Hitting the Wrong (?) Note

By Drew

A couple of weeks ago, Joe Queenan (full disclosure: one of my favorite writers) published a very funny, very nasty piece in The Guardian in which he attacked modern classical music. (I particularly liked one of his lines in which he describes concert-goes who "have learned to stay awake and applaud politely at compositions by Christopher Rouse and Tan Dun. But they do this only because these works tend to be short and not terribly atonal; because they know this is the last time in their lives they'll have to listen to them.")

Needless to say, Queenan's piece has caused something of a stir among classical music blogs. It's quite possible, dim bulbs that some of them are, that they didn't realize Queenan's role as a resident cultural curmudgeon. But the debate has been nothing if not spirited. Terry Teachout, while taking Queenan to task on his total dismissal of modern music, agrees that "I don't go in for crunch-and-thump music, nor do I care for the over-and-over-and-over-again minimalism of John Adams and Philip Glass, which puts me to sleep." (I agree with a lot of what Teachout says about the modern music he likes.) Teachout's friend Ethan Iverson, who champions "frequently fiercely dissonant and somewhat tuneless" music, disagrees. (By the way, there's some terrific writing going on from these bloggers, so don't think that the links I've chosen here are anything more than the tip of the iceberg in this discussion. And check out the writers they link to as well - you might not agree with them, as I didn't, but you'll be informed about the discussion by reading them.)

I suppose the way you feel about classical music in general will dictate your answer to this question. If you feel that it's a window to God's creation, for example, you probably tend to side more with Jay Nordlinger, who wrote that

Music critics and other such types like to say that what the public really wants is modern music — Cage, Birtwistle, Stockhausen. None of this Classical Top 40 stuff. But this is wishful thinking, of course. If you give 'em Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and "Finlandia" — not to mention "Carmen" or "William Tell" — boy, do they come.

As is often the case, I gotta go with Jay on this. (Even though there's plenty more good stuff out there than the "top 40" that you hear on classical radio nowadays - hey program directors, you ever heard of "deep cuts"?) Yes, there are twentieth-century composers that I'm very fond of - Britten, Stravinsky, Copeland, Rorem, Barber, Menotti, even Ligetti and Webern. Now, there are a lot of critics who would complain that this music isn't "modern" enough for them (except perhaps for the last two). But, as we've written many times at this site, there is an undeniable relationship between truth and beauty, particularly the natural beauty in the tones that mirror the rhythms of the human body. (And we touched on modern music as well, as this link to our four-part roundable from last year on "Art and Politics" will attest.)

And so we are left with this question to ponder: is there, in fact, a relationship between the harshness of modern music and the harshness of our modern culture? For we have become a harsh people, in our words, our opinions, our very way of life. Some call it edgy, but others might suggest it's merely nasty. Is that a good thing? Is our culture really better off now than it was fifty years ago?

I'm just asking.

Kelsey Grammer nearly died after heart attack

Kelsey Grammer nearly died after heart attack

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Television star Kelsey Grammer, best known from "Cheers" and his sitcom "Frasier," nearly died after suffering a heart attack last month, he told U.S. showbiz news program "Entertainment Tonight." Grammer, 53, felt chest pains while paddle-boarding with his wife in Hawaii, where they have a second home, and was taken to hospital, where he was found to have suffered a heart attack.

At the time, about seven weeks ago, his spokesman Stan Rosenfield said it was a mild heart attack but declined to give further details of Grammer's condition or medical treatment.

But Grammer told "Entertainment Tonight" that the heart attack was not actually mild at all and he nearly died because his heart stopped.

"They had to blast me twice and get me started all over again," he told the news program in an interview to be aired on Thursday evening.

"I did think: 'Oh gosh, I have got to hang on. I've got too much junk I've got to take care of. I've got to take care of the family."'

Grammer, who stars with Kevin Costner in the political comedy "Swing Vote" that opens August 1, said it felt "like somebody was actually trying to tear my chest apart with, like, the jaws of life."

Grammer's heart attack came three weeks after he learned the Fox network was canceling his sitcom "Back to You," in which he played a pompous, womanizing TV news anchor opposite Patricia Heaton. The series lasted only one season.

"Obviously you play the hand you're dealt, and it has been a very interesting hand lately; it has been tough," he said.

Grammer gained fame portraying the snooty but lovable psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane for 20 years on NBC, first as a supporting player on the comedy hit "Cheers" and then as the lead in the Emmy-winning spinoff series "Frasier."

Grammer also supplies the voice of the recurring character Sideshow Bob on the Fox cartoon series "The Simpsons."

Reuters/Nielsen

Leighton Meester’s Longchamp Party Night

Leighton Meester’s Longchamp Party Night

While her Gossip Girl costar Blake Lively was across town checking out the "Dark Knight" movie premiere, Leighton Meester was busy at the Longchamp 60th Anniversary soiree.

The brunette beauty mingled like a seasoned pro with the likes of Brooke Shields, Lindsay Price and Susan Sarandon at La Maison Unique Longchamp.

And she looked nothing short of amazing in a black tank-style minidress along with a pair of fun white-with-black-accents heels and some seriously red lipstick.

It's no wonder there were so many lovely ladies at the Longchamp party- the company has been making much-sought-after handbags and purses for the fairer sex since the 1970s.

Enjoy the pictures from the Longchamp 60th Anniversary Celebration (July 14).

Political Correctness in Music: "A Different Read"

By Bobby

A decade ago, while a college student, I was able to work with South Carolina Citizens for Life Executive Director Holly Gatling on having a Catholic songstress appear at the state March for Life (an event which I have since attended ten more times). At the end of the year, the same songstress appeared at an event at the now-imploded Charlotte Coliseum (which had negative images in the Carolinas thanks to George Shinn, who moved the Hornets to New Orleans, and is the "curse of Kobe Bryant," and as Vin Scully would say, still had 11 more years to pay on it when it was imploded) that was televised on the now-imploded The Nashville Network (MTV's implosion of which led to some bad blood that causes me to still have a negative view on MTV, especially since a college friend had family who were fired by MTV; the friend's cousin headed the CBS Charlotte office that was shut down by MTV since its programming would be replaced by raunchy MTV programming, bad reruns, and WWE).

At The Nashville Network-televised event (I attended it live), the songstress sang from her new album at the time a song which I liked.

A few years later, a school did the same song for show choir. When I viewed the clip, I noticed the song was politically correct with key words removed from the song. Some liberals now have the belief that the alteration of the song without the songstress' permission is a must, and it should stay politically correct. Now if you're singing the song with the politically correct lyrics, are you changing the entire message of the song? It has to, considering the way she wrote it.

Stupidity Alert

By Drew

So many things to write about, so little time. But here's a bon mot for the evening, from Jay Nordlinger's NRO column last week:

At a New York Philharmonic concert not long ago, they played the overture to Rossini’s opera L’Italiana in Algeri, or The Italian Girl in Algiers. Often, when speaking in English, people shorten the title to “The Italian Girl.” Well, the Philharmonic’s program had a PC and utterly absurd translation: “The Italian Woman in Algiers.” That is so wrong in so many ways.

Wrong in so many, many ways. And Jay Nordlinger is someone who gets it right in so many ways. (Even if he is a little more pro-Bush than I am!) If I had more time I'd toss off some more great insights from him - maybe later this week.

Big Weekend for Brooke Hogan

Big Weekend for Brooke Hogan

We've all fallen in love with her thanks to the "Hogan Knows Best" reality show. And now Brooke Hogan is spreading her wings with a new show of her very own.

Over the weekend, the blonde singer/reality TV actress celebrated the premiere of her new gig "Brooke Knows Best" with a red carpet party/concert at Miami hotspot club Mansion.

The "Brookster" arrived looking ravishing in a little short yellow party dress along with a pair of sexy high heels as she hammed it up for the paparazzi along with costars Ashley and Glenn.

From there, Miss Hogan headed inside to prepare for her concert, taking the stage and wowing the audience with some seriously talented singing and dancing.

The first episode of "Brooke Knows Best," which premiered last night, introduced viewers to Brooke's roommates Ashley and Glenn, as well as other friends, dancers, choreographers, producers, songwriter, and various other business associates.

