Wednesday, May 6, 2009
MUSIC/ TOP 20 SINGLES 5-06-09
1. NUMBER 1--TINCHY STRYDER w/ N-DUBZ2. TINY DANCER--IRONIK w/ CHIPMUNK & ELTON JOHN
3. TAKIN BACK MY LOVE--ENRIQUE IGLESIAS w/ CIARA
4. DON'T UPSET THE RHYTHM--THE NOISETTES
5. LOVE IS THE LOOK (remix)--KRISTINE W
6. IN FOR THE KILL--LA ROUX
7. FLOWERS & FOOTBALL TOPS--GLASVEGAS
8. THE PLANETS BEND BETWEEN US--SNOW PATROL
9. BEAUTIFUL U R (remix)--DEBORAH COX
10. THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT--ROYKSOPP w/ ROBYN
11. KINGDOM OF RUST--DOVES
12. LOVE, ETC (remix)--PET SHOP BOYS
13. NOT FAIR--LILY ALLEN
14. THE WORLD WE LIVE IN--THE KILLERS
15. THE MAN WHO CAN'T BE MOVED--THE SCRIPT
16. DON'T WALK AWAY (remix)--JENNY JONES
17. RETURN THE FAVOR--KERI HILSON w/ TIMBALAND
18. STRONGER (DON'T LOOK BACK) (remix)--SYBIL
19. I BELIEVE 2009 (remix)--ABSOLUTE w/ SUZANNE PALMER
20. LET YOUR LOVE FLOW 2009 (remix)--BELLAMY BROTHERS
NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE
CHARTBOUND
* BONKERS--DIZZEE RASCAL w/ ARMAND VAN HELDEN
* CANDY--PAOLO NUTINI
* FIRE--KASABIAN
* FOOL IF YOU THINK ITS OVER--NEMESIS RISING
* IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT--STAR PILOTS
* KNOW YOUR ENEMY--GREEN DAY
* LOVE SEX MAGIC--CIARA w/ JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
* RELEASE ME--AGNES
* RUBBER LOVE--MARMADUKE DUKE
* SHOW ME WHAT I'M LOOKIN FOR--CAROLINA LIAR
* STRANGE--REBA MCENTIRE
* WE MADE YOU--EMINEM
* WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER--DAVID GUETTA w/ KELLY ROWLAND
NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE
MUSIC/ TOP 20 ALBUMS 5-06-09
1. FANTASY RIDE--CIARA2. IN A PERFECT WORLD--KERI HILSON
3. YES--PET SHOP BOYS
4. GLASVEGAS--GLASVEGAS
5. NO POINT IN WASTING TEARS--IRONIK
6. A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS--SNOW PATROL
7. THE SOUNDSTAGE SESSIONS--STEVIE NICKS
8. DE NOCHE--ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ
9. LA EVOLUCION ROMANTIC STYLE--FLEX
10. ONLY BY THE NIGHT--KINGS OF LEON
11. KINGDOM OF RUST--DOVES
12. THE SCRIPT--THE SCRIPT
13. THE STEADY RHYTHM--IVRI LIDER
14. SONGS FOR YOU, TRUTHS FOR ME--JAMES MORRISON
15. ALMIGHTY:THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION--VARIOUS
16. ITS NOT ME, ITS YOU--LILY ALLEN
17. A MI EDAD--TIZIANO FERRO
18. TONIGHT--FRANZ FERDINAND
19. E2--EROS RAMAZZOTTI
20. YEARS OF REFUSAL--MORRISSEY
NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE
BOOKS/ TOP 20 BOOKS 5-06-09
1. JADE:FOREVER IN MY HEART--JADE GOODYNonFiction/The late UK television star and her struggle with cancer.
2. COLUMBINE--DAVE CULLEN
NonFiction/A definitive account of the 1999 school shooting in Columbine.
3. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE--STIEG LARSSON
Fiction/Salander & Blomkvist reunite in Book 2 of the mystery trilogy.
4. THE BONESMAN'S DAUGHTER--TED DEKKER
Fiction/On the trail fo a serial killer in Texas
5. VANISHED SMILE--R. A. SCOTTI
NonFiction/The true story of the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa.
