Tuesday, June 28, 2005
A picture of Luci at my birthday party
More acts added to Live 8
But (sniff!) P. Diddy has dropped off the bill. What is the reason to attend now, if P.Diddy won't be there!!!!!!!
(I kid).
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/magazine/daily/12000395.htm
Meanwhile, country superstar Toby Keith, aging head-bangers Def Leppard, R&B singer Alicia Keys, hip-hop/poppers Black Eyed Peas, classical balladeer Josh Groban, and Christian rockers Jars of Clay were added to the lineup. Already booked are Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Destiny's Child, Jay-Z, Kaiser Chiefs, Keith Urban, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Rob Thomas, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Wonder.
Will Smith will host. Celebrity presenters, also announced yesterday, will include Salma Hayek, Natalie Portman, Chris Tucker, Jennifer Connelly, Jimmy Smits and Kami, an HIV-positive Muppet.
Monday, June 27, 2005
"Little House on the Prairie" Reunion
I LOVED that show. When I was 10, I wrote a fan letter to Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and she WROTE ME BACK. Well, I got an autographed picture back. But whatever.
Did you know that author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in February 1867 - exactly 100 years before me? I think that is cool, since I am a writer, too.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=886557
Cast of 'Little House on the Prarie' Will Reunite for a Western Film Festival
The Associated Press
Jun. 27, 2005 - The cast of "Little House on the Prarie" will reunite this weekend in Tombstone, a town known for its old West roots.
Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder, is scheduled to reunite with Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) during the Tombstone Western Film Festival that runs Friday through July 4.
George Clooney gets honored!
For his support of independent film. See? He is such an honorable guy!
Here is the link and an excerpt of the article.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=883316
Hollywood Honors George Clooney's Role in the World of Independent Cinema
The Associated Press
Jun. 26, 2005 - Hollywood celebrated George Clooney with a career retrospective, shifting the spotlight from his swaggering superstar persona to his longtime support of emerging filmmakers and art-house cinema.
Among those cheering him at the Los Angeles Film Festival Saturday night were "Ocean's Eleven" costar Don Cheadle, Oscar nominees Virginia Madsen and Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Emmy winner Allison Janney.
Clooney said that literally lying low following recent back surgery has kept him out of the tabloids. But he popped up again earlier this week, with news that he and English model Lisa Snowdon had ended their on-again off-again relationship.
Clooney arrived at Saturday's event with actor Sam Rockwell.
"I've got to tell you something," Clooney joked to AP Television News. "He's one of the worst dates I've ever had."
Rain, rain, go away
Tom and Oprah and lightning bolts
This is from Cnn.com
Separately, a short Internet spoof on the "Oprah" interview, titled "Tom Cruise Kills Oprah," shows the actor jumping out of his seat to clasp hands with Winfrey, shooting simulated bolts of electric current into her body as he laughs madly.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Saint Basil Academy Class of 1985 Reunion
It appears that it has been 20 years since I graduated from Saint Basil Academy, otherwise known as SBA. How did this happen?
I am apparently helping to organize the reunion. How did that happen?
But it will be fun. If anyone from my class found my website by Googling me or SBA, please contact me :)
Friday, June 24, 2005
Tom Cruise is the Scary Flaming Eye from "Lord of the Rings"
This is an excerpt from a brilliant 2002 article in Salon (www.salon.com) by Cintra Wilson about the scariness of Tom Cruise at the 2002 Oscars. Oh, how relevant this article is today, especially after Tom's weird on-air spat with Matt Lauer.
Remember people, Tom KNOWS about psychiatry. And Matt Lauer? Does. Not. So there.
From the article:
"I must warn the world about Tom Cruise. I feel he is an utterly terrifying Superior Life Form, with the power to melt heads and braid spines. His eyes are as hard, shiny and brutally penetrating as diamond drill-bits. The new braces on his teeth suggest that he is erasing all that remained of his tiny imperfections, and he is now metamorphosing into Ultra Super Perfection Man 3000. I fear his intense, mind-beating politeness, his titanium imperviousness to human weakness, his barking power-laugh.
"Movies make a little bit of magic touch our lives," he commanded us to acknowledge, with steely resolve and Mach-5 mega-humorlessness.
People in the audience started laughing, until they realized that Tom was Not Being Funny At All. He was chosen to frankly address the post-Sept. 11 whither-the-Oscars conundrum head-on.
