Its A Wonderful Life

Its A Wonderful Life
Christmas is coming early this year with a double serving of the beloved 1946 holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life" this weekend.

On Friday evening at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences examines Frank Capra's magical fable from a technical perspective. Oscar-winning visual-effects supervisor Craig Barron ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") and Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt ("Star Wars") will share photographic and sound-effects secrets from the film that stars Jimmy Stewart as everyman George Bailey. (The evening is sold out, but there will be a stand-by line).

And on Saturday, Annette Bening, Bryan Cranston and Peter Gallagher will be among the stars at special matinee and evening readings of the movie at the Geffen Playhouse designed to emulate the radio shows of the 1930s and 1940s. The performances are a benefit for the Playhouse as well as the Actors Fund.

"I haven't seen it in years," Bening said of the film. "But it is one of the great classics, isn't it? There is no way you can't be moved at the end of that."

Although, the film got Oscar nominations for best picture, director, lead actor, editing and sound recording, the lavish production received mixed reviews from critics and didn't actually have a wonderful life at the box office. However, the film was rediscovered in the 1970s after the copyright expired due to a technicality. In the 1970s and '80s, it was shown every Christmas by local TV stations because it was in the public domain. In other words, it had a second "Wonderful Life."
As the film opens, Bailey is at the end of his rope because of dire financial problems, but his suicide attempt is prevented by a guardian angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) who shows him what life would have been like for his wife, Mary (Donna Reed), and his friends in the bucolic town of Bedford Falls if he hadn't been born.

The postcard-perfect Bedford Falls came to life on massive sets built at the RKO Ranch in Encino. "Bedford Falls is another character in the movie," said Barron. Of course, the ranch is just a faded memory of Hollywood past, he noted. "It is now a housing development, which is ironic that the fantasy housing development of Bedford Falls is now a real-life house development in Encino."

Not all the sets were original to the film. Most of the studios during the golden age of Hollywood would recycle sets, sound effects and visual effects from film to film. "In fact, some of that street [in Bedford Falls] was originally built for the 1931 film 'Cimarron.' And the Bailey house was originally built for 'The Magnificent Ambersons."'

Though the film didn't win any Oscars, the RKO special-effects department did receive a special Sci-Tech award for its falling snow machine. "The way that they actually created those shots was different than traditional methods, where they used bleached cornflakes for snow," Barron said. "But Capra didn't want that. He wanted his actors to be able to perform without the sound of crunching cornflakes under their feet requiring additional looping.

The special-effects department came up with a "foam developed for fighting fires," Barron added. "It was a foam retardant that looked very much like snow when you were able to mix it with a little bit of water and other chemicals. You could spray it out and make it look like falling snow."

Linwood Dunn, after whom the theater is named, was involved in the film's special effects, especially the sequence where Bailey jumps off the bridge in his suicide attempt. The jump, said Barron, "was photographed on the interior set, so the water had to be added. There was matte painting and optical printing work in that sequence."

Honey Badger Leads Top-Ranked

Honey Badger Leads Top-Ranked
Tyrann Mathieu turned in an MVP performance when the No. 1 Tigers needed him most. He ran back a punt 62 yards for a touchdown, set up another score with a fumble recovery and finally finished off No. 12 Georgia with his best play yet — a whirling dervish of a return that led to the decisive TD in a 42-10 victory in the Southeastern Conference title game Saturday.

LSU (13-0) advanced to a spot in the BCS championship game in New Orleans, just 75 miles from its Baton Rouge campus. The Tigers opponent will be announced Sunday night, but SEC West rival and No. 2 Alabama — already beaten by the Tigers 9-6 in overtime a month ago — had the inside track even though it didn’t win its division.

The Crimson Tide will have to deal with a fearless sophomore who has the country’s best nickname, and is an even better player.
The Crimson Tide will have to deal with a fearless sophomore who has the country’s best nickname, and is an even better player.