6. THE KILL CALL--STEPHEN BOOTH
Fiction/Fry & Cooper investigate murder in Derbyshire.
7. DEWEY--VICKY MYRON
NonFiction/The small town library cat that touched the world.
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES--AUSTEN & GRAHAME-SMITH
Fiction/Zombies invade the world Jane Austen's classic novel.
9. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO--STIEG LARSSON
Fiction/The International Bestseller about murder, love, & family.
10. A LION CALLED CHRISTIAN--BOURKE & RENDELL
NonFiction/The story behind a net vid sensation of a bond between man and beast.
11. FIRST FAMILY--DAVID BALDACCI
Fiction/A new thriller about a kidnapping from Camp David.
12. WESLEY THE OWL--STACEY O'BRIEN
NonFiction/The story of a barn owl and the woman who raised him.
13. ENDAL--ALLEN & SANDRA PARTON
NonFiction/A family save from the brink by an extraordinary dog.
14. THE TOURIST--OLEN STEINHAUER
Fiction/Betrayal and risk in the world of espionage.
15. ANIMALS MAKE US HUMAN--TEMPLE GRANDIN
NonFiction/The autistic author on creating the best life for animals.
16. THE SECRET SCRIPTURE--SEBASTIAN BARRY
Fiction/A doctor uncovers the secrets of a long instutionalized woman.
17. A LITTLE BIT WICKED--KRISTIN CHENOWETH
NonFiction/Autobiography of the star of stage and TV
18. GROWING UP AGAIN--MARY TYLER MOORE
NonFiction/Talesof life, love, and diabetes by the sitcom star.
19. I LEARNED ABOUT FLYING FROM THAT--VARIOUS AUTHORS
NonFiction/75 short stories about the perils and pitfalls of flying.
20. A COOL HEAD--IAN RANKIN
Fiction/A short story mystery, by the Inspector Rebus author.
NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE
TV/ TOP 10 PROGRAMS 5-06-09
1. LOST (ABC)2. CSI (CBS)
3. SURVIVOR TOCANTINS (CBS)
4. THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
5. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY (Bravo) *
6. GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
7. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
8. DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
9. MAKE ME A SUPERMODEL (Bravo)
10. AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
*--Season Finale
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
PEOPLE/FORMER "M*A*S*H" STAR COMES OUT: After a long career that included a starring role on the TV show "M*A*S*H" and bringing to life popular Disney characters, David Ogden Stiers reveals that he's gay. When asked by the Gossip Boy blog if he was gay, the actor replied, "Yes, I am. Very proud to be so". The 66-year-old also explains why he didn't come out before. "From the late 1980s until about 7 or 8 years ago, you would find certain individuals coming up to you, me, and advocating the position that since we were doing family fare that it would be best were the actors to maintain a certain palatability to parents. These parties likely had heard rumors or harbored suspicions about me and wanted to make sure no embarrassing incidents were forthcoming," he says. But now, he's decided to tell his secrets, however, he has an ulterior motive. "I could claim noble reasons as coming out in order to move gay rights forward, but I must admit it is for far more selfish reasons. Now is the time I wish to find someone and I do not desire to force any potential partner to live a life of extreme discretion for me." The actor spent 6 seasons on "M*A*S*H" and starred in "Beauty and the Beast," "Pocahontas," and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
FILM/"DEADPOOL" IN THE WORKS: Twentieth Century Fox has begun development on "Deadpool," an "X-Men" spinoff that will be crafted as a star vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, who played the character in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." The character is one of the most popular in Marvel Comics' X-Men universe. Deadpool is Wade Wilson, a mercenary who, dying of cancer, submits himself to the Weapon X genetic alteration experiment and emerges as an indestructible semi-sane anti-hero. Reynolds seemed destined to play the character. In one reference in the Marvel Comics, Deadpool is described as a mix between "a Shar Pei and Ryan Reynolds." In one of the "Easter egg" endings of "Wolverine," Deadpool is seen rising from the rubble and whispering "Shhh" to audiences. US NEWS/ MISS CALIFORNIA MAY LOSE CROWN
Carrie Prejean, the Miss USA contestant who criticised gay marriage, has defended topless photos of her taken as a teenager. The beauty queen said she did not believe in gay marriage when asked by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton at the final of the competition. Prejan had been a favourite to win the contest but after proclaiming her beliefs that “a marriage should be between a man and a woman”, she became the first Miss USA contestant to be booed. The topless photo was first leaked to TheDirty website and is allegedly 1 of 6 which exist. In a statement, Prejean said, “I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid website that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.” There has now been speculation she may lose her Miss California crown over the photos, as rules state winners cannot appear in partially nude images. Prejean has become the darling of the religious right for her comments and is the spokeswoman for the National Organization for Marriage, a group which recently released a video proclaiming the dangers of gay marriage. The row led to Christian groups in the US demanding for the British ambassador to the country should be sent home after gay Tory MP Alan Duncan failed to apologise over a joke about murdering Miss California Carrie Prejean. They have also called for President Barack Obama to temporarily sever diplomatic relations with Britain.
