Hugh Jackman joins the call for marriage equality in Australia
Hugh Jackman has joined an ever-growing list of prominent supporters of marriage equality that also includes two former NSW Premiers – Nick Greiner and Kristina Keneally – as well as Derryn Hinch and Wallaby’s Captain David Pocock.
Hugh has signed a statement declaring:
“Marriage should be about love and respect, not discrimination. Australia is at its best when we value equality over prejudice and fear. That’s why we support marriage equality for same-sex couples. Marriage equality will help remove discrimination against same-sex couples and their children. It will also benefit marriage by allowing it to embrace more loving committed couples who uphold its values. It’s time for Australia to join the other nations that have benefitted from this important reform.”
More Australian celebrities who support full marriage equality will be announced at Wednesday’s Equality Dinner in Sydney.
Mitt Romney says his tax rate is about 15%
From ThinkProgress: Citizens for Tax Justice a few months ago estimated that Mitt Romney, due to most of his income coming from investments, pays a tax rate of around 14 percent, a far cry from the 35 percent top income tax rate. Romney then confirmed that the bulk of his income does, indeed, come from investments (and is thus subject to the top capital gains tax rate of 15 percent), but he has refused to release his tax returns in order to reveal the definitive tax rate that he pays.
However, during a press conference on the campaign trail today, Romney did give a glimpse into his finances, confirming that he pays “closer to the 15 percent rate”:
Q: What’s the effective rate you’ve been paying?
ROMNEY: What’s the effective rate I’ve been paying? It’s probably closer to the 15 percent rate than anything, because my last ten years, I’ve, my income comes overwhelmingly from investments made in the past, rather than ordinary income, rather than earned annual income.
As Center for American Progress Director of Fiscal Reform Seth Hanlon has explained, the latest data shows that “many middle-class families paid much more [in taxes] than the 17.5 percent average paid by the very rich.” When President Obama suggested the “Buffett rule,” aimed at ensuring that millionaires can’t pay lower taxes than middle class families, Romney derided it as “class warfare,” and “the wrong way to go.”
One of the reasons Romney is able to drive his tax rate down so low is that he is still earning money from his private equity firm, Bain Capital, that is likely subject to a pernicious tax loophole. This loophole lets wealthy money mangers like Romney pay the capital gains tax rate on profits they make investing other people’s money, turning the justification for having a lower capital gains tax rate completely on its head.
During the same press conference, Romney said that he only makes some income from speaker’s fees, “but not very much,” which is money that would be taxed at normal income tax rates. From Feb. 2010 to Feb. 2011, Romney earned $362,000 in speaker’s fees.
Olivia Newton-John enjoying her latest movie roles
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Olivia Newton-John has truly said goodbye to Sandra Dee with her latest film role.
She plays the cocaine-snorting mother of the bride, Barbara, in the Australian comedy A Few Best Men.
“When I read the script I thought it was hysterical,” Newton-John said.
“She was a character, and I didn’t know quite how I was going to do that, go there (with drugs), but I thought it would be really a blast.
“Really the reason for me to do anything now is fun. Glee was fun, I did a movie in Canada that was a musical a year ago and that was fun, and this was hilarious. It’s a blast, I never thought I’d still be doing it.”
In the film, Xavier Samuel plays the English groom who flies in to marry his Blue Mountains bride. But his three best mates – and one celebrity sheep named Ramsy – are in the way with drunken shenanigans.
Newton-John will be hoping life doesn’t imitate art when her daughter Chloe Lattanzi gets married.
While a date is yet to be set for the nuptials, mum has already checked out her soon to be son-in-law’s options for best man.
“I’ve met his friends, they’re all nice blokes and they’re not coming from another country,” she said.
(source)
Olivia Newton-John on The Kyle & Jackie O Show
Promoting her new movie “A Few Best Men,” Olivia Newton-John visited The Kyle & Jackie O Show. The video clip above is the second half of her interview.
You can hear the entire interview here.
To explain a bit: on arrival, Olivia was told that Jackie always wanted to sing “Summer Nights” from GREASE with Olivia. So Olivia was asked – on the spot – if she would play along, dress up in GREASE costume pieces and sing along with Kyle and Jackie. Thus, the ‘Pink Lady’ outfits for Olivia and Jackie. Ah, the fun of morning radio.
Olivia played along with the fun.
Pilot for NBC’s SMASH available for free viewing today
Can’t wait until February to see NBC’s new Broadway-themed show SMASH?
You won’t have to: the pilot episode will be available for free on several media platforms including iTunes, Amazon and Xbox today.
On January 23 the pilot will available as streaming content on NBC.com and Hulu; on February 6, SMASH debuts on NBC.
Elton Loses To Madonna – Golden Globes 2012
Comments have been flying on the internet about Elton John’s (and his husband) reaction to losing the Golden Globe for Best Song to Madonna. Continue reading “Elton Loses To Madonna – Golden Globes 2012”
Olivia enters the White Carpet – premiere of “A Few Best Men”
I just wanted to give a sense of what it was like as Olivia and her director Stephan Elliott arrived on the White Carpet for the premiere of “A Few Best Men” in Sydney, Australia.
Just as Olivia arrived to face the first throng of photographers, a fan in a wheel chair asked Oivia for an autograph and a photo which Olivia didn’t hesitate to do. Then she and Stephan step in front of the first set of photographers. After lots of flashes, Stephan pulls Olivia over to the first of many interviews on the White Carpet. I panned down the carpet so you could get a sense of how packed and wild the scene was.
Olivia Newton-john interview for MIX 106.5 Sydney
I got to sit in on a few of Olivia Newton-John’s interviews for her new movie “A Few Best Men” which had it’s premiere here in Sydney, Australia, last night. Thought I’d share this with the fans.
Olivia gets pretty funny at the end of the interview when the radio show host admits/apologizes for an idea he gave Kathy Griffin for when Olivia appeared on her show “My Life on the D-List.”
Happy MLK Day!
Any questions?
So simple. Love this!