“Last night, I envisioned me having three touchdowns,” Mathieu said. “I think I came close to that. It comes down to me trying to do what I can for my team.”

His moniker stems from a humorous YouTube video that supposedly depicts the world’s fiercest animal (”Honey Badger don’t care, he just takes what he wants,” the narrator says). Defensive coordinator John Chavis showed the 5-foot-9, 175-pound player the clip on the way back from a victory at West Virginia, believing it fit Mathieu perfectly.

No argument there.

“My teammates love the name, and I think it depicts me on the field,” Mathieu said. “I just go with it. My teammates do a great job having my back. Anything I can do to help those guys, lift their spirits, I’ll do it. I think the Honey Badger does that sometimes.”

The Bulldogs (10-3) raced to a 10-0 lead that could’ve been even bigger if they hadn’t dropped a pair of potential touchdown passes in the first quarter. LSU looked downright awful on offense, going three-and-out on all seven of its possessions before halftime.

The Tigers didn’t even have one first down, finishing the half with just 12 total yards.

But, thanks to Mathieu, the deficit was only 10-7 when the teams went to the locker room. He fielded a punt at his own 38, found an opening and was gone — all the way to the end zone for his second punt return for a touchdown in as many weeks. He had a 92-yarder that sparked a win over Arkansas.

What Was the Fight of Cotto vs Margarito

What Was the Fight of  Cotto vs Margarito
Boxing fans got a brightly wrapped Christmas present Saturday night and when it was unwrapped, it didn’t disappoint.

Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico righted a wrong in the eyes of many in the boxing world by defeating Antonio Margarito of Mexico with a dramatic tenth round TKO victory at Madison Square Garden in New York. It seemed all 21,239 fans were on their feet for the majority of the bout cheering on Cotto with enthusiam, their Puerto Rican native son.

The fight began much like the first one, with Cotto moving well, throwing shots and then getting quickly out of Margarito’s way. But Margarito is known for his relentless pressure, and he pressed Cotto forward successfully. Cotto’s punches were landing at a higher connect percentage than Margarito in the early rounds.

Then in round four, a left hook by Cotto cut Margarito’s right eye, the same eye damaged so badly by Manny Pacquiao in 2010. While not a devastating cut, Cotto focused on the opportunity just as he said he would do in pre-fight interviews. Eventually the eye was swollen shut.

Still, halfway through the fight Margarito continued to put pressure on Cotto, if not landing the type of punches he did in their first meeting. For a fleeting moment in round seven, it seemed Margarito might start taking command just as he did in the first fight.

But Cotto didn’t allow it to happen. Margarito’s eye didn’t allow it to happen either. Margarito, fighting with a sense of urgency, simply couldn’t see well enough to be effective landing power shots on Cotto. For his part, Cotto continued to land shots and even engaged in some bodywork with Margarito, something he doesn’t always do well.

Fans held their breath before the start of the ninth round, as primary ringside doctor Barry Jordan insisted on one more look at Margarito’s eye before letting him enter the ring for the round.

Margarito made it through round nine, but it was clear he was having trouble seeing, and he looked fatigued. Make no mistake, Margarito was still pressing forward, still engaging, and would have continued fighting as long as he could stand.

But in the end, Margarito’s eye and Dr. Jordan got the final say. The tenth round bell went off with referee Steve Smoger asking Jordan twice, "Are you stopping the fight?" In the meantime, Margarito and his camp were insisting he could continue. Finally the referee made it official at three seconds into round 10, and the rematch was over.
In his post-fight interview with HBO analyst Max Kellerman, Cotto declared himself satisfied with the victory despite the way it came about. When asked by Kellerman what he thought now of Margarito, Cotto said, “He means nothing to me,” and repeated the statement a few minutes later. Noted for his sportsmanship, this represents a strong statement from Cotto.

When asked delicately by Kellerman about Margarito’s punching power in this fight versus their 2008 meeting, Cotto said, "I’m still awake, that’s my answer" meaning that Margarito didn’t punch as hard. This was a not-so-veiled reference to the allegations that Margarito used illegal hand wraps to beat Cotto in their first fight.