This season, we'll get to see Brooke consider a tattoo, help her roommate find guys as a "wing woman" and date a guy who is into a plethora of extreme sports.

Enjoy the pictures of Brooke Hogan performing at Mansion (July 13), and attending her show's premiere party the night before.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Welcome Baby Twins!

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Welcome Baby Twins!

The long wait is finally over, as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed healthy baby twins into the world on Saturday night (July 12).

The "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star supercouple are now proud parents of a son and a daughter, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, whom arrived via Cesarian section at the seaside Fondation Lenval in Nice, France. Knox weighed 5.03 lbs, while Vivienne came in a tad lighter at an even 5 lbs.

"The babies are doing well. The operation went just perfectly," Dr. Michael Sussmann told press. "Angelina is in very good spirits. Brad Pitt was at her side. He was there and all was well. The mother and father are very, very happy."

According to AP reports, the Jolie-Pitt's doctor explained that "the Cesarean was moved forward for medical reasons so that the babies could be born in the best conditions."

From this point, Angelina is expected to stay in the hospital for a few days before heading home with her family's newest additions!

Salim Hamdan, former bin Laden driver and bodyguard

Salim Hamdan, former bin Laden driver and bodyguard

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Salim Ahmed Hamdan, who is to go on trial Monday after more than six years at the US "war on terror" camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is a Yemeni orphan who was driver and bodyguard to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.Born in Hadramout, Yemen, around 1970, Hamdan was captured in Afghanistan in November 2001 after five years of allegedly close service to the man behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The indictment against Hamdan alleges that he met bin Laden in the Afghan city of Kandahar in 1996 and "ultimately became a bodyguard and personal driver" for the Al-Qaeda leader.

"On diverse occasions between 1996 and November of 2001, Hamdan drove or accompanied Osama bin Laden to various Al-Qaeda-sponsored training camps, press conferences or lectures," the indictment said.

It alleges that Hamdan received training in the use of rifles, handguns and machine guns in an Al-Qaeda camp and also "delivered weapons, ammunition or other supplies to Al-Qaeda members and associates."

According to author Jonathan Mahler, whose book about the Hamdan case is scheduled for release in August, Hamdan, an orphan, was recruited for jihad, or holy war, in 1996, when he was earning a modest living as a taxi driver in the Yemeni city of Sanaa.

Although not particularly religious, Hamdan, then believed to be 26, decided to travel with 35 other Muslims to Tajikistan, where Islamist militants were battling the Russian-backed government, Mahler wrote in the New York Times.

The would-be militants reached Afghanistan but were turned back at the border with Tajikistan after a six-month journey through the mountains.

Hamdan and the others turned for help to bin Laden, who had recently taken up residence in Afghanistan after being expelled from Sudan.

In late November 2001, two months after the September 11 attacks and more than a month after the US launched a military operation against the Taliban, Hamdan was captured by Afghan warlords, according to Mahler.

He was turned over to US forces for a 5,000-dollar bounty and spent the next six months in US prison camps in Bagram and Kandahar, according to Mahler.

Hamdan was flown to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in May 2002, where he was confined to a small cell while awaiting trial.

He was charged with conspiracy in July 2003, but his lawyers contested the validity of the special military tribunal before which he was to appear in 2004.

The US Supreme Court ruled in June 2006 that the government had overstepped its powers in creating the military tribunals, but they were re-established by an act of Congress some months later.

Hamdan has been described by US journalists who attended his hearings at Guantanamo as haggard, with difficulty walking due to back pains.

Hamdan has told preliminary hearings that he was kept in isolation and endured a humiliating interrogation by a female. The defense also has said he was awakened every hour for 50 days in 2003.

Miley Cyrus is a Blonde Beach Babe

Miley Cyrus is a Blonde Beach Babe

Back for another day of filming at the beach, Miley Cyrus tossed on her blonde wig as she playfully shot a few more surfboard scenes in Malibu on Thursday (July 10).

Wearing a white and blue Hawaiian dress, the Disney starlet was all smiles as she was carried about by four sexy surfers - filming her new flick "Hannah Montana: The Movie".

As previously reported by Fropki.com, the film's synopsis reads: "As Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), on the urging form her father (Billy Ray Cyrus), takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most."

The highly anticipated theatrical release, which co-stars Miley's now-rumored boyfriend Lucas Till, makes its way to theaters on May 1, 2009.

Enjoy the pictures of Miley Cyrus out filming her new movie (July 10).

Brooke Hogan Keeps Busy on the Promotional Trail

Brooke Hogan Keeps Busy on the Promotional Trail

She's branching off on her own Reality TV career and Brooke Hogan is all about drumming up as much publicity as possible to insure it's a success.

The "Hogan Knows Best" babe was spotted on her way out of CW11 Studios this morning sporting an immaculate white summer dress and heels as she greeted fans and signed autographs.

The day before the paparazzi caught up to the "Brookster" as she arrived back at her hotel following a long day of television appearances and interviews, looking perky in a bright blue top and high-waisted black pants.

Regarding her parents' messy divorce, Brooke is trying to look on the bright side of it all. "I don't think our family is falling apart or getting destroyed. I just think it's rearranging itself in the way God meant it to be – because it wasn't working how it was."

But it's not all good in the 'hood- she described the news that her 48-year-old mom is dating a 19-year-old former classmate as "kind of disappointing. She was always my hero when I was growing up. I feel like I have to be the mother now."

Enjoy the pictures of Brooke Hogan out at CW11 studios this morning (July 11), and promoting the day before.

Reflections

By Bobby

• When I think of George Michael, I think of the retired Washington-area sportscaster whose Sports Machine was a popular syndicated programme for many years nationally, and not the sexual deviant pop star. Lindsay Czarniak was one of the recurring reporters on the show, and finished her six-week stint on TNT.

• My voice teacher returned home and while on the plane, she loaded a text message on my phone asking how was my birthday. I giggled and we spoke but she was awaiting to disembark the plane, pick up her luggage, and await the site of her home (and her cats).

• A report Tuesday on Fox News confirmed that the fringe environmentalists have a bigger lobby than the oil companies. No wonder they are controlling our energy policy banning drilling for oil, lightbulbs, and family cars in recent energy acts passed.

• Common sense in legislatures is that the legislators are supposed to serve their constituents, and not fringe radical Marxists. What does it say when the Michigan legislators, knowing the struggles of their Big Three automakers, decide to betray their own constituents and instead pass legislation designed to ban the family car and trucks that they produce, and favour the microcars of Germany and Japan? In fact, the de facto President (Pelosi) and her left-hand man (Reid) came to the ceremony that passed their “energy act” that couldn't be vetoed because of the supermajority vote in a Japanese hybrid.

• On the other hand, when Pennsylvania-based Comcast found foul play in the NFL's Sunday Ticket DirecTV monopoly, they went to Arlen Specter, who has come to defend his own constituent against the NFL's concept. In each case, the legislators had a choice of either helping or hurting their constituents. The Michigan legislators (Dingell, Stabenow, Levin) chose to sell out to Tokyo and also the huge Marxist-Leninist environmentalist lobby and hurt their own constituents in GM, Ford, and Chrysler. The Pennsylvania legislator (Specter) chose to defend his own constituent, Comcast.

• Does it seem the MOVEON.ORG Revolution of 2006 has led to the inflation problems thanks to their refusal to drill for oil and too the mandate that our food be used as inefficient alcohol fuel instead of food? Consider that most of the corn used is not for grains now but to make the booze under federal “renewable fuel” standards. Get rid of the inefficient Gaia worshipper-written “Energy Independence and Security Act” which should be called the “Pelosi Environmentalist Anti-American High Inflation Act”. The fuel provision is behind the increase in the cost of food, and the legislators, who sold their souls to the environmentalists, refuse to understand that, preferring to go by their feelings.

Tiger Woods, New York Giants big winners at ESPYs

Tiger Woods, New York Giants big winners at ESPYs

LOS ANGELES - Tiger Woods won three trophies at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, including his fifth male athlete of the year award, giving him a career-leading 21 wins in the show's 16-year history.Woods surpassed retired cyclist Lance Armstrong for most wins as male athlete. He earned his fourth consecutive ESPY for best golfer and won best championship performance for his playoff victory at the U.S. Open on a bad left knee.

