Saturday, May 7, 2011

JUST FOR FUN

 

a04ca155a73f3dc639682d168366c7148c1bb733

VINTAGE

 

mistinguett_02

SOPHIA LOREN HONOURED

 

Sophia_loren_091826

The Italian icon, Sophia Loren, 76, was the guest of honour at the event, staged by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bosses, which featured tributes and clips of her most famous roles.

During the evening, Hollywood stars told of their memories of Sophia Loren, with Rob Marshall - who directed Loren in movie musical "Nine" - recalling that working with her was "the most magic I will ever have".

Tom Hanks also took to the stage at the "Beverly Hills" bash to honor the "timeless, beautiful and authentically real" actress, while John Travolta called her the "most delicious" thing to come out of Italy.

Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni surprised Loren by singing to her in a video message.

Her family was also present at the gala, and her son Edoardo Ponti fought back tears as he declared, "We are here because we love you and you deserve every single thing."

MURPHY'S LAWS

 

 

  • Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure. great discoveries are made by mistake.
  • Always draw your curves, then plot your reading.
  • Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget.
  • All's well that ends.
  • A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost.
  • The first myth of management is that it exists.

KYLIE MINOGUE DOES HER OWN MAKE UP

 

Kylie_Minogue

The "Spinning Around" hit maker Kylie Minogue has enjoyed the luxury of make-up artists pampering her in the past but admits she has now dispensed with their services as she prefers to apply her own beauty products.

In a chat with her sister - TV talent show judge Dannii Minogue - for MyDaily.co.uk, she says, "I love doing my own make-up. My first tours, I did my own make-up because it was way beyond my reach or dreams to have a make-up artist on tour, so I would do it myself."

LANGUAGE TRIVIA … FRENCH VERSION “THE QUICK BROWN FOX…”

 

The French equivalent of 'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog', a sentence which contains every letter of the alphabet (useful when learning to type), is 'Allez porter ce vieux whisky au juge blond qui fume un Havane', which translates to 'Go and take this old whisky to the fair-haired judge smoking the Havana cigar'.

MUSIC BITS … “I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT THE TURKEY TROT”

 

dancing_clip_image007

Title:  I'm Crazy 'Bout the Turkey Trot.

Author: Joe Goodwin (lyricist); George W. Meyer (composer)

Date: 1911

The Turkey Trot

The chorus of I'm Crazy 'bout the Turkey Trot, a popular ragtime tune from the early 1900's, describes the steps used in the dance: "Gobble, Gobble, while the music’s playing.  Hobble, Wobble, let your feet go swaying.  Babe this sure is going some, I just feel like crowing “Hon”. Slower, faster, not the way you useter. You’re a chicken, I’m a great big rooster…Sigh with me and try with me, to crack your wings and fly with me. ‘Great Scott’ tell you what, I’m crazy ‘bout the Turkey Trot”


The Turkey Trot consisted of a fast, marching one-step dance while the dancers pumped their arms at their sides. The dancers would then use arm-flaps occasionally that represented a crazed turkey.

LEGGINGS WILL MAKE YOU FAT

 

leggings1

Experts have warned that leggings can make the muscles ‘lazy’ and can result in flabby stomachs and legs as they hold in and support the quadriceps (thigh muscles), buttocks and core muscles in your tummy, and do the job the muscles are supposed to do.

As a result, the muscles are allowed to relax and switch off, so when you reveal your body for the first time as summer approaches, they are not as svelte or firm as they otherwise would be.’ The problem is furthered because wearers’ bare legs and midriffs are ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ so women are less inclined to take steps to tone up during the winter months.

COOL IMAGES

 

9

MORE BUMPER WISDOM

 

  • I can handle pain until it hurts.
  • It's not what you say in your argument, it's how loud you say it.
  • The ultimate reason is "because."
  • I'm objective; I object to everything.
  • You cannot achieve the impossible without attempting the absurd.
  • Kiss me twice. I'm schizophrenic.
  • If you cannot convince them, confuse them.

