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LUXE MEN/ CANDID SHOTS (#4)

5 AMATEUR MEN FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/BFCA NOMS OUT: “Milk” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” tied with 8 nominations apiece in the 14th Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics Choice Awards. Both were among the 10 films nommed for best picture. “Milk,” which got off to a strong platform start last month, also picked up key noms for lead actor Sean Penn, supporting co-star James Franco and director Gus Van Sant. “Button,” which opens Christmas Day, had Brad Pitt listed for best actor, along with supporting turns by Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson. Other titles nommed for best picture included “Changeling,” “The Dark Knight,” “Doubt,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Wall-E” and “The Wrestler.” Tied with 6 noms each were “Dark Knight,” “Slumdog” and “Doubt.” One mild surprise was dual noms for Kate Beckinsale as best actress and Vera Farmiga as best supporting actress for “Nothing But the Truth.” While the BFCA likes to claim Oscar bellwether status, its newest category has little bearing on the main Academy races: best action film. The nominees are: “Dark Knight,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Iron Man,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Wanted.” Founded in 1995, the BFCA has nearly 200 members reviewing pics for TV, radio or web outlets. A full list of noms can be found at the BFCA website. The awards will be broadcast on VHI on January 8.
FILM/PGA HONORS "MILK": The Producers Guild of America has selected "Milk" as the winner of its Stanley Kramer Award recognizing work that illuminates social issues. The award will be presented to "Milk" producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen at the PGA's January 24 awards ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium. PGA said this year has seen several other films that addressed important issues, including "Doubt," "The Secret Life of Bees," "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Visitor" and "Wall-E." Previous recipients of the Kramer award include "The Great Debaters," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Hotel Rwanda," "Innocent Voices," "In America," "Antwone Fisher" and "I Am Sam."
FILM/KEANU TO LEAD "47 RONIN": Keanu Reeves will star in "47 Ronin," an epic period film for Universal Pictures based on the true tale of a band of samurai swordsmen who avenged the death of their master in 18th century Japan. Chris Morgan, who co-wrote "Wanted" and penned the upcoming "Fast and Furious" for Universal, is writing the script. In "47 Ronin," he will play one of the swordsmen; the group and their master are revered in Japan for their revenge attack on Dec. 14, 1702. The film will tell a stylized version of the story, mixing fantasy elements of the sort seen in "The Lord of the Rings" pics, with gritty battle scenes akin to those in films such as "Gladiator." The intention is to begin shooting next year after a director is hired.
TV/WGA TV NOMS OUT: NBC’s “30 Rock,” AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and Fox’s “The Simpsons” scored the top number of nominations announced by the Writers Guild of America. The WGA nods included drama nominations for AMC’s “Dexter,” NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” ABC’s “Lost,” AMC’s “Mad Men” and HBO’s “The Wire.” Comedy nods went to “30 Rock,” HBO’s “Entourage,” Fox’s “The Office,” “The Simpsons” and Showtime’s “Weeds.” “Breaking Bad” received a nod for the new series trophy along with Fox’s “Fringe,” HBO’s “In Treatment,” ABC “Life on Mars” and HBO’s True Blood.” “Breaking Bad” also scored two noms in the best single drama episode category along with USA’s “Burn Notice,” ABC’s “Eli Stone” and “Dexter.” “30 Rock” received 3 nods in the best single comedy episode category along with 1 nomination each for “The Office,” ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and NBC’s “My Name Is Earl.” 4 episodes of “The Simpsons” received nominations for the animation award along with 2 episodes of Fox’s “King of the Hill.” Original long-form nods went to Showtime’s “American Crime,” the pilot for “Fringe” and HBO’s “Recount.” Adapated long-form nominations were given to HBO’s “Generation Kill,” HBO’s “John Adams” and Lifetime’s “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter.” A full list of noms can be found on the WGA website. The awards will be handed out on February 7 in LA and NYC.
TV/NBC TAKES A GAMBLE WITH LENO: Jay Leno won't be departing NBC after all. The "Tonight Show" host will take over the 10pm, EST, weeknight slot starting next fall, a blockbuster move that had been rumored as a possibility for months. By putting Leno in the 10pm slot, NBC has just completely altered the primetime landscape going into next season. With 10pm slot filled with Leno, not to mention Sunday Night Football consuming 4 hours on Sunday and repeats on Saturday, NBC may program as few as 10 hours of traditional primetime fare next fall. With some of those hours likely to be reality shows, there's not much room left for scripted shows. It might be NBC's ticket out of the ratings dumpster. The 10pm slot, which is still key for stations, which depend on network viewership as a lead-in for its local newscasts, has been mostly a disaster for NBC. Other than "Law & Order: SVU," NBC has been struggling badly in the hour, one in which it once dominated, with powerhouses such as "ER." The move for Leno also ensures that Conan O'Brien will placated. O'Brien will take over "Tonight Show" hosting duties when Leno departs.