"Should we celebrate the magic the movies bring? Now?" Tom asked, his eyes boring into the eyes of the TV multitudes and implanting rays of total domination.
"Dare I say it?"
He flashed a smirk with his robotically flawless teeth.
"More than EVER," he hissed, laying on his most Extreme Scientological Unction.
He had been commanded by the Elders to Obi-Wan-Kenobi-ize the audience into rebelieving in the importance of the obscenely superfluous Oscars. Tom Cruise is becoming the Scary Flaming Eye from "The Lord of the Rings," and I fear that nobody can stop him.
George Clooney, Bono and Bob Geldof
They will ALL be on Nightline tonight, Friday June 24 on ABC, to talk about the One Campaign. I am practically apoplectic with excitement. Oh, Pat Roberston was be on the show too.
And Bono will be on "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning!!!!
I just realized...
...that I am wearing my underwear inside out. Yes.
In other happier news, I just got blood drawn and did NOT pass out. Yea!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
My favorite entry from this week's Arcata Eye Police Blotter
http://www.arcataeye.com/062105police.shtml
The definition of "stupidity"
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jersey/11962759.htm
Posted on Thu, Jun. 23, 2005
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Boy, 16, treated for burns after firecracker accident
A Cumberland County teenager who suffered serious burns when he accidentally dropped a lit firecracker into a bag filled with fireworks remained hospitalized yesterday at a Delaware County burn center.
The 16-year-old, who was not identified because of his age, sustained third-degree burns to his arms and legs and was being treated at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland.
The boy was tossing lit firecrackers out the window of a car driven by an older teen Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. About 4:20 p.m. on Barretts Run Road in Hopewell, Cumberland County, the boy dropped a lit firecracker into a bag of fireworks between his legs and ignited the contents, said Trooper Jeanne Hengemuhle, a state police spokeswoman. The driver suffered a minor burn in the explosion.
Buena Borough police were trying to determine whether the fireworks had been stolen from an area dealer, Hengemuhle said.- Sam Wood
George Clooney is single again
George and his girlfriend, Lisa Snowden, have broken up. Again. Sigh. It is so HARD for George to find love. Perhaps I shall try and comfort him in this difficult time....
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/celebrity/film/george-clooney/clooney-and-snowdon-split-$16000527.htm
http://www.mirror.co.uk/archive/archive/tm_objectid=15651463&method=full&siteid=94762-name_page.html
22 June 2005
EXCLUSIVE: LISA AND GEORGE AGREE TO SPLIT
By Jessica Callan
LISA Snowdon and George Clooney have split after deciding their relationship has run its course.
The couple broke up a fortnight ago after discussing it on the phone.
The Essex-born model and TV presenter is visiting friends in Los Angeles and Clooney is on holiday at his villa in Lake Como, Italy.
A Hollywood source said: "It's always difficult to maintain a long distance relationship. They have remained great friends and there is no animosity between them. "Lisa last saw George in LA at the beginning of May. They spoke on the phone regularly but they began to realise that the relationship had nowhere to go."
Lisa, 33, ruled out a move to LA. She said: "I would miss Britain too much."
Live 8 will be televised by MTV. Yea!
And George Clooney might be in town!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHRIEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/food/11961111.htm
Getting Live 8 out to the world
INQUIRER TV COLUMNIST
Television-wise, Live 8 is going global.
MTV, VH1 and mtvU, MTV's college network, will simultaneously carry Live 8 on July 2 to a potential worldwide audience of more than a billion people, the cable networks announced yesterday.
The noon-to-8 p.m. telecast will be seen live from Philadelphia and London, with segments from Cornwall, England; Paris; Rome; Berlin; Johannesburg, South Africa; Tokyo; and Toronto.
Tom Cruise gets all kinds of snippy...
...when a reporter DARES to ask him about Scientology and their pesky belief about aliens.
Here is the link and an excerpt:
http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=91185
Scientology query nearly starts War over the Words
By Stephen Schaefer
Thursday, June 23, 2005 - Updated: 10:28 AM EST
NEW YORK - A Boston Phoenix scribe ticked off ``War of the Worlds'' star Tom Cruise at a press conference here yesterday to promote next Wednesday's premiere of the $135-million sci-fi remake.
``What paper are you from?'' snapped Cruise when reporter Gary Sussman asked how he squared the movie's alien-invasion plot with his Scientologist beliefs.
Told that the question came from a Phoenix writer, Cruise looked at director Steven Spielberg, who assured him quietly, ``That's a good paper.'' Good thing Gary has friends in high places!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
David Sedaris will be on "Letterman" tonight!