US NEWS/ MAINE LEGALIZES GAY MARRIAGE
Same-sex marriage became legal in Maine today as Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill less than an hour after the state legislature approved it. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage," said Baldacci, a Democrat. But he raised the possibility that the residents of the state would overturn the law, saying, "Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people." 3 other states: Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa, already allow same-sex marriages. Vermont has passed a law making gay and lesbian marriages legal that takes effect in September. New Hampshire lawmakers are close to passing a similar bill.
AVIATION/ NEW BOEING 747-8 PROMOTED
Boeing has released promo pictures for the upcoming new version of the classic 747. The Boeing 747-800 will be stretched 5.6 meters from the 747-400 to provide 467 seats in a 3-class configuration and a range of approximately 14,815km. The 747-8 incorporates features from the 787 Dreamliner, including a new curved, upswept architecture designed to give passengers a greater sense of space and comfort. Boeing says the architecture in the 747-8 will be accentuated by lighting technology that provides smooth transitions for a more restful flight, and it will offer Airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger plane. The 747-8 door-two entryway features a dramatic sweeping staircase leading to the upper deck, and an entryway that features a concierge station, which converts into an in-flight destination where passengers can mingle during the cruise portion of the flight.AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
DISRUPTIVE UAL PAX CHARGED: Chicago media reported yesterday, that a UNITED AIRLINES jet bound for London, England, had to divert after an incoherent and disruptive passenger, apparently woozy from a combination of pills, alcohol and lavatory hand soap, allegedly tried to bite a Flight Attendant in the leg. Galina Rusanova, a British citizen, was charged with interference with a flight crew and assault for disrupting United Flight 934 from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on April 29, forcing the plane to land in Maine. She could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In a Monday hearing before a US District Court in Bangor, Maine, Rusanova waived her right to a detention hearing and agreed to be detained pending trial. Rusanova is described by the British press as a Russian-born artist, actress and author who rubs elbows with the rich and famous. She was returning home to the United Kingdom after traveling to California to visit a man she had met over the Internet. The behavior that Rusanova apparently exhibited during the flight is completely out of character, according to her lawyer. "Her mistake was to mix prescription drugs with alcohol. After that, all bets were off," he said. Fearful of flying, Rusanova had taken 4 sleeping pills and consumed 2 or 3 bottles of red wine to calm her nerves, according to a statement she made to FBI special agent. About 3 hours into the flight, a Flight Attendant said she found Rusanova with her feet on her in-flight food tray, kicking the seat in front of her. Rusanova, who appeared to be very intoxicated according to a court filing, requested more wine and then fell asleep. A short time later, the same crew member was told by passengers that Rusanova was incoherent and bothering fellow travelers. As she approached, she saw Rusanova "drink a bottle of liquid soap that she had apparently removed from the bathroom," according to the court document. A fight ensued as Flight Attendants tried to subdue Rusanova and move her to a flight crew member's seat at the rear of the cabin, where she was eventually handcuffed. During that process Rusanova allegedly threw punches, kicked and pushed crew members. At one point, she fell to the floor of the galley in the rear of the aircraft and began "snapping like a dog," trying to bite a Flight Attendant's leg, according to the filing. Rusanova told the FBI agent, that she remembered little about the flight, aside from fighting with a flight attendant over seating and the quality of United's red wine. While Rusanova potentially faces a lengthy incarceration, sentencing guidelines for cases like hers suggest jail terms ranging from time served to 6 months.