POLITICS/ ILLINOIS' BLAGOJEVICH ARRESTED

Illinois Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich, and his Chief of Staff, were arrested early this morning at their homes by Federal Agents. U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said that federal authorities arrested Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped. Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich. The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution. "The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden." Fitzgerald called the corruption charges against Blagojevich "a truly new low." Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said. The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris appeared in court this afternoon before US Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan. They were released after the hearing. Calls for Blagojevich to resign are beginning to come in from all corners of the state and country. President-elect Barack Obama said this afternoon that he had now knowledge of Blagojevich's activities. Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place."I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy" and bring charges, he said. "I think that would be irresponsible." Fitzgerald thanked the Chicago Tribune, which had been reporting on the investigation, for honoring a rare request about 8 weeks ago not to report on certain aspects of the investigation that he said could have been jeopardized. Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said today that the newspaper delayed publishing some stories at the request of the U.S. attorney's office during the course of reporting on the accelerating investigation of Blagojevich. In the criminal complaint, authorities allege that Blagojevich and Harris sought to pressure the Tribune to fire editorial writers who were critical of his administration. Tribune Co. had been negotiating with the Illinois Finance Authority to purchase Wrigley Field as part of the company's efforts to sell the Cubs baseball team. Kern said today he never experienced any pressure over the Tribune editorials. In the photos above, Blagojevich is seen talking to reporters yesterday, and in the 2nd photo, hiding behind the car armrest, as he is taken to court this afternoon.

AVIATION/ MILITARY JET CRASHES IN SAN DIEGO

A military jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, California, yesterday as it tried to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, killing 3 people in a home. The victims were in 1 of 2 houses destroyed by the crash and ensuing fire. Officials said that 1 person is still listed as missing in the home where the fatalities occurred. The F/A 18D Hornet was on a Military Flight from a carrier in the Pacific Ocean to the Miramar Station when the accident took place. The Pilot ejected safely and was taken to a hospital, the Marine Corps said in a news release. The Pilot, whose name was not released, was the only occupant of the 2 seat aircraft, the Marine Corps said. At a news conference in the University City community where the crash occurred, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said it was believed that 4 people, "possibly a grandmother, a mother and 2 children," were in the destroyed house where firefighters found the bodies. The other house hit by the plane apparently was unoccupied at the time, he said. The jet crashed into an area of about 20 homes, Sanders said, but only those 2 houses burned. The Marine Corps said the jet was returning to the Miramar field after performing landing training on a Navy aircraft carrier, and the Pilot reported having trouble. The exact nature of the trouble was not known, the Marine Corps said, and an investigation was launched into the crash with the military having jurisdiction over the crash site. One news report stated that the aircraft had double engine failure. The Pilot was in communication with military ATC before the jet crashed, and the crash site is about 2 miles from the airfield, the FAA said.

AVIATION/ BRAZIL TO PUBLISH GOL 1907 REPORT

Sao Paulo newspapers reported this past weekend, that the Brazilian Air Force investigation into the September 29, 2006 mid-air collision of a GOL AIRLINES 737 and an EXCELAIRE Embraer Legacy 600 has determined the probable cause of the accident. GOL Flight 1907 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Manaus to Brasilia, Brazil, when it collided with the Embraer, which was on its Delivery Flight to the US, about 18 miles from Peixoto Azevedo, Brazil. The GOL 737 plunged to the ground, killing all of the 148 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. The damaged Embraer was able to make a safe emergency landing at a nearby Airport. No one onboard the Embraer was injured. In a formal report slated to be released tomorrow, the Estado de Sao Paulo and Folha de Sao Paulo newspapers said Air Force investigators put much of the blame squarely on the 2 American Pilots of the Embraer, stating they had inadvertently switched their transponder to standby mode. Also contributing to the incident were the actions of 4 flight controllers who failed to notice the transponder was turned off and failed to warn the Pilots of their collision course, the Air Force said. ExcelAire Pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino and the 4 controllers have been indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges. If convicted, they could face up to 3 years in prison. Responding to the ruling in a phone interview this weekend, David Rimmer, ExcelAire's executive vice president, said, "The transponder issue is a distraction from the true cause of the accident, which is an air traffic control system that put 2 airplanes on a collision course for about an hour." Rimmer complained that the Air Force investigation "relied on theories rather than conducting in-depth testing of the equipment. We have no proof of how the transponder was turned off and no evidence to suggest it was inadvertently turned off by the Pilots," he said. The Brazilian Air Force investigations determine causes and recommend measures to avoid future accidents, similar to the US NTSB.

AVIATION/ TURBULENCE INJURES 2 ON JAL MD81

JAL Flight 2375 was on Scheduled Domestic MD81 Service from Osaka to Nagasaki, Japan, earlier today, when 2 Flight Attendants were injured in severe turbulence. Flight 2375, with 73 passengers and crew onboard, was about halfway thru its flight to Nagasaki, when the aircraft suddenly encountered the severe clear air turbulence. The 2 Flight Attendants, who were working the galley, were thrown to the ground during the turbulence. The flight crew declared an emergency and continued on to Nagasaki, where the MD81 landed without incident. The aircraft was met by emergency services and the 2 Flight Attendants were taken to hospital. News reports from Nagasaki state that both crew members suffered broken bones in the incident. The Japan Transport Agency, which will investigate the incident, stated that the seat belt sign was off when the aircraft encountered the turbulence.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

