SUNSET LAST EVENING AT FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
FILM/2009 BAFTA AWARDS: Brit director Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” was top dog at the British Academy Film Awards, taking a leading 7 prizes including best film and director honors. The 7 “Slumdog” wins at London’s Royal Opera House maintained the Mumbai-set thriller’s awards-season momentum. “Slumdog” now bounds into the Kodak Theater for the Academy Awards boosted by major wins at the DGA, PGA, SAG, WGA and Golden Globes. Pic went into the race with a joint-best 11 noms, the same as David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” which scored 3 times. No other pic bagged multiple prizes on a night when a total of 12 films were feted by the British Academy. A partial list of winners:BEST FILM
"Slumdog Millionaire" - Christian Colson
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
"Man On Wire" - Simon Chinn / James Marsh
LEADING ACTOR
Mickey Rourke - "The Wrestler"
LEADING ACTRESS
Kate Winslet - "The Reader"
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger - "The Dark Knight"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penélope Cruz - "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
DIRECTOR
"Slumdog Millionaire" - Danny Boyle
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"In Bruges" - Martin Mcdonagh
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"Slumdog Millionaire" - Simon Beaufoy
A Full list of winners can be found on the BAFTA website.
FILM&TV/2009 WGA AWARDS: "Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire" won top honors yesterday at the Writers Guild of America Awards. Dustin Lance Black won the original screenplay prize for "Milk," a biography of murdered slain gay-rights leader Harvey Milk. The adapted screenplay award for "Slumdog Millionaire" went to Simon Beaufoy, who based it on a novel by Vikas Swarup about an Indian street orphan's journey of survival and love. Ari Folman won the documentary screenplay award for "Waltz with Bashir." In television categories, writers for NBC's "30 Rock" and AMC's "Mad Men" won in the comedy and drama categories, respectively. Other winners were: New Series: "In Treatment," Episodic Drama: "Breaking Bad" (Pilot), Episodic Comedy: "30 Rock" (Succession), Animation: "The Simpsons" (Apocalypse Cow), Daytime Serials: "As the World Turns."
MUSIC/WHITNEY MAKES A COMEBACK: A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis. "I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early this morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar, whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago, was back in top form. Houston's mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West. Houston started off with "I Will Always Love You," but didn't hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar. But as she got into hits like "It's Not Right, But It's O.K.," her voice appeared to get stronger - and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless. The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn't made an album since 2002. Then she was was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life - a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s. But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal.
THEATRE/"EQUUS" CLOSES TODAY: "Harry Potter" co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Tony and Olivier Award winner Richard Griffiths ended their run in the limited engagement of "Equus," Peter Shaffer's gripping play about the bewildering crime of a teen-age boy, today at the Broadhurst Theatre. The acclaimed revival played 21 previews and 156 regular performances. Previews began September 5, 2008, with an official opening September 25. Radcliffe and Griffiths, who played to sold-out crowds in the London revival of the Shaffer play, reprised their work for Broadway audiences. Radcliffe stars as Alan Strang with Griffiths as Dr. Martin Dysart. Radcliffe made his West End leading-role debut in Shaffer's 1973 drama at London's Gielgud Theatre on February 27, 2007, following previews that began February 16. Radcliffe drew positive reviews from the London critics and lots of attention from gossip columnists because of the much-written-about nude scene. WORLD NEWS/ "HELLS FURY" IN VICTORIA
Hell has unleashed its fury on Victoria, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today. 84 people are confirmed dead in savage bushfires which have ripped across Victoria, with police expecting the toll to rise. "Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," Mr Rudd told reporters in the fire-ravaged Yarra Valley. "Many good people now lie dead. Many others lie injured. This is an appalling tragedy for Victoria but because of that it's an appalling tragedy for the nation. Australia the country stands behind Victoria at this awful time. Our first response as human beings is one of the deepest empathy for people whose lives have now been devastated. This loss of life, the numbers of injured, the horrific injuries, our thoughts and our prayers go out to each and every one of them as they now try and deal with this tragedy and recover from the damage which has occurred." 25 victims were killed in the Kinglake area N of Melbourne, 1 in the central regional city of Bendigo and another in the nearby town of Long Gully. 9 deaths were confirmed today in Gippsland. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and at least 200,000 hectares of land has been burnt out in more than 400 fires in every part of the state over the weekend.