NCIS” IS “AMERICA’S FAVORITE TV SHOW”

 

NCIS_WALLPAPER_00191i

“NCIS” is the most popular show in America. The Mark Harmon military crime drama is taking the top spot on The Harris Poll’s 2011 list of “America’s Favorite TV Shows,” which is up from its fourth place ranking in the 2009 survey. The previous number one, “CSI,” falls to number two. Shows with initials for a title continue to rule, with “M*A*S*H” rounding out the top three.

The Harris Poll’s List Of “America’s Favorite TV Shows”
1. “NCIS”
2. “CSI”
3. “M*A*S*H”
4. “Two & A Half Men”
5. “Seinfeld”
6. “Lost”
7. “Star Trek”
8. TIE - “Friends” and “Criminal Minds”
10. TIE - “Law & Order,” “I Love Lucy/The Lucy Show”
12. TIE - “Family Guy,” “Bones,” “House”
15. “Grey’s Anatomy”

Gender
Men - “NCIS”
Women - “NCIS”

Age
Echo Boomers (18-34) - “Friends”
Gen X (35-46) - “NCIS,” Seinfeld,” “Lost”
Baby Boomers (47-65) - “NCIS”
Matures (66+) - “NCIS”

Political Affiliation
Republicans - “NCIS”
Democrats - “Two & A Half Men”
Independents - “NCIS”

Education
High School or less - “NCIS”
Some college - “NCIS”
College grad - “Seinfeld”
Post grad - “Seinfeld”

Annual Income
Under 35-thousand-dollars - “NCIS”
35-thousand to 49-point-nine-thousand-dollars - “NCIS”
50-thousand to 74-point-nine-thousand-dollars - “NCIS”
75-thousand to 99-point-nine-thousand-dollars - “M*A*S*H”
100-thousand-dollars or more - “NCIS”

Region
East - “NCIS”
Midwest - “NCIS”
South - “NCIS”
West - “NCIS”

VINTAGE … AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL POSTERS

 

z108z109z150z200z297

TRIVIA BITS … ODDS OF BEING 116

 

Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older

BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED CAKES

 

785875087508750697098-9-08868486387elegantcakegen w.linked.lace weddingLibby G . weddingtisha m.linked.flowers

QUOTABLES

 

5154_1108951535802_1587243634_246759_825011_n

Friday, May 6, 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

 

There will be no blogging for Thursday 05 April and Friday 06 April.

Be back with more of what comes my way on Saturday 07 April.

Have a great two days!

tumblr_kwl7t2h17J1qzty50o1_500

JACK VIGDEN! … WATCH OUT WORLD AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT!

 

 

Onto the stage walks a young blond haired 14 year old and absolutely wows the audience with Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” …

MOVIE REVIEW … THOR

 

thor-movie-poster-2011-1020556448 As an avid comic-book collector for many years, one of my favourites was Thor.  Showcasing the ongoing saga of a Norse god dealing with earthly and alien beings, his adventures captured the imagination.  Now arrives its cinematic incarnation which is suitably lush and rich in artistic and creative colour.  Blessed with a mega-budget and some decent acting, it does justice to a series lasting decades.

Banished to earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the reckless Asgardian warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is left to his own devices.  Forced to interact with humans, he forms a relationship with Dr Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).  Learning to tone down his impetuous ways, Thor’s strengths are tested when his evil brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) threatens his new home.  Determined to protect his new friends, Thor battles his foes with a vigour as only an ancient fighter can.

After being in Hollywood’s ‘development hell’ for nearly two decades, Thor’s cinematic incarnation has been worth the wait.  Wasting not a second of screen-time, the plot thunders its way through some slick action sequences, great acting and vibrant production design.  Expertly bringing the comic book’s flavour to life, Director Kenneth Branagh ensures his characters have believable traits despite the outlandish events taking place.

Much of this success is due to a great script co-written by Mark Protosevich and noted science fiction creator J. Michael Straczynski.   Both have clearly done their homework and infuse lots of famous moments from Thor’s past adventures.  For much of the film Thor is forced to live as a mere mortal, with his arrogance only standing in the way of gaining true power.  This allows the actors to fully flesh out their roles with Hemsworth equipping himself admirably as the God of Thunder.

Yet another fine adaptation of a Marvel comic, Thor is an excellent addition to their growing cinematic output.  Exciting, engaging and spectacular, it hits all the right targets that should please Thor’s old fans and draw in the new ones to come.

thor_001

Movie Review Rating 8 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Thor.