After the fight, Margarito insisted he had been able to see perfectly fine. When questioned about the strength of his punches, Margarito told HBO’s Kellerman, "Look at his (Cotto’s) face!" And then he repeated his pre-fight taunt, “He hits like a girl,” claiming he didn’t feel Cotto’s punches. Margarito needed 12 stitches to his eye from a plastic surgeon following the fight.

Margarito deployed the same strategy which proved successful for him in the first fight. But this time, Cotto seemed to move better, cutting Margarito off and keeping away from the ropes, where Margarito trapped him to administer punishment in the first fight. Cotto’s switch to former Cuban Olympic boxing team coach Dr. Pedro Benitez paid off, as he showed the ability to move around Margarito, pushing him back successfully in later rounds, inflicting damage while working to avoid getting hit by Margarito inside at close range.

Without the eye injury Margarito suffered in his fight with Manny Pacquiao, this would have likely gone the distance and been closer. Cotto would have won a decision. He was well ahead on points, eight rounds to one on all three judges’ scorecards. With three rounds left, Margarito would have had to knock Cotto out. Not this time.

Final CompuBox stats showed Cotto landing 43 percent of his punches, the exact same percentage as in his last fight with Margarito, evidence of his complete domination of the fight. Margarito landed only 22 percent of his punches.

As predicted, it was an action-packed brawl filled with drama inside and outside the ring. Both fighters gave everything they had. Fans of the sweet science can’t ask for anything more.

The script might not have been written exactly as Cotto hoped, but he’ll gladly take the victory and move on to an exciting future filled with crowd-pleasing fighters like Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Julio Caesar Chavez. Jr., James Kirkland, and Canelo Alvarez.

As for Margarito, it’s doubtful even if anyone would license him to fight with his damaged right eye that he’ll ever fight at the elite level again. It would be the wise thing to do for him to retire now.

The Focus Shifts To Hanley Ramirez

The Focus Shifts To Hanley Ramirez
The Marlins wanted a deal with shortstop Jose Reyes BEFORE the start of baseball’s winter meetings and apparently they got it.

Now comes the sticky subject of what to do with Miami’s incumbent shortstop, Hanley Ramirez.

No sooner does my plane touch down in Dallas does the blogosphere explode with news of a six-year, $105 million deal with Reyes — first reported by ESPN Deportes and confirmed by Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports before others chimed in.

I shared the developments on my iPhone with former manager Felipe Alou, who was on my flight to Dallas from West Palm Beach. Felipe works for the Giants now but he knows both Ramirez and Reyes.

In fact, Felip once had the same dilemma that the Marlins now have — both Reyes and Ramirez on the same team!

Felip managed both Reyes and Ramirez on the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic in 2009.

“That was a headache for me,’’ he said, “but the two guys were so good about it.’’

Alou wound up starting Reyes two games at shortstop and Ramirez one game (while being the designated hitter in the other two).

“We got eliminated after three games,’’ Alou said with a laugh.

“I kept both guys in the lineup. They were both pretty hitters.’’

Alou’s advice to the Marlins?

“I’d ask (Ramirez) to play third or center field. I think he’s such a good athlete, he could play anywhere,’’ he said.

But now it’s up to Hanley to take the high road and accept the move to third base. Last time we checked in with Hanley, he was not thrilled about moving.

There has been some lobby speculation that maybe the Marlins will try to trade Ramirez, but all indications I’ve gotten fromm the Marlins is that he will be at third base in 2012.

As for Reyes, Alou said the Marlins are a different team now.

“He’s a terrific player. He will help them a lot,’’ Alou said.

The Marlins will have two of the last three NL batting champions in their lineup — Ramirez in 2009 and Reyes in 2011.

