News: Matt Damon, Maryland Marriage, NYC Subway, Brazil
UK Stonewall equality organization announces award nominees: "Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton, comedian Sue Perkins, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, rapper Mz Fontaine and The Feeling vocalist Dan Gillespie-Sells are nominated for Entertainer of the Year."
Can you hear me now? New York City subway stations to be wired for cell phone service: "The cellphone network will start in six downtown Manhattan stations in two years. Once it is shown to be working properly, Transit Wireless will have four more years to outfit the rest of the underground stations. Under the agreement, the first six stations are to be those at 23rd Street and 14th Street on the Eighth Avenue line, 14th Street on the Seventh Avenue line, 14th Street on the Sixth Avenue line, and Eighth Avenue and Sixth Avenue on the L line. All areas of the stations, including entryways, mezzanines, platforms and transfer passages, will be wired. The system will be designed to allow a seamless connection between the train and street level, so that users will not lose calls as they move in or out of the stations, according to Gary Simpson, president of Nab Construction, a Queens company that is a partner in the wireless venture."
Two elementary school boys charged with criminal sexual conduct after allegedly forcing another boy to perform oral sex during school bus ride.
Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer and Debi Mazar join Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Candice Bergen in remake of The Women currently shooting in Boston.
Matt Damon: "After Iraq, the Bush administration disgusts me."
Amy Winehouse disappoints at Britain's MOBO awards.
Britney Spears continues downward spiral: heads to the club after judge accuses her of substance abuse.
Forget football. David Beckham to design costumes for the Spice Girls: "David has been helping out a lot ahead of the Spice Girls tour, which starts in December and has offered to give them fashion advice. He has been looking at pictures of Julien Macdonald's collection on the internet and has also studied other designer collections. He is drawing different strengths from various fashion designers, but obviously Victoria will have the final say."
Brazilian football player Richarlyson continues to be tailed by gay rumors.
Democratic Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in shift on support of same-sex marriage. Backs civil unions now, following the Court of Appeals' recent decision to uphold the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Senate President deals second blow, says he won't support legislation to legalize same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Posted Sep. 20,2007 at 1:31 PM EST by Andy Towle in Amy Winehouse, Brazil, Britney Spears, Crime, David Beckham, Film, Football, Gay Marriage, Great Britain, Iraq, Maryland, Matt Damon, New York, News | Permalink
Um..."AFTER Iraq"?
Posted by: peterparker | Sep 20, 2007 1:45:22 PM
Those Stonewall nominations also include the *fantastic* journo Tim Teeman from the Times. Look him up guys...
Go Tim!
Posted by: TRICKY | Sep 20, 2007 1:51:14 PM
I love that photograph. Does anyone know who those two guys are?
Posted by: MT | Sep 20, 2007 2:07:46 PM
I never thought I'd be saying this, but Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. need to take lessons from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.
What a bunch of crass, ball-less wonders.
Posted by: Tread | Sep 20, 2007 2:13:22 PM
MT, I shot the photo a while back. Didn't know the two people.
Posted by: andy | Sep 20, 2007 2:22:39 PM
A remake of "The Women" with real women? Well, I'll try to watch it, but who's been worshipping, re-watching, memorizing every line of that movie for almost 70 years? Maybe they'll bring in Jackie Beat, Lady Bunny, and Harmonica Sunbeam in as consultants.
On cell phone wiring: they can have the cell phones on the platforms--that's all right. But anybody who uses them on the trains should be electricuted...to death.
Not one drag queen in a remake of "The Women"...talk about discrimination...really stupid.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 20, 2007 2:46:31 PM
That was a great catch, Andy. It makes me wish some moments like that would happen to me. :-)
Posted by: MT | Sep 20, 2007 2:52:36 PM
Today’s Women don’t have the same bitch in them that they had in 1939, that's what made "The Women hilarious. For one thing too many women are trying to act like feminism never existed. They wouldn’t be able to expose those hideous mid sections in public if it weren’t for Betty Frieda, Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisom. Nor would Condeliza Rice or Dana Perino be permitted out of the kitchen. The last time crop tops and hip huggers were in fashion we had President Nixon and now we have President Bush cover up that flab ladies (and men too) or wear a girdle. LOL
Posted by: ggreen | Sep 20, 2007 2:57:20 PM
The Women is a film that does not need to be remade, in my opinion. I think that translating the 1930s sensibility to present day will muck it up.
Posted by: sam | Sep 20, 2007 2:58:50 PM
I know how you feel, Derrick From Philly. Maybe they can work in a cameo by Lypskinka.
Very good cast, but Mr. Cukor is dead.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 20, 2007 3:28:15 PM
they need Liza and Babs.