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

MOVIE REVIEW … FAST AND FURIOUS 5

 

fast-five-movie-poster-2011-1020674604 A decade ago the remake of The Fast and the Furious became a monster hit.  Loaded with tough guys, hot chicks and fast cars, it became the ultimate guilty pleasure.  Five films on and the series continues the same formula which made it such a hit.  Including many characters from the previous chapters, it sets out to be a pure adrenaline rush for rev-head fanatics.  This it certainly succeeds doing with the old adage ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ looming large over this fun formulaic production.

On the run after their last adventure Brian (Paul Walker) and Dominic (Vin Diesel) find themselves in Rio de Janeiro.  Scraping together a living via their souped up cars, they run afoul of a local drug kingpin who wants them dead.  Also on their trail is federal agent Luke (Dwayne Johnson) whose lethal pursuit places them in jeopardy.  Caught between both sides of the law, the gang use their skills to extract themselves from a deadly situation from which there seems no escape.

Given we’re now up to No. 5 in the franchise, it’s amazing how fresh the concept still seems.  This could be put down to Justin Lin’s energetic direction which maximises the opportunities for outrageous stunts.  He should know how to do this by now given this is his third film in a row for this series.  He is ably supported by the regular team who have much fun causing tons of mayhem and destruction in their own style.

The best aspect of this entry is its eagerness to explore the characters.  Whilst the action is still spectacular, these scenes are heightened immeasurably by the viewer actually caring for our heroes.  Probably due to the increased running time, each character has their moment to shine with their input effectively leading to a typically outrageous finale.  The cars are given a fine work-out once again and should dazzle those who see these movies for the four-wheeled stunners on display.

A strong entry in the series, Fast and Furious 5 builds on the gains made in its last entry.  With No. 6 announced to be on its way, there’s no stopping it and given how much fun this one was some more escapist nonsense isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

fast_five_001 

Movie Review Rating 7 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Fast and Furious 5

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

2011 TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS

 

TONY_AWARDS_001

Past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announced the 2011 Tony Awards nominees live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.

The American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing on Sunday, June 12th.

THE 65th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS take place at the Beacon Theatre. The awards will be followed by the invite-only Tony Gala which will take place at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.


Best Play
Good People
Author: David Lindsay-Abaire
Jerusalem
Author: Jez Butterworth
The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
War Horse
Author: Nick Stafford

Best Musical
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act

Best Book of a Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Alex Timbers
The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
The Scottsboro Boys
David Thompson
Sister Act
Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Book of Mormon
Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
The Scottsboro Boys
Music & Lyrics: John Kander and Fred Ebb
Sister Act
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Glenn Slater
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek

Best Revival of a Play
Arcadia
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
The Normal Heart

Best Revival of a Musical
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Bobby Cannavale, The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart
Al Pacino, The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Frances McDormand, Good People
Lily Rabe, The Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells, The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It's You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Mackenzie Crook, Jerusalem
Billy Crudup, Arcadia
John Benjamin Hickey, The Normal Heart
Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Yul Vázquez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bête
Elizabeth Rodriguez, The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Colman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley, Anything Goes
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O'Malley, The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

DOG VIDEO ON YOUTUBE 400,000 HITS IN 2 DAYS

 

This is a brilliant piece of scripting …  enjoy!

THIS WORLD … CLOUDS

 

0_69f7c_76ede02e_XL272509750_c8aebbc350fromthepassgoOzoIMG_0286

LANGUAGE TRIVIA ... “PDX” AND “ORD”

 

  • The abbreviation "PDX" (Portland International Airport) is derived from "P" standing for Portland and "DX" meaning long distance or wide reaching.
  • The abbreviation "ORD" for Chicago's O'Hare airport comes from the old name "Orchard Field."

FOO FIGHTERS RAISE OVER $800K FOR FLOOD RELIEF

 

FOO_FIGHTERS_OI981YDF

The Foo Fighters raised a huge $842,000 (GBP526,000) for the Queensland flood relief effort with their special gig Down Under in March. Dave Grohl’s band played a show in Auckland, New Zealand to raise funds for the Christchurch earthquake victims before heading to Brisbane, Australia to perform at a charity gig to boost donations for flood victims in Queensland.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh revealed on Tuesday, May 3, that the band's efforts raised an incredible sum for the Disaster Relief Appeal, which helps residents rebuild their lives and communities following a series of devastating floods which hit the region from December 2010.