Mr Rudd paid tribute to firefighters who have averted even further devastation and said the army would be deployed to help. "Also as human beings we salute the extraordinary courage of all the emergency services workers," he said. "Police, the Country Fire Authority, those who work in our hospitals, those in the SES (State Emergency Service). At times like this, the nation stands behind states like Victoria when the Australian Defence Force is needed. All the resources as required by the Victorian authorities from the Australian Defence Force will be provided, wherever that is, whichever community it is, whatever the defence force can do, we will do. Some of these communities don't have anything left. This is very large scale stuff." Mr Rudd announced a joint federal-state $10 million relief fund, and appealed to Australians to give generously. "My appeal to all Australians is to dig deep as people's lives have been shattered," he said. "The national government will be with the Victorian government, through the awful and ugly days that lie ahead and in the longer path of recovery."AVIATION/ MANAUS AEROTAXI CRASHES IN BRAZIL
A MANAUS AEROTAXI Embraer 110 Bandeirante was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Coari to Manaus, Brazil, when it crashed into a river in the Amazon, near Santo Antonio, Brazil, yesterday afternoon. According to Manaus Aerotaxi, the Bandeirante was carrying 17 adult and 7 child passengers, along with 2 crew members, when it went down around 1:50pm. Local media report that rescuers have found 4 passengers alive, and have taken them to hospital. 6 bodies have already been found. Brazilian rescue teams are braving strong currents today, looking for additional survivors, however most officials report that the 16 people unaccounted for are most likely deceased. The aircraft is completly submerged in the waters. Brazilian Authorities said the plane took off yesterday from Coari, about 225 miles SW of Manaus, and fell into the Manacapuru river, a tributary of the Amazon River. The Pilot reportedly contacted ATC declaring an emergency, but was not heard from again. Civil Defense Coordinator Daniel Guedes told O Coariense, a local Coari newspaper, that the plane was trying to make an emergency landing on a make-shift landing strip. "The survivors said they saw one of the plane's motors shut down. We thought he would try to land on a deactivated landing strip but he couldn't make it," said Guedes. "The circumstances and causes of the accident are still not known and are being investigated by authorities," Manaus Aerotaxi said in a statement. AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
INCIDENTSQANTAS FLIGHT 25: The Boeing 747 was on Scheduled International Service from Melbourne, Australia, to Los Angeles, California, with a stop in Auckland, New Zealand, when it had to make an emergency return to Melbourne, yesterday, February 7. The 747 emitted a loud bang while the climbing through 10000 feet. The crew declared an emergency, shut the engine down, and returned to Melbourne without incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for full inspection and repair. Qantas is investigating the incident.
AIR NEW ZEALAND FLIGHT 6: The Boeing 747 was on Scheduled International Service from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles, California, when it had to make an emergency return to Auckland, yesterday, February 7. Flight 6, with 365 passengers and crew onboard, could not retract the landing gear after taking off from Auckland. The crew circled Auckland while dumping fuel, and landed back at the Airport without incident, about 90 minutes after takeoff. The 747 was removed from service for inspection and repair. ANZ is investigating the incident.
TRANSAERO FLIGHT 9552: The Boeing 767 was on Scheduled International Service from Denpasar, Indonesia, to Novosibirsk, Russia, when it had to make an emergency landing at Novosibirsk, on Friday, February 6. Flight 9552, with 229 passengers and 10 crew members onboard, declared an emergency while on approach to Novosibirsk, due to unspecified problems its flaps. The aircraft landed without incident, and has been removed from service for inspection and repair. Transaero is investigating the incident.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 40: The Boeing Boeing 767 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Kahului, Hawaii, to Portland, Oregon, when it had to make an emergency landing at Portland, on Thursday, February 5. Flight 40, with 178 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency after losing thrust of the left hand engine while still over the Pacific at 39000 feet, about 1 hour out of Portland. The aircraft descended down to 24000 feet, and continued on to Portland to a landing without incident. During an inspection, engineers determined that an electronic engine control unit had failed, causing the engine to roll down. The 767 has since been repaired and returned to service.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
LUXE MEN/ CLICK CLICK (#4)
AMATEUR SELF PORTRAITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, USING A DIGITAL CAMERA OR CELL PHONE.MUSIC HISTORY/ 30 YEARS AGO
BILLBOARD TOP 10 SINGLES FOR WEEK ENDING FEB. 7,1979:
1. DO YA THINK I'M SEXY--ROD STEWART
2. YMCA--VILLAGE PEOPLE
3. LE FREAK--CHIC
4. A LITTLE MORE LOVE--OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
5. FIRE--POINTER SISTERS
6. EVERY 1'S A WINNER--HOT CHOCOLATE
7. I WILL SURVIVE--GLORIA GAYNOR
8. SEPTEMBER--EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
9. TOO MUCH HEAVEN--BEE GEES
10. LOTTA LOVE--NICOLETTE LARSON
TOP DEBUT ON HOT 100: #47 SULTANS OF SWING--DIRE STRAITS
1. DO YA THINK I'M SEXY--ROD STEWART2. YMCA--VILLAGE PEOPLE
3. LE FREAK--CHIC
4. A LITTLE MORE LOVE--OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
5. FIRE--POINTER SISTERS
6. EVERY 1'S A WINNER--HOT CHOCOLATE
7. I WILL SURVIVE--GLORIA GAYNOR
8. SEPTEMBER--EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
9. TOO MUCH HEAVEN--BEE GEES
10. LOTTA LOVE--NICOLETTE LARSON
TOP DEBUT ON HOT 100: #47 SULTANS OF SWING--DIRE STRAITS
TV/ TOP 10 PROGRAMS 2-07-08
1. LOST (ABC)2. THE CLOSER (TNT)
3. SUPER BOWL XL III (NBC) **
4. GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
5. CHUCK (NBC)
6. THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS (CBS & Soapnet)
7. MEDIUM (NBC) *
8. HEROES (NBC)
9. DAMAGES (FX)
10. AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
*--Season Premiere
**--One Off Special
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
