News and Notes

"I Guess It Just Shows That Billboards Work"

2010-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the latest on that strange George W. Bush billboard on I-35 in Minnesota -- the one with just his photo and the caption "Miss me yet?"

Is the billboard pro-Bush, anti-Bush, or just a gag? Nobody knows. The caption sounds somewhat pro-Bush, but the photo of Bush in goofy-grin mode seems to lean the other way.

The sign was "put up by a group of small business owners -- who want to stay anonymous --because they felt Washington wasn't listening," according to the billboard company. The company spokesman was glad to add, "I guess it just shows that billboards work."

Read more.

Brooklyn Decker Sports Illustrated Cover: PHOTO

2010-02-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Photos of Brooklyn Decker

Brooklyn Decker is the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl for 2010.

The shot was taken last year in the Maldives, the chain of 1100+ small islands in the Indian Ocean. The capital city of the Maldives is, perhaps appropriately, Male'.

Brooklyn Decker is 22 years old and 5'10" tall. This is Decker's fifth appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue; her first was in 2006 and she's been in the issue every year since.

It's been a banner year for Decker: besides getting a ton of work, she also married tennis pro Andy Roddick last April.

See more photos of Brooklyn Decker >>

(Cover image: Walter Iooss, Jr. / Sports Illustrated)

11 Fans Turn Out to Greet Colts

2010-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

It sounds like a headline from The Onion.

11 fans turned out to cheer Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts as they returned from losing Super Bowl XLIV.

Rep. John Murtha Dead at 77, Two Days After Setting Longevity Record

2010-02-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha has died at age 77. He had been suffering from an infection after gall bladder surgery.

Just two days ago Murtha became the longest-serving Congressman in Pennsylvania history. He took office in 1974 and was reelected 17 times.

A Vietnam War veteran as a Marine, John Murtha was a "master of pork barrel politics" and an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

More from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Washington Post.

Betty White and Abe Vigoda for Snickers

2010-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

Abe Vigoda lives!

Trash-talkin' Betty White is the real star of this Snickers ad from Super Bowl 2010, but the Vigoda moment caps it. Good sports all around. Well played, Snickers!

Leno, Letterman and Oprah: Yes, They Sat Together

2010-02-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Dave, Jay and Oprah really were all together on the same couch.

"All That Was Missing was Austin Powers"

2010-02-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

The New Orleans Times-Picayune smacks The Who.

[Pete] Townshend is starting to show his age. He was late to the microphone on the first chorus of "Pinball Wizard," and didn't sound particularly good once he arrived. He left much of the guitar work to his son Simon, the second guitarist in the band. Townshend finally busted out his trademark electric guitar windmill on "Baba O'Riley," an anthem that still sounds epic.

(As as commenter points out there, Simon Townshend is actually Pete's younger brother -- by 15 years. Pete was born in 1945, Simon in 1960.)

Gotta give Pete and Roger Daltrey points for being up there at age 65, in any case. Daltrey turns 66 next month.

New Orleans won the Super Bowl, by the way, 31-17. Manning face!

What Did Sarah Palin Have Written On Her Hand?

2010-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

What did Sarah Palin have written on her "palm pilot" last night?

"Energy... ~~budget~~ cuts... tax... lift American spirits."

So reports the Huffington Post.

Sarah Palin's Cheat Sheet is Her Hand

2010-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin likes to make fun of President Barack Obama for being articulate -- at this week's Tea Party Convention she referred to the president as "a charismatic guy with a teleprompter."

The oft-repeated jokes about the Barack Obama's use of teleprompters have always been interpreted as a criticism of the president's lack of substance. As the above video shows, however, it could be that Palin's issue isn't so much with the president, as with the modern technology of teleprompters.

As you can see, Governor Palin likes to go "old school" when it comes to speaking in public, foregoing fancy electronics in favor of the kind of cheating the Founding Fathers surely intended.

[Update: close-up of the hand]

"My Way" Killings

2010-02-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

From the pages of The New York Times comes this bizarre story about killings in the Philippines over karaoke disputes. Specifically, it's about how dangerous it is to sing the Frank Sinatra song "My Way."

Some karaoke bars have banned the song or removed it from their song lists, and the Philippines news media have "recorded at least half a dozen victims in the past decade," in what they call "My Way Killings."