COOL IMAGES

 

10aa

YOUNG WHITE WOMEN STILL ENGAGE IN RISKY TANNING BEHAVIOUR

 

S0410_ESPN_Mag_BMX_DM005.jpg

Many teens and young adults don’t seem to be considering the damage they’re doing to their skin in an effort to improve their appearance. According to a new poll by the American Academy of Dermatology, a third of Caucasian females in the 15 to 29 age range, say they have used a tanning bed in the past year, and 25-percent admit to using them at least once a week. In addition, 81-percent say that over the past year they’ve tanned outdoors either “frequently” or “occasionally.” Meanwhile, even though spray tanning is considered a safe alternative to getting a tan through exposure to UV rays, 86-percent did not use that method to get a tan.

The Dermatology Academy announced their findings in conjunction with the launch of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Studies have shown that UV radiation is a primary cause of skin cancer, and 75-percent of skin cancer deaths are due to melanoma. In addition, a person’s risk of developing melanoma increases by 75-percent with the use of indoor tanning beds. Over the past 30 years, the number of people getting diagnosed with melanoma has been on the rise, particularly among young white women.

A NATALIE WOOD MOMENT

 

6898112tumblr_lfs3slMv121qafm1vo1_500 tumblr_lbe9jv0Pyy1qanwe4o1_500 tumblr_kyonh0OTba1qzkofdo1_500tumblr_lbe9p4WQlT1qanwe4o1_500

DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?

 

In the middle of a news service you hear something and you just know that it is not right. What was meant and what was said were two different things. Here are some good examples.

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." -- Dan Quayle

"It's no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another" -- George Bush, US President

"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?" -- Lee Iacocca

"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version."  -- Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.

"The word 'genius' isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." -- Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.

"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people." -- Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor.

VINTAGE

 

bookmobile-in-community-631

TRIVIA BITS ... U.S. CENTENARIANS

 

In 1960, an estimated 4,000 people were over 100 years old in the U.S. By 1995 the number had jumped to 55,000. The United States currently has the greatest number of centenarians in the world, estimated at 70,490 on September 1, 2010.

MORE STREET ART

 

street_art_feb_c_jr street_art_feb_d_jrtumblr_kpga94sAUd1qzyf9vo1_400tumblr_kxdxkxat4M1qzauaxo1_500tumblr_l7imrtcr4b1qbggc6o1_400

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD???

 

  • Carl Jung: The confluence of events in the cultural gestalt necessitated that individual chickens cross roads at this historical juncture, and therefore synchronicitously brought such occurrences into being.
  • Jean-Paul Sartre: In order to act in good faith and be true to itself, the chicken found it necessary to cross the road.
  • Ludwig Wittgenstein: The possibility of "crossing" was encoded into the objects "chicken" and "road", and circumstances came into being which caused the actualization of this potential occurrence.
  • Albert Einstein: Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road crossed the chicken depends upon your frame of reference.
  • Aristotle: To actualize its potential.
  • Buddha: If you ask this question, you deny your own chicken-nature.

LEDGER AND GYLLENHAAL AUDITIONED FOR “MOULIN ROUGE”

 

nicole_kidman_ewan_mcgregor_moulin_rouge_001

The part of penniless poet Christian in the 2001 movie musical eventually went to Scottish actor Ewan McGregor but Baz Luhrmann admits it took months of auditions to find the right man for the job.

He tells MTV.com, "I saw everyone. I have audition material of people you wouldn't believe. I know who can really sing, people who've got amazing voices, from that process.

"Dear Heath Ledger, (he had) incredible scenes with Nicole. Because at one stage, Christian was very young, he was a younger guy, and then I was aware of Ewan but I didn't know if he could sing.

"Jake should do a musical. He's a wonderful actor, but (he has a) great voice, tremendous voice. He sang some (Stephen) Sondheim for me, complicated singing, great voice. When is he going to guest on Glee?