Woods is at home in Florida recuperating from last month's knee surgery, causing him to miss this week's British Open and the rest of the PGA season.

Singer Justin Timberlake, an avid golfer and Memphis Tigers fan, hosted the show honoring the year's best sports moments and athletes, which moved this year to the Nokia Theatre downtown. It airs Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN.

Timberlake performed an original rock opera that showcased his passion for sports. He repeatedly zinged Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham, who sat in the front row with his wife, Victoria.

"Dude, I got to give you props. Single-handedly you made soccer in America this much more popular," Timberlake said, holding his thumb and index finger an inch apart. "I call it soccer because in America we already have a game dudes play called football."

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants tied Woods with three victories: best game, best upset and best play, which was David Tyree's leaping catch of quarterback Eli Manning's pass that kept the team's game-winning drive alive.

Being with his teammates again had recently retired defensive end Michael Strahan joking that he's considering a comeback, a la Brett Favre.

"There's mornings I wake up and I feel like calling the Giants, especially after watching Brett, and saying, `If it's not going to be a big deal like the Brett Favre situation, I'd like to come back,'" Strahan said backstage, drawing laughter from his teammates.

"We're having a controversy in New York. I want my position back. The gap attack is back," a smiling Strahan said, exposing the famous gap in his front teeth.

Candace Parker was a double winner, earning female athlete of the year and female college athlete honors. She led Tennessee to its second consecutive NCAA national championship before becoming the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick and going to the Los Angeles Sparks.

"I'm just excited I got to meet David Beckham," said Parker, who received her trophy from the English superstar. "I grew up playing soccer, so I love David Beckham. I was thinking, `Don't trip, don't trip.' He's truly an inspiration."

Tennis players Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, along with Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., NHL star Sidney Crosby and bowler Norm Duke repeated as winners in their individual sports categories. Like Woods, Federer won his category for the fourth straight year.

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was chosen as comeback of the year, having successfully battled drug addiction to reach the major leagues. Tuesday, Hamilton hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award nearly 40 years after their black power salute on the medals stand at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

The track stars bowed their heads and raised their black-gloved fists toward the sky as the national anthem played, an action they said represented the struggle for racial equality but got them kicked out of the games. The Ashe award is given to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

"So many times people have tried to split Mr. Smith and I up," Carlos told the crowd. "None of those snipes will ever, ever erase the history that Mr. Smith and I have. We are one and we will continue to be one."

Smith noted that he and Carlos have had differing opinions in the ensuing years, but he said, "The important thing about Carlos and Smith is the issues are the same about human rights."

Former Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett was given the Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance, named for the late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano.

Everett sustained what was thought to be a paralyzing spinal cord injury during the 2007 season opener, but after rehabilitation, he is walking again.

"I had to persevere from this injury. It was tough and I'm real nervous right now," he told the crowd. "I'm real happy I can be here standing before everybody. Jimmy V. said never give up. That's the main thing I told myself every day lying in the hospital bed."

The best moment category honored Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky, along with Central Washington's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, for their sportsmanship during a Division II softball game.

Tucholsky homered, but missed first base and started back to tag it when she collapsed with a knee injury. Holtman and Wallace, her opponents, stunned fans by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count.

The ensuing attention they received has been enjoyable, Tucholsky said, but she admitted, "Tearing your ACL is not fun."

Winners in all but the Jimmy V, Arthur Ashe and comeback categories were determined by online fan voting for the fifth consecutive year.

Wish I'd Written That

By Mitchell

"Ozzy Osbourne and family get their own musical comedy series this September [on Fox]. My advice - just air reruns of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour."

Billy Ingram, TVParty!

Pamela Anderson: “Big Brother” Down Under

Pamela Anderson: “Big Brother” Down Under
She's been tantalizing American guys for almost two decades now, and it's time for Pamela Anderson to show the boys down in Australia some attention.

The "Baywatch" hottie was spotted hamming it up for the paparazzi earlier today in Queensland, Australia at a press conference, sporting a yellow sundress and super-high brown heels.

Apparently Aussie audiences are getting plenty of Pam these days, as she's invaded the Big Brother house. And the male occupants of the residence couldn't be happier to see her.

One of the housemates, Cherry, exclaimed, "Dude, she is smokin," while another named Alice expressed her dismay with the blonde bombshell's arrival, saying, "I'm not sunbathing next to her!"

Reportedly, Pammie's own camera crew from her reality show will also be in the house for her 3-day stay. And just like everything else on Big Brother, it's bound to get dramatic and unpredictable.

Enjoy the pictures of Pamela Anderson at the press conference for Big Brother (July 9).

Minnie Driver to Raise Baby in America

Minnie Driver to Raise Baby in America

Still keeping mum on the name of her babydaddy, Minnie Driver was spotted out and about in Santa Monica, California yesterday picking up some takeout food.

Rocking a sleeveless green maternity top and black and white striped pajama pants, the "Good Will Hunting" babe seemed annoyed by the swarming paparazzi, doing her best to shield herself from the shutterbugs.

Miss Driver recently told press that she'd changed her mind regarding where she planned to raise her soon-to-be-born from the UK to the USA. "I'm fully planning on having my baby there. I've made my home in America; I love it."

And according to reports, Driver is less than two months away from giving birth, with a due date estimated to be sometime at the end of August.

Enjoy the pictures of Minnie Driver out getting takeout in Santa Monica (July 6).

Life Lessons from George Michael

By Kristin

I had the honor of attending the long anticipated, American tour of famed singer/songwriter George Michael at the Xcel Energy Center. It is easy to see how he has remained popular over the past 25 years with his catchy songs and great stage presence. Because I am not an avid George Michael fan (I got tickets for free), I was able to appreciate the show on a different level than people who have emotionally attached themselves to the artist for years and years. I would like to share three life lessons that I learned from George Michael:

1. The key to lasting success is having catchy songs early in career. This will ensure instant popularity and a large fan base. If you can hook them in early enough, people will identify their early childhood, awkward adolescence, crazy college years or even midlife – rock music inspired life crisis. Before you know it, your music has become Muzak (that last conclusion was courtesy of a fellow concert go-er, Katie). The ultimate result, fans will begin to sing all of your songs for you at any public venue, making you’re job as a rock star much easier. Not to mention all of the royalties you will be earning because of the commercials your music now endorses.

2. There is such a thing as being too literal. The stage setup was quite spectacular. Imagine a giant stage with a huge television running from the backdrop down to the very front of the stage. During the sets, images of dollar signs, hearts, diamonds and other figures were displayed according to the song. While there were some abstract images, most were incredibly literal. When George Michael sang about not knowing what to do about a particular love interest, giant question marks flew across the screen. The overtly literal imagery was comical, taking me out of that magical moment.

3. Make sure you know the city you are in. I understand the difficulty that comes with traveling across country and not knowing exactly where you are. However, from what I understand about people from Minneapolis or St. Paul, each are extremely particular about their city and at no point wish to be confused with one another. So if you ever find yourself in front of a crowd of 10,000 people in St. Paul, under no circumstances is it ok to yell, “How are we doing Minneapolis.” You will not likely get a warm response.

In addition to these three life lessons, I left the arena with the song “Freedom” stuck in my head for the rest of the night. I would say I made out pretty well.

The Body Politic

By Drew

So Jesse Ventura has apparently decided against a run for the U.S. Senate, which spares taxpayers the burden of having to fumigate the Senate chamber after every session, in much the same way it was necessary to fumigate Minnesota after the conclusion of Ventura’s term as governor.

We don’t generally launch into ad hominem attacks on this site, but in the case of Ventura it is almost impossible to seriously discuss his place in politics without engaging in an “argument against the man.” For Jesse Ventura has probably done more than anyone in the last fifty years, excluding perhaps David Duke, to demean and degrade the profession of politics in this country. And that says a lot, considering the base level to which politics has fallen. It has little to do with Ventura’s own politics – I’m not sure I can actually recall any – and everything to do with Ventura the man.

It is true that politics today is filled with personal invective, fringe elements spreading paranoia and conspiracy with every breath. It is the case that politicians are viewed with suspicion and are accused of dishonesty, of corruption, of waffling and distorting to please the latest special interest group. All of this is undeniable, which might lead one to ask how this wrestler could possibly make things worse. And yet he does, by his very presence in the body politic.

