Monday, June 02, 2008

Space Shuttle Lift offs

The space shuttle Discovery blasts off from the Kennedy Space Center in 2006. NASA has given the green light to launch the space shuttle on May 31 for a mission to the International Space Station. (AFP/File/Bob Pearson)

Photographers atop the Vehicle Assembly Building record the launch of the space shuttle Discovery Saturday May 31, 2008 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The U.S. space shuttle Discovery lifted off from its Florida launch pad on Saturday on a mission to deliver a bus-sized Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Pierre Ducharme (UNITED STATES)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Pierre Ducharme (UNITED STATES)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES)

Beachgoers watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, May 31, 2008. Discovery and a crew of seven astronauts lifted off on a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery carrying a Japanese research laboratory raced toward the International Space Station Sunday after a successful launch from Florida. (AFP/Stan Honda)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. (David Carlson/Reuters)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The U.S. space shuttle Discovery lifted off from its Florida launch pad on Saturday on a mission to deliver a bus-sized Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station. (Scott Audette/Reuters)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. The crew is beginning Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. (Scott Audette/Reuters)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida with the American flag at the press site in the foreground May 31, 2008. The launch begins Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The shuttle is preparing to dock with the International Space Station, bringing on board a bus-sized Japanese laboratory and spare parts for a troublesome toilet. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Eliot J. Schechter)

Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center on May 31, in Florida. Discovery docked with the International Space Station on Monday, delivering a bus-sized Japanese laboratory to expand research and badly-needed parts for a troublesome toilet. (AFP/File/Don Emmert)

The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. (Scott Audette/Reuters)

Keeping cool

An Indian boy takes a splash at a road side water source in Kolkata. (AFP/Deshakalyan Chowdhury)

An Afghan boy dives at a swimming pool in Kabul to beat the heat. (AFP/Shah Marai)

Tomatina Colombiana

Two youngsters enjoy diving in tomatoes during the "IV Tomatina Colombiana" festival in Sutamarchan, department of Boyaca, Colombia. According to the organizers 10 tons of tomatoes were thrown by the participants. (AFP/Mauricio Duenas)

Smoke it now

A woman smokes waterpipe at a cafe in Dubai. (AFP/Marwan Naamani)

Massive Fire devours sets at Universal Studios



The front entrance to the Universal Studios theme park is seen as smoke burns from a fire on a movie production backlot of Universal Studios in the Universal city section of Los Angeles on Sunday, June 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Smoke from a fire burning on a movie production backlot of Universal Studios is seen in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

In this image from video, firefighters battle a blaze at Universal Studios Sunday morning, June 1, 2008 in Universal City, Calif. The fire broke out just before dawn on a sound stage, according to officials. (AP Photo/APTN)

Firefighters work to contain a three-alarm fire at Universal Studios in Los Angeles June 1, 2008. REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES)

A TV cameraman, a photographer and onlookers watch as a fire rages at a back lot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, 12 miles (20 km) from downtown Los Angeles, June 1, 2008. A portion of what is believed to be a prop warehouse is shown on the left. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a large blaze that broke out on Sunday on a back lot at Universal Studios, site of movie and television production, a spokesman for a neighboring fire department said. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)

Firefighters work to contain a three-alarm fire at Universal Studios in Los Angeles June 1, 2008. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a large blaze that broke out on Sunday on a back lot at Universal Studios, site of movie and television production, a spokesman for a neighboring fire department said. REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES)

The King Kong attraction on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tour is shown in this undated publicity photo. A fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California June 1, 2008, 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is believed that the King Kong attraction was destroyed. REUTERS/Universal Studios Hollywood/Handout

Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City firefighters battle a fire at Universal City Studios in Universal City, Calif., north of Los Angeles Sunday, June 1, 2008. The fire at Universal Studios on destroyed a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and a video vault containing more than 40,000 videos and reels. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Smoke rises from a fire behind the main gate at Universal Studios in Los Angeles Sunday, June 1, 2008. Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 videos and reels were damaged in the video vault, but there are duplicates stored in a different location, said said NBC Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Smoke billows from Universal City Studios in Universal City, Calif., north of Los Angeles Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and a video vault containing more than 40,000 videos and reels. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Smoke rises from a fire in the early hours at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Smoke pours out of a sound stage as Los Angeles City firefighters attempt to save the historic studio set while a fire continues to burn at Universal City Studios in Universal City, Calif., north of Los Angeles Sunday, June 1, 2008. The fire at Universal Studios destroyed a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and a video vault containing more than 40,000 videos and reels. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

