The Anniversary of Welles’s Death
Filmmaker Orson Welles died on October 10th (that’s tomorrow) in 1985, at the age of 70. Here are a few links — mostly videos — in tribute to Mr. Welles:
Biographies
Barack Obama Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.”From the official announcement from the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
You Certainly Have Game, Mr. President
Mr. Lombardi played twice with Obama during the campaign… The first time, in May 2008, came about by sheer happenstance. Lombardi was at the gym, and there was Obama, so Lombardi introduced himself.”Hey, listen,” Obama said, “I have members of my staff here, five or six guys, we wanna play full court, you go find a few guys.”
Way to Go, Harry
Singer and actor Harry Connick, Jr. was a guest judge for a talent contest on live television in Australia, part of the show Hey, Hey It’s Saturday, when he was startled by an act that was a “tribute” to Michael Jackson: the skit involved five white men in black face and afro wigs.
Giant Puppets
Here’s a gallery of amazing photos from Berlin, where they let France’s Royal de Luxe theater troupe crowd the streets with giant wooden marionettes.Courtesy of the Boston Globe.
George Clooney Is the Spice of Life
Variety loves George Clooney’s new movie, Up In the Air.Clooney has scarcely ever been more magnetic onscreen than he is here as Ryan Bingham, a gun-for-hire who specializes in the dirty work some corporate bosses don’t like to do themselves, firing employees.
Penelope!
Vanity Fair has a nifty slideshow of its past photos of Penelope Cruz.
Dancing Without Delay
The latest news in the world of TV’s Dancing with the Stars (the on-air dancing competition that features F-list celebrities): Former U.S. congressman Tom DeLay, who went from Powerful Politician (during the the administration of President George W. Bush) to Ousted-and-Under-Indictment TV celebrity, has reportedly withdrawn from dance competition, due to stress fractures in his feet.
Fastest Land Vehicles
Popular Mechanics offers this nifty list of the Ten Fastest Land Speed Record vehicles, beginning with this beauty, the 999, by Henry Ford.
Archie Goes Polygamous
“The polls that I’ve seen ran about 80/20, Betty over Veronica, with Jughead continually coming in a strong third.”Archie seems to be solving his dilemma by marrying both girls. (The Times blames his polygamy on Robert Frost.)