For in addition to the already-present traits of corruption and graft, dishonesty and deceit, selfishness and narrow-mindedness, Jesse Ventura adds the qualities of bigotry and bullying, of crudity and uncouthness, gracelessness and incivility and a host of personal charms that demean not only himself but anyone who is forced to listen to him.

If, as Ventura claims, he is more representative of “the people” than other politicians, then it is our lowest and basest instincts which he so crudely represents, the uncivilized qualities which we like to think can be overcome in a civilized society. Ventura, the man who once scorned religion as a crutch for weak people, does not appeal to our higher nature, does not encourage us to rise to the level of the angels, but instead reduces us to the base level of animals. He is the country bumpkin, the crazy uncle who embarrasses you at every family gathering, the relative for whom you’re always offering apologies. There are no brakes, no restraints, none of the refinements which human beings like to think we’ve developed in the time since the primordial slime. He is the very representation of the knuckle-dragging troglodyte that conservatives are (mistakenly) so often portrayed. His appeal is to the qualities in ourselves which we must work at the hardest to rise above, which we can do only with the very graces which the wrestler ridicules.

We can never know what resides in Ventura's heart, nor would we dare to speculate. To suggest that he is incapable of individual acts of kindness and intelligence would be absurd. We can only observe his public behavior, his words and deeds, and note them accordingly. Nor can we avoid repsonsibility for his election, for whether we voted for him or not, we all share in that responsibility. Ventura is a creature of our own making. "His blood be on us and our children," and in that way we are as responsible for what Ventura hath wrought as he is.

It could even be plausibly argued that much of his boorish behavior is no more than a clever act, bread and circuses for the masses. If so, then it’s an act that no longer entertains (if it ever did), and honors neither him nor us.

Cromwell dismissed the rump Parliament with the famous words, “In the name of God, go” and those words could apply equally to Ventura. “Go already!” we might add to the man whose cloying, “will he or won’t he” political machinations make Brett Farve look positively decisive by comparison.

If this sounds harsh it is, because Jesse Ventura has made politics an infinitely harsher game by his very presence. And we are infinitely better off without him.

Kim Kardashian Talks Fourth of July Weekend

Kim Kardashian Talks Fourth of July Weekend
After a rousing couple of days with her boyfriend Reggie Bush and both of their families, Kim Kardashian grabbed a little time for herself on Saturday.

The "Disaster Movie" starlet was spotted out and about in Beverly Hills, California following an appointment at her favorite nail salon. And she looked beautiful in a casual blue halter-style dress with a pair of strappy sandals.

According to Kim's Official Blog, she and her New Orleans Saints stud spent the Fourth of July holiday at Reggie's mom's house with the whole Kardashian and Bush bunch to boot.

And at one point, she writes, it became a contest to see who could throw whom into the pool. "Khloe and Reggie started it by throwing my mom in! Then Reggie threw Rob in and broke his cell phone! Then Reggie threw Khloe in! Then Khloe threw me in! She dropped me on the way to the pool but I still couldn't escape not being thrown in!!!"

Enjoy the pictures of Kim Kardahsian out getting her nails done over the holiday weekend (July 5).

Celebrity Good Hair, Bad Hair

Celebrity Good Hair, Bad Hair

They've got the world's top hair stylists on speed dial, but even Hollywood's most stylish stars suffer from the dreaded bad hair day now and then. We found them at their best -- and hair-raising worst! Here, Katherine Heigl

shows us how to do waves the right way with her old Hollywood glam look. But with too much product her locks look dingy -- not to mention straight out of "There's Something About Mary!"

Please tell us this mullet-inspired chop job is for a movie role! Hopefully Jada's hair will grow out soon to our preferred look -- shiny and sleek

Only Bo Derek could be a perfect "10" in cornrows. We're glad this new mommy has traded her Dirrty 'do for Marilyn Monroe-inspired platinum blonde waves.

No wonder Posh started a blunt bob trend in Hollywood -- it suits her perfectly. In her stodgy up-do, however, she looks like she's taking her reputation as an ice queen a little too seriously

How did L.A.'s biggest party girl end up with a soccer mom haircut? Luckily, Paris soon grew her 'do into a perfectly flirty asymmetrical bob

Pamela Anderson’s 41st Birthday Bash

Pamela Anderson’s 41st Birthday Bash
Surrounded by friends and co-workers from her recent gig as Hans Klok's assistant, party-loving Pamela Anderson celebrated her birthday with a bash at LAX nightclub in Las Vegas on Saturday night (July 5).

And while the Baywatch babe, who turned 41-years-old on July 1st, enjoyed socializing with the many guests - she had eyes for one attendee in particular, magician Criss Angel.

As previously reported by Fropki.com, Pammie and Criss share a history of getting cozy at social functions - with last night being no different.

After blowing out her candles, Miss Anderson made out with Angel in the corner before moving to the couches for a cuddling session in which they playfully posed for photographers.

Meanwhile, Pam has recently been reported to have rekindled her relationship with ex-husband Tommy Lee, who told Rolling Stone: "Pamela and the kids have moved in with me. It's awesome, man. It's definitely working. You can tell on the kids' faces—they're happy when we're together."

"We've only given it a try 800 times—801, here we go," Lee added.

Enjoy the pictures from Pamela Anderson's 41st birthday party (July 5).

Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions

Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions

Keira Knightley

Janet Jackson during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas.


Actress Lindsay Lohan attends an intimate dinner hosted by Chanel and Sienna Miller in honor of Les Exclusifs de Chanel held at Chateau Marmont on January 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California. Les Exclusifs de Chanel is a collection of rare and exclusive fragrances

Singer Fergie from Black Eyed Peas attends the VH1 - Big in '04 at the Shrine Auditorium December 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California

Actress Bail Ling enjoys the awards show during the Outfest 2005 Awards Night on July 17, 2005 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California.

Kim Kardashian Talks Fourth of July Weekend

Kim Kardashian Talks Fourth of July Weekend

After a rousing couple of days with her boyfriend Reggie Bush and both of their families, Kim Kardashian grabbed a little time for herself on Saturday.

The "Disaster Movie" starlet was spotted out and about in Beverly Hills, California following an appointment at her favorite nail salon. And she looked beautiful in a casual blue halter-style dress with a pair of strappy sandals.

According to Kim's Official Blog, she and her New Orleans Saints stud spent the Fourth of July holiday at Reggie's mom's house with the whole Kardashian and Bush bunch to boot.

And at one point, she writes, it became a contest to see who could throw whom into the pool. "Khloe and Reggie started it by throwing my mom in! Then Reggie threw Rob in and broke his cell phone! Then Reggie threw Khloe in! Then Khloe threw me in! She dropped me on the way to the pool but I still couldn't escape not being thrown in!!!"

Enjoy the pictures of Kim Kardahsian out getting her nails done over the holiday weekend (July 5).

The Single-Bullet Theory Revisited

By Drew

Apropos of yesterday's post referencing the Kennedys is this story from Fox News (courtesy Media Blog at NRO) that you gotta love:

POTTER VALLEY, Calif. — A Mendocino County woman who was trying to kill mice in her trailer with a gun ended up shooting herself and another person.

The 43-year-old woman pulled out her .44-caliber Magnum revolver after she saw the mice scurrying across the floor of her trailer on Highway 20 in Potter Valley, sheriff's officials said.

But she accidentally dropped the gun, which went off as it struck the floor. The bullet went through the woman's kneecap, bounced off the keys sitting on the belt loop of a 42-year-old man in the trailer and grazed the man's groin before ending up in his coin pocket.

Authorities did not release the shooting victims' names.

The mice escaped the shooting unharmed.

Now clearly, this "single-bullet theory" is a fabrication, designed to cover-up a conspiracy. After all, we all know there is no way that one bullet could pass through the woman's kneecap, graze the man's groin, and wind up pristine in his coin pocket. It's just not possible. Notice that the shooting victims are not named. And notice also that the mice escaped the shooting unharmed.

Something funny is going on here. If I were Potter Valley police officials, I'd make sure to check the grassy knoll in the woman's back yard for any trace of mouse droppings or other evidence pointing to a second gunmouse. Until this gunmouse's links to the FBI, the CIA, the Bush White House, the McCain campaign, the President of Halliburton, and Rush Limbaugh have been thoroughly exposed, we are all living a lie.