Bowl projections

Bowl projections
One half of the BCS title game picture is certain. LSU will be in New Orleans on Jan. 9. Its opponent isn't so clear.
Alabama looked to be in great position at No. 2 until Saturday night when Oklahoma State routed Oklahoma and Virginia Tech fell to Clemson.

That leaves open the likelihood that the Cowboys surge to third in both human polls and could pass the Crimson Tide in the computers.

In breaking down the cases for both teams, OSU has the advantage of making a big final impression and being a conference champion with wins against Oklahoma, Kansas State and Baylor. Alabama fans will point to lone loss by the Cowboys against 6-6 Iowa State, while its team fell to LSU in overtime.

More will be know once the USA TODAY coaches poll and Harris Interactive polls are released Sunday afternoon. The final standings will be unveiled in the evening and until then there will be some nervous people in both Stillwater and Tuscaloosa.

Also on edge while waiting for the BCS release will be TCU and Michigan, which started the week at 18th and 16th in the BCS, respectively.

The Horned Frogs have to be in the top 16 to earn an at-large spot as the highest-rated champion from a non-automatic qualifying conference. The Wolverines need to be in the top 14 for an at-large selection.

While projecting the rest of the games, some conferences may not be able to fulfill their allotment. An asterisk indicates a school has filled a vacant spot. Teams in bold have already accepted berths.

BCS national championship: LSU vs. Alabama

Fiesta: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
Rose: Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Orange: Clemson vs. West Virginia
Sugar: Michigan vs. Kansas State

GoDaddy.com: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State
BBVA Compass: Louisville vs. Western Kentucky*
Cotton: Oklahoma vs. Arkansas
Capital One: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Outback: Michigan State vs. Georgia
Gator: Ohio State vs. Florida
TicketCity: Purdue vs. Tulsa
Chick-fil-A: Auburn vs. Virginia Tech
Kraft Fight Hunger: UCLA vs. Wyoming*
Liberty: Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State
Sun: Georgia Tech vs. Utah
Meineke Car Care: Texas A&M vs. Penn State
Insight: Iowa vs. Texas
Music City: Virginia vs. Vanderbilt
Pinstripe: Rutgers vs. Iowa State
Armed Forces: Houston vs. BYU
Alamo: Baylor vs. Washington
Champs Sports: Florida State vs. Notre Dame
Holiday: Missouri vs. California
Military: Wake Forest vs. Illinois*
Belk: Cincinnati vs. North Carolina
Independence: North Carolina State vs. Air Force
Little Caesar's Pizza: Northwestern vs. Toledo
Hawaii: Southern Mississippi vs. Nevada
Maaco Las Vegas: TCU vs. Arizona State
Poinsettia: Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech
Beef 'O' Brady's: Florida International* vs. Marshall
New Orleans: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. SMU
Famous Idaho Potato: Ohio vs. Utah State
New Mexico: San Diego State vs. Temple*

Herman Cain Supporters

Herman Cain Supporters 
Embattled Republican candidate Herman Cain announced he was suspending his presidential bid Saturday, a move that’s most likely to impact the caucus race in Iowa by helping Newt Gingrich.

But the effect on the race here likely won’t be dramatic, because Cain’s poll numbers already had dropped like a rock, a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll shows.

As cable news broadcast Cain’s announcement live Saturday for the nation to watch, Cain presented himself as a man victimized by media coverage about allegations of a 13-year extramarital affair.

The retired business executive spoke at length about his status as an unconventional, not-politics-as-usual candidate.

But he also said he’s at peace with God, himself and his wife, Gloria, who held his hand as he walked to the microphone.

“And she is at peace with me,” he said.

Cain, who has never held elective office, skyrocketed to front-runner status by touting his business credentials in a down economy and his status as a Washington outsider. He spoke in Atlanta, Ga., his home state, on what had been scheduled as the opening day for his campaign headquarters there.

The hometown crowd at one point chanted “Glor-i-a!” She waved and blew kisses.

Finally, after a 12-minute buildup, Cain said: “As of today, with a lot of prayer and soul searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign.”