GEAR FORCES WINDJET A320 RETURN: WINDJET Flight 562 was on Scheduled Domestic A320 Service from Catania to Rome, Italy, when it had to make 2 emergency returns to Catania, on Monday, May 4. Flight 562, with 111 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency shortly after departure from Catania due to an unsafe gear indication. The A320 landed back at Catania without incident. The aircraft was inspected by ground staff and was cleared to return to service, thus Flight 562 departed again, later in the day. On the 2nd departure, the crew once again received an unsafe gear indication again after retracting the gear. However this time, the indication was associated with vibrations of the airframe. The A320 landed back at Catania without incident and was removed from service for a full inspection and possible repairs.
DELTA 767 IN EMERGENCY RETURN: DELTA AIRLINES Flight 88 was on Scheduled International Boeing 767 Service from New York JFK to Kiev, Ukraine, when it to make an emergency return to JFK, on Sunday, May 3. Flight 88, with 212 passengers and crew onboard, requested returnt to JFK for unknown reasons while flying near Moncton, NB, Canada, at 31000 feet. The 767 climbed to 32000 feet initially, turned back, then descended to 14000 feet, near Bangor,Maine. The 767 maintained 14000 feet for about 1 hour, before landing with incident back at JFK. Prior to landing the crew had requested runway 04L as they might need a longer runway to stop. Emergency Services were on standby for the landing. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and possible repairs. Delta stated that the aircraft returned to JFK for technical reasons, but did not state what those reasons were. Tuesday, May 5, 2009
LUXE MEN/ CLICK CLICK (#9)
AMATEUR SELF PORTRAITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, USING A DIGITAL CAMERA OR CELL PHONE.ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
THEATRE/TONY NOMS ANNOUNCED: The nominations for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards were announced this morning in New York City. "Billy Elliot, The Musical" earned 15 nominations, the most of any show of the season. "Billy Elliot" and Mel Brooks' "The Producers" are now tied for the most Tony nominations ever received by a show. Other shows that fared well include "Next to Normal" (11), "Hair" (8), "Shrek the Musical" (8), "Mary Stuart" (7), "The Norman Conquests" (7), "God of Carnage" (6) and "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" (6). "9 to 5: The Musical" only scored 4 noms, including Best Score for Dolly Parton. Best Play nominees include "Dividing the Estate," "God of Carnage," "reasons to be pretty" and "33 Variations," while "Billy Elliot," "Next to Normal," "Rock of Ages" and "Shrek the Musical" will vie for the Best Musical prize. Best Musical Revival Noms went to "Guys and Dolls," "Hair," "Pal Joey" and "West Side Story". Matthew Warchus received 2 nominations in the Best Direction of a Play Category; the British director was nominated for his work in both "God of Carnage" and "The Norman Conquests". His competitors in the field include Phyllida Lloyd ("Mary Stuart") and Bartlett Sher ("Joe Turner's Come and Gone"). The acting noms are filled with bona-fide stars including Angela Lansbury, Stockard Channing, Hope Davis, Jane Fonda, James Gandolfini, and Geoffrey Rush. Full details on all of the Tony noms can be found on the Tony website.
THEATRE/NYDCC WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The winners of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (NYDCC), for the 2008-2009 season, were announced yesterday in New York City. The winners are: "Ruined" for Best Play, "Billy Elliot, The Musical" for Best Musical, and "Black Watch" for Best Foreign Play. Special citations were awarded to current "Blithe Spirit" star Angela Lansbury for her contribution to the American theatre; Matthew Warchus and the cast of Broadway's "The Norman Conquests;" and Gerard Alessandrini for "Forbidden Broadway". A ceremony will be held in New York on May 11 to honor the winners.