Murky Waters

By Drew

Does a demon beckon?
Do you follow?
Do you turn aside, mashing your fists into your eyes?

You won't know until it beckons. To you. So long as it temps otehrs you can judge - can sneer - can express shock, disgust, outrage, and prim distain - the usual emotions of punitive people. But you won't know. I didn't.

Joyce Carol Oates, The Assassins

*****
As enigmatic as the above is, it becomes a perfect representation of the enigmatic, prolific Joyce Carol Oates. She can be brilliantly crystalline in one moment, maddeningly opaque and pretentious in another.

Oates understands as well as anyone that the Kennedys have become a modern American myth, in much the same way as Paul Bunyan and King Arthur. Often critics of the Kennedys use the word “myth” as a substitute for “fiction,” and certainly the “Camelot” of the early 60s is as much fairy tale as reality. However, Oates uses the mythology as part history, part legend, part folklore – a story that has become so ingrained in the American consciousness that it acts as shorthand for a host of emotions, memories, and meanings, symbolic as well as real. In recasting and retelling the Kennedy story in its various components, Oates allows her characters to display aspects of this mythology, using it as background to the story at hand, without having to start from scratch.

The above selection is from her 1975 novel The Assassins, her first go at the mythos of the Kennedy family. The Assassins is the story of the Petrie family in the wake of the assassination of the man around whom the family revolved, the overpowering Andrew. The storytellers are the three most strongly affected by Andrew: his brothers Hugh and Stephen; and his young widow Yvonne. This can’t be seen as a word-for-word comparison to the Kennedy clan; the Andrew is a right-wing commentator and former U.S. Senator (rather than a Democratic president), the father a former judge (instead of a bootlegger), the family itself Episcopalian rather than Catholic (except for Stephen, a convert), and from New York instead of Massachusetts. That being said, it would also be impossible to look at the triumvirate of survivors and not see the shadow of America’s royal family.

However, Oates deals far more directly with myth in her 1992 novella Black Water, her retelling of Chappaquiddick, which gives us all the elements we need: a girl (Kelly Kelleher), a U.S. Senator (“The Senator”) who’s had a bit too much to drink, a car, and a body of water. The rest, as we all know, is history.

And it should be noted that one of the fascinating aspects of Black Water is that it takes place in a world populated by the real-life Kennedys and their real-life history, although the real-life Chappaquiddick is never mentioned (understandably). There are references to the Kennedys (especially Bobby) as well as Ronald Reagan and George Bush (who is president at the time of the book’s events), and the Gulf War is as much a part of history as the Vietnam War. The basic story is the same, however; to the extent that Oates’ take on things describe what really happened, “The Senator” certainly does not come out looking very good. He’s a married man coming on to a young woman, a drunk who causes the accident thanks to his reckless driving, and a coward who not only flees the scene of the accident without trying to rescue Kelly, but also lies to his friend as to the cause of the fatal crash.

Oates may argue that she is not attempting a thinly disguised retelling of Chappaquiddick, instead presenting the "archetypal" story "of a young woman taken advantage of by an older man, but it serves as a damning indictment of Teddy nonetheless. (Anyone too young to remember Chappaquiddick would do well to read this novella, regardless of whether or not it’s really about Ted, and then ask themselves once again why this Kennedy was never elected president.)

If you’ve tried JCO in the past and been intimidated by her, Black Water is a good place to visit. If you’ve never read Oates at all, then you could do worse than to begin here. Oates prose has rarely been more clear, more powerful. Her hypnotic repetition of phrases, her relentless portrayal of Kelly’s misplaced belief in the Senator, her ability to tell the familiar story and still have you hoping for a different conclusion, all work to produce a work that is ultimately quite moving. We feel the claustrophobia she must feel as she is trapped in the sinking car, we feel her hope (and ours) ebbing away as the water continues to rise, we see her dying before our very eyes. There is always something disturbing, gut-wrenching, about a work such as this – whether in opera, on stage, in movies, or through the written word. You are presented a life that is seen in happier, more innocent times, and yet know that the story will not end happily ever after.

For there is no happy ending to Black Water, just as there was no happy ending for Mary Jo Kopechne. And ultimately, there was no happy ending for Ted Kennedy, either. He survived the disaster, true, in a way neither of his brothers did. He survived politically, if you consider his continual reelection to the U.S. Senate by the people of Massachusetts. But he was never elected president, never won the fame and devotion that Jack and Bobby did.

Perhaps worst of all for Edward M. Kennedy, he has been forced to live with the memory of what happened on that bridge for the rest of his life, a life that now appears to be in its last act. We can never truly know what happened that night, although we are not prevented from drawing conclusions based on the evidence at hand. We can never truly know what goes on in the heart and conscience of Ted Kennedy; we can only consider his public words and acts over the years and filter them through our own sensibilities. We can surmise, though, that lesser men might have chosen death rather than to live with such a haunting memory.

Indeed, the real world haunts each and every page of Black Water, as the words of Joyce Carol Oates haunt those who read it. Of a novelist, the reader can ask little more.

Meet the 'Big Brother 10' cast

Meet the 'Big Brother 10' cast

STUDIO CITY, Calif. - "Big Brother 10" is returning to its roots. The claustrophobic CBS reality show is sealing 13 actual strangers — no ex lovers, secret twin partners or long-lost siblings this time — inside a makeshift house on a Studio City soundstage for the chance to be the last houseguest standing and take home the $500,000 grand prize.

"There's somebody for everyone in this cast," executive producer Allison Grodner recently told The Associated Press at CBS Radford Studios. "It's going to be interesting to see people that come from such opposite worlds living together, which has always been a part of this show, but this season, we really do have our most diverse group ever."

The contestants — which will include a gay bull rider, a Hooters waitress, a professional bodybuilder and a 75-year-old former Marine — will spend the summer competing in challenges and evicting each other while being monitored by over 50 cameras. It's the first time since the show's third season that the houseguests are all strangers.

"When approaching this season, we wanted to look at what made this spark and last for 10 seasons," said Grodner, who's worked on "Big Brother" since the second season. "Every season had its unique twist. I think, in a way, going back to basics and having the cast be all strangers is part of the twist of '10.' Of course, there will be more."

In last season's first-ever winter edition of "Big Brother," which was quickly put into production because of the writers strike, contestants were partnered with each other and evicted as pairs for the first four weeks of competition. Grodner said a new "Big Brother 10" gameplay twist would be introduced during the premiere episode on July 13.

"It's really a power-play," teased Grodner. "The game will actually start before they enter the house."

In recent seasons, contestants have come under fire outside the house for controversial remarks made inside the house. During the eighth season, Amber Siyavus said that Jewish people tend to be "really money-hungry" and "selfish." Last season's winner Adam Jasinski was fired by a nonprofit autism organization because he used the word "retards."

"Those types of comments are not something we want to happen," said Grodner. "It's a live show. It's not censored on the Internet. These are real people. We aren't telling them what to say, but we're not telling them what not to say either. Things do happen. We, of course, can choose what we put in the show, and we do so carefully."

This season's contestants seem to be more aware of the repercussions of their actions from the outset. Before meeting their competitors or entering the house, the "Big Brother 10" cast was individually interviewed by the AP while they were voluntarily sequestered — no television, newspapers or telephones — from the outside world in a Studio City hotel.

"If you make a mistake and say the wrong things, you may offend people and be known for that forever," said Steven Daigle, a 35-year-old geographic consultant and gay rodeo competitor from Dallas. "People make mistakes. If I do make a mistake, I hope I can learn from it and know that was some part of my life that I was ignorant or uneducated about."

The rooms inside the "Big Brother" house this season will be themed to different decades. The kitchen, for example, resembles a '50s diner while one of the bedrooms is filled with '70s-inspired furnishings. The timeliness extends to this season's crop of contestants. At 75, Gerry MacDonald will be the oldest "Big Brother" houseguest ever.

"Age does not bother me," MacDonald told the AP. "I hope it doesn't bother them."

Libra Thompson, a married 31-year-old human resources representative from Spring, Texas, left behind her husband and three children — including 4-month-old twins — to participate in "Big Brother 10." During production, Thompson and the other "Big Brother" contestants are prohibited from communicating with the outside world.

