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Archive for December 23, 2008

a little black girl

A stranger was seated next to a little black girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, “Let’s talk. I’ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.” The little girl, who had just opened her coloring book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, “What would you like to talk about?” “Oh, I don’t know,” said the stranger. “Since you are a Negro, do you think that So-called President Elect Barak Obama is qualified for the job?” and he smiles. “OK”, she said. ‘That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass -. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?” The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.” To which the little girl replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss President Barak Obama… when you don’t know shit?”


Some things never change


Did you know that The moon is one million times drier than the Gobi Desert?

Did you know that?

The moon is one million times drier than the Gobi Desert.

Just twenty seconds worth of fuel remained when Apollo 11’s lunar module landed on the moon.

A Boeing 707 uses four thousand gallons of fuel in its take-off climb.

The planet Saturn has a density lower than water. So, if placed in water it would float.

Since 1959, more than 6,000 pieces of ‘space junk’ (abandoned rocket and satellite parts) have fallen out of orbit – many of these have hit the earth’s surface.


Who was Elizabeth Ann Hulette


Who was Elizabeth Ann Hulette? She was best known as Miss Elizabeth, was a U.S. professional wrestling manager. While working at International Championship Wrestling shows, Hulette met Randall Poffo, a wrestling performer with the stage name “‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage”.

She gained international fame during the late-1980s and early-1990s in the World Wrestling Federation, and the mid-1990s in World Championship Wrestling in her role as the counterpart to “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Elizabeth Ann Hulette (November 19, 1960 – May 1, 2003),

Miss Elizabeth’s first major angle was during Savage’s feud with George “The Animal” Steele in 1986. In the angle, Steele fell in love with Miss Elizabeth, angering Savage and leading to a series of matches. Their feud was one of the WWF’s most popular of the 1980s; it carried on for more than a year, thanks to the feral Steele’s continued innocent crush on Elizabeth. She also figured prominently in Savage’s 1986 feuds with Hulk Hogan and Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat.

The year 1988 was a pivotal one for Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Hulk Hogan, who had been the Champion and the foundation upon which the WWF’s popularity was built, lost the WWF World championship belt in a match against André the Giant. André the Giant then forfeited the belt to the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase due to an arrangement that they had prior to the match. President Jack Tunney declared that the belt cannot be forfeited to another individual. A tournament was held at WrestleMania IV to declare a new champion, which Randy Savage won. With Miss Elizabeth alongside him in the spotlight, she was the first female manager-valet to ever reach such a successful plateau.

Miss Elizabeth became the catalyst for the breakup of the Savage–Hogan relationship. During a 1989 tag team match that pitted the Mega Powers against The Twin Towers (Akeem “The African Dream” and The Big Bossman), Savage was thrown onto Miss Elizabeth, knocking her unconscious on the outside of the ring. Seeing this, Hogan scooped her up and, as the match continued, carried her to the backstage area for medical attention. Upon his return to the ring, Hogan was greeted with anger from Savage for having abandoned him in the midst of a match. Savage slapped his partner and left the ring area. Hogan continued the match, winning singlehandedly. Hogan exited the ring and reached the backstage area, where Savage attacked him, turning Savage heel.

Savage remained a heel for many months, eventually taking on Sherri Martel as his manager and dubbing himself “The Macho King” after defeating “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan for the “king of the ring” tournament crown in the later part of 1989. Miss Elizabeth was a full-time valet and did not officially wrestle in a single match. However, she engaged in a notable feud with Sherri Martel, including several catfight segments. When Savage and Martel began a heated feud with “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire, Miss Elizabeth came to their aid and joined forces with Rhodes and Sapphire. This came to a head at WrestleMania VI, where the two couples were engaged in the WWF’s first mixed tag-team match. When Martel attempted to help Savage double-team Rhodes, Miss Elizabeth grabbed Martel by the hair. While the two women faced off, Sapphire took advantage of the situation, kneeling down behind Martel just as Miss Elizabeth pushed her. Martel lost her balance and gave Sapphire enough advantage to pin Martel for the win.

Miss Elizabeth disappeared from WWF television until WrestleMania VII, when Savage lost a retirement match to The Ultimate Warrior. Upon his loss, Martel began beating him and kicking the defeated man, until Elizabeth, who was sitting at ringside, entered the ring and defended Savage. Elizabeth grabbed Martel by the hair and threw her out of the ring, reuniting Savage and Elizabeth.

The couple then held a heavily promoted on-air wedding billed as “The Match Made in Heaven” at SummerSlam 1991 in New York’s Madison Square Garden (the couple were officially married on December 30, 1984).[2] At the wedding reception, Elizabeth opened a gift package containing a live snake, which frightened her. This led to Savage coming out of retirement for a feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Moments later, Roberts and The Undertaker crashed the reception and assaulted Savage. At the Tuesday in Texas pay-per-view, Savage pinned Roberts. Following the match, Roberts beat down Savage, then forced Elizabeth to beg him to stop the beating. Apparently dissatisfied with her begging, Roberts grabbed her by the hair and slapped her across her face. On the February 8, 1992 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Roberts, with a steel chair in tow, was waiting in the backstage area for Elizabeth and Savage to come through the curtain after a match. Roberts was about to strike Elizabeth with the chair, but Undertaker stopped him. This started Undertaker’s feud with his former ally.