FILM/2009 MTV FILM AWARD NOMS: It's "Twilight" versus "Slumdog Millionaire" at this year's MTV Movie Awards. MTV says the Oscar-winning Indian romance and the vampire blockbuster have 6 nominations each, including best movie. "Slumdog" star Dev Patel and "Twilight" vampire Robert Pattinson are both nominated for the breakthrough performance award. Other nominated films include "Iron Man," "The Dark Knight" and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Votes can be cast online at MTV's Web site through May 27 for all categories except best movie. MTV says voting in that category will remain open through the live event, which will air May 31 from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
FILM/JACKMAN PLANS SEVERAL PICS: Hugh Jackman and Seed Productions partner John Palermo are ramping up several projects for the "Wolverine" star. Fox and Seed are in development on a sequel to "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which topped the domestic box office over the weekend. The Seed partners have begun planning the sequel, which they are squarely focusing on the samurai storyline originated in the comic series, and whose Japanese locale was teased after the film's final credits. Fox has just closed a deal to acquire "Personal Security," a spec script by Matt Lieberman. Jackman will star as a tough Gotham police detective forced into bodyguard duty for a spoiled teen heiress who is receiving kidnapping threats. While Jackman has not set his next star vehicle, he has been mentioned as the lead for "Drive," a Seed-produced adaptation of the James Sallis novel set up at Universal. Jackman would play a solitary man who drives race cars by day and getaway cars by night in Los Angeles. Long-in-the-works "Carousel" is also now a priority at Fo 2000, after David Magee turned in a script that Jackman and Palermo said keeps the timeless spirit of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, but injects relevance for a contemporary audience. Jackman will play Billy Bigelow. On Jackman's wishlist for the role of Julie Jordan is Anne Hathaway, who dueted with him in the Oscarcast opening number. Negotiations have not begun with the actress. Finally, Jackman, who won a Tony for "The Boy From Oz," hopes to return to the Broadway stage in early 2010 in the title role in "Houdini," with Jack O'Brien ("Hairspray") directing, Danny Elfman writing the music, and David Yazbek ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels") writing lyrics.
FILM/AGUILERA TO MAKE FILM DEBUT: Christina Aguilera will make her screen debut for Screen Gems in "Burlesque," a contemporary musical that Steven Antin will direct. Antin wrote a script that was revised by "Erin Brockovich" writer Susannah Grant. Aguilera will play an ambitious smalltown girl with a big voice who finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club that appears to be right out of Bob Fosse's "Cabaret." The film is scheduled to shoot late this year. While Aguilera has won 4 Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy and has sold more than 25 million albums, she has never starred in a film, though she lent her voice to the animated "Shark Tale."
FILM/DOM DELUISE DIES AT 75: Dom DeLuise, who spiced up such movies as "Blazing Saddles," "Silent Movie" and "The Cannonball Run" with his manic delivery and roly-poly persona, has died. DeLuise, 75, had been battling cancer for more than a year. DeLuise was surrounded by family when he died in a Santa Monica, California, hospital last night. DeLuise was most famous for his supporting roles in a number of Mel Brooks films, including 1974's "Saddles," in which he played a flamboyant musical director who led dancers in a number called "The French Mistake," and 1976's "Silent Movie," in which he played the assistant to Brooks' director Mel Funn. He was also in the Brooks-directed "The Twelve Chairs" (1970), "Spaceballs" (1987) and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993). He also did several serious roles, most notably in the 1980 dark comedy "Fatso," directed by Brooks' wife, Anne Bancroft, in which he played an overweight man trying to wean himself from comfort food. DeLuise was also part of the supporting cast in the Burt Reynolds crash-'em-up vehicles "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980), "Cannonball Run" (1981) and "Cannonball Run II" (1984). Other DeLuise films include "The End" (1978), "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982) and "Johnny Dangerously" (1984). His voice was featured in such films as "An American Tail" (1986) and its sequels, "All Dogs Go to Heaven" (1989) and its 1996 sequel, and "Oliver & Company" (1988). Dominic DeLuise was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 1, 1933. In the 1960s he had bit parts in a handful of movies, including "Fail Safe" (1964), but became well known as a regular on "The Entertainers" and a Dean Martin variety show. He had his own summer replacement show in 1968 and was a regular on Glen Campbell's "Goodtime Hour" in 1971-72. He is survived by his wife and 3 sons.
