order to deal with the escalation of crime in Gotham. But neither are prepared for what criminal mastermind, The Joker has in store. Ledger’s Joker is every bit an “agent of chaos,” laughing manically as he pushes Batman to his extremes and (violently) questions society’s moral code. Rather than humanize The Joker via a heart-breaking Anakin/Darth Vader back story, Nolan keeps his arch villain unsympathetic and totally unpredictable, allowing the narrative arc to depict the tragic demise of Harvey Dent. But to focus purely on the late Heath Ledger’s performance would be to ignore a stellar cast, notably Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader, Aaron Eckhart as Gotham D.A Harvey Dent and a top-of-his-game Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon. Amazing visuals, a bone chilling score and one of the most suspenseful scenes ever seen on film, all work together to make “The Dark Knight” one of the best films of 2008.

Best Scene: Batman interrogates The Joker only to be blindsided by a new revelation. “You’re going to have to play my little game if you want to save one of…them.” Scary.

3. Iron Man

The success of “Iron Man” can be summed up in three words – Robert Downey Jr. “Iron Man” might have crashed and burned had it not been for Downey’s arrogant yet oddly endearing performance as millionaire industrialist Tony Stark. He pulls off what could have been a cheesy change-of-heart scene to really make the audience believe that a weapons manufacturer could develop a conscience – all while munching down on a cheeseburger! Downey’s non-stop banter adds to the character’s charm and Jon Favreau’s keen direction keeps the film from dragging. An impressive cast, including Jeff Bridges and the soon-to-be-replaced Terrence Howard, give the comic book adaptation a much needed plausibility factor, supported in part by the superb special effects. Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark’s assistant Pepper Potts is of course excellent, delivering one of the best put downs to a recently bedded and scathing Vanity Fair journalist, “I do everything and anything Mr Stark requires, including on occasion, taking out the trash.” But this really is Downey’s film – from riding in the “funvee,” and enjoying a lap dance in his private airplane, to blowing up terrorist training camps, Tony Stark is truly the anti-hero. We can’t wait for him to get back into the iron suit.

Best Scene: Tony Stark’s first outing as the Iron Man.

4. Twilight

If ever a film were to be characterized as a guilty pleasure than it is “Twilight.” Its shortcomings are obvious and mostly budget dependent (lackluster special effects and an over reliance on wire work) but it’s hardly the reason fans have been lining up to see the film over and over again. Come on – it’s a Gothic and impossible love story between a human girl and a vampire! What more could you want. The relationship between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, beautifully depicted by so-hot-right-now Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, is really the heart of “Twilight.” While some critics have judged the film harshly for its high level of teen angst and brooding stares, to fans that is what it’s all about. “Twilight” is no cinematic masterpiece but it doesn’t intend to be. Rather, it attempts to capture the underlying sexual tension and euphoria of first love, and boy does it deliver. The young cast are impressive with Peter Facinelli a stand out as the calm and always gentle Dr Carlisle Cullen. It is a pity however that you don’t see more of Cam Gigandet, the menacing vampire/ tracker/ resident bad ass James. He gives the “Twilight” vampires some much needed – forgive the pun – bite. But at least we can be sure that his fiery mate Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) will be back in future films to help with the body count. Her cameo at the prom was both sinister and exciting – come on “New Moon!”

Best Scene: Bella joins the Cullen’s for a game of baseball, vampire style.

5. Australia

Ok, this entry is likely to divide readers, but as an Aussie, I just couldn’t overlook Baz Luhrmann’s epic film, “Australia.” A visually stunning and highly emotive film, “Australia” has been subjected to a high degree of scrutiny, especially from Australian film critics. Debates concerning culture and national identity follow nearly every film which purports to be quintessentially Australian and this film was, of course, no exception. National cinema in Australia has always been pre-occupied with discovering and identifying who we are as a nation – a nearly impossible feat for a two hour film. Luckily Baz Luhrmann doesn’t seem to let such considerations plague the screenplay. I for one see no reason why the love story and underlying themes of the film should not resonate with an international audience. After all, it really is a fairly simple story of the English rose, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who moves to Australia and ends up on a cattle drove (don’t ask), where she meets and eventually falls in love with The Drover (Hugh Jackman, aka sexiest man alive). On a more serious note, the film also deals with plight of indigenous Australian’s in the 1940s with particular reference to the Stolen Generation – the Aboriginal children who were taken from their parents and put into White controlled missions, in accordance with the horrific government policy of the time. Much has been said of Kidman and Jackman’s performances but the true star of this film is newcomer Brandon Walters as the half caste Nullah and the always reliable David Wenham, as the uber bastard Fletcher, who is able to take the somewhat ridiculous Australian slang and make it believable. That said there are some colloquialisms I have NEVER heard of – particularly The Drover’s retort, “shut your damper hole.” But it is easy to overlook some of the more cringy moments when you consider Luhrmann’s beautiful re-creation of life in the 1940s Northern Territory and the cinematic spectacle, which the film delivers.

