Arcade Fire celebrated an amazing dark horse win last night for Album of the Year for The Suburbs at the Grammys, beating out Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Lady Antebellum.
Watch Arcade Fire’s video for “The Suburbs” –
Betty Garrett passes away at the age of 91
I had the great gift of working with Betty Garrett in the Broadway revival of FOLLIES in 2001 at the Belasco Theater. She was a wonderful, warm and funny woman who brought the house down with her performance of “Broadway Baby.”
I always remember Betty got the theater early, went out to the stage to do her own warm-up, physically and vocally, and I can’t recall her ever missing a show.
The audiences loved her. And she showed a genuine love for them. There was a joy and smile in her eyes all the time it seemed.
Most people may remember her from her recurring roles on “All In The Family” and “Laverne & Shirley” but her career stretched back decades to Hollywood. She starred in movie musical classics like “On The Town” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” opposite Frank Sinatra, and at 27 she signed a contract with MGM, then the king of musical movies.
Her career took a terrible hit during the Red Hunt of the 1950s when her husband, Larry Parks, was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and he admitted that he had joined the Communist Party in 1941 and left in 1944 or 1945.
From MSNBC: Parks had won stardom and an Academy Award nomination as best actor for his dynamic portrayal of singer Al Jolson in the 1946 “The Jolson Story.” But in 1951, he was
Pressed to name his fellow members of the party, Parks pleaded not to be forced “to crawl through the mud as an informer.” He agreed to testify fully in executive session.He made one more film, “Love Is Better Than Ever” with Elizabeth Taylor, then his film career was over.
“It was a dark period, a foolish, foolish period,” Garrett said in 1998. “It destroyed a lot of lives and ruined my husband’s career.”
In 1998, she published her autobiography, “Betty Garrett and Other Songs,” which was the title of her one-woman show.
I really loved seeing her smile before a performance of FOLLIES began. She, and her smile, will be missed.
Elizabeth Taylor hospitalized
Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor is being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for symptoms of congestive heart failure, her spokesperson revealed Friday. It is not yet clear how long the Oscar-winner will remain in the hospital.
Taylor was originally diagnosed with the condition in November 2004. The now-78-year-old star was scheduled to attend an amfAR benefit gala Wednesday night in New York, where she was to receive an award for her dedication to AIDS research. Elton John accepted the award on the absent Taylor’s behalf.
Early in the fight against AIDS, Elizabeth Taylor led the way in awareness and fundraising. An amazing friend to the LGBT community, Taylor won two Academy Awards both for Best Actress, and was awarded the Jean Herscholt Humanitarian Academy Award in 1992 for her work fighting AIDS.
At the end of the day, it’s all about perspective
On this momentous day with Egypt moving to democracy and Hawaii passing civil unions, US Magazine shows us their priorities.
Seriously, this just really puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it? Thank god we all now know what Britney likes to drink when it comes to coffee drinks…
SRSLY.
Hawaii State House passes Civil Unions bill
By a vote of 31-19 the Hawaii State House approved the Civil Unions bill moving through the state legislature. The bill provides the same rights and responsibilities of married couples be afforded to non-married couples, including same-sex couples. The bill now heads back to the State Senate for approval of minor changes and corrections. The bill previously passed in the State Senate on January 28 by a vote of 19-6. Governor Neil Abercrombie has indicated he has every intention of signing the bill into law. Once signed, Hawaii will join 13 other states and the District of Columbia in offering important state level recognition of same-sex relationships. Marriage equality does not exist on a federal level due to the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits same-sex couples enjoyment of civil marriage rights. Great day in the world. Egypt moves towards democracy and Hawaii extends some equality to the LGBT community. Seeing folks move towards equal rights get me down right giddy. Keep moving forward kids – no fear. (via the Human Rights Campaign)
DADT Repeal steps issued by the Pentagon
With efforts focused on education, policy, training and communication, the Pentagon released it’s plan to implement the repeal of DADT. Military service secretaries have until March 1st to issue their first update on progress.
From the Washington Blade: The plan breaks down the path for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal into four stages: pre-repeal, certification, implementation and sustainment. In the pre-repeal phase, activities include Tier 1 and Tier 2 level training of military leadership and reporting to Obama administration officials on the progress of implementation. For example, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness must have a monthly meeting and report to the defense secretary and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the status of repeal. To reach the certification phase, the Repeal Implementation Team must provide appropriate documentation to the defense secretary and chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and provide their recommendation to the president.
The actual repeal won’t occur until the President, Defense Secretary and chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff certify military readiness. There will then be a 60 day waiting period before the law is legally declared null and void. Step by step, it’s progress.
In their own words…
With the focus of the conservative Tea Party movement squarely on CPAC this week, I thought it would be interesting to hear from them in their own words.
Great video allowing the Tea Party folks to answer questions unfiltered.
The movement speaks for itself.
Palin Imposter at CPAC
From MSNBC: A woman, who looked and dressed like the famous Republican, started walking around and doing interviews. In fact, she began drawing a crowd. People requested pictures, asked questions, and expressed their support for her.
The crowds were tipped off to the charade when it was noticed that she was walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Police Lt. Resigns Due to Internet Posts
A 13-year veteran of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department has resigned after repeatedly posting what his superior described as racist and anti-gay comments using his county computer while on duty. His comments apparently also included attacks of religious figures and sports celebrities. Lt. Jeff Egnor resigned after he was confronted with hundreds of postings made on local news and media websites during the course of his work hours. “It’s safe to say it was shocking to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sgt. Ron Hanavan, a sheriff’s spokesman, of the inflammatory postings.
From ABC News7 in Denver: Posting under the screen name “Abu Mybutt”, Egnor commented on various stories from police shootings to the elimination of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that will let gay soldiers serve openly in the military. “New miltary slogans: The few, the queer, the Marines! Butt Rangers lead the way! Be as gay as you can be! Aim for a high hard one, Air Force! Join the Navy, see naked men!” Egnor posted on Dec. 20, 2010, misspelling military. Other posts reportedly attacked illegal immigrants: “I have an immigration policy: 12 gauge shotgun!,” he posted on Dec. 18.
According to Undersheriff Tony Spurlock the posts were a clear and flagrant violation of county policy on Internet use. Spurlock said there were two issues with Egnor’s posts: the use of county computers to post during work hours and the nature of his posts. The investigation showed that Egnor often posted more than a dozen times a day while at work on county time. According to reports, Egnor could not be reached for comment. NOW he shuts up. Probably a wise decision.
Mubarak Steps Down in Egypt
The streets of Egypt are filled with it’s citizens celebrating at the news that President Mubarak has stepped down after 18 days of mass protests and pressure by the people of Egypt.
From the AP: Vice President Suleiman — who appears to have lost his post as well in the military takeover — appeared grim as he delivered the short announcement.
“In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic,” he said. “He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succor.”
Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, whose young suporters were among the organizers of the protest movement, told The Associated Press, “This is the greatest day of my life.”
The military, now in charge of the country, has vowed to move the country to great democracy.
This is serious history kids. All because people wanted freedom, democracy and a better life and risked their lives to get here. No fear kids.