Yeah! David Sedaris will be on Dave tonight! Everybody watch!
I am sunburned
Hello readers. RandomReality has returned from a sojourn to the Jersey shore where we were rested by ocean breezes and sated by chocolate chip pancakes. Oh and got sunburned.
I/we went to the beach to sit and read for 40 minutes yesterday. There was a good breeze and it wasn't too hot so I/we did not put on sunscreen. I was only there for 40 minutes! Now I am bright red on my shoulders and arms. However, the red is broken up by stripes of white where my sleeveless top was. So now I look like a barber pole. Lovely. Have been coating myself in aloe.
While we were away, RandomReality read much about the engagement of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, aka "TomKat." It has only been seven weeks, people? What is the rush?
Katie, run away. Far away. I know he is Tom Cruise, but have you heard how he sounds when he laughs lately? It is FAR too hearty. And according to both People magazine and the New York Post, a Scientology "assistant" is now following Katie wherever she goes. Uh oh.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
AOL finally made it easier to load pix on this site!
This is a picture of the Philly gals and I at my '70s-themed birthday party, held at the great Pen and Pencil Club for reporters in Philadelphia.
From left: Barb, Patty, me, Karen and Lisa.
50 Cent is out; Jacko might be in??
Oh Lord. Say it isn't so. There is talk - let us hope just rumors - that Michael Jackson could turn up at Live 8 in Philadelphia on July 2. No, no, no.
50 Cent is definitely out. I mourn. Not really. But he scares me and I don't want to get beat up.
But Wacko Jacko? No. I know he was acquitted, but that doesn't mean he should be given a performance platform at a charity event!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Jackson verdict
Bring on the 12-year-old boys, wine in soda cans and porn! I am gonna have me a party. Cause apparently, inviting a bunch of pre-pubescents to my bedroom for sleepovers while we sip Jesus Juice and ogle porn in A-OK in this country. Great.
Oh wait. I am not a celebrity. And I am not worshipped as a deity by some. And I am poor.
Never mind.
My serious point is that the teen accuser and the ones who came before him seem to have gotten lost in all this. Somethin' just ain't right at Neverland Ranch.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Don't just Google it! Gizoogle it!
Want your Internet searches translated into Snoop Dog speak? Then Gizoogle it!
I looked up "George Clooney" (of course) and this is what the search returned:
Clooneyfizzle - George Clooney
The place ta start n rizzle if look'n fo` George Clooney pics, bizzy news,gossip,emailfriends,mizzle books n videos... updated monthly (unoffizzles ...
www.clooneyfiles.com/
Hee!
I learned about Gizoogle from Daniel Rubin of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who mentioned Gizoogle on his cool blog:
Plans progressing for Live8 in Philadelphia
I am determined to attend this show, since I missed Live Aid in 1985. Who is coming with me? We will be sweaty and crowded. Come on! It will be fun! My sister's friend Phyllis has offered her apartment and workplace as air-conditioned places to pee.
Philadelphia is preparing for the crazy July 4 weekend that also includes a pre-scheduled Elton John concert. I am definitely going to have to drive into Northeast Philadelphia and park at my Dad's in order to even get into the city.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/11868404.htm
Limits for Live 8
Inquirer Staff Writer
In anticipation of the massive crowd expected to be drawn by the Live 8 concert, city police have decided to close a broad swath of central Philadelphia to traffic.
Officials have tentatively staked out a no-car zone for the concert, bounded by Market Street, Fairmount Avenue, 15th Street and 23d Street, according to a memo sent Thursday by Capt. Dennis Cullen, commander of the Ninth Police District.
Although residents with identification will be permitted to enter the no-car zone, and deliveries to businesses and homes will be allowed, Cullen said, other drivers looking to travel through the area on July 2 will be taking the long way around.
Police this week began advising neighborhood groups of the traffic restrictions, which are intended to keep streets open for emergency vehicles.
(Read the whole article by clicking on the link above.)
Friday, June 10, 2005
Thursday, June 9, 2005
No verdict today in Jackson trial
The jury went home early today so there is no verdict. Here is my prediction: There will be a verdict on Friday because jurors will not want to have to come back next week.
June 11, 2005:
Okay, I was wrong. I will admit it.
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
J. Lo finally gets an engagment ring. After she is married
I wonder if she has a special place in her jewelry box for all those engagement rings.