BOOKS/MARILYN FRENCH DIES AT 79: Marilyn French, a writer and feminist scholar whose provocative 1977 novel "The Women's Room" captured the frustration and fury of a generation of women fed up with society's traditional conceptions of their roles, died Saturday at a New York hospital. She was 79. The cause was heart failure, according to Gloria Jacobs, executive director of the Feminist Press, which published her last major work, the 4-volume "From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women," in 2008. Although it received mixed reviews, "The Women's Room" became a feminist classic, selling more than 20 million copies in 2 dozen languages with a story that spoke powerfully to women seeking liberation from societal norms in the last quarter of the 20th century. It traced the evolution of Mira, a repressed suburban housewife in the 1950s who divorces her brutish husband in the 1960s, goes to Harvard and finds solace in friendship with like-minded women who are seeking to redefine their lives in the midst of sweeping social change. The novel's most-quoted line — "All men are rapists, and that's all they are," spoken by the protagonist after the near-rape of her daughter — was often erroneously attributed to French herself, giving critics what they thought was proof of the author's man-hating rage. But French said she did not hate men. "What I am opposed to," she told the London Times a few years ago, "is the notion that men are superior to me." French went on to write 5 more novels, including "The Bleeding Heart" (1980), "Her Mother's Daughter" (1987) "Our Father" (1994) and "In the Name of Friendship" (2006). Her nonfiction includes "Beyond Power: On Women, Men and Morals" (1985) and "The War Against Women" (1992). French is survived by 2 children. US NEWS/ DC TO RECOGNIZE GAY MARRIAGE
The Washington DC city council has voted to recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other US states. Because Washington DC is not a state, the decision will now have to be approved by Congress before it can become law. 4 US states: Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowam now permit gay marriage, and legislation to allow it is in progress in other states. The resolution was passed in the council by 12 votes to 1. Council member David A Catania, 1 of 2 openly gay members of the body, explained his reasons for supporting the measure during the debate. "This issue is whether or not our colleagues on a personal level view me and [Council member] Jim Graham as your equals," he said. "If we are permitted the same rights and responsibilities and obligations as our colleagues. So this is personal. This is acknowledging our families as much as we acknowledge you." Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal. "I understand this is personal to you and Mr Graham," he said in response to Mr Catania's remarks. "I resent Mr Catania saying either you are a bigot or against bigotry as though this particular legislation represents all of that."The law will be sent to DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, a supporter of gay marriage, for approval, before being placed before Congress.
WORLD NEWS/ UK BANS PHELPS FAMILY
The fundamentalist Phelps family, who picket dead soldiers' funerals with chants of 'God hates fags' have been banned from entering the UK. Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper are on a list of 16 individuals banned from entering the country since October due to their extremist views. Home secretary Jacqui Smith said she had decided to make the list public in order to make clear what behaviour would not be tolerated in the UK. She said: "I think it's important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it's a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won't be welcome in this country. Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can't live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what's more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded." The Phelps family believe that the deaths of US soldiers in Iraq are God's "punishment" homosexuality and those who tolerate it. They have threatened to picket in the UK on previous occasions and a recent target has been Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke for staging a production of the Laramie Project, about murdered gay teenager Matthew Shepard. Mrs Phelps-Roper said the decision would "bring great wrath upon your heads". She said as many members of the church do not have the surname Phelps, UK authorities would "have their work cut out for them". "Unless they intend to begin checking the bare backsides of every person coming into that country to find that tattoo that says 'Property of WBC [Westboro Baptist Church]', they will have no way of identifying who is from WBC." She added that the British government was "filthy" for attempting "to keep the word of God from coming into her borders". Other individuals on the list include Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astal, ex-Ku Klux Klan leader Stephen "Don" Black, neo-Nazi Erich Gliebe and 2 leaders of a violent Russian skinhead gang. Controversial radio host Michael Savage is also on the list for his views on immigration, Islam and rape. He has described autism as the "illness du jour" and claimed that the "homosexual mafia" are "raping our children's minds".
WORLD NEWS/ MORE GAY HATE IN SENEGAL
The body of a man believed to be homosexual has twice been dug up from a Muslim cemetery in Senegal. The man, in his 30s, was first buried on Saturday before residents of the western town of Thies dug up his body and left it near his grave, police say. His family then reburied him, but he was once more exhumed by people who did not want him buried there. His body was dumped outside the family house. Senegal outlaws homosexual acts but there is a tradition of effeminate men. A police officer told the AFP news agency that the body was eventually buried away from the cemetery. The state-owned Le Soleil newspaper reports that it was buried within the grounds of the family home. "Goor-jiggen" (men-women) dress up as women, socialise with females and have long been tolerated in Senegal, a majority Muslim country. However, attitudes seem to be changing. Local imams, as well as some newspapers and radio stations, have denounced homosexuals after an appeals court last month overturned the conviction of 9 people for homosexual acts. They had been sentenced to 8 years in jail after being found guilty of "indecent conduct and unnatural acts". The men, who were part of an HIV/Aids group, were arrested in December at a flat in a suburb of the capital, Dakar.
AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
JETSTAR FINED FOR CURFEW BREACH: JETSTAR AIRWAYS has become the 1st Australian Airline to be prosecuted and fined for breaching Sydney Airport's curfew. The airline was fined A$148,500 in Sydney's Court today for breaching the curfew on December 3, 2007, federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said. Jetstar pleaded guilty to the breach in January 2009. Mr Albanese said a Jetstar flight breached the curfew when it departed Sydney Airport about 30 minutes after the 11pm curfew, even though an application for dispensation was rejected. The court decision sent a strong message to other Airlines, Mr Albanese said. "Compliance with curfew legislation must be observed," he said in a statement. "The government remains committed to the retention of the existing curfew and cap on movements at Sydney Airport." The maximum penalty for a curfew breach is $500,000.AIR INDIA A321 DAMAGED AT GATE: AIR INDIA Flight 179 was on Scheduled Domestic A321 Service from Mumbai to Bangalore, India, when it was damaged, earlier today. Flight 179, with 172 passengers and crew onboard, suffered damages to a cabin door after when the ground staff begin to withdraw the airbridge, prior to the aircraft leaving the gate. Instead of the airbridge pulling away, the airbridge moved forward, hitting the aircraft door. No one was injured in the incident. The passengers and crew were offloaded and the A321 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the incident and is expected to order an inquiry soon, officials at the civil aviation ministry said.
ACCESS DOOR OPENS ON PINNACLE CRJ: PINNACLE AIRLINES Flight 2271 was on Scheduled Domestic CRJ200 Service from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Memphis, Tennessee, on behalf of NORTHWEST AIRLINES, when it had to make an emergency return to Baton Rouge, yesterday, May 4. Flight 2271, with 49 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, after the access door to the avionics bay at the front underside of the belly opened inflight. The CRJ touched down back at Baton Rouge without incident, about 20 minutes after its initial departure. The aircraft was inspected and returned to service later in the day. The cause of the door opening has not been published.DELTA 767 LOSES INSTRUMENTS: DELTA AIRLINES Flight 148 was on Scheduled International Boeing 767 Service from New York JFK to Rome, Italy, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, May 4. Flight 148 was inflight at 33000 feet, about 120 miles from Bangor, Maine, when the crew declared an emergency stating that they had lost all air data computers and had lost most of the flight instruments. The crew 1st requested return to JFK, and then requested emergency landing at Bangor. The 767 landed without incident at Bangor, about 23 minutes after declaring an emergency. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and possible repairs.
PRESSURE LOST ON KEEWATIN BEECH: KEEWATIN AIR Flight 631 was on Scheduled Domestic Beech 1900D Service from Winnipeg to Churchill, MB, Canada, when it had to make an emergency landing at Churchill, on Friday, May 1. Flight 631, with 11 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency about 90 miles from Churchill. The Beech had been flying at 25000 feet when a door seal failed resulting in a rapid loss of cabin pressure. The crew performed an emergency descent down to 10000 feet, and continued on to Churchill for a safe landing. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repairs.
Monday, May 4, 2009
SNAPSHOTS
A TRIO OF MEERKATS CAPTURED OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
LUXE MEN/ MR PANAMA LOSES CROWN
The newly crowned Mr Panama 2009, Ryan Oliver, was stripped of his title after pageant organizers discovered his amateur porn past. Oliver was crowned Mr Panama on Saturday evening, April 25. Early last week, organizers discovered the Oliver had made 2 appearances on the Sean Cody website. The site billed Oliver as a Southern Man named "Andy". Once organizers learned of his porn past, they notified Oliver that he was being stripped of his title. The supposedly heterosexual Oliver, pictured center in top photo, has made no public comments on the matter.
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