MUSIC/PUTIN DENIES DANCING: An Abba tribute band says it has performed a private concert for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Bjorn Again says it was paid £20,000 to play the gig 200 miles N of Moscow on January 22. Bjorn Again's manager Rod Stephen and other band members said Mr Putin danced to Abba hits and shouted "Bravo!" The PM's spokesman denied the claim. Mr Putin, a former KGB spy who has a black belt in judo, is known in Russia and the West for his macho image. The 4 member group says Mr Putin and about 7 other guests, including a woman, were present at the concert, but they sat on a sofa veiled by a curtain. "It was the smallest audience we have ever performed to but Mr Putin was really enjoying it, shouting 'Bravo' and clapping with the others," Aileen McLaughlin, who performs as Abba's blonde Agnetha Faltskog. "He [Putin] was dancing along in his seat to "Super Trouper" and raised his hands in the air during "Mamma Mia" when we asked the audience to," she said. Bjorn Again says it performed 15 Abba songs during the private gig, claiming that it was paid by the Kremlin. Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that the prime minister attended any such concert.FILM&TV/JAMES WHITMORE DIES AT 87: James Whitmore, the many-faceted character actor who delivered strong performances in movies, television and especially the theater with his popular one-man shows about Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt, died yesterday. He was 87. The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor was diagnosed with lung cancer the week before Thanksgiving and died yesterday afternoon at his Malibu home. His long-running "Give 'em Hell, Harry," tracing the life of the 33rd president, was released as a theatrical movie in 1975. Whitmore was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor, marking the only time in Oscar history that an actor has been nominated for a film in which he was the only cast member. His Teddy Roosevelt portrait, "Bully," was also converted into a movie. Whitmore started both his Broadway and Hollywood careers with acclaimed performances, both as tough-talking sergeants. In 1947, discharged a year from Marine duty, he made his Broadway debut in a taut Air Force drama, "Command Decision." He was awarded a Tony for outstanding performance by a newcomer. 2 years later, Whitmore was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe as supporting actor in the war movie "Battleground." He followed with memorable performances in scores of films, refusing to be typed. Besides war movies, he appeared in Westerns ("The Last Frontier," "Chato's Land"), musicals ("Kiss Me Kate," "Oklahoma!"), science fiction ("Planet of the Apes," "Them"), dramas ("The Asphalt Jungle," "The Shawshank Redemption") and comedies ("Mr. O'Malley and Mrs. Malone," "The Great Diamond Robbery.") His favorite film was "Black Like Me" (1964), a true story about a white reporter who used medication to blacken his skin to experience life as an African-American in the South. Another of his rare starring roles was "The Next Voice You Hear" (1950), in which a family hears the voice of God via the radio. He played opposite Nancy Davis, the future Mrs. Ronald Reagan. Whitmore often appeared on television, starring in the series "The Law and Mr. Jones" (1960-1962), "My Friend Tony" (1969) and "Temperatures Rising" (1972-1973). He received an Emmy in 1999 as guest actor in a series for "The Practice." Whitmore is survived by his sons and grandchildren.
MUSIC/DEWEY MARTIN DIES AT 68: Dewey Martin, the muscular, gregarious drummer and singer who helped found the pioneering country rock band Buffalo Springfield with Neil Young and Stephen Stills, has died. He was 68. Martin was found dead last Sunday. Martin had health problems in recent years and it is believed he died of natural causes. Martin, along with Young, Stills, singer-songwriter-guitarist Richie Furay and bassist Bruce Palmer, formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles in 1966 and quickly became one of the hottest live acts on the West Coast, helped in part by the grinning, blond Martin. Their self-titled debut album included the hit "For What It's Worth," a solemn observation of 1960s turmoil. They would later produce such classics as "Bluebird" and "Rock & Roll Woman" and Martin's husky vocals were featured at the start of another Springfield favorite, Young's "Broken Arrow." The band broke up in 1968 amid tension between Young and Stills, but several members went on to even greater success and Buffalo Springfield's stature grew over the years, with Young often expressing regret they didn't stay together longer. Young has had a highly successful solo career and also joined with Stills in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Furay formed Poco, another early country rock band. Jim Messina, who replaced Palmer on bass, teamed with Kenny Loggins and had several hits as Loggins and Messina. Martin continued performing under various incarnations of the band. He and Palmer toured as Buffalo Springfield Revisited in the mid-1980s, and for a time in the 1990s he played shows as Buffalo Springfield Again. (Palmer died in 2004.) Martin also formed other groups, including Medicine Ball, which released 1 album.
WORLD NEWS/ BUSHFIRES RAVAGE VICTORIA
At least 14 people have been killed and more than 100 homes destroyed in the savage bushfires that set Victoria, Australia, ablaze today. Police confirmed the deaths and said they fear the toll might exceed 40. 9 major blazes burnt out of control, some lit by arsonists, in the worst fire conditions in the state's history. The Deputy Police Commissioner said all the confirmed deaths were in a massive fire N of Melbourne. The Commissioner said 6 of the deaths were occupants of 1 car. There have been numerous reports of minor to critical injuries. More than 3000 firefighters and many more residents battled major fronts at Horsham, Coleraine, Weerite, Kilmore East, Bunyip, Churchill, Dargo, Murrindindi and Redesdale in all corners of the scorched state as the searing heat in the mid 40s, (around 110F), and high winds exceeded authorities' predictions. A resident of Kinglake, N of Melbourne, said people had little time to react. "The whole township is pretty much on fire. There was was no time to do anything … it came through in minutes. There'll be a massive loss of houses … There'll be a lot of us homeless. All those who have made it into town will be fine. The others will be sheltering and working on their fire plans, God help them." More than 40 bushfires are also burning in NSW, with homes under threat on the Central Coast late yesterday.AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
BRANSON LAUNCHES V AUS FLEET: British billionaire and showman Richard Branson has declared war on QANTAS and other rival Airlines with the launch of his new fleet of V AUSTRALIA passenger jets to fly the Australia-US route. The VIRGIN boss used a press conference in Los Angeles yesterday to announce 2 new routes for the Airline on top of the already revealed Sydney-LA and Brisbane-LA legs. V Australia will fly between Melbourne and LA from September and a Sydney to Johannesburg route on a date yet to be set. Branson, never one to shy away from creating a media spectacle, braved wind and rain to walk out on the wing of a new V Australia Boeing 777-300ER jet. He then popped a bottle of champagne, spraying it on the celebrities and the Los Angeles international airport tarmac below. V Australia will begin its Sydney-LA flights on February 27 and Brisbane-LA on April 8. Qantas and UNITED AIRLINES dominated the Australia-US route in recent years but V Australia and US Airline giant, DELTA AIRLINES, plan to challenge. Airfares on the route have been slashed as each Airline attempts to grab or maintain market share.INCIDENTS
FED EX FLIGHT 2327: The Boeing 727 was on Scheduled Cargo Service from Billings, Montana, to Springfield, Missouri, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, February 6. Flight 2327, with 3 crew members onboard, declared an emergency after a smoke detector in the cargo bay raised a fire alert. The 727 was diverted to Denver, Colorado, were it landed without incident. Emergency Services could find no trace of smoke or fire. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection. NTSB is on scene and opened an investigation into the incident.