"It's better for me that they're younger," said Thompson of her newborns. "At four months old, they're not going to remember much. It's probably going to be a little bit more difficult for my 4-year-old. However, I'm going to stay focused and remember the reason I'm here, and that's the cash. That will help me."

Prize money talks.

"I'm motivated because I'm a big fan of the show, but I'm more motivated that I have a chance to win $500,000," said Angie Swindell, a 29-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Orlando, Fla. "I just have to keep telling myself that if I start feeling all queasy about the 24-7 thing, there's an end to the means."

April Dowling, a 30-year-old car dealership finance manager from Higley, Ariz., said she doesn't think the "Big Brother" experience will be any more difficult than the time she had to spend 15 days in a "tent city" jail for drunk-driving charges. She also believes living in the house may remedy some of her obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

"I have seen a therapist," said Dowling. "They tried to put me on anti-anxiety medication, but I'm not big on prescription medication. I just don't like to take it. I'm actually hoping the 'Big Brother' experience will be therapeutic. My life will not end if the green beans aren't behind the corn in the pantry."

The 13 contestants of "Big Brother 10" are:

• Michelle Costa, 28, real estate agent from Cumberland, R.I.

• Steven Daigle, 35, geographic consultant from Dallas

• April Dowling, 30, finance manager from Higley, Ariz.

• Robert "Memphis" Garrett, 25, mixologist and party planner from Los Angeles

• Dan Gheesling, 24, high school teacher from Dearborn, Mich.

• Jessie Godderz, 22, bodybuilder from Huntington Beach, Calif.

• Brian Hart, 27, telecommunication account manager from San Francisco

• Gerry MacDonald, 75, retired marketing executive from Magnolia, Texas

• Renny Martyn, 53, hair salon owner from Metairie, La.

• Bryan Ollie, 27, marketing sales representative from Bloomington, Minn.

• Keesha Smith, 29, waitress from Burbank, Calif.

• Angie Swindell, 29, pharmaceutical sales representative from Orlando, Fla.

• Libra Thompson, 31, human resources representative from Spring, Texas

Leona Lewis Sings For Nelson Mandela

Leona Lewis Sings For Nelson Mandela

Commanding the stage in a colorful floral patterned ensemble, Leona Lewis helped Nelson Mandela celebrate his 90th birthday during a big concert in London on Friday (June 27).

Offering up a solid performance at the Hyde Park venue, Lewis was there to lend her support for Mandela and his global AIDS campaign, 46664.

Proceeds from the event were funneled directly towards the 46664 charity, which is currently campaigning to raise awareness of the severity of the disease.

Also on hand for the festivities were musical acts including Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox, Josh Groban, Joan Baez and actor Will Smith.

Enjoy the pictures of Leona Lewis performing at the Nelson Mandela birthday concert (June 27).

The Fat Lady Sings for Dan Cook

By Bobby

San Antonio Express-News columnist Dan Cook died last week at 81. But one of the most famous catchphrases in the world that even has classical music fans wondering, was his own signature.

When at KENS-TV in the Texas city from 1956-2000 (a 44-year career; it even makes WCSC-TV's Bill Sharpe look like a puppy with 35 years at the Charleston station; his long-time sports partner was dumped after 30 years and ended up doing news at a cross-Cooper River rival; his weatherman died and the station's current building is on a road named for that man), Mr. Cook referred to an NBA playoff series between the Spurs and Bullets (at the time the Texas teams were in the East and Chicago in the West; the geographic illiteracy was fixed when Dallas was added in 1980) as not to be too giddy after an early lead by saying, “The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings.”

This phrase has become a "Familiar Quotation."

So indeed, the "fat lady sings" for Dan Cook, the man who gave us a Wagnerian approach to sports.

Our Fourth of July

By Kristin

Over the past few months, I have been extremely patriotic. Some may say over-patriotic. I have been to the Historical Society, watched HBO’s John Adams and sang along with 1776: The Musical. There is a central theme that ran through all three of these events that made this past Fourth of July an particularly meaningful one. All three events, to a certain degree, revolved around the Declaration of Independence, the document written by Thomas Jefferson stating the Congresses’ grievances against King George and its reasons for separation. What was left such an impact on the presentation of the Declaration during all three activities was how powerful the document became when it was read aloud, a far cry from the dry, silent readings I remember from my school days. I am ashamed to admit that throughout my history studies, even through my college years, never had I listened to the Declaration in its entirety until recently.

I am fortunate to have some wonderful friends in working in wonderful jobs that allow for some wonderful experiences. A few month ago, the Minnesota Historical Society was home to one of the original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence. I was fortunate enough to be invited by a friend to a sneak peak at the event. There was no glamorous set up. No red carpet to the document. Only a single docent standing ready to answer any questions we had about anything remotely related to American History. Standing in front of the page was truly amazing. This printed copy, which looks strikingly different from the handwritten page many of us are used to seeing, looked only slightly warn, baring the familiar signatures of the Continental Congress, dominated by that of John Hancock. It was truly a unique experience to see one of the original copies. After studying the page for a few minutes, I ventured down to a lower level where there had been a few banners set up in honor of the visiting display. Near one of the tables, there was a small television playing a video featuring a large handful of rather famous Hollywood personalities reciting lines from the Declaration. Although the actors would have no problem making the readings seem larger than life, there was no need; they read the Declaration with out excess pomp relying on the words to convey the emotion. This was truly successful. I stood mesmerized by the words I was hearing, imaging the courage it had taken the writer, along with the signers, to support the words on the page.

Watching John Adams and 1776, were no less effective in their efforts to give the Declaration life. While neither recited the Declaration completely, what they did was to give a sense of urgency to its creation and support by the Congress. It is one thing to read in history books about the desperate times in the American Colonies in the 1770’s, but it is quite another to see them as though you have an exclusive CNN coverage of the rebellion against the British Empire. And, it is another thing entirely to see the debates and arguments being sung and danced out as sort of West Side Story for colonial times. While John Adams and 1776 each took a completely different approach to how they addressed the Declaration’s creation, both were able to illustrate the power of its words and what it truly meant to declare independence.

After hearing the Declaration of Independence I am reminded of why I study history. This document is not one that is to be read to oneself. In order to fully appreciate the weight and tone it must be read out loud. Most of the population in colonial America were illiterate, or had very low reading level. That is why it sounds so much more powerful being read aloud. I have challenged myself to read, out loud, the Declaration in preparation for next year’s celebration.

Madonna denies affair and says not seeking divorce

Madonna denies affair and says not seeking divorce

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna denied having an affair with Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez and said in a statement to People magazine on Sunday she is not planning to get divorced from her British husband Guy RitchieRumors that the London-based couple planned to split have been circulating for months, fueled most recently by reports that she had hired a lawyer to divorce film maker Ritchie.

"My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce," the singer said in a statement to People.

"I brought my kids to a Yankee game. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study," she said.

People magazine reported on Sunday that Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, had left the Yankee baseball star over the alleged affair with Madonna, citing sources close to the situation.

The speculation about Madonna's marriage reached a fever pitch in the last two weeks in London, where the Daily Mirror newspaper dedicated two front pages to the plight of the couple's relationship.

Madonna, 49, and Ritchie, 39, married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in northeast Scotland. They met at a party hosted by ex-Police frontman Sting and his wife Trudie Styler.

Their son, Rocco, was several months old on their wedding day, and in 2006 Madonna applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother had died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a Malawian court in May.

Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship. She was married once before, to Hollywood actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.

Madonna is one of the most successful rock stars of all time, with global album sales estimated at more than 200 million copies. A multi-Grammy award winner, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March.

Ritchie is best known for his movies "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998) and "Snatch" (2000), but he has come in for critical maulings since then, most notably when he directed Madonna in "Swept Away" (2002).

Madonna brushed off the rumors as media fabrication.

"I have learned over the years not to take accusations and the many false reports about me very seriously," she told People.

"Fiction and fact seem to be perceived as one and the same by people who read both newspapers and the Internet.."

(Writing by Anthony Boadle, editing by Sandra Maler)

Peachtree vs Nathan's Famous

By Bobby

Sometimes you have to wonder what happens in the wild world of Independence Day events.