In her final WWF angle, WWF Champion Ric Flair bragged that he dated Elizabeth before Savage met her. Flair’s tagline was, “She was mine before she was yours.” He showed photos of himself with Elizabeth in casual situations, which were later printed in an issue of WWF Magazine. Flair, with Mr. Perfect as his “executive consultant”, said that they were going to show a nude photo of Elizabeth on the screen at WrestleMania VIII, although this did not occur. Halfway through this match Elizabeth made her way to ringside against the wishes of WWF officials. After the match Flair tried to kiss Elizabeth who slapped him. Instead, Savage regained the belt in a match with Flair at the event, and WWF Magazine later revealed that the photos were doctored, as other photographs showed Elizabeth in the exact same poses and situations, but with Savage. Elizabeth’s final WWF appearance took place on April 19, 1992 during an overseas tour of England. Randy Savage pinned Shawn Michaels after Miss Elizabeth, who had earlier been sent backstage, returned to prevent Sherri’s interference.[3]

Savage and Liz divorced on September 18, 1992.

In January 1996, Miss Elizabeth returned to wrestling as a valet for Savage. She later turned against Savage and become Ric Flair’s valet in the Four Horsemen. She later turned against the Four Horsemen and joined the New World Order (nWo) alongside Savage and Hogan. In June 1998, she parted ways with Savage once again by joining Hogan’s side of the nWo, nWo Hollywood. Then, she accompanied Eric Bischoff on his way to the ring for the next few months.

Elizabeth briefly married Cary Lubetsky, a South Florida attorney, in December 1997. The wedding was held at the Cuban Hebrew Temple in Miami Beach. The marriage was short-lived, as the couple were divorced in 1998

On the January 4 episode of Nitro, Elizabeth was seen talking to police detectives. She claimed that Bill Goldberg was stalking her and that he even accosted her by the water cooler. She then filed charges against Goldberg. Goldberg was arrested later that night for aggravated stalking and taken into custody by police. However, later that night, Elizabeth admitted that she was lying. As it turned out, Elizabeth was a pawn for the nWo so that Goldberg wouldn’t be able to have his scheduled title match with Kevin Nash later that night. Due to Goldberg’s apparent absence, the returning Hulk Hogan took Goldberg’s title shot in the match that became known as “The Fingerpoke of Doom”. Soon after, Elizabeth accompanied Lex Luger, and sometimes Kevin Nash, to ringside. However, Luger injured his biceps at a February 1999 house show and they soon took time off the road.

In February, Elizabeth managed the short-lived partnership between Luger and Ric Flair. The three of them were known as Team Package. The trio’s main goal was to take down Hulk Hogan, whom Luger had been publicly challenging to a match during the previous few weeks. Hogan made his return to WCW during the February 2 edition of WCW Thunder, and while his back was turned during an interview segment, Elizabeth came into the ring, baseball bat raised. However, Hogan quickly turned around and easily out-muscled the bat from her possession. As a receipt for her dastardly act, and in a throwback to his attacks on Sensational Sherri in the World Wrestling Federation, Hogan picked up Liz and held her up high in the air and delivered his patented atomic drop. However, Elizabeth no-sold the maneuver and quickly rolled out of the ring.Later that week, Hogan called into Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show to discuss his program with Luger, not to mention Elizabeth no-selling his atomic drop maneuver on the previous edition of Thunder. Hogan claimed that Elizabeth refused to take a bigger bump because she wasn’t wearing any panties underneath her skirt. Shortly thereafter, Team Package went their separate ways as they fought various members of The New Blood. Elizabeth engaged in short-lived feuds with Vince Russo and Kimberly Page. On May 8, 2000, Elizabeth wrestled in her first official match against Daffney. She then competed in matches against Rhonda Singh and Madusa.

WCW released Elizabeth from her contract on August 17, 2000.

Despite being let go by WCW, Elizabeth and Luger stayed together as a couple. Friends of Elizabeth said the two were planning on getting married sometime in 2003. After her departure from wrestling, Hulette began working the front desk at Main Event Fitness in Marietta, Georgia, a gym that Luger had owned for years after he and Steve Borden opened it during their wrestling heyday.

Elizabeth was advertised to make her first wrestling appearance since her departure from WCW during the World Wrestling All-Stars tour of Europe in November 2002 and December 2002 alongside Luger.[8] She accompanied Luger on the tour overseas, but didn’t appear on a single show. Elizabeth never made another wrestling appearance after her release from WCW. Luger ended up winning and losing the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in matches with Sting during the tour.

On April 19, 2003, Elizabeth was involved in a domestic dispute with Luger, who allegedly struck her in the garage of their townhouse in Marietta, Georgia. Cobb County police found Elizabeth with two bruised eyes, a bump on her head, and a cut lip. Luger was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery and released on $2,500 bond. Two days later on April 21, Luger was arrested for driving under the influence after rear-ending another car while driving his Porsche. According to the report on the arrest, Luger had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and could not locate his driver’s license. Luger had a 9-mm handgun in the car. Elizabeth was a passenger in the vehicle, and was sent home in a taxicab. Luger was also driving with a suspended license for not appearing in court on March 5, 2003 for a hearing on a previous offence (driving with expired tags and having no proof of insurance).