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 1130: The ERJ190 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Toronto to Ottawa, Canada, when it declared PAN PAN PAN, while on approach to Ottawa, yesterday, February 6. Flight 1130 declared PAN due to a leading edge flap problem while on approach to Ottawa. The crew requested Emergency Services. The ERJ landed without incident, and has been removed from service for inspection. AC is investigating the incident.
AIRLINAR FLIGHT 96: The ATR42 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Beziers to Paris, France, when it was struck by lightning while enroute, yesterday, February 6. Flight 96, with 23 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, was struck by lightning near Clermont-Ferrand. The crew reported pressurization problems and diverted to Clermont-Ferrand, where the ATR landed without incident. 8 passengers were taken to hospital after reporting buzzing in their ears. The aircraft has been removed from service for a full inspection. Airlinar and French Aviation Officials are investigating the incident.
BA CITYFLYER FLIGHT 8725: The Avro RJ100 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Glasgow, Scotland, to London City, England, when it was damaged upon landing at London City, on Thursday, February 5. Flight 8725, with 25 passengers and crew onboard, reported nose gear problems while on approach to London City. The aircraft landed safely on runway 10 with emergency services on standby, when it blew a nose wheel tire and became stuck on the runway. No one onboard was injured in the incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repair. BA is investigating the incident.
STAR AIR FLIGHT 8620: The Boeing 767 was on Scheduled Cargo Service from Rome, Italy, to Athens, Greece, on behalf of LUFTHANSA, when it had to make an emergency return to Rome, on Thursday, February 5. Flight 8620 declared an emergency shortly after takeoff from Rome, due to an open cockpit window. The aircraft landed safely back at Rome and was met by a full emergency response. The cause of the open window was determined to be crew error. The 767 was returned to service shortly after the incident.
NORWEGIAN AIR SHUTTLE FLIGHT 399: The Boeing 737 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Bardufoss to Oslo, Norway, when it diverted while inflight, on Thursday, February 5. Flight 399, with 136 passengers and 5 crew members onboard, declared an emergency due to a sudden loss of cabin pressurization. The crew performed an emergency descent, however the oxygen masks were not needed. The aircraft was diverted to Bodo, Norway, where it landed without incident or injury. The 737 has been removed from service for inspection and repair. NAS is investigating the incident.
Friday, February 6, 2009
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
FILM/"SEX" 2 IN THE WORKS: "Sex and the City 2" has moved closer to the starting line with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis signed for the sequel along with writer-director-producer Michael Patrick King. No start date's set for shooting and no script's been written. New Line president Toby Emmerich has been aiming to fast-track the project in hopes of a summer 2010 release. As on the original, John Melfi and Parker will be producers on the sequel with King. "Sex and the City'' opened in May, four years after the finale of the HBO series, and focused on the nuptials of Carrie Bradshaw to Mr. Big, portrayed by Chris Noth. The film performed impressively with $152 million domestically and $260 million more from international markets.FILM/"BASTER" FOR ANISTON: Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman have signed on to star in the fertility-themed comedy "The Baster" for Mandate Pictures. Will Speck and Josh Gordon, who previously teamed for the comedy "Blades of Glory," will direct "The Baster" from a screenplay by Allan Loeb ("21"). Film is based on Jeffrey Eugenides' short story "Baster," which was first published in The New Yorker. "The Baster" centers on a neurotic and insecure man (Bateman) who finds out his best friend (Aniston) wants to have a child through artificial insemination. He surreptitiously replaces her donor's semen with his own and is then forced to live with the secret that he is the child's real father. Film will begin shooting in the spring.
FILM/KUDOS FOR "VICTORIA": Variety has released the 1st review of "The Young Victoria," which had its world premiere this week at the Berlin Festival. The film, which details the life of Queen Victoria, and her love, Prince Albert, stars Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend as the pair. Variety said, "Anyone who complains they don't make love stories like they used to will get a kick out of "The Young Victoria," a biopic of the early years of Blighty's longest reigning queen and, in particular, her courtship with the love of her life, Prince Albert. Tip-top casting and playing, led by young thesps Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend as the royal lovebirds, a succulently crisp script by Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park") and trim helming by French-Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee ("C.R.A.Z.Y.") combine in well-groomed, upscale, three-hankie entertainment for the Masterpiece Theater crowd". The film opens in the UK on March 6. A US release is scheduled later this Spring.