The real problem isn't so much the song or Sinatra, it's the combination of alcohol, machismo and an intense love of singing -- and probably the simple fact that the popularity of the song naturally led to more violent incidents.

The story includes details of other "karaoke-related killings," and is a glimpse into the crazy night life and karaoke culture of the Philippines.

Peyton Manning Trivia Factoid of the Day

2010-02-07T07:58:00.000-08:00

He wouldn't let Meat Loaf play in his golf tournament.

Now see six boring Peyton Manning photos >>

Vince Lombardi: Trophy Man and Gapper

2010-02-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

Vince Lombardi, the legendary pro football coach, has now been profiled by editor Paul Hehn.

And just in time: the NFL Super Bowl trophy has his name on it. (Lombardi, not Hehn.) Lombardi is a "gapper" -- someone we should have profiled long ago.

Vince Lombardi was "an unrelenting workhorse with no patience for tomfoolery," as Mr. Hehn calls him. He won an NFL championship coaching the New York Giants (in the pre-Super Bowl days), then moved to the Green Bay Packers and won five more league titles ('61, '62, '65', '66, '67) and the first two Super Bowls with the rival American Football League (in 1967 and 1968 -- those two Super Bowls being played in January after the '66 and '67 seasons ended).

Lombardi died of cancer 40 years ago, having racked up a career coaching record of 105-35-6.

Here's something I didn't know until reading the profile: Lombardi was a member of the famous Fordham University defensive line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite."

And the Lombardi Trophy is hand-made by Tiffany.

Michael Biehn, Bite Victim

2010-02-06T12:37:00.000-08:00

In every James Cameron movie Michael appears in, his character is bitten on the hand by another character.

From Wikipedia's entry on actor Michael Biehn. But wait: there's a caveat!

This does not include Terminator 2: Judgment Day (however, Biehn is only in one scene in this film, and the scene is not part of the theatrical version; it is only available in the extended edition of the film).

Biehn played Kyle Reese, the time-traveling hero soldier, in The Terminator. Biehn was also in Cameron's movies Aliens (as Cpl. Hicks), The Abyss (as crazy Lt. Coffey), and Terminator 2 (again as Reese).

The Terminator Wiki has more:

In The Terminator he was bitten by Sarah Connor. In Aliens he was bitten on the hand by Newt. In The Abyss he was bitten by Lindsay Brigman. It is likely that someone will bite his hand in the upcoming film Avatar.

Except Biehn didn't get cast in Avatar after all. Maybe Cameron couldn't figure out how to work a hand-bite into the story?

Photo: Nikki Nelson/WENN

'Fancy Teeing Up Tiger's 12 Lovers?'

2010-02-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

The Sun covers the novelty item of the year: a dozen golf balls with sketches of Tiger Woods's alleged mistresses.

The set is called 'Tail of the Tiger' and includes Rachel Uchitel, Jaimee Grubbs, and one woman identified simply as 'The Cougar.'

Not everyone is amused.

Tiger Woods Is Out of Sex Rehab, Probably

2010-02-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods has checked out of a Mississippi sex addiction clinic and flown off with his wife, Elin Nordegren Woods. That's according to various media reports, none of which have an on-the-record quote or attribution.

RadarOnline, which seems to be leading the pack, says Tiger Woods left the clinic Friday and was reunited with his children. They also claim they know what he's thinking:

Tiger received intensive therapy in Gentle Path, known as a leading sex addiction clinic. Several sources have said he does not acknowledge being a sex addict but he does know that he has a behavioral problem and he agreed to treatment because he wants his life back.

British paper The Sun also claims to have the inside dope on Tiger's mindset, saying he admitted to only three affairs.

The golf superstar - accused of more than 12 flings - knew he had to confess to some, but feared the full story would be too much for heartbroken Elin Nordegren.

So he confessed to romping with nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel, 34, cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, 26, and one other mistress.

A source close to the pair revealed: "He wanted to make it believable, but knew the whole truth would make it impossible to save their marriage. She knows he is lying, but doesn't know if she can hear anymore."

"Romping" -- heh. Those Brits!