The reason?

“Because of the continued distractions, the continued hurt caused on me and my family, not because we are not fighters,” he said. “Not because I’m not a fighter.”

Cain said he will operate a website and continue to advocate for conservative priorities and his now-famous 9-9-9 tax plan.

As for the various sexual allegations against him, Cain maintained that they are “false and unproved.”

Although Cain said he was “suspending” his campaign, experts said his presidential bid was over. He can still use campaign donations to cover expenses.

Mindy McCready Her Troubled Life

Mindy McCready Her Troubled Life
Mindy McCready's life didn't always seem sadder than a country song.

Before the legal drama, controversial courtships, suicide attempts and rehab stints, she was the sexy songstress who topped the charts and made headlines both for her hits and then-taboo navel ring. She was also engaged to a TV star.

But booze and prescription pills fueled a downward spiral that last week may have reached its most precarious point. Now her problems involve a 5-year-old boy – her son Zander.

On Tuesday, McCready, 36, removed Zander from the Florida home of her mother, Gayle Inge, who has custody of the boy, and the singer said she was willing to risk jail time over her actions. She also insisted that she was in no condition to travel after revealing she's seven-months pregnant with twins.

Friday night, police found McCready and Zander hiding in what was believed to be the singer's boyfriend's house in Arkansas. By Saturday, Zander was being returned to McCready's mother.

The recent events are the latest in a train wreck of troubles, and those who have known her are only shaking their heads.

"I hope this all works out for the best," Dennis Rodman, who appeared with her on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, tells PEOPLE. "I really enjoyed getting to know Mindy. She is a great person."

A Superstar in the Works
Born in Fort Meyers, Fla., McCready, 36, became famous in 1996 with her Multi-Platinum debut album Ten Thousand Angels and fashioned herself as a role model to her younger brother, telling PEOPLE in 1997 that she'd grill him about sex and call him "a pig" when he smoked cigarettes.

McCready – whose women's anthem "Guys Do It All the Time" was instantly a smash – suffered a hardship in 1998 when she split from her fiancé, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman star Dean Cain.

She seemed to bounce back a year later when her third album, I'm Not So Tough, got solid reviews, but it wouldn't last.

First Signs of Trouble
In 2004, she was charged with prescription drug fraud in 2004 after illegally obtaining the pain medicine OxyContin, and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

"It was a stupid thing to do," she later said, claiming her purchase was for a friend. "I am not a drug addict."

In 2005, the star was arrested again and charged with DUI and driving on a suspended license.

"I had not had a drink for four or five hours prior," she said. "I was driving home a drunk driver."

A few days later, her ex-boyfriend William McKnight was charged with attempted murder and aggravated burglary after allegedly breaking into her home and beating her up.

Covered in bruises, she testified against him in court, claiming he punched her, choked her and hit her head against a headboard.

"It's a bad situation," McCready told PEOPLE at the time. "I'm in a lot of pain, but I will get through it."

Fans Storm Oklahoma State Field

 Fans Storm Oklahoma State Field
13 Injured After Thousands Rush the Field to Celebrate Oklahoma State.
Thousands of fans stormed the field and tore down goalposts after Oklahoma State's 44-10 victory over archrival Oklahoma, leaving at least 13 people injured, including two in critical condition, medical authorities said early Sunday.

Michael Authement, who heads the command post at emergency medical provider LifeNet EMS, told The Associated Press that a throng so big took to the field as the game ended that some fans were trampled and one person fell at least 15 feet onto concrete during a wild celebration by Oklahoma State fans.

No. 13 Oklahoma State routed the Sooners on Saturday night to win the Big 12 championship and make its case to play for the BCS national title. The Cowboys (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) snapped an eight-game losing streak in the rivalry and won their first outright conference title since 1948 in the three-team Missouri Valley.

"They won the game and stormed the field and ripped down the goalposts and some were jumping off the stands and hit the field and others got trampled. It was a nasty deal," Authement said.