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Michael Jackson verdict watch
I simply LOVE the Verdict Clock on Court TV for the Michael Jackson jury deliberations. Here is my prediction: He will be found guilty of two of the 28 charges, maybe the ones involving serving alcohol to a minor.
Here is a funny, tidbit-filled blog from Court TV. Apparently, Debbie Rowe likes steak.
Monday, June 6, 2005
Dan Rather gets teary and it's a-okay with me!
One of the highlights of the IRE conference was hearing Dan Rather give a talk. I got to the ballroom early and staked out a coupla seats so I could be within eye-level of Dan. He is a short guy! I'd heard that but was surprised to see him in person. He comes across as much taller.
Dan got choked up and teary a few times during the speech, especially after he got a standing ovation from the hundreds of journalists. I did not mind in the least that he got emotional. That is what makes him a good reporter and not a robot. Plus, he has gotten so much flak over the past few months that I am sure he appreciated the applause.
He was down to earth, his usual folksy self and interesting.
"I stand before you as a reporter who got lucky," he told the crowd.
I appreciated hearing that, since sooooooo many reporters at conferences like IRE can just be bloated and full of themselves.
"I also stand before you with some scars and self-inflicted wounds," Rather said.
He admitted he made some mistakes and hoped he has learned from them.
Investigative reporting is more addictive than crack, he said, but it can be VERY hard to get to the truth when powerful people don't want the truth to come out. Government oficials possess and use enormous power to manipulate the press, he said.
Reporters must be prepared to defend every part of the story. That is what he did with the CBS story about Bush's military record, he said. Although it soon came out that there were serious flaws with the story. He defended the story and his investigative team, he said, because he wanted to stand up for the people he worked with.
A war rages daily between "sensationalism and seriousness" in the American media, he said. "And sensationalism is winning."
What reporters do is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution, he said, even though many Americans don't appreciate or understand that.
"Our calling is not to be liked, but to make a difference," he said.
Amen, Dan. And courage.
To read the transcript of his speech, click here:
http://poynter.org/forum/?id=misc
Russell Crowe arrested for throwing a phone. At someone.
Russell, Russell, Russell. How I long for those days of yore when you came to West Palm Beach and I raced out of the newsroom as if I were on fire to try and chase you through a shopping center.
However, I do not judge you for this lapse of judgement. Who among us has not wanted to throw a phone? Perhaps not AT someone (unless we are Naomi Campbell).
Of course, all this spells anger management classes and lawsuits. I send Russell some calming vibes and soothing lavender aromatherapy.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/316425p-270727c.html
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Seymour Hersh rules!
Hi there Blog Readers. I am still in Denver where I spent the last four days at the Investigative Reporters and Editors convention. www.ire.org Lots of fun and I ran into all kinds of people I had worked with or met or read about.
One of the stand-out sessions was about Military Reporting and led by none other than Seymour Hersh, the investigative reporter who broke the Abu Ghraib prison scandal story in the New Yorker. Hersh was acerbic, intelligent and to the point.
Here is some of what he said:
There is a "total failure of Congress," to investigate the prison scandals. Hersh broke the story, brought it to light and has been disappointed at how little Congress has done to correct the problems.
Hersh was quite critical of the Bush administration, which should be no surprise. He called Bush and his administration "inert" because they do not seem to care what reporters print and broadcast. The White House has its own agenda, Hersh said, and Bush truly believes he is bringing peace to the Middle East.
"We really have a problem," Hersh said. "We have a president who isn't responsive."
Hersh, a veteran, has many contacts within the U.S. military and said that many of the soldiers are quite upset about the prisoner abuse scandal.
He called the war in Iraq "nonsensical" and the single worst mistake of the Bush administration.
History will judge the administration, the military and us, he said.
"What goes around comes around," he said.
To reporters who are frustrated by the stone-walling of military spokesmen and sources, and the outright deceptions sometimes told by them, Hersh said reporters should not be surprised. The war in Iraq is paramount to the administration and must be protected at all costs. Stay away from official Washington sources, he said, because they are "contaminated."
"This is a White House that thinks only two inches in front of its nose," he said.
In a funny moment, one of the last questions was from a reporter who asked Hersh how he gets his sources and develops relationships with them. Hersh looked at the reporter as if he were crazy. Then he asked the reporter if he were crazy.
No way, Hersh said, he was not going to give away the tricks of his trade. Even to fellow investigative reporters.