THEATRE/MIXED NOTICES FOR "BUSH": Will Ferrell's one man show, "You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W Bush," opened on Broadway last night to mixed, but mostly positive reviews. Variety said, "With the economy choking, the cost of living spiking, 401(k)s evaporating and unemployment spiraling ever upward, it takes a comic commander-in-chief with real authority to keep an audience laughing through a blow-by-blow recap of eight years with the man who helped make it all happen. But if bleak reality has distracted much of the nation from the massive sigh of relief it might otherwise have heaved when president No. 43 exited the White House, Will Ferrell provides a cathartic, almost cleansing farewell in "You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W Bush." The New York Times said, "The days when criticism of Mr. Bush could be censured as unpatriotic may be long gone, but Mr. Ferrell arrives on Broadway armed with the deflector shield of his sky-high popularity. In “You’re Welcome America,” written by Mr. Ferrell and directed by Adam McKay, the actor provides a critic-proof demonstration of the art that has endeared him to millions of fans around the world: the art of acting stupid, shrewdly, for fun and profit". They went on to say, "But ultimately this production is less about the legacy of George W. Bush than it is about the comic persona that has been perfected by Will Ferrell. “You’re Welcome America” is a lot like Mr. Ferrell’s more middling movies, not quite on a level with “Blades of Glory” or “Talladega Nights.” Sometimes it’s really funny, and sometimes it sort of sags. I laughed, I yawned". "You're Welcome..." runs 85 minutes and is playing at the Cort Theater on Broadway. The limited run plays until March 15.
US NEWS/ MORE TROUBLE FOR ADAMS
The Mayor of Portland had sex with a minor, a Portland TV station has now claimed. KATU News says that a friend of the teenager at the center of the controversy has spoken to them on condition of anonymity. The Oregon Attorney General is to investigate whether Sam Adams, the first openly gay Mayor of Portland, is telling the truth about his relationship with Beau Breedlove. The Mayor admitted last month that he had sex with Mr Breedlove during the summer of 2005, but claimed he had already turned 18. Mr Adams, who was elected last year and took office on January 1, had denied their relationship was sexual for at least 18 months. Mr Breedlove was 17 and working as a state legislative intern when he met then-City Commissioner Adams. Mr Adams has now publicly admitted that his previous assertions that he was merely "mentoring" Beau Breedlove for a career in politics had no foundation and were simply a front for their sexual relationship. The Mayor claims he did not have sex with Mr Breedlove when he was 17 he has broken state law, which stipulates no-one under 18 can give consent to sexual acts. Mr Breedlove has backed this version of events but said they kissed before his 18th birthday. A "longtime friend" of Beau Breedlove has told KATU News that he knew about his " sexual relationship with a Portland politician" before he turned 18. "He didn't say who, or his name, but said he was having sexual encounters with this person," he said. "I just didn't think too much of it at the time. It's not the first guy who he had sex with that was older than 18. He liked it, obviously. Maybe he just didn't know that this guy was going to become the Mayor of Portland." Mr Adams has apologised for his behaviour and deception, but is planning to remain in office.
US NEWS/ HERBERT HAMROL DIES AT 106
Herbert Hamrol, the last known survivor of the earthquake that leveled San Franciso in 1906, has died. He was 106. Hamrol died yesterday at the Seton Medical Center in Daly City, a hospital spokeswoman said. His death came less than a month after he celebrated his birthday with a big bash at a steakhouse. Hamrol was a regular at commemorations of the Great Quake of 1906, spinning stories about how he escaped a crumbling building in his mother's arms. "She carried me in her left arm and used her right hand to grab the stair rail," Hamrol, who was 3 when his family fled their South of Market flat. Last April 17, Hamrol was the lone survivor to attend the annual commemoration of the cataclysmic quake and fire that destroyed most of the city. He arrived in an immaculate vintage car and said he would attend this year's anniversary, "God, willing." He is survived by 2 sons, 5 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.
AVIATION/ THEY CALL IT "SULLY LITE"
The 6 people onboard a small aircraft, walked away uninjured after the aircraft ditched into Darwin Harbour, Australia, earlier today. The Pilot who got his passengers down safely is Steve Bolle, who has 8000 hours' flying experience, says CSG AVIATION, the company he works for. In Australia, they are calling the incident "Sully Lite" since Bolle brought off a small-scale version of the amazing Hudson River landing carried out by US Airways Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in an Airbus last month. The Piper Chieftain had taken off from Darwin Airport with 5 passengers and the Pilot onboard, shortly after 8:30am, local time. CSG managing director Denis Mackenzie said Bolle reported a "loss of power" in 1 engine of the Chieftain just a few minutes after taking off. "He said on takeoff they experienced some loss of power in 1 of the engines and he followed all the procedures and shut the engine down and wasn't able to return to the field so he had to put down on the beach,"Mackenzie said. "It was actually in about 2 feet of water so they were lucky." Mackenzie said the passengers were shaken up but lucky to escape without so much as a sprained wrist. "They've come back to our hangar facility at Darwin Airport and we're trying to organise some counsellors to come down here," he said. Bolle reportedly was also shaken but managed to stay calm. "He was very cool about it ... they've certainly trained for these things," Mackenzie said. "It was definitely really dramatic, it happened so soon after they took off so to go up and come down again like that ...". A local media photgrapher, who was there when the incident took place, said the aircraft made an emergency landing into shallow water about 200 metres off shore from East Point Reserve at 8:40am. "It appears the 2-engine aircraft has lost power and ditched into the ocean on tidal flats off East Point," he said. Northern Territory Police confirmed all 5 passengers and the pilot were unharmed. CSG is a computer technology firm that flies support and maintenance into remote areas of the Northern Territory. CSG owns 3 aircraft and usually flies from Darwin International Airport.