PILOTS SURVIVE NIGHT ON ICE FLOE: Two Pilots who crash-landed their plane in freezing waters survived 18 hours on a tiny sheet of ice "huddled together like penguins". The Pilots endured temperatures of -4F after their Cessna plane ran into trouble over the far north of Canada. Their survival equipment sank with the plane and rescue aircraft responding to their Mayday call failed to find them. They were eventually rescued by a trawler and airlifted to hospital. Australian Oliver Edwards-Neil, 25, and his Swedish flying partner Troels Hansen, 45, had been flying a Cessna Skymaster Delivery Flight from the US to Sweden when both its engines failed over the Hudson Strait, just south of the Arctic Circle. They sent out a Mayday call before landing minutes later in water surrounded by tiny sheets of ice. As the cockpit quickly filled with freezing water, they managed to scramble through a window and on to an ice sheet about 16ft wide and 10m long before the plane sank, with all their equipment on board. Mr Edwards-Neil, who lives in Sweden, said that it was already dark and after 2 hours on the ice they heard rescue planes and helicopters circling. But without flares or even a torch the men had no way of attracting attention and the aircraft eventually flew away. Mr Edwards-Neil said that their survival suits saved their lives. When daylight came, the men could see land in the distance and started to jump from one ice sheet to another to try to reach it. It was then that they were found by a fishing boat that had also heard their Mayday call and headed to the scene. The captain, Bo Mortensen, said the men were "weeping with joy" when the crew brought them aboard4.3 miles from Baffin Island, in Canada's Nunavut territory. Mr Edwards-Neil and Mr Hansen were later transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
INCIDENTS
AIR CENTRAL FLIGHT 1803: The Fokker 50 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Nagoya to Sendai, Japan, on behalf of ANA, when it had to make an emergency return to Nagoya, last Friday, December 5. The crew made the return to Nagoya after the receiving a warning for anti-ice system in the right hand engine. The aircraft landed without incident, and has been removed from service for inspection and possible repairs. Air Central and ANA are investigating the incident.
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 1127: The ERJ 190 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Toronto to Saskatoon, Canada, when it had to make an emergency landing in Saskatoon, last Wednesday, December 3. Flight 1127, with 75 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency while on approach to Saskatoon after the crew received a warning indication for the failure of the flap 1 slats/flaps, both of which are needed for landing. The crew performed a missed approach and circled the Airport for 40 minutes while troubleshooting the problem. The aircraft then landed without incident or injury. The aircraft was inspected and found a fault in the right hand outboard slat harness. That was repaired, and the ERJ 190 has since returned to service. AC is investigating the incident.

SNAPSHOTS

KYLIE MINOGUE CAPTURED IN CONCERT THIS WEEKEND IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

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LUXE MEN/ CLICK CLICK (#1)

AMATEUR SELF PORTRAITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, USING A DIGITAL CAMERA OR CELL PHONE.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

THEATRE/POSTIVE NOTICES FOR "SLAVA": "Slava's Snowshow," a limited engagement show, opened last night on Broadway to generally positive reviews. The show, which is about clowns and involves plenty of audience participation, is installed in the Helen Hayes theater until January 4. It was created in 1993 in Moscow by the Russian-born clown-artist Slava Polunin and has been seen in 25 countries since. It had an Off Broadway run of more than 2 years at the Union Square Theater, beginning in September 2004. Variety said, "It's amazing how an infusion of cash can transform a show. "Slava's Snowshow," an offbeat, otherworldly clown show created by master Russian clown Slava Polunin, has cleaned up its endearingly scruffy face since its 2004 Off Broadway engagement. The refurbished show boasts fresher set pieces, sharper lighting, cleaner costumes, better beach balls, more "snow" -- even more clowns. And if one should whisper that some of the magic has evaporated, who would hear that voice above the screams of laughter of a delighted audience?". The New York Times, in a mixed review, said, "The taped musical score leaves a lot to be desired, including as it does banalities like the “Chariots of Fire” theme and the famous shrieky bits from Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” But you don’t come to “Slava’s Snowshow” for the music. You come for the snow. And on that front it does not disappoint". The show runs 90 minutes.

FILM&TV/NINA FOCH DIES AT 84: Hollywood actress turned drama teacher Nina Foch has passed away at the age of 84, her son has announced. Foch, who appeared in "Spartacus" and "An American in Paris" and received an Oscar nomination for 1954's "Executive Suite," died in Los Angeles last week. Born in the Netherlands in 1924, the statuesque blonde never achieved star status and became a respected teacher in later life. Her last appearance came in an episode of police drama "The Closer" last year. A former concert pianist and painter, Foch made her film debut in 1943's "Wagon Wheels West".