A studio set is engulfed in fire as fire fighters work to extinguish the burning set in the early hours at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Smoke rises from a fire at Universal Studios Sunday, June 1, 2008 in Los Angeles after a fire ripped through a lot, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' a King Kong exhibit and a streetscape seen frequently in movies and TV shows. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A studio set is engulfed in fire as a fire fighter works to extinguish the burning set in the early hours at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

A studio set is engulfed in fire as a fire fighter works to extinguish the burning set in the early hours at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

A studio set is engulfed in fire as a fire fighter works to extinguish the burning set in the early hours at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future,' the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Firefighters work to contain a three-alarm fire at Universal Studios in Los Angeles June 1, 2008. REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES)

A huge plume of smoke and flames rises up from the Universal Studios lot in Studio City, CA in the early morning hours of June 1. The fire destroyed several key sets. (Photo and caption submitted by Rick Mogil)

A raging fire blazes through the back lot of Universal Studios in Studio City, CA on June 1. The fire destroyed several key sets. (Photo and caption submitted by Patrick Gannon)

A huge plume of smoke rises from the Universal Studios lot as a fire raged through Studio City, CA on June 1. (Photo and caption submitted by Patrick Gannon)

Smoke rises over burning structures at Universal Studios, in Universal City, California. Firefighters on Sunday battled a blaze at Hollywood's famed Universal Studios that ravaged some of the legendary film studio's most iconic stage sets and tourist attractions. (AFP/Gabriel Bouys)

Firefighters battle a massive fire on the backlot of Universal Studios in Universal City, California. Firefighters on Sunday battled a blaze at Hollywood's famed Universal Studios that ravaged some of the legendary film studio's most iconic stage sets and tourist attractions. (AFP/Getty Images/David Mcnew)

Black smoke billows and flames lick skyward from a huge fire on the backlot of Universal Studios on June 1in Universal City, California. Firefighters on Sunday battled a gigantic blaze at Hollywood's famed Universal Studios 12 hours after it erupted, ravaging the legendary film studio's most famous stage sets and tourist attractions. (AFP/Getty Images/David Mcnew)

A fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. A portion of the set used in Steven Spielberg's film 'War of the Worlds' including a a jet airplane is shown foreground. The blue screen (L) is used in filming in front of an artificial lake. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

Smoke climbs hundreds of feet into the air as a fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. A portion of the set used in Steven Spielberg's film 'War of the Worlds' including a a jet airplane is shown foreground. The blue screen (L) is used in filming in front of an artificial lake. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

A fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. A portion of the set used in Steven Spielberg's film 'War of the Worlds' including a a jet airplane used in the film is shown foreground. The blue screen (L) is used in filming in front of an artificial lake. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

Black smoke billows from a massive fire on the backlot of Universal Studios on June 1, 2008 in Universal City, California. Investigators Monday were combing through the ruins of famous sets at Hollywood's Universal Studios gutted by a huge blaze in a search for clues as to how the inferno started. (AFP/Getty Images/David Mcnew)

A helicopter flies over burning structures at Universal Studios, in Universal City, California, on June 01, 2008. Investigators Monday were combing through the ruins of famous sets at Hollywood's Universal Studios gutted by a huge blaze in a search for clues as to how the inferno started. (AFP/File/Gabriel Bouys)

Black smoke billows and flames lick skyward from a huge fire on the backlot of Universal Studios on June 1in Universal City, California. Firefighters on Sunday battled a gigantic blaze at Hollywood's famed Universal Studios 12 hours after it erupted, ravaging the legendary film studio's most famous stage sets and tourist attractions. (AFP/Getty Images/David Mcnew)

A fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

A fire truck and firefighters are seen at Gate 2 of Universal Studios as smoke rises (background) from a fire that rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

Smoke rises as a fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, June 1, 2008. (Andrew Gombert/Pool/Reuters)