AVIATION/ TRANSWEST AIR JET CRASHES IN SK
A TRANSWEST AIR de Havilland Twin Otter crashed on takeoff from La Ronge, SK, Canada, on Wednesday, February 4. The accident was reported by media late last evening. The Twin Otter was on Non-Scheduled Domestic Service from La Ronge to Deschambault Lake, Sk, with 5 passengers and 2 crew members onboard. At 9:18am, just as the aircraft was about to become airborne, the left wing was observed high and the aircraft took a hard right turn and impacted the fence and trees adjacent to the runway. All of those onboard were able to walk away from the crash, however 1 passenger did suffer minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash. Transport Canada Officials are in La Ronge to investigate.
AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
TENSE MOMENTS ON LUFTHANSA A340: There were several tense moments onboard a LUFTHANSA A340 on Wednesday, as it was inflight over the North Atlantic Ocean. Lufthansa Flight 467 was on Scheduled International Service from Miami, Florida, to Dusseldorf, Germany, when the incident took place. The A340 was about 900 miles S of Greenland, when the crew reported a cracked windshield and requested to descend to 23000 feet. ATC could not clear the aircraft to descend due to conflicting traffic at 33000 and 34000 feet. The crew then declared an emergency and began preparations for the Ocean Contingency Plan. The declaration allowed the crew to descend to 23000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the crew were able to cancel the emergency and allowed to continue on to Dusseldorf, where the A340 landed without incident. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repairs. Lufthansa has begun an investigation in the incident.FLIGHT 1549 CAPTAIN SPEAKS: The Captain of US AIRWAYS Flight 1549, the A320 which made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York last month, has given his first interview about the incident. Captain Chesley Sullenberger told CBS's 60 Minutes of the "sickening" feeling he experienced when he realised something was wrong. He said his initial reaction was one of disbelief. Capt Sullenberger has been hailed as a hero after ditching his plane safely. All 155 people onboard survived. The interview airs this Sunday on the program.
INCIDENTS
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT 756: The Boeing 737 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Kansas City, Missouri, to Las Vegas, Nevada, when an incident occurred as the aircraft neared Las Vegas, yesterday, February 5. Flight 756, with 110 passengers and 6 crew members onboard, was on approach to Las Vegas, with about 20 minutes remaining in the flight, when passengers and Flight Attendants in the rear of the cabin began to complain of a chemical smell and eye irritation. The crew released the Oxygen masks, and requested an accelerated landing. The 737 was then deplaned on the runway and met by emergency services. 4 Flight Attendants and 2 passengers were found to be affected by an irritant with watery eyes and shortness of breath. 2 flight attendants and the 2 passengers were taken to a hospital for treatment. Hazmat crews checked the 737 out, but found no irritant. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection. A short in the electrical wiring causing smoke in the rear of the cabin is suspected as cause of the incident. Southwest is investigating the incident.
TRANS STATES AIRLINES FLIGHT 8066: The ERJ145 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Chicago OHare to Richmond, Virgina, on behalf of UNITED AIRLINES, when it had to divert while inflight, yesterday, February 5. Flight 8066, with 30 passengers and crew onboard, was diverted to Charlottesville, Virginia, after smoke was reported in the passenger cabin. The ERJ landed without incident or injury. Passengers reported to local media that smoke was present thru-out the cabin. The ERJ has been removed from service for inspection. Trans States and United are investigating the incident.
QATAR AIRWAYS FLIGHT 821: The A330 was on Scheduled International Service from Osaka, Japan, to Doha, Qatar, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, February 5. Flight 821, with 174 passengers and 20 crew members onboard, declared an emergency while inflight over Urumqui, China, after cabin pressure was suddenly lost, with the oxygen masks deploying. The A330 performed an emergency descent from 11000 to 2000 meters in just 5 minutes. The A330 was then diverted to Kashi City, China, where it landed without incident. No one onboard was injured in the incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for full inspection and repair. Qatar is investigating the incident.
ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES FLIGHT 5232: The CRJ200 was on Scheduled International Service from Atlanta, Georgia, to Toronto, Canada, on behalf of DELTA AIRLINES, when it had to make an emergency landing in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 4. Flight 5232 was turning onto final, when the crew declared an emergency due to unspecified problems with the flaps. The CRJ landed without incident 5 minutes after declaring the emergency. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection. ASA and Delta are investigating the incident. Both the FAA and Canadian Aviation Officials are already investigating multiple incidents with flaps on CRJ aircraft.
REPUBLIC AIRLINES FLIGHT 3215: The ERJ175 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Nashville, Tennessee, to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it struck a deer upon landing at Charlotte, on Wednesday, February 4. Flight 3215, with 53 passengers and 3 crew members struck a deer on runway 36C during its landing roll. No one onboard was injured and the aircraft sustained no damage. Republic and Charlotte Airport Officials are investigating the incident.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
SNAPSHOTS
THE SUN AND WARMTH OF A TROPICAL BEACH ARE CAPTURED IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH FROM CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO, TAKEN EARLIER THIS WEEK.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
FILM/"CANDYLAND" TO LENS: Universal Pictures is sweet on "Candy Land." Studio has set Etan Cohen to write and Kevin Lima to direct a live-action feature based on the enduring Hasbro board game. Project is the first film to emerge from the deal U made last February with Hasbro, whose properties are the basis for the summer tentpole films "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." No start date or casting has yet been announced.FILM/LONDON CRITICS AWARDS: Director Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" body-slammed the London Film Critics' Circle Awards yesterday, winning best film and actor for Mickey Rourke. However, Directorr Danny Boyle's awards season darling "Slumdog Millionaire" took the most awards on the night. The Mumbai-set thriller won honors for British film, British director and screenwriter (Simon Beaufoy). Kate Winslet landed the actress prize for her perfs in "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader." Kristin Scott Thomas was feted as best British actress for the Gallic film "I've Loved You So Long." British actor nod went to Michael Fassbender for "Hunger". David Fincher took the director prize for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," with that pic's Tilda Swinton drawing supporting actress kudos. Eddie Marsan was named supporting actor for his turn as a crazed driving instructor in Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky." Fast-rising thesp Thomas Turgoose, who came to the fore in Shane Meadows' "This Is England," scooped the inaugural young British performer nod for his roles in "Eden Lake" and "Somers Town." In other prizes, artist-turned-filmmaker Steve McQueen won breakthrough British filmmaker for "Hunger," and "Waltz With Bashir" took foreign-language film. The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema was dished out to previously announced recipient Judi Dench. The London Critics' Circle, the film section of the Critics' Circle, has more than 100 members who write for newspapers and magazines published across the UK.