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

OK AIR SUSPENDS SERVICE: One of China's private Airlines has suspended passenger flights due to financial and management problems, state media reported this weekend, the latest victim of the global economic crisis. OK AIR, which operates over 20 routes around the country, suspended the service 10 days ahead of schedule, without giving further details. OK, which also operates a cargo business, had previously announced it would have to end passenger flights for 1 month starting December 15, according to a recent news report. OK Air, which became China's first private carrier in 2005, has a fleet of 11 planes and employs 800 people in its passenger flights division. In a statement, the Airline said, "The company will use the suspension period for internal adjustments, which will hopefully help make a fresh start for the beginning of next year".
QANTAS & BA MERGER IN DOUBT: QANTAS has warned that merger talks with BRITISH AIRWAYS could fail because of the UK carrier's potential tie-up with IBERIA AIRLINES. BA is currently in merger talks with both the Australian and the Spanish flag-carrier. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said there was a reasonable chance the deal would not go ahead. He also revealed that the talks had only been announced because the news had been leaked. "There's absolutely no guarantee that a transaction will be forthcoming," Mr Joyce said. "That's why I think we felt that the leak was a bit premature." He also identified BA's current pension liabilities, which stand at about £1.5bn as a possible hurdle for the talks.
INCIDENTS
KUWAIT AIRLINES FLIGHT 362: The A319 was on Scheduled International Service from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Kuwait City, Kuwait, when it had to return to Colombo, twice, yesterday, December 7. Flight 362 returned for the 1st time after takeoff due to an unsafe gear indictation after the gear was raised. The aircraft was on the ground for repairs about 2 hours, before departing again for Kuwait City. Once airborne, the aircraft had to return a 2nd time, for the very same problem. A group of Airline staff flew to Colombo and carried out repairs. The Flight reached Kuwait City on the 3rd attempt, however 10 passengers were left behind and put on other carriers, after they refused to fly on the aircraft. Kuwait Airlines is investigating the incident.
ROYAL AIR MAROC FLIGHT 943: The Boeing 737 was Scheduled International Service from Turin, Italy, to Casablanca, Morocco, when an engine fire prevented takeoff, on Saturday, December 6. Flight 943, with 115 passengers and crew onboard, was on taxi at Turn, when one of the engines caught fire. The crew shut down the engine, which extinguished the fire and smoke emitting from the engine. The aircraft was allowed to taxi back to the gate, where the passengers and crew were deplaned. The 737 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. RAM is investigating the incident.
AIR FRANCE FLIGHT 2544: The A319 was on Scheduled International Service from Paris, France, to Moscow, Russia, when it had to divert, on Saturday December 6. Flight 2544, with about 50 passengers and crew onboard, was diverted while enroute after the aircraft developed hydraulics problems. The A319 landed without incident or injury. The aircraft has been removed from service for further inspection and repairs. Air France is investigating the incident.
QANTAS AIRWAYS FLIGHT # UNKNOWN: The A330, on Non-Scheduled Service from Sydney, Australia, to Tokyo, Japan, became mired in mud while on taxi at Sydney, on Friday December 5. Maintenance workers took a shortcut while towing the aircraft along a taxiway for the non-passenger flight. Qantas said that a towbar holding the aircraft to the truck had failed and 2 of the jet's wheels went onto the grass beside the taxiway. The aircraft had to be pulled out of the mud, thus the flight to Tokyo was cancelled. According to press reports, a Safety Advisory Note, called a NOTAM, while alerts Pilots to changes at Airports and in airspace, had been issued about changes to the taxiway at Sydney, prior to the incident. The aircraft was not damaged in the incident, and returned to service about 12 hours later. Qantas is investigating.

SNAPSHOTS

SUNRISE THIS MORNING AT PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO.

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BOTB/ CHRISTOPHE DOMINICI UNCOVERED

As you may know, I recently closed my previous blog. My plans are to delete the entire blog after the 1st of the year. With that in mind, I will be publishing a few articles from that blog, here on Chikane Deluxe under the heading "BOTB," short for Best of the Blog. This story was originally published in December 2006.
Dieux De Stade 2007 has scored again another top rugby player baring all. Christophe Dominici, 34, is an French rugby union footballer. He plays wing for Stade Français and France. Born in Toulon, Dominici burst onto the international scene in 1998 with a try-scoring debut against England. The following year, he lit up the 1999 Rugby World Cup with his pace, particularly in the semi-final. But his career has not been without its setbacks, off-field problems forcing him out of the squad at times.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

TV&FILM/BEVERLY GARLAND DIES AT 82: Beverly Garland, the B-movie actress who starred in 1950s cult hits like "Swamp Women" and "Not of This Earth" and who went on to play Fred MacMurray's TV wife on "My Three Sons," has died. She was 82. Garland died Friday at her Hollywood Hills home after a lengthy illness. Garland made her film debut in the 1950 noir classic "D.O.A.," launching a 50-year career that included 40 movies and dozens of television shows. She gained cult status for playing gutsy women in low-budget exploitation films such as "The Alligator People" and a number of Roger Corman movies including "Gunslinger," "It Conquered the World" and "Naked Paradise." Garland showed her comedic chops as Bing Crosby's wife in the short-lived sitcom "The Bing Crosby Show" in the mid-'60s. She went on to be cast in "My Three Sons" as the 2nd wife of MacMurray's widower Steve Douglas during the last 3 seasons of the popular series that aired from 1960 to 1972. Her television credits also include "Remington Steele," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and "7th Heaven." Garland was born Beverly Fessenden in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 1926, and grew up in Glendale. She became Beverly Garland when she married actor Richard Garland. They were divorced in 1953 after less than 4 years of marriage. In 1960, she married real estate developer Fillmore Crank, and the couple built a mission-style hotel in North Hollywood, now called Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn. Garland, whose husband died in 1999, remained involved in running the North Hollywood hotel.
MUSIC/ LEONA NABS UK #1 SPOT: Leona Lewis has claimed the #1 spot with latest song "Run," which is the fastest-selling digital-only track. The singer's new hit, which was not originally intended to come out as a single, sold 133,591 copies, more than double the previous mark. Lewis's "Run," which is her third #1since triumphing on "The X Factor" at the end of 2006. Her song was given a release after performances on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and
"The X Factor" received positive reactions. Take That sold 432,000 copies of their new album "The Circus" to top the charts ahead of The Killers and Lewis. However, Take That's single, "Greatest Day" fell to #2. Britney Spears' "Circus," released on the same day as Take That's album, made its debut at #4. Her single "Womanizer" clambered up 4 places to #3.
FILM/ EURO FILM AWARDS: Dame Judi Dench was among the British successes at the European Film Awards in Copenhagen, winning an honour for her life's work. Kristin Scott Thomas won best European actress for her role in the French language film "I've Loved You So Long". Director Steve McQueen won an award for "Hunger," his biopic of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. Italian movie "Gomorrah" was the biggest winner with 5 awards, including best European film. An expose of Naples' criminal underworld, the film also won awards for its director Matteo Garrone and its lead actor Toni Servillo. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" received the People's Choice Award, the only prize decided by ordinary cinemagoers. Now in their 21st year, the European Film Awards are decided by the 1,800 members of the European Film Academy. Next year's event will be held in the German city of Essen, the European Capital of Culture for 2010.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