The local Hattiesburg American scratches its head under the headline, "Tiger's gone... if he was ever here." As the paper points out, Gentle Path is prevented by law from disclosing the names of clients. The American tries to parse comings and goings of private jets from nearby airports, but comes up mostly empty.

So, bottom line: Tiger Woods was probably in sex rehab and now is probably out, maybe.

More photos of Elin Nordegren Woods >>

Photos: WENN

Prince Charles Loves His New Football Jersey

2010-02-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

Prince Charles visits Burnley Football Club on 5 February 2009

This photo of Prince Charles just cracks me up, for some reason. You have to love the guy.

As we scan the daily photo feed from our friends at WENN, His Royal Highness always manages to look like he's actually interested in whatever odd public service trip or photo op Buckingham palace has sent him out to that day. It's a gift.

Perhaps he learned it from Queen Elizabeth herself.

Here's the Queen, not just interested but delighted, at the Tate and Lyle sugar refinery as it celebrated 130 years of production in 2008.

Queens get to skip the hard hat.

(Photos: Photo Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/WENN)

Norman Rockwell Writes a Fan Letter

2010-02-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

"This is the second fan letter of my long career."

So begins a great little 1948 missive from artist Norman Rockwell to illustrator Al Parker -- now found on the fabulous site Letters of Note.

"While the rest of us are working kneedeep in a groove, you are forever changing and improving. You have brought more freshness, charm, and vitality to illustration than any other living illustrator."

High praise.

Just who was Al Parker? Here's a blurb from Cosmopolitan magazine in 1952:

"Plays the drums for relaxation" -- heh. A little touch of bohemian in Westport.

Here's a Flickr page with more illustrations from Parker.

Happy Birthday, William S. Burroughs

2010-02-05T10:10:00.001-08:00

Writer and performance artist William S. Burroughs was born on this day in 1914. One of the 20th century's Counter Culture Heavyweights, he wrote Naked Lunch and shot heroin (and his wife). He lived to the ripe old age of 83. In honor of his birthday, here are a pair of video clips:

William S. Burroughs Likes Weapons:

Words of Advice for Young People:

Dennis Hopper PHOTOS Over Time

2010-02-05T07:27:00.000-08:00

Dennis Hopper, star of Easy Rider and so many other films, is battling prostate cancer. (Compounded by a so-called "deathbed divorce" from his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy.)

We wish him well. Herewith, a look back through his 199 (to date) film and TV roles.

Amber waves: Dennis Hopper in a publicity photo from the 1960s.

Dennis Hopper as a not-so-juvenile delinquent on the TV series The Defenders. Robert Reed (at left) and E.G. Marshall (right) were series regulars. Hopper was a guest star on two episodes of the show: 'The Indelible Silence' in 1962 and 'The Weeping Baboon' (!) in 1963.

Dennis Hopper (left) as Billy in the landmark 1969 film Easy Rider. Peter Fonda (as Wyatt) is at right.

A closer photo of Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider. The film doesn't end well for Billy, frankly, as he tangles with some rednecks with a shotgun.

Production photo of Dennis Hopper as the photojournalist in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now. Martin Sheen, as Capt. Willard, is at right.

On the lighter side at last: Dennis Hopper as the elecro-fied high school teacher in the sci-fi comedy My Science Project (1985).

Dennis Hopper as "Shooter," the alcoholic assistant coach in the feel-good basketball movie Hoosiers (1986).

Hopper as the bomb-happy bad guy, tormenting Keanu Reeves in the action movie Speed (1994).

Over the top: Dennis Hopper (right) as the aquatic baddie, tormenting Kevin Costner in the 1995 film Waterworld.

Dennis Hopper, circa 2004, playing against his crazy-man image in a Japanese TV commercial.

Dennis Hopper with his wife, Victoria Duffy, at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on 24 February 2008. (Photo: Nikki Nelson)

Hopper, looking like Robert Duvall (with Anna Sophia Robb) in the 2008 film Sleepwalking.

Dennis Hopper, age 72, enjoys the Cannes Film Festival as he promotes the film Chelsea On the Rocks on 23 May 2008.

See still more photos of Dennis Hopper >>

Photos supplied by WENN

Brittany Murphy Death Was Accidental: Coroner

2010-02-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

Pneumonia, anemia, and medications.

Brittany Murphy's sudden death in December was caused by a mix of all three So said the Los Angeles County coroner on Thursday.

Ending weeks of speculation in the entertainment media over the Dec. 20 death of the "Clueless" and "8 Mile" star, the Los Angeles County coroner announced Thursday that the primary cause was "community-acquired pneumonia," with contributing factors of "iron deficiency anemia" and "multiple drug intoxication."

The coroner called Brittany Murphy's death accidental, and said the drugs involved were a mix of prescription and over-the-counter medications. A full list of the medications wasn't released, but the coroner said that no illegal drugs were found in Murphy's system. The primary cause was pneumonia, which was made worse by the anemia and the meds.

Brittany Murphy with actor Mickey Rourke,

promoting the film Sin City at Cannes in 2005

The ruling of accidental death means nobody will be charged with a crime. There had been some speculation that Brittany Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, would somehow be held accountable, but the ruling ends that speculation.

More photos of Brittany Murphy >>

Photos: WENN

Miranda Kerr Defends Photo-Ogling Banker

2010-02-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

Model Miranda Kerr is speaking up for David Kiely, the Australian banker who was looking at her photos -- during working hours! -- when caught on a national TV feed.

Mr Kiely, who until Tuesday was an anonymous suit, has become a worldwide sensation after footage of him getting caught on TV ogling Kerr's curves became a YouTube hit.

He was opening emailed pictures of Kerr while behind him a colleague, Martin Lakos, did a live television cross to Channel 7 news.

Here's the video, with Kiely's photos appearing about the 30-second mark.

It's shocking to think that bankers would look at photos of anything but money, but this doesn't seem like that huge of a transgression. Still, things may be different in formal, strait-laced Australia.

If you're not at work right now, you may ogle these photos of Miranda Kerr >>

Is That Young Meryl Streep?

2010-02-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

Fans of multi-Oscar nominee Meryl Streep should enjoy this minor controversy over a video clip from 1965 that shows what could be a young Streep, waiting alongside other fans of The Beatles (fans of The Beatles should enjoy it, too):

As a follow up, the poster of the above video also posted "an attempt at proof":

Patricia Highsmith, Happy 15th Deathday!

2010-02-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Patricia Highsmith, the creepy and sophisticated author of The Talented Mr. Ripley, died 15 years ago today.

(Aside: When did 1995 get to be 15 years ago?)

Highsmith had quite a career. She came strong out of the gate with Strangers on a Train (1950), the hey-pal-let's-swap-murders novel that was made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock the very next year. (Hitchcock got screenplay help from mystery titan Raymond Chandler. Highsmith was in fast company right away.)

Over the next 45 years Highsmith wrote a variety of short stories and novels, with titles like Deep Water (1957), The Sweet Sickness (1960), and The Animal-Lover's Book of Beastly Murder (1975). She also wrote a useful how-to, Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction, in 1966.

But her most famous creation is Tom Ripley, the amoral and highly successful young man who gets away with murder(s). He first appeared in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) and Highsmith wrote about him in four more novels. The last, Ripley Under Water, appeared in 1981.

Happy deathday, Ms. Highsmith, wherever you are!

Katie Couric and CBS News: Splitsville?

2010-02-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

(More photos of Katie Couric)

The idea of paying Katie Couric eight figures to anchor a news show that is in last place does not sit well in the upper echelons of CBS News, where her hiring as TV's first female anchor is seen as a noble but failed experiment.

So claims the New York Post, saying Couric will take a pay cut or get the boot from The CBS Evening News. (She makes $15 million a year.) Of course the right-wing Post, owned (like Fox News) by Rupert Murdoch, never really liked Couric in the first place.

The paper hints that Couric might end up leaving CBS and taking Larry King's interview spot on CNN. Good luck prying King loose from that spot; he's only 78.

Credit: Anthony Dixon \ WENN

Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader

2010-02-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's 2010 Oscar-nominee Morgan Freeman as rhyming 'n' dancing "Easy Reader" on the old educational TV show The Electric Company.

His song and dance partner there is Oscar/Tony/Emmy/Grammy winner Rita Moreno. As you can clearly see, the 1970s were preternaturally groovy.

Morgan Freeman went on from there to be the president of the United States (Deep Impact), God (Bruce Almighty) and Nelson Mandela (Invictus).