MUSIC/COUNTRY HALL OF FAME 2009: Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy will become the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Country Music Association announced the selections yesterday in Nashville. All 3 will be formally inducted in the spring.
MUSIC/LUX INTERIOR DIES AT 62: Lux Interior, singer with New York punk band The Cramps, has died aged 62, his publicist has confirmed. The frontman was being treated at a hospital in California for a pre-existing heart condition. Interior, who was born Erick Lee Purkhiser, formed the influential band in 1973 with his wife Poison Ivy. Part of the legendary downtown New York punk scene, The Cramps went on to release 14 albums, the latest being the compilation, "How To Make a Monster". They were the 1st known band to blend punk with rockabilly, and are widely recognised as innovators of psychobilly music. The Cramps went on to influence British bands like The Meteors and more recently The Horrors.
US NEWS/ SAM ADAMS RESOLVES TO STAY
The Mayor of Portland has apologised for embarassing the gay community after it emerged he had a sexual relationship with a teenager. Sam Adams told Out magazine that he decided to stay on despite calls for him to resign and admitted his relationship with Beau Breedlove was inappropriate. "I was 42, however many years older than he was. And an elected official. I think the difference in age and the fact that I was an elected official made it inappropriate," he said. The Mayor admitted last month that he had sex with Beau Breedlove during the summer of 2005, but claimed Mr Breedlove had already turned 18. Mr Adams, who was elected last year and took office on January 1, had denied their relationship was sexual for at least 18 months. Breedlove was 17 and working as a state legislative intern when he met then-City Commissioner Adams. Mr Adams publicly admitted that his previous assertions that he was merely "mentoring" Beau Breedlove for a career in politics had no foundation and were simply a front for their sexual relationship. The Oregon Attorney General is to investigate if Mr Adams is telling the truth, if he had sex with Mr Breedlove when he was 17 he has broken state law, which stipulates no-one under 18 can give consent to sexual acts. He refused to answer specific questions about the relationship in his Out interview. "I wrestled with resigning or staying," he said. "My first priority was what’s best for the city. And my second priority was what am I up for, what do I have the energy for. In the end, I can offer at least 6 to 9 months of relative stability by staying (Portland’s charter protects newly-elected mayors from recall for at least six months), and I can make amends better by staying."
US NEWS/ WYOMING WANTS GAY MARRIAGE BAN
Politicians in America's least populous state have said that a proposed ban on same-sex marriage recognition is not homophobic. Wyoming's state legislature is considering legislation that would clear the way for a statewide ballot that would ban recognition of any out of state gay marriage. Republicans, who are behind the measure, have portrayed it as protecting "traditional" marriage. If the bill gets two thirds support in the state House and Senate and is approved by the Governor, Wyoming residents will vote on it. "We're not trying to tell anybody how to live their lives," state representative Bob Brechtel said. "If people want to have some kind of civil union, that's entirely their business. This is not meant to discriminate against any human person. There is an outgrowth of Judeo-Christian principles and values that has traditionally made families strong. And as one example, we know for a fact that there are social implications in children living without a mommy or a daddy". LGBT rights group Human Rights Campaign said that fundamentalist Christians were pushing the Wyoming legislation. "Even though Wyoming already has a state law banning same-sex marriage, stalwart anti-LGBT conservatives from another state are once again demonstrating their obsession with roadblocking LGBT rights," HRC said in an action alert to supporters. "It seems that Christian conservative leaders just can't help themselves when it comes to LGBT issues - despite the evidence that younger evangelicals are increasingly turning away from demonising our community."
AVIATION/ FAA RELEASES FL1549 AUDIO TAPES
Late this morning, the FAA released the audio tapes and transcripts of the radio communications between US AIRWAYS Flight 1549, the A320 that crash landed in the Hudson on January 15, and the various air traffic controllers in the area on the afternoon of the crash. The tapes are dramatic, providing a moment by moment account of the flight’s communications from the time it suffered a “double bird strike” to the time it glided down without engine power onto the chilly surface of the Hudson just off Manhattan’s West Side.Here’s one sample from 3:28pm:
"New York Tracon LaGuardia Departure: Cactus 15-29, if we can get it to you do you want to try to land runway 1-3?"
AWE1549: "We’re unable, we may end up in the Hudson".
The final communication from the flight came in at 3:29pm and 28 seconds: “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.” 23 seconds later, air traffic controllers reported that “radar contact is lost.” As the plane went down, air traffic controllers moved quickly to organize an emergency response. Just after the airbus–referred to as American West Cactus, or AWE 1549 in the tapes–cleared the George Washington Bridge approaching its water landing, the LaGuardia control tower coordinator reached out to the Port Authority:
3:28:53pm: LaGuardia Control Coordinator: "Okay, listen, ah, we’re going to tell you something important. It’s Cactus 1549. We see somebody low level in the Hudson river below four hundred. Ok? You’re gonna need to, um, alert the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police over there".