A crowd estimated at 40,000 attended Coney Island's legendary Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest XCIII to watch 20 gurgitators attempt to swallow as many frankfurters in their mouths in a span of ten minutes. A million more watched ESPN to hear Paul Page and Richard Shea call the action of this contest.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, a few thousand people (including many on the side of the hospital) were on the side of the road in Buckhead and Midtown to watchover 55,000 (including myself for the first time) run from Lenox Square Mall to Ponce de Leon Avenue (instead of Piedmont Park because of drought conditions) in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race XXXIX. Part of the coverage was on the Fox affiliate (WAGA-5) in Atlanta but that was it. It was a day for 54,500 commoners and 500 elite athletes to run the biggest running event in the country.

I wonder which one was better off -- the 40,000 to watched 20 swallow as many frankfurters in ten minutes, or the 55,000 who ran past Cardiac Hill (yes, there is a hospital near that hill) and the Olympic Mile (much of the Peachtree course on Peachtree Avenue was used for the 1996 Olympic marathon; it can be traced on Thanksgiving during The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon, which retraces much of the Olympic course).

I must say as a five-time marathon finisher, and someone who has run two major 10K's in the Southeast (Cooper River Bridge Run, Mount Pleasant to Charleston, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race) that the Peachtree was worth it. A family member told me she couldn't stand to have lunch after watching the hot eating contest on ESPN.

And oh, by the way: Bobby's time for the AJC Peachtree was 1:17:19, hand-timed because it is not scored legally. That time would easily be better than my first two Cooper River Bridge Runs in Charleston, also a 10K though flatter.

Bush: `Affront' to Chinese to skip Olympics start

Bush: `Affront' to Chinese to skip Olympics start
TOYAKO, Japan - President Bush said Sunday he does not feel the need to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics to state his opposition to China's human rights record. Skipping the event would be an "affront" to the Chinese people, he said. Bush spoke at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who announced that he also plans to attend the ceremonies. Other world leaders have decided not to go as a rebuke to China's violent crackdown on anti-government protests in Tibet.

The U.S. and Japanese leaders met on the eve of this year's Group of Eight meeting of industrialized nations. At the summit, presidents and prime ministers hope for a deal that would set targets for reducing the pollution that causes global warming. But few analysts expect major headway or concessions from Bush. He insists on holding China and India, fast-growing economies and among the world's biggest polluters, to the same emission-reduction standards as older, developed economies.

Bush said that he hopes to get China and India to agree to a long-term goal to cut emissions. But he scaled back expectation about what the summit could achieve or what could result from meetings on the sidelines with leaders of large gas-emitting nations.

The president said he was "realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, that we're not going to solve the problem."

Fukuda is seeking agreement for 50 percent overall reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. He hedged when asked whether the U.S. was holding up any such deal.

Bush arrived for his last G-8 summit as he turned 62 and with fewer than 200 days left in office. Overshadowing Bush's talks with other leaders is the White House election; at next year's summit, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama will set the U.S. agenda.

The site of this year's meetings is a heavily guarded luxury resort 2,051 feet above sea level atop Poromoi Mountain in Hokkaido, an island in northern Japan. Every hotel room has a view of either Lake Toya, formed in a crater left behind by a collapsed volcano, and Mount Yotei to the east, or Uchiura Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the west.

During the next several days, Bush will delve into global warming, oil prices, aid to Africa, international trade and Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

Before focusing on those global challenges, Bush first sought to address Tokyo's concerns that progress in ending a nuclear standoff with North Korea has not helped settled the sensitive issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the North.

Japan is an important participant in the six-nation talks that led to North Korea's recent declaration about its nuclear activities. Japanese citizens are upset about the U.S. move to remove the communist country from the State Department's terror blacklist in exchange for North Korea's decision to admit to some of its weapons work.

As a condition for sending aid and improving relations with the impoverished North, Japan long has pushed for the resolution of North Korea's kidnappings of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. The abductees apparently were used to train North Korean agents in Japanese language and customs.

Bush said he understands Japan's "sensitivity" about the matter. "I am aware that the people want to make sure that the abduction issue is not ignored and that there are suspicions about whether or not the North Koreans will be fully forthcoming," he said, standing next to the prime minister.

The president said getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons was one step and required verification. He said North Korea did provide a declaration of its plutonium-related activities and did blow up the cooling tower of its reactor at Yongbyon.

The North needs to do more, he said, citing U.S. concerns about its enriched uranium, arms proliferation, human rights abuses and ballistic missile programs. "I view this process as a multistep process where there be action for action," he said.

Fukuda said he told Bush it was extremely important to examine North Korea's declaration and verify its contents as a step toward the complete end of North Korea's nuclear efforts. "At the same time, I told him it is important to solve the abduction issue," Fukuda said. "President Bush said he agreed with me. ... He told me he would never forget the abduction issue."

Benji Madden: Bald and Beautiful

Benji Madden: Bald and Beautiful
To their credit, they've lasted way longer than their critics said they would. And last night Paris Hilton and Benji Madden were out on a clubbing date looking as loving as ever.

The "Stars are Blind" singer and her Good Charlotte rockstar boyfriend held hands as they made their way into the Crown Bar in West Hollywood, amid a swarm of shutterbugs.

And Miss Hilton kept things a little extra-sexy in a black cleavage-baring minidress along with a black headband, black shoes and a touch of color with some bright red lipstick.

Meanwhile Benji, showing of a freshly-shaved head, did his usual all-black ensemble including a button-up shirt layered over a t-shirt with black trousers and some super-cool Ray Ban sunglasses.

Enjoy the pictures of Paris Hilton and Benji Madden out at Crown last night (June 25).

ABBA foursome make rare appearance

ABBA foursome make rare appearance
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - All four members of supergroup ABBA appeared together on Friday at the Swedish premiere of the film "Mamma Mia!," delighting fans with their first public showing for years. Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad -- known as Frida -- and Agnetha Faltskog walked down the red carpet at a Stockholm movie theatre to the cheers of several thousand fans.

The movie follows "Mamma Mia!" the musical, which toured worldwide and features 22 ABBA songs, including "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All."

The foursome, who shot to fame when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, last performed together in public in 1986, although there were reports they sang together at a private birthday party for a friend in 1999.

They were once reported to have been offered $1 billion to reunite for a concert tour.

At the film premiere, Agnetha and Frida embraced with actress Meryl Streep, posing for pictures before the three did a dance together. Moments later, all four band members appeared on the theatre balcony.

They stood together with Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and other members of the Mamma Mia! cast.

At news conferences, Streep, Brosnan and Firth enthused about ABBA's music while discussing the challenges of singing and wearing figure-hugging Spandex costumes for their roles.

"Once I started singing I kind of rather enjoyed it," Brosnan, better known for James Bond films than musicals, said. "The Spandex was a bit of a challenge and the boots were. But I had the time of my life making this movie."

SINGING ABILITY

Co-star Firth, star of two "Bridget Jones's Diary" films, said the most frightening aspects of the film were also the most motivating.

"There's an old Miles Davis quote which I've always cherished, which is 'Don't play what you know, play what you don't know'," Firth said.

Ulvaeus had high praise for the actors' vocal abilities. "Most of them don't think they can sing, but they can, I assure you."

The Spandex outfits were a different matter.

"You're going to get bulges that you didn't want and not really developments you did want," said Firth, who performed as Mr. Darcy in the BBC mini-series of "Pride and Prejudice."

Streep said she had been excited by the prospect of singing since she had performed in high school musicals such as "Oklahoma!."

"That was my beginning so it was kind of like coming home to the thing that I loved very, very much," she said.

Asked to name her favorite ABBA song, Streep said:

"I couldn't say. I honestly don't have a favorite song. It's like saying which of your children is your favorite, which of your movies is your favorite. I don't think of it in sports terms like that."

(Editing by Charles Dick)

The Glorious Fourth

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

July 4, 1776

Sightings: Chloe, Charlize and Ellen Pompeo

Sightings: Chloe, Charlize and Ellen Pompeo

Los Angeles (E! Online) - GARDEN VARIETY: Chloë Sevigny, carrying a Donna Karan Modern Leo Tote bag while picking up flowers at a grocery store in L.A.BAND OF BROTHERS: Madonna and Guy Ritchie's sons, Rocco and David, bowling at Bowlmor Lanes in Union Square in NYC. (No, they weren't alone! A nanny and bodyguard were in tow.)