Posted by: dc-20008 | Sep 20, 2007 3:43:07 PM
martin o'malley's opinions and governing practices change with the direction of the wind...baltimore is finding that out quickly...i voted for him at one time and, will never again...we had an umteen million dollar surplus when the prior governor left office in january '07;now, we are looking at a 1.5 billion deficit, after he was in office only 9 months.
Posted by: CLIFF | Sep 20, 2007 3:50:16 PM
The other thing about The Women remake is that the new cast is considerably older than the original. The only remotely possible actress for the pivotal Joan Crawford role would be Eva Mendes. As for the rest... Meg Ryan as Mary (Norma Shearer)? Anette Bening as Sylvia (Rosiland Russell)? No doubt Candace Bergen is the mother, so that's more support for Ryan as Mary... I'm gonna bet on Carrie Fisher as Nancy Blake (the wisecracking writer), Debra Messing as Edith (Sylvia's confidant), and Bette Midler as the Countess DeLave.
Posted by: rascal | Sep 20, 2007 4:03:36 PM
Wait a minute! There was only one part for a black actress in the original film. Just who the hell is Lynn Whitfield supposed to play? THE BUTTERFLY MCQUEEN ROLE? They better fix that shit right quick...unless they make the maid a glamour figure who steals Stephen away from both Crystal and Mary. I can live with that.
And you're right, David. I've seen Lypsinka's Crawford impersonation on Youtube and her site. Fantastic!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 20, 2007 4:47:52 PM
Here's what the IMDB says so far (they don't have the new cast members listed yet):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430770/fullcredits#cast
Good grief -- one fo the producers is (clutch those pearls, my darlings) MICK JAGGER?!?!!!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 20, 2007 5:26:13 PM
And leave us not forget this will be the THIRD film of "The Women."
The SECOND was by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076053/
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 20, 2007 5:31:35 PM
Is it just me or are the police overreacting on prosecuting the 11 and 9-year-old boys accused of sexual assault. I know when I rode the bus in elementary school, stuff like that happened all the time. And experimentation is all about growing up, consider the I'll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours games we've all played. All I'm saying is that boys will be boys and getting the police involved is probably not the best thing in this situation. How about the parents have a good talk with the boys and then have a school counselor have some discussions too if needed.
Posted by: John | Sep 20, 2007 5:55:29 PM
JOHN,
It's just you.
An eleven year old and nine year old boy forcing a seven year old boy to perform oral sex on them is sexual assault. It isn't 'experimentation' partially because of the age difference between the seven year old and the eleven year old (four years difference at those ages is a *very* large developmental difference). More importantly, according to the report, the seven year old was 'forced' to perform oral sex on the older boys...which means that in all likelihood the older boys in some way threatened the seven year old if he refused. Mental health experts and law enforcement personnel are beginning to recognize that those two factors, force and difference in developmental level, constitute an assault in what may have, at one time, been considered harmless experimentation.
Regarding having a school counselor participate in discussions...school personnel are mandated reporters which means that in this case they would be required to file a report with the police regarding this incident.
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Sep 20, 2007 6:39:49 PM
What is disgusting about Matt Damon is that he is going to be part of the greatest insult to gays that have been committed. Playing Dan White to the anti-american, anti-gay, discombulated syncophan Sean Penn that is going to play Harvey Milk, one of the most heroic gay figures of the last 3 decades. It is an insult to the memory of a man that stood for gay pride and to all gays. Sean Penn playing Harvey Milk is as insulting as big as or greater than Alex Balwin playing Martin Luther King Jr. All gays in Hollywood, the whole USA and the world should protest this insult to one of our most memorable persons.
Posted by: Oscar | Sep 20, 2007 6:54:13 PM
What on earth are you babbling about Oscar?
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 20, 2007 7:18:17 PM
@ OSCAR -- Dude, Harvey was Jewish, so doesn't that mean you hate him? Fuck off.
As for Amy Winehouse, her worst performance kicks the ass of most any other singer's best day.
And last of all: DAN GILLESPIE-SELLS!!! WOOT!!!! He rules!!! Hope he wins...
Posted by: Becks07 | Sep 20, 2007 8:48:01 PM
While I agree what those kids did is criminal (especially since the victim was younger), I also know kids experiment between each other too. Hell, I had all kinds of sexual stuff done to me by other guys (& adults) as a little kid...but that could also explain a lot, too. (like why my shrink is so rich now and why i still have so many problems, etc).
Poor Britney. I really feel for her. She's the trainwreck that never stops. Why doesn't someone take HER to a qualified psychiatrist? God knows she needs medication. Or is everyone just so invested in her publicity making machine? Tragic...truly tragic. But we all love to watch.
Posted by: Jordan | Sep 20, 2007 9:42:08 PM
It sounds like the older children are victims of sexual abuse themselves.
Posted by: Todd from Harrisburg | Sep 21, 2007 10:30:02 AM