REPORTS CLARIFY UAL 777 INCIDENT: New information has been published on the incident involving a UNITED AIRLINES Boeing 777 over the Pacific Ocean earlier this past week. On Wednesday, December 3, UAL Flight 879 was on Scheduled International Service from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Tokyo, Japan, with 167 passengers and crew onboard. While inflight, about 780 miles from Honolulu, the crew performed an emergency descent to 10000 feet, due to pressurization problems. The crew then declared an emergency and returned to Honolulu. The 777 landed without incident at HNL, about 4 hours after its initial takeoff. According to published reports today, a source within the Airline said that while inflight, the crew noticed a drop in pressure in the crew oxygen supply. As per procedure, the crew descended to 10000 feet, and requested the return to Honolulu, strictly as a precaution. Passenger cabin pressure was never lost and oxygen masks did not deploy. Upon landing at HNL, inspection revealed that the crew oxygen supply was near zero. The inspection also found a leak in the crew oxygen system, which was repaired. The Boeing 777 was returned to service the next day, December 4. The investigation into the incident continues.
INCIDENTS
ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT 382: The Boeing 737 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from San Francisco to Palm Springs, California, when it experienced mechanical problems on approach to Palm Springs, on Friday, December 5. Flight 382 notified Palm Springs ATC on approach that they could not fully extend the landing flaps. The aircraft entered into a holding pattern while the crew attempted to troubleshoot the problem. The 737 landed about 30 minutes later without incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection. The FAA and the Airline are both investigating the cause(s) of the mechanical problem.

SNAPSHOTS

SUNRISE THIS MORNING IN SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA.

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MUSIC HISTORY/ 30 YEARS AGO

BILLBOARD TOP 10 SINGLES FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. 6,1978:
1. LE FREAK--CHIC
2. MACARTHUR PARK--DONNA SUMMER
3. YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS--STREISAND & DIAMOND
4. I JUST WANNA STOP--GINO VANELLI
5. HOW MUCH I FEEL--AMBROSIA
6. I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE--ALICIA BRIDGES
7. TIME PASSAGES--AL STEWART
8. MY LIFE--BILLY JOEL
9. SHARING THE NIGHT TOGETHER--DR HOOK
10. OUR LOVE, DON'T THROW IT ALL AWAY--ANDY GIBB

TV/ TOP 10 PROGRAMS 12-06-08

1. STORMCHASERS (Discovery)
2. CSI (CBS)
3. SURVIVOR GABON (CBS)
4. THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
5. GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
6. CHUCK (NBC)
7. THE MENTALIST (CBS)
8. HEROES (NBC)
9. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
10. GRAMMY NOMINEE SPECIAL (CBS) *

*--One Off Special

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/AUSSIES BESTOW HONOR ON LEDGER: The late Australian actor Heath Ledger has been posthumously honoured with one of his country's top film awards. Ledger was granted the Australian Film Institute's (AFI) international award for best actor for playing The Joker in the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight". Guests at the awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theatre gave Ledger a standing ovation. The AFI, celebrating its 50th annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain in 2005. "He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," said an AFI tribute. Cate Blanchett won the equivalent award for women for her role in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age". "Black Balloon," a drama about a teenage boy learning to live with an autistic brother, won the award for best film. The film, which opens in the US this month, also saw Luke Ford and Toni Collette win the awards for best supporting actor and actress. Its director and co-writer Elissa Down won the awards for best direction and original screenplay.
THEATRE/"HAIR" TRANSFER SET: Tickets for the Broadway revival of the peace-promoting rock musical "Hair" go on sale to the general public today. After an extended Public Theater engagement last summer at the Delacorte Theater, "Hair" will begin performances on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre February 10, 2009, and officially open March 5, 2009. Tickets are said to already be in high demand.
THEATRE/NO "VANITIES" ON BROADWAY: The 3 cheerleaders of "Vanities," who lived through inflation and recession of the 1970s, are now victims of the 21st century economy. The musical by librettist Jack Heifner and composer-lyricist David Kirshenbaum will not arrive on Broadway this winter, after all. The producers announced yesterday that the Broadway production will be postponed, due to the economic climate. The show's commercial life will be rescheduled to "later this season" and a new plan is expected to be announced soon. "Vanities, A New Musical," directed by 2 time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey, was previously announced to play Broadway's Lyceum Theatre starting February 2, 2009, toward a February 26 opening. The musical version of Heifner's wildly popular '70s play is about Texas cheerleaders who come of age between the 1960s and 1980s.