He said the crowd was so big it took police at least 45 minutes to clear fans from the field at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. "There were thousands of people. Thousands of people stormed the field. You couldn't move there were so many people," he added.

AP photographs showed fans climbing atop the yellow goalposts and tearing them apart amid a crush of people on the field. Scores of hands stretched out to pull down the goalposts during the celebration.

Authement said nine ambulances, including six from LifeNet, rushed 11 of the injured away and the two in critical condition were flown to Oklahoma City hospitals. He said he knew of leg fractures but didn't have any details on the extent of the injuries, though two of the 13 had minor injuries and were treated at the scene and released.

Lesser injuries included broken ankles, ankle sprains and back sprains, said Shyla Eggers, public relations director for Stillwater Medical Center, adding eight injured came to her hospital. She told AP that her hospital received six of the injured in ambulances, two in private vehicles and at least two of the patients have been admitted and would undergo surgery on broken ankles.

"Our staff that was on hand took care of it. They were just very busy," Eggers said. "Game day is always busy."

She had no immediate details on the more serious injuries, saying two people were flown from the scene to hospitals in other cities in Oklahoma.

An Oklahoma State University police central dispatcher said she had no immediate details to release when contacted by AP and the public information officer did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Stillwater police and the Oklahoma highway patrol also had no immediate comment.

Authement said the fans began storming the field with about 20 seconds left in the game. He said he had reports of people falling and being trampled in the surge. "It lasted 45 minutes, I'm sure before they got the field cleared," he said.

He said he was handling game night duty when a magnitude-5.6 earthquake rocked central Oklahoma and the same stadium as fans departed minutes after Oklahoma State had beaten Kansas State. The Nov. 5 temblor, which could be felt as far away as Wisconsin, was the strongest in the state's history when it rattled players in the locker room and set the stadium press box rippling as the last of some 58,000 fans cleared out.

Brooke Mueller Arrested

Brooke Mueller Arrested
Brooke Mueller, as emphasized by her arrest for drug possession in Aspen, Colorado on Friday, has become known largely for her addictions and criminal record. But the ex-wife of Charlie Sheen is not simply a rap sheet and gossip item; she's also had a short career in Hollywood.

Involved in show business long before she married Sheen, Mueller first appeared in 1998 in a cameo role in the show, "USA High." That was followed by perhaps her most significant acting work, a co-starring role in "Witchouse," a 1999 horror film about some kids tricked into attending a party that would bring back an old witch.

About a decade later, Mueller made it back to credited movie roles, with a supporting job in "Strictly Sexual," about two women who keep men in their pool house for sexual recreation.

In keeping with her fame for being herself, Mueller also has appeared in a number of televised venues as, well, Brooke Mueller. Given that rumors about her personal life so often appeared on TV tabloid shows, it made sense that Mueller would serve a short stint as a correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight," which she did from 2008-09.

Then, there was her semi-tragic run in "The World According To Paris," the Paris Hilton reality show in which she co-starred. Most of Mueller's storyline had to do with her attempts to stay sober, which, unfortunately, came to a halt last week.

Cotto vs Margarito

Cotto vs Margarito
Miguel Cotto wanted his revenge over Antonio Margarito, and in the wee hours of Sunday morning at Madison Square Garden, he got it.

Cotto dominated his adversary, peppering him with powerful combinations and targeting the surgically-repaired right eye of Margarito. Right as the bell rang for the 10th round, doctors from the New York State Athletic Commission advised referee Steve Smoger to stop the fight, and he did. Cotto earned the 37th win of his career against just two losses, and of course avenged the controversial loss to Margarito back in 2008. Margarito fell to 38-8.