Best Scene: Lady Sarah Ashley gets a shock after seeing her first kangaroo.
Other great films of 2008 (in no particular order)

* “Son of Rambow”
* “Frost/Nixon”
* “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
* “Quantum of Solace”
* “The Orphanage”
* “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

But back in the 1980s, making your own film required perseverance, creativity and a lot of hard work.

Many of today’s aspiring filmmakers would find it hard to beat the work of Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb — three boys from Mississippi who set the precedent for the ultimate homemade movie.

Together, they created a shot by shot remake of the 1981 Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark, complete with a rolling boulder, ballsy leading lady and the infamous Nazi face-melting scene.

The trio of 12-year-olds were so inspired by Steven Spielberg’s original film that they designed storyboards, props and costumes and began production on their own adaptation in 1982.

Seven years, $5,000 and three sets of presumably frazzled parents later, their film was complete.

Their version, aptly entitled Raiders of the Lost Ark: An Adaptation, is a heartfelt tribute to Spielberg’s original, made all the more impressive by the obvious amount of effort the lads invested in the project.

Using only household objects and simulated stubble, and conning friends and family into joining the cast and crew, Eric, Chris and Jayson brought the whip-cracking adventures of Indiana Jones to life, albeit with noticeable pubescent voice-breaking.

The adaptation received its first official screening in 2003 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Texas, more than 22 years after the boys began the pre-production process.

Since then, the film has screened to sold out audiences all over the world and has even gained the approval of Spielberg and George Lucas.

Blast recently caught up with Eric and Chris (now in their 30s), who fessed up about truck stunts, deals with Paramount and meeting the master himself.

Something that may cause the church of Rome to excommunicate me or my Neapolitan ancestors to turn over in their graves.

Let me say for the record that I only use 100 percent Italian-olive extra virgin olive oil. The only brand I use is Monini, which is the oil they use IN Italy.

But I ran out of olive oil Friday, and since my people can’t eat meat on Fridays of Lent, I was off to the store, in the snow, to buy olive oil to complete the pressed tomato and fresh mozzarella panini that Giada De Laurentiis (Who I adore) recently showed off on her Food Network show, Everyday Italian.

As a talented writer for a major American newspaper, I naturally had about $6 in my wallet. Shaws Supermarket had a 50 percent off sale on Red Island “Premium Australian” extra virgin olive oil, which ended up being $4.99 for a 500mL bottle. The next closest thing from Italy ran about $12, so I quickly grabbed the Aussie brand, did a self checkout and ran out of there like I’d stolen something.

It was amazing. Though not as dark and bold as some of the premium Italian olive oils I’ve tried, the Australian brand was distinctively fruity, like an oily wine flavor. Dipping it on some semolina bread, it was very smooth and fragrant. I’m very impressed.

The oil uses a blend of picual, barnea and frantoio olives, and for the price I paid, it’s certainly worth a try.

I’m not saying I’m going to switch, but Red Island certainly gives a person something to think about. Let’s just hope the 50 percent off wasn’t some sort of clearance sale.

Those Aussies sure do it right — wine, meats and now olive oil.

“This breathlessly energetic, dazzling live concert spectacular brought the house down-and the cameras were rolling there to catch it all,” RCA Music Group said in a statement.

Back to Basics — Live and Down Under will be a 90-minute video available for $14.99 exclusively at Best Buy February 5.

“Christina’s done it again — another stunning long-form from one of music’s greatest performers. We are fortunate Best Buy shares our excitement and has partnered with us on this project,” said Tom Corson, EVP/GM of RCA.

The concert features 18 songs from the four-time Grammy Award-winning superstar’s career, including hit singles “Ain’t No Other Man” and “Candyman” and number one hits “Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” and “What a Girl Wants.”

The DVD captures the excitement of this lavish tour, from the unique stage with 3 distinct scenes, more than 600 moving lights and a state-of-the-art hydraulic system, to production incorporating everything from burlesque cabaret to trapeze choreography, fire jugglers, and stilt walkers-but the heart and soul of the show is Christina Aguilera, with her awe-inspiring voice and silver-screen charisma. Bonus material gives viewers a true 360 degree perspective of the tour by featuring exclusive interviews with her dancers, wardrobe (Simone Harouche), hair and makeup (Stephen Sollitto), musicians, background vocalists, musical director (Rob Lewis), Jordan Bratman (Christina’s husband) and Christina herself.

Aguilera has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and created four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is also a three-time Grammy Award-winner.

Track list:
Disc 1:
1. Into: Back to Basics
2. Ain’t No Other Man
3. Back In The Day
4. Understand
5. Come On Over
6. Slow Down Baby
7. Still Dirrty
8. I Got Trouble
9. Makes Me Wanna Pray
10. What A Girl Wants
11. Oh Mother
12. Enter The Circus
13. Welcome
14. Dirrty
15. Candyman
16. Nasty Naughty Boy
17. Hurt
18. Lady Marmalade
19. Encore: Thank You
20. Beautiful
21. Fighter
Disc 2: Special Features- Exclusive Behind the Scenes Footage & Interviews