PEOPLE/ "SUNNY" VON BULOW DIES AT 76

Martha "Sunny" von Bulow, the heiress who spent the last 28 years of her life in oblivion after what prosecutors alleged in a pair of sensational trials were 2 murder attempts by her husband, died today at age 76. She died at a nursing home in New York, her children said in a statement issued by family spokeswoman Maureen Connelly. Martha von Bulow was a personification of romantic notions about high society, a heiress who brought her American millions to marriages to men who gave her honored old European names. But she ended her days in a coma, giving no sign of awareness as she was visited by her children and tended around the clock by nurses. She was the offstage presence that haunted the 2 sensational trials of her husband, Claus von Bulow, in Providence, Rhode Island. At the 1st trial, in 1982, Claus von Bulow was convicted of trying twice to kill her by injecting her with insulin at their estate in Newport, R.I. That verdict was thrown out on appeal and he was acquitted at a second trial in 1985. The murder case was later made into a film, "Reversal of Fortune," starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons. Claus von Bulow is living in London, his main accusers were his wife's children by a previous marriage, Princess Annie Laurie von Auersperg Kniessl and Prince Alexander von Auersperg. They renewed the charges against their stepfather in a civil lawsuit a month after his acquittal. 2 years later, Claus von Bulow agreed to give up any claims to his wife's estimated $25 million-to-$40 million fortune and to the $120,000-a-year income of a trust she set up for him. He also agreed to divorce her, leave the country and never profit from their story. Prosecutors contended that Claus von Bulow wanted to get rid of his wife to inherit a large hunk of her wealth and be free to marry a mistress. The defense countered by picturing Martha von Bulow, who suffered from low blood sugar, as an alcoholic and pill popper who drank herself into a coma. Claus Von Bulow was accused of injecting his wife with insulin first in December of 1979, causing a coma from which she revived. Prosecutors said he tried again a year later, on December 21, 1980, and the 49-year-old heiress fell into an irreversible coma. Her world was reduced to a private, guarded room in the Harkness Pavilion and later the McKeen Pavilion of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. She died at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home. She was born Martha Sharp Crawford in Pittsburgh on September 1, 1931, daughter of utilities tycoon George Crawford, who died when she was 4. "Sunny," nicknamed for her disposition, was raised by her mother in New York City.

AVIATION/ LUFTHANSA TAKING OVER AUSTRIAN

LUFTHANSA and AUSTRIAN AIRLINES have come to an agreement for Lufthansa to take over Austrian. The German Airline has received 40% of the shares owned by the Austrian Government for a sympbolic set price. Lufthansa has said it has plans to buy the remaining 60% of shares and keep the company and name brand intact, similar to what they did with the purchase of SWISS AIRLINES in 2005. Austrian currently has a debt of over 1 billion euros, and the Austrian Government and Lufthansa will have to share in paying off that debt. The deal will still need approval by the EU before it can go forward.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

SEARCH FOR CLUES IN ANZ A320 CRASH: French Authorities, investigating the crash of AIR NEW ZEALAND Flight 888T on November 27, have issued an update on the status of the recovered flight data recorders. Flight 888T was on a Test Flight out of Perpignan, France, when it suddenly crashed into the Mediterranean Sea while on approach and return to Perpignan. All 7 crew members onboard were believed killed in the crash, although only 3 bodies have been recovered. The A320 had been undergoing maintainenance after the aircraft was returned to ANZ by XL AIRWAYS. The aircraft was due to return to ANZ passenger service later this month. Both flight data recorders were recovered in the days following the crash, however both were badlly damaged and did not immediately reveal any information. In the news conference, the French investigators stated that upon examination of the recorders, both memory cards were found intact, which may yield some information into the crash. The memory cards will need to undergo special procedures to obtain any information that may be stored. Investigators repeated what they have said this crash, that they have no early clues on what caused the aircraft to suddenly plunge into the sea. The investigation continues.
INCIDENTS
AEROFLOT DON FLIGHT 625: The Tupolev 154M was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Novosibirsk to Neryungi, Russia, when it departed the runway upon landing at Neryungi, yesterday, December 5. Flight 625, with 78 passengers and 8 crew members onboard, went off the runway on landing, however the crew were able to steer the Tupolev back onto the runway before coming to a stop. No one was injured in the incident. The Tupolev suffered minor to moderate damages to its landing lights and brakes. The aircraft has been removed from service for repair. Aeroflot Don will investigate the incident.
S7 FLIGHT 72: The Boeing 767 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Krasnojarsk to Moscow, Russia, when it had to divert enroute, yesterday, December 5. Flight 72, with 92 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency after smoke developed in the cockpit. The 767 was diverted to Yekaterinburg, where it landed without incident. No one was injured in the incident, and the aircraft has been removed from service for investigation. S7 will investigate the incident.
S7 FLIGHT 171: The A319 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Moscow to Kemerovo, Russia, when it had to make an emergency landing at Kemerovo, yesterday, December 5. Flight 171, with 103 passengers and 7 crew members onboard, was on approach to Kemerovo and declared an emergency after alerts signaled that there was a problem with the brakes. The A319 went into a holding pattern for about an hour, to burn fuel and to give the crew time to troubleshoot the unidentified problem. The aircraft landed at Kemerovo following the 1 hour delay with incident or injury. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection. S7 had no comment on the incident, but it is assumed that they will investigate.
EL AL FLIGHT 28: The Boeing 747 was on Scheduled International Service from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv, Israel, when it had to make an emergency landing at Tel Aviv, yesterday, December 5. Flight 28 was about 90 minutes from Tel Aviv when the crew declared an emergency due to smoke in the rear galley area in the passenger cabin. The Flight Attendants turned power off to the galley, and were able to extinguish a small fire that had broken out. The aircraft continued on to Tel Aviv, where it landed without incident. El Al has confirmed the incident and blamed it on an electrical short circuit that caused sparks and a small fire. The Airline said that no one onboard was ever in any danger. The 747 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. El Al is investigating the incident.

SNAPSHOTS

FIREWORKS LAST WEEKEND OVER ST JOHNS RIVER IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AS A FINALE TO THE ANNUAL LIGHT PARADE.