The question coming into the fight was whether or not Margarito's punches would have as much power this time around as they did in 2008, when many believed Margarito's gloves were loaded. It didn't seem so, since the fight went almost identically to their first fight. Cotto bagged the early rounds, using his speed and movement and effectively keeping the fight in the middle of the ring. Their first fight turned in Margarito's favor in the middle rounds, and tonight, Margarito did have some moments in rounds five, six and seven. He kept pressuring, coming forward and, at times, backing Cotto up to the ropes. Margarito was able to land some of his signature powerful short uppercuts, but Cotto was able to deal with them.

In the third round, Cotto cut the right eye of Margarito, and for the rest of the fight it was an issue for the Mexican. Cotto targeted it and found success, firing off flush left hooks. By the Cotto-dominated the ninth round, the eye was just about fully shut. When Maragrito went to answer the bell for the 10th round, the doctors had made their decision. Margarito and his camp were visibly upset, pleading that the fighter could continue. It wasn't to be.

There was no love lost between the two and that continued after the fight. In his post-fight interview with HBO's Max Kellerman, Cotto was asked if Margarito's punches felt the same this time as they did back in the original fight. Cotto answered by saying he was still awake and that he was on his feet. Margarito still derided Cotto's punches as girly.

The war of words may have continued and may keep going into the future, but there's no debating that Cotto got his revenge.

Hedy Lamarr-inventor

Hedy Lamarr-inventor
1930s actress Hedy Lamarr-inventor of cellphones, Wi-Fi and GPS
Hedy Lamarr is remembered as a stunning legend in Hollywood's Golden Age. However, most people do not know that she would co-patent the technology for today's cellphones, Wi-Fi and GPS by building a torpedo for the U.S.Navy.
This may have remained the world's best kept secret if it were not for author Richard Rhodes. He had become intrigued with Hedy Lamarr after he finished 30-years of working on a four-volume set about the history of the nuclear age. One of them, "The Making of the Atomic Bomb," had earned him a Pulitzer Prize.

She would eventually marry Fritz Mandl, a munitions manufacturer, where she would become involved in a world filled with technical data. When she became involved as an actress in Hollywood, she had time on her hands because she did not like to drink, or go to loud and drunken parties. Invention became her hobby.
That hobby was having an inventor's corner set up in her Hollywood home that included a drafting table and tools. One of Lamarr's major inventions was the bouillon cube that would create a beverage when mixed with water. Howard Hughes lent her a pair of chemists to assist her inventor's lab. In addition to the bouillon she developed a fluorescent dog collar; a special technique to tighten the skin; and modifications to the Concorde airliner.
As time went on, she would eventually co- patent "U.S. Patent Number 2,292,387 under her married name, Hedy Kiesler Markey. Her partner would be George Antheil, the notable MGM costume designer Adrian she met in 1940 at dinner party hosted by a mutual friend. With a goal to help the U.S. military, they would combine their knowledge to develop a torpedo guidance system for the U.S. Navy. Way before the United States had entered the war, Lamarr was unhappy over the fact that German's actions would cause a ship to sink, while carrying dozens of children. The torpedo was her best project to build a better war bomb.
Lamarr and Adrian developed a method that would cause hopping or switching between radio frequencies that would prevent communications from being detected, and therefore prevent them from being jammed by enemies.

Mindy Mccready

Mindy Mccready
Mindy McCready and son Zander in custody after being found hiding in a closet in Arkansas
Country singer Mindy McCready and her son Zander, 5, are in custody after police discovered the mother and child hiding in a closet Friday night, U.S. Marshalls and Arkansas police said.

Officials from the Florida Department of Children and Families said the boy is safe and the agency is working to bring him from Arkansas back to his legal guardian in Florida.

The development is the latest in a four-day saga that began when McCready and her son vanished after a visit at her father's Cape Coral, Fla. Home on Tuesday. McCready popped up with a statement on Thursday, but refused to return Zander to the care of her mother, despite pre-determined custody arrangements and a subsequent court order, the boy's father told the Associated Press.

"I'm doing all this to protect Zander, not stay out of trouble," McCready wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday. "I don't think I should be in trouble for protecting my son in the first place."