Less then a minute later, at 3:30pm and 9 seconds, the plane hit the water. An audio of the communication can be found on various websites, including The New York Times.
AVIATION/ WORLDS "SCARIEST" RUNWAYS
Travel & Leisure magazine has come up with a list of the world's scariest runways that can make even the most relaxed travellers grip their armrest. The full report can be found in the upcoming March issue of the magazine.
1. PARO AIRPORT, BHUTAN: Tucked into a tightly cropped valley and surrounded by 4900-metre-high Himalayan peaks, Bhutan's only airport is forbidding to fly into. It requires specially trained pilots to maneuver and land through a channel of tree-covered hillsides.
2. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten: The length of the runway is just 2180 metres which is fine for small or medium-size jets, but as the second-busiest airport in the Eastern Caribbean, it regularly welcomes wide-body jetliners like Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s which fly in low over Maho Beach and skim just over the perimeter fence.
1. PARO AIRPORT, BHUTAN: Tucked into a tightly cropped valley and surrounded by 4900-metre-high Himalayan peaks, Bhutan's only airport is forbidding to fly into. It requires specially trained pilots to maneuver and land through a channel of tree-covered hillsides.
2. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten: The length of the runway is just 2180 metres which is fine for small or medium-size jets, but as the second-busiest airport in the Eastern Caribbean, it regularly welcomes wide-body jetliners like Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s which fly in low over Maho Beach and skim just over the perimeter fence.3. REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, WASHINGTON DC: Located smack in the center of two overlapping air-exclusion zones, Reagan National requires pilots flying the so-called River Visual into the airport to follow the Potomac while steering clear of sensitive sites such as the Pentagon and CIA headquarters. On taking off, pilots need to climb quickly and execute a steep left bank to avoid flying over the White House.
4. GIBRALTAR AIRPORT, GIBRALTAR: Pinched in by the Mediterranean on its eastern flank and the Bay of Algeciras on its western side, the airport's truncated runway stretches just 1828 metres and requires pinpoint precision.
4. GIBRALTAR AIRPORT, GIBRALTAR: Pinched in by the Mediterranean on its eastern flank and the Bay of Algeciras on its western side, the airport's truncated runway stretches just 1828 metres and requires pinpoint precision.5. MATEKANE AIR STRIP, LESOTHO: The 399-metre-long runway is perched at the edge of a couloir at 2300 metres. You drop down the face of a 609-metre cliff until you start flying. Says bush pilot Tom Claytor: "The rule in the mountains is that it is better to take off downwind and downhill than into wind and uphill, because in Lesotho, the hills will usually out-climb you."
6. BAARA AIRPORT, BAARA, SCOTLAND: The airport on the tiny Outer Hebridean Island of Barra is actually a wide shallow bay onto which scheduled planes land with the roughness of landings determined by how the tide went out.
7. TONCONTIN AIRPORT, TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS: Having negotiated the rough-hewn mountainous terrain, pilots must execute a dramatic 45-degree, last-minute bank to the left just minutes prior to touching down in a bowl-shaped valley on a runway just 1862 metres in length. The airport, at an altitude of 1000 metres, can accommodate aircraft no larger than Boeing 757's.
8. JFK AIRPORT, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Pilots have to avoid interfering with flights into New York's two other close-by airports, LaGuardia and Newark. Set up in 1964 as a noise-abatement measure, this approach forces pilots to have a reported 457-metre ceiling and a eight-kilometre visibility before lining up with runway 13L and the waters of Jamaica Bay.
9. MADEIRA AIRPORT, FUNCHAL, MADEIRA: Wedged in by mountains and the Atlantic, Madeira Airport requires a clockwise approach for which pilots are specially trained. Despite a unique elevated extension that was completed back in 2000 and now expands the runway length to what should be a comfortable 2743 metres, the approach to Runway 05 remains hair-raising. Pilots must first point their aircraft at the mountains and, at the last minute, bank right to the runway.
10. YRAUSQUIN AIRPORT, SABA, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES: Perched on a precipitous gale-battered peninsula on the island's northeastern corner, the airport requires pilots to tackle blustery trade winds, occasional spindrift, and their own uneasy constitutions as they maneuver in for a perfect landing on a runway that's just 396 metres long.
AVIATION/ NTSB UPDATES ON EMPIRE 8284
The NTSB has issued a preliminary report on the January 27th crash landing of EMPIRE AIRLINES Flight 8284 in Lubbock, Texas. Flight 8284 was on Scheduled ATR 42 Cargo Service from Ft Worth to Lubbock, Texas, on behalf of FED EX, with 2 crew members onboard, when the incident took place. The ATR touched down about 300 feet before the runway threshold while landing in Lubbock in freezing fog and a visibility of about 2 miles at 4:36am. The aircraft bounced onto the runway, the gear then collapsed. The ATR then veered to the right, the right wing impacted ground and tore off with the right engine. The aircraft then caught fire. Both crew members suffered minor injuries in the incident, however the ATR was destroyed. In their preliminary report, the NTSB said that the ATR was on an ILS approach to runway 17R. As the aircraft was cleared to descend to 5000 feet, the approach controller informed the flight crew, that the winds had shifted by 180 degrees and were now coming from the S, rather than the N. The aircraft was then cleared to land on runway 17R by the tower. This was the last communication. About 3 minutes later, the tower raised the crash alert, followed by a query by an airport worker who observed fire and radioed the tower. The NTSB states a special weather report taken at 4:15am, reported visibility of 2 miles, light freezing drizzle, mist, and a ceiling 500 feet overcast. The investigation continues.
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