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LUXE MEN/ CANDID SHOTS (#3)

5 AMATEUR MEN FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/ NBR NAMES BEST OF 2008: "Slumdog Millionaire" was named best film of the year yesterday by the National Board of Review. Other major prizes went to David Fincher, who took the director nod for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Clint Eastwood, actor for "Gran Torino"; and Anne Hathaway, actress for "Rachel Getting Married." Supporting acting awareds went to Josh Brolin for "Milk" and Penelope Cruz for "Vicki Cristina Barcelona." The cast of "Doubt" won for ensemble cast. Foreign-language film nod went to "Mongol" and documentary to "Man on Wire." The board’s best picture choice and subsequent list of top 10 films, coming as early in the season as it does, is often touted in kudos campaigns. The top 10 film list is "Burn After Reading," "Changeling," "Button," "The Dark Knight," "Defiance," "Frost/Nixon," "Gran Torino," "Milk," "Wall-E" and "The Wrestler." Along with a best films list, the NBR lists top foreign pics, indies and docs. Foreign titles included "Edge of Heaven," "Let the Right One In," "Roman de guerre," "A Secret" and "Waltz With Bashir." The docs are "American Teen," "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)," "Dear Zachary," "Encounters at the End of the World" and "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired." The top 10 indie pics are "Frozen River," "In Bruges," "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," "Mr. Foe," "Rachel," "Snow Angels," "Son of Rambow," "Wendy and Lucy," "Vicki" and "The Visitor." Marking its 100th year of existence, the NBR will hand out the awards January 14.
FILM/ADAMS SET FOR "TEN BEST": Twentieth Century Fox has acquired screen rights to Adena Halpern's novel "The Ten Best Days of My Life" and will develop it as a star vehicle for Amy Adams and potential directing vehicle for Shawn Levy. Adams will play a woman who dies and goes to heaven but is in danger of being demoted to a lower level of paradise unless she can prove herself by recounting her 10 best days.The novel was published by Penguin last May.
THEATRE/LIZA OPENS ON BROADWAY: Liza has returned to Broadway! "Lizas At The Palace" opened last night to rave reviews. Variety said, "There’s a standard set of questions to be asked about any Liza Minnelli show: 1. How did she look? 2. How did she sound? 3. Did she open wearing black, white or red? 4. How many superlatives did she spout? 5. Did she mention David Gest? 6. Was she fabulous? A trainwreck? A fabulous trainwreck? For the peace of mind of all the hardcore acolytes desperate to know about “Liza’s at the Palace,” let’s get those answers out of the way immediately: 1. Terrific. 2: Pretty darn good. 3. White (vintage Halston). 4. Lost count. 5. Only obliquely, and not by name. 6. Kinda fabulous". The New Times said, "From the moment Ms. Minnelli joins forces with a male singing and dancing quartet to resurrect parts of a famous nightclub act Thompson created in the late 1940s and early ’50s with the Williams Brothers, the Palace Theater blasts off into orbit". The full reviews can be found on their respective websites. The limited concert engagement is playing at the Palace Theater until December 28.
TV/PAUL BENEDICT DIES AT 70: Paul Benedict, the actor who played the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom "The Jeffersons," has died. He was 70. Benedict was found dead Monday on Martha's Vineyard and his brother, Charles, said authorities were still investigating the cause of death. Benedict appeared in a number of movies, including a role as the oddball director in "The Goodbye Girl" with Richard Dreyfuss. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley in "The Jeffersons," which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985.
MUSIC/BOY GEORGE FACES PRISON: British pop star Boy George has been found guilty by a court in London of falsely imprisoning a Norwegian male escort after a nude photoshoot. The former Culture Club frontman, 47, was accused of handcuffing 29-year-old Audun Carlsen and beating him with a metal chain when he tried to escape the musician's east London apartment following the photo session. He will be sentenced on January 16.

AVIATION/ VIRGIN DROPS PLAN FOR CHICAGO

VIRGIN AMERICA AIRLINES won't be flying to Chicago any time soon. The San Francisco-based carrier, affiliated with Sir Richard Branson, has cancelled plans to begin service at Chicago's OHare International Airport after it failed to strike deals to lease gates at the Airport from other airlines. "Chicago remains at the top of our list and we look forward to launching our service when a gate solution has been found at OHare," Virgin said in a statement. "However, given our immediate fleet plans, it will not be our next new city." Virgin CEO David Cush said last month that the carrier had gained landing rights to offer 5 daily flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco and wanted to start service on February 28, 2009. But despite months of negotiations with AMERICAN, UNITED, and DELTA, all of whom have reduced flights at the airport, Virgin hadn't been able to gain the 2 gates its wants at O'Hare, Cush said "At some point, we'll pull the plug and send the airplanes somewhere else," he added. The Airline said today that it will announce the next city that it plans to enter "in the coming days." Analysts think that Boston, Atlanta and Miami are all likely new destinations for Virgin, which is trying to build a trans-continental route network. Virgin would have been the 1st domestic carrier to enter 'Hare since JETBLUE began flying to Chicago in early 2007. The move would also enable Virgin passengers at OHare to easily connect to London-bound flights offered by VIRGIN ATLANTIC, a sister company.

AVIATION/ ANOTHER DELAY FOR BOEING 787

Another major delay appears certain for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the record-selling jet that has been plagued by production woes, the most recent of which have been wrongly installed fasteners and the 2 month strike by Boeing workers. Reports out yesterday said that the 1st of the largely composite jets isn't likely to be delivered before mid-2010, more than 2 years behind schedule. But, those same reports said that a source close to the program said the jet's launch could occur even later, especially if flight-testing for the all-new aircraft takes longer than the aggressive schedule that Boeing has planned. In a statement, Boeing is still studying the full extent of its production challenges and hasn't yet finalized a revised production schedule for the 787, nor set a date for when it will announce those changes.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

A380 MAY BE TOO QUIET: The Airbus A380 superjumbo is so quiet it's stopping Pilots from sleeping during rest breaks on long-haul flights, according to reports. Flight International says that EMIRATES Pilots have complained that the lack of engine noise is preventing them from sleeping in the crew rest area. The constant buzz of engine noise usually drowns out the sounds of passengers, but Pilots says they are being kept awake by crying babies, flushing toilets and call bells. The Airline has asked Airbus for a solution to the problem, the website reports. The relative quietness of the A380 has been much talked about since the aircraft first took to the skies last year, with many passengers surprised that the world's largest airliner could also be one of the quietest, even during landing and takeoff. Flight International says the interior layout of the Emirates A380, which is different from that of SINGAPORE AIRLINES and QANTAS' superjumbo interiors, places the crew rest area at the rear of the main deck, rather than behind the cockpit.
SCARE AT NEW DELHI AIRPORT: India's New Delhi International Airport was the scene of a major security scare yesterday, but police have denied anybody has been shot dead. The BBC had reported earlier that 6 gunmen had been shot and killed at the Airport. And the Daily Mail quoted witnesses who said police fired at least 6 rounds at a gunman or gunmen outside the main Airport building. However, an official at the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Airport control room said it was business as usual at the Airport. The CISF is the paramilitary unit responsible for airport security. Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said: "It was not a terrorist incident. No one was killed." The Times of India quoted a witness who said "operations appeared normal" at the Airport. "The news channels reported that 2sharp sounds had sparked a security scare at the Airport. But nothing was found after police swept through the terminal, and normal operations had resumed," the Times said. Airports in India went on high alert yesterday following fresh warnings of attacks as officials said India suspects 2 senior leaders of a banned Pakistani militant group orchestrated last week's deadly siege in Mumbai. All major Airports, including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi, were placed on high alert. The Press Trust of India said an attack may be timed to coincide with the December 6 anniversary of the destruction of the Babri mosque in northern India by Hindu extremists in 1992.
FAA ISSUES 737 FINAL RULE: The FAA issued a final rule, amending the regulations governing flight data recorders to increase the number of digital flight data recorder parameters for all Boeing 737 series airplanes manufactured after August 18, 2000. This change is based on safety recommendations from the NTSB following its investigations of 2 accidents and several incidents involving 737s. The rule also adopts a prohibition on deviations from flight recorder requirements for all airplanes operated under part 125.
INCIDENTS
LAUDA AIR FLIGHT 9253: The Boeing 737 was on Scheduled International Service earlier today on behalf of AUSTRIAN AIRLINES, from Vienna, Austria, to Tenerife, Spain, when it had to make an emergency return to Vienna. Fligth 9253, with 170 passengers and crew onboard, returned to Vienna for a safe landing after the cockpit window cracked. The 737 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. Lauda will investigate the incident.
UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 879: The Boeing 777 was on Scheduled International Service from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Tokyo, Japan, when it had to make an emergency return to Honolulu, on Wednesday, December 3. According to press reports, Flight 879, with 167 passengers and crew onboard, was about 780 miles from Honolulu, when it had to make an emergency descent to 10000 feet. The 777 landed back in Honolulu about 4 hours after its initial takeoff without incident. According to the FAA, the crew performed the descent due to a loss of cabin pressure. While performing the descent, the crew's oxygen supply failed, leaving them without oxygen. No one was injured in the incident. UAL has not responded or issued any statement on the incident, and it remains unknown about what may have taken place onboard Flight 879. The FAA will investigate the incident.
ARKEFLY FLIGHT 361: The Boeing 767 was on Scheduled International Service from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to Aruba, when it had to make an emergency return to Amsterdam, on Wednesday, December 3. Flight 361, with 180 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency while enroute at 32000 feet, just S of England. The crew declared the emergency after an unspecified technical default had caused the failure of 1 of 3 generators onboard. The landing at Amsterdam was without incident. According to press reports, the aircraft requires major repairs, and has been removed from service. Arkefly is investigating the incident.
EMIRATES FLIGHT 201: The A380 was on Scheduled International Service from Dubai, UAE, to New York JFK, when it had to make an emergency return to Dubai, on Wednesday, December 3. Flight 201 departed Dubai after a 14 hour delay, which was caused by a faulty fuel pump. About 3 hours into the flight, the A380 moved to return to Dubai after an unspecified electrical fault left the passenger cabin without the entertainment system or reading lights working. The A380 landed without incident. The aircraft was removed from service for repairs. Emirates is investigating the incident.
SWISS FLIGHT 138: The A340 was on Scheduled International Service from Zurich, Switzerland, to Hong Kong, when it had to make an emergency landing in Urumqui, China, last Sunday, November 30. Flight 138, with 228 passengers and crew onboard, made the diversion to Urumqui, after a smoke alert was triggered in one of the restrooms onboard. The landing in China was without incident. Swiss reports that a fault in the air conditioning system was to blame for the alert. The A340 was ferried back to Zurich on December 2 for repairs, and is currently out of service. Swiss is investigating the incident.

SNAPSHOTS

THE 76TH ANNUAL XMAS TREE IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY, IS CAPTURED IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN LAST EVENING.

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