McCready said Zander was with her in Tennessee when she spoke out on Thursday, but said she couldn't travel because she's nearly seven-months pregnant with twins.

Gayle Inge, Zander's grandmother and McCready's mother, said the boy was with McCready and her boyfriend at his home Heber Spings, Arkansas, and that McCready had one point texted her half-brother, threatening that she would never see her mother again.

But concerned family were able to breathe a sigh of relief after the pair were located, safe and sound, hiding in the closet as police raided the home.

"I'm real excited that he's safe," Inge said. "But I can't explain what this is like. We feel for Mindy and we feel for Zander."

"I want to wrap my arms around her and tell her that I love her," Inge said.

It is not yet known if McCready will face criminal charges.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

How The Grinch Stole Christmas
George Lucas loves releasing new editions of “Star Wars.” For his latest masterpiece, “The Sith Who Stole Christmas,” Lucas combines the Star Wars trilogy with the classic Dr. Seuss story.
OK, so maybe it’s not an officially licensed Star Wars movie and maybe it wasn’t created by George Lucas. It’s still a pretty cool mash-up.

Darth Vader plays the Grinch who has a grudge against Christmas. He watches all the Whos down in Whoville (the Ewoks) from the Death Star and decides that it’s time he steals Christmas.

As Thurl Ravenscroft croons “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” Vader (the Grinch) goes on a Christmas ruining rampage. But even the Dark Lord eventually realizes the meaning of Christmas.
This weekend's shows include some old favorites like "It's A Wonderful Life" (8 p.m. Saturday on NBC), and some relatively new ones like "Jingle All the Way" (10 a.m. Sunday on Hallmark Channel).

My personal favorite for Christmas movies is "A Christmas Story," based on the writings of humorist Jean Shepherd. At our house we love to chant, "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out," if someone wants to do something risky or dare-devlish.

Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation
It's my personal belief that Skynet is going to become self-aware and destroy humanity not via Twitter, Facebook, and iPhone, but by slowly taking over the film industry until every film is a "Terminator" film. They're smart, those Terminator models -- they know Sarah Connor warned us of all their other avenues, so they found a way for us to embrace their takeover. They hired Christian Bale. We'll accept any takeover as long as it stars Bale, right?

According to Variety, there's already a fifth "Terminator" film in the works by Halycon Co, who are working closely with director McG. The plan was to delay all plans until "Terminator: Salvation" was released next May, but the buzz has been so overwhelmingly positive that they're going full steam ahead with the next chapter.

"We feel the time is now to start shaping the next part of this," says Halycon's Victor Kubicek. They have even announced a tenative release date of 2011.

McG has previously stated that he "mapped out" a trilogy of films that will kick off with "Terminator: Salvation," and Bale has signed for three films. So, you can be content knowing that Bale's John Connor will lead humanity to victory -- but the war obviously doesn't end in a single night, as he promises in the new "Salvation" trailer.

In the meantime, you can start your "Will Arnold Schwarzenegger be in it?" speculation now, since the governor ends his term in 2010.

Wife of Bishop Eddie Long

Wife of Bishop Eddie Long, the megachurch pastor accused of coercing four young men into sex, files for divorce... only to withdraw it ONE DAY later.

Just hours after announcing her decision to divorce her husband Bishop Eddie Long, who was accused of coercing four young men into sexual relationships, Vanessa Long changed her mind and withdrew the divorce.

'Upon prayerful reflection, I have reconsidered and plan to withdraw my petition for divorce from my husband, Bishop Eddie L. Long,' Vanessa told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an emailed statement bearing the logo of her husband's church.

'I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength and courage,' she continued.
She was not as supportive just hours earlier, when she announced that she would be leaving her husband of 11 years.

'After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long,' Vanessa Long said in a statement Friday morning.

In her afternoon statement, Vanessa cited 'years of attacks in the media' as the reason for her initial decision to seek a divorce.

Mr Long rose to fame when he took over the megachurch New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia.