Lena Horne, Singer and Barrier-Breaker, Dead at 92
Reluctant barrier-breaker, one might say:
Biographies
Russell Crowe: Jacko Used to Prank Me
According to this story out of New Zealand, tough-guy actor Russell Crowe says in an interview that the late pop singer Michael Jackson used to call him up and pretend to “be in trouble” as a prank.
Crowe says after he rose to stardom in L.A. Confidential, he met and befriended Jackson and found they had a similar sense of humor. So they would occasionally crank call each other.
Abrams + Spielberg = Top Secret Goodness
The cat is out of the bag on the top-secret J.J. Abrams + Steven Spielberg movie project at Paramount.It’s sci-fi, it’s called Super 8, and it will be out in 2011. Trailers are going out with screenings of Iron Man 2.
Dillinger to Henry Ford: Killer Cars, Dude!
Jalopnik proves that the famous testimonial letter from John Dillinger to Henry Ford (“Drive a Ford and watch other cars fall behind you”) was faked, probably by Ford itself.
‘Ponies Should be Tethered Up Outside’:
Your Guide to British Voting Etiquette
Yes to pirate costumes and drunken voting; no to giant rosettes and the Queen. Rules for voting in today’s U.K. elections.Dogs must be in an “accompanying” role rather than “free-range,” while horses and ponies must be left outside. Pot-bellied pigs are at the discretion of local officials.
The War, Back Home
Jennifer Karady photographs scenes from soldiers’ lives, restaged at home.(Credit: Jennifer Karady/SF Camerawork)
Kent State +40 Years: On the Scene
Hans Holznagel reports in from Kent State University on the 40th anniversary observances there this week.See Part 1 and Part 2.
Does Justin Bieber Know What ‘German’ Means?
It’s hard to say from this video that’s been making the rounds, but it sure does look as though young song stylist Justin Bieber doesn’t know what the word “german” means.
The host cuts Bieber some slack, at first explaining Bieber’s confusion as perhaps being due to the host’s “kiwi accent.”But even after Bieber is shown the word, he still says he doesn’t know what it means. “We don’t say that in America,” explains Justin. The host is as polite as can be.
They Say Faisal Shahzad Tried to Bomb Times Square
Below are several links on the man accused of trying to set off a car bomb in Times Square in New York City. His name is Faisal Shahzad, and he was arrested before he could make his flight to Dubai. Authorities say he is cooperating with the investigation, and there are still quite a lot of unknowns.First, here’s President Barack Obama’s first public statement about the incident:
This Election is Getting to the Brits
…and in marvelous ways!