WATER WORKS: Colin Farrell, hanging poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

GREY GROUP: T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo, eating cupcakes and laughing during marketing impresarios Mike McGuiness and Kari Feinstein's birthday party at Simon L.A.

BELLY UP: Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, enjoying mac 'n' cheese, spicy tuna rolls, mini lobster tacos, Caesar salad and a petite filet at Fix Restaurant & Bar in Las Vegas.

SCREEN GEM: Christian Slater, going to the movies at the Grove mall in Los Angeles.

FISHY BUSINESS: Ben Affleck and Don Cheadle, having dinner with poker champ Annie Duke at Sushi Roku in Las Vegas' Forum Shops.

WALK THIS WAY: Charlize Theron and boyfriend Stuart Townsend, taking an afternoon hike at Runyon Canyon in L.A.

TOOL TIME: Lost lovebirds Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly, shopping at Koontz Hardware in West Hollywood.

Freed hostage gets hero's welcome in France

Freed hostage gets hero's welcome in France
PARIS - "I cry with joy," Ingrid Betancourt said. And she did. After six years as a hostage in the Colombian jungle, the former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen flew back to her beloved France to be embraced Friday as an icon by the country that raised her.
A hero's welcome — led by President Nicolas Sarkozy — greeted Betancourt from the moment she descended from the plane at the Villacoublay air base southwest of Paris. A dual French-Colombian citizen, Betancourt was campaigning for Colombia's presidency when she was kidnapped in 2002.

Betancourt won a hug from Sarkozy — who called her "radiant" — and a kiss from first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Talking excitedly and smiling broadly, they were joined by Betancourt's children, other family members and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

"It's a very, very moving moment for me: Breathing the air of France, being with you," Betancourt told supporters and reporters gathered on the windswept tarmac. "France is my home and you are my family."

"I have cried a lot during this time from pain and indignation. Today, I am crying from joy," she said, her voice choked and eyes moist.

Betancourt's captivity caused widespread concern in France, and her supporters held candlelight vigils and marches around the country urging efforts to free her from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Her release Wednesday in an ingenious Colombian military operation along with 14 other hostages prompted celebrations around France.

Betancourt appealed to Sarkozy for help in freeing thousands of other hostages who remain in Colombia's jungles.

"I still need you, because we cannot leave them where they are," she said at later at a party in her honor at the presidential palace. "They are suffering, they are alone."

Sarkozy said Betancourt's rescue sends a message to people in difficult situations that "it's worth it to fight. There is no such thing as inevitability."

"All those who suffer, like you, throughout the world should know that ... there is a light at the end of the tunnel," he said in greeting her. "You are free, radiant, with your life ahead of you and surrounded by your family."

Betancourt, her family and supporters later went to a party at the presidential palace staged in her honor Friday. Hundreds of people, some carrying Colombian or French flags and many with cameras, lined up behind police barriers around the Elysee palace in hopes of getting a glimpse of her.

She exhibited a sense of humor in describing her ordeal in the jungle. "There was no sun, no sky, just a green ceiling. I am very ecological, but no, that was too much," she said, to laughter from the gathered supporters.

Betancourt was to undergo medical exams Saturday at Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris, Sarkozy's office said. It said the chief doctor in the French president's office, Christophe Fernandez, already gave Betancourt a preliminary medical exam aboard the French government plane that carried her to France.

From the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI sent word Friday that he would be happy to meet with Betancourt as soon as his schedule permits. He had met with her mother at the Vatican in February.

Betancourt spent much of her childhood in France and attended university at Paris' Institut d'Etudes Politiques. Her own children — Melanie, 22, and Lorenzo, 19 — reached adulthood in Paris during her captivity.

Betancourt was reunited with her children in Colombia on Thursday. Interviewed by Europe-1 radio before her arrival in France, said she was proud of how her children had forged "extraordinary characters" in her absence.

She recalled humiliating treatment by the FARC, saying she had to wear chains 24 hours a day for three years.

"When you have a chain around your neck, you have to keep your head down and try to accept your fate without succumbing entirely to humiliation, without forgetting who you are," she said.

Sarkozy made freeing Betancourt a priority the night he was elected France's president in May 2007. The previous government of Jacques Chirac also worked for her release, and then-Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is a longtime friend of Betancourt.

Betancourt's release was a big image boost for Sarkozy; even his rivals acknowledged that his diplomatic efforts kept up the pressure on Colombia to find ways to get her released.

But Sarkozy had been pushing for negotiations with the FARC, not a military raid, and his top aide said he was not informed of the operation that freed her until minutes before the first Colombian media reports about it emerged.

Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dies at 83

Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dies at 83

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83His publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press he died at his home.

Although not the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the country. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos.

"You might say, in a way, I was cloning BTC (Bozo the Clown) before anybody else out there got around to cloning DNA," Harmon told the AP in a 1996 interview.

"Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us," Harmon said.

Pinto Colvig, who also provided the voice for Walt Disney's Goofy, was the first Bozo the Clown, a character created by writer-producer Alan W. Livingston for a series of children's records in 1946. Livingston said he came up with the name Bozo after polling several people at Capitol Records.

Harmon would later meet his alter ego while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote the records.

He got that job and eventually bought the rights to Bozo. Along the way, he embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-tufted hair, the bulbous nose, the outlandish red, white and blue costume.

"I felt if I could plant my size 83AAA shoes on this planet, (people) would never be able to forget those footprints," he said.

Susan Harmon, his wife of 29 years, indicated Harmon was the perfect fit for Bozo.

"He was the most optimistic man I ever met. He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody. He was the love of my life," she said Thursday.

The business — combining animation, licensing of the character, and personal appearances — made millions, as Harmon trained more than 200 Bozos over the years to represent him in local markets.

"I'm looking for that sparkle in the eyes, that emotion, feeling, directness, warmth. That is so important," he said of his criteria for becoming a Bozo.

The Chicago version of Bozo ran on WGN-TV in Chicago for 40 years and was seen in many other cities after cable television transformed WGN into a superstation.

Bozo — portrayed in Chicago for many years by Bob Bell — was so popular that the waiting list for tickets to a TV show eventually stretched to a decade, prompting the station to stop taking reservations for 10 years. On the day in 1990 when WGN started taking reservations again, it took just five hours to book the show for five more years. The phone company reported more than 27 million phone call attempts had been made.

By the time the show bowed out in Chicago, in 2001, it was the last locally produced version. Harmon said at the time that he hoped to develop a new cable or network show, as well as a Bozo feature film.

He became caught up in a minor controversy in 2004 when the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee took down a plaque honoring him as Bozo and formally endorsed Colvig as the first. Harmon denied ever misrepresenting Bozo's history.

He said he was claiming credit only for what he added to the character — "What I sound like, what I look like, what I walk like" — and what he did to popularize Bozo.

"Isn't it a shame the credit that was given to me for the work I have done, they arbitrarily take it down, like I didn't do anything for the last 52 years," he told the AP at the time.

Harmon protected Bozo's reputation with a vengeance, while embracing those who poked good-natured fun at the clown.

As Bozo's influence spread through popular culture, his very name became a synonym for clownish behavior.

"It takes a lot of effort and energy to keep a character that old fresh so kids today still know about him and want to buy the products," Karen Raugust, executive editor of The Licensing Letter, a New York-based trade publication, said in 1996.

A normal character runs its course in three to five years, Raugust said. "Harmon's is a classic character. It's been around 50 years."

On New Year's Day 1996, Harmon dressed up as Bozo for the first time in 10 years, appearing in the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

The crowd reaction, he recalled, "was deafening."

"They kept yelling, `Bozo, Bozo, love you, love you.' I shed more crocodile tears for five miles in four hours than I realized I had," he said. "I still get goose bumps."

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Harmon became interested in theater while studying at the University of Southern California.

"Bozo is a star, an entertainer, bigger than life," Harmon once said. "People see him as Mr. Bozo, somebody you can relate to, touch and laugh with."

Besides his wife, Harmon is survived by his son, Jeff Harmon, and daughters Lori Harmon, Marci Breth-Carabet and Leslie Breth.