On May 1, 2003 in Marietta, Georgia, Luger called 9-1-1 from his home and reported that Elizabeth was not breathing. She did not respond to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and paramedics rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Luger’s phone call was later aired on an episode of WWE Confidential. Elizabeth and Luger were taking mixed pills of hydrocodone and Alprazolam (Xanax) with vodka. Luger was arrested later that day after a search of the residence revealed a number of illicit controlled substances, including anabolic steroids, OxyContin, synthetic growth hormone, testosterone, and Alprazolam. He was charged with 14 drug possession counts, 13 of them felonies. Luger pled guilty to the charges on February 3, 2005. He was given a $1,000 fine, and sentenced to 5 years probation.

Her final resting place is in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the Frankfort Cemetery next to her grandparents, the Sorgs.
more


Who was Elizabeth Ann Hulette


Who was Elizabeth Ann Hulette? She was best known as Miss Elizabeth, was a U.S. professional wrestling manager. While working at International Championship Wrestling shows, Hulette met Randall Poffo, a wrestling performer with the stage name “‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage”.

She gained international fame during the late-1980s and early-1990s in the World Wrestling Federation, and the mid-1990s in World Championship Wrestling in her role as the counterpart to “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Elizabeth Ann Hulette (November 19, 1960 – May 1, 2003),

Miss Elizabeth’s first major angle was during Savage’s feud with George “The Animal” Steele in 1986. In the angle, Steele fell in love with Miss Elizabeth, angering Savage and leading to a series of matches. Their feud was one of the WWF’s most popular of the 1980s; it carried on for more than a year, thanks to the feral Steele’s continued innocent crush on Elizabeth. She also figured prominently in Savage’s 1986 feuds with Hulk Hogan and Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat.

The year 1988 was a pivotal one for Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Hulk Hogan, who had been the Champion and the foundation upon which the WWF’s popularity was built, lost the WWF World championship belt in a match against André the Giant. André the Giant then forfeited the belt to the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase due to an arrangement that they had prior to the match. President Jack Tunney declared that the belt cannot be forfeited to another individual. A tournament was held at WrestleMania IV to declare a new champion, which Randy Savage won. With Miss Elizabeth alongside him in the spotlight, she was the first female manager-valet to ever reach such a successful plateau.

Miss Elizabeth became the catalyst for the breakup of the Savage–Hogan relationship. During a 1989 tag team match that pitted the Mega Powers against The Twin Towers (Akeem “The African Dream” and The Big Bossman), Savage was thrown onto Miss Elizabeth, knocking her unconscious on the outside of the ring. Seeing this, Hogan scooped her up and, as the match continued, carried her to the backstage area for medical attention. Upon his return to the ring, Hogan was greeted with anger from Savage for having abandoned him in the midst of a match. Savage slapped his partner and left the ring area. Hogan continued the match, winning singlehandedly. Hogan exited the ring and reached the backstage area, where Savage attacked him, turning Savage heel.

Savage remained a heel for many months, eventually taking on Sherri Martel as his manager and dubbing himself “The Macho King” after defeating “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan for the “king of the ring” tournament crown in the later part of 1989. Miss Elizabeth was a full-time valet and did not officially wrestle in a single match. However, she engaged in a notable feud with Sherri Martel, including several catfight segments. When Savage and Martel began a heated feud with “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire, Miss Elizabeth came to their aid and joined forces with Rhodes and Sapphire. This came to a head at WrestleMania VI, where the two couples were engaged in the WWF’s first mixed tag-team match. When Martel attempted to help Savage double-team Rhodes, Miss Elizabeth grabbed Martel by the hair. While the two women faced off, Sapphire took advantage of the situation, kneeling down behind Martel just as Miss Elizabeth pushed her. Martel lost her balance and gave Sapphire enough advantage to pin Martel for the win.

Miss Elizabeth disappeared from WWF television until WrestleMania VII, when Savage lost a retirement match to The Ultimate Warrior. Upon his loss, Martel began beating him and kicking the defeated man, until Elizabeth, who was sitting at ringside, entered the ring and defended Savage. Elizabeth grabbed Martel by the hair and threw her out of the ring, reuniting Savage and Elizabeth.

The couple then held a heavily promoted on-air wedding billed as “The Match Made in Heaven” at SummerSlam 1991 in New York’s Madison Square Garden (the couple were officially married on December 30, 1984).[2] At the wedding reception, Elizabeth opened a gift package containing a live snake, which frightened her. This led to Savage coming out of retirement for a feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Moments later, Roberts and The Undertaker crashed the reception and assaulted Savage. At the Tuesday in Texas pay-per-view, Savage pinned Roberts. Following the match, Roberts beat down Savage, then forced Elizabeth to beg him to stop the beating. Apparently dissatisfied with her begging, Roberts grabbed her by the hair and slapped her across her face. On the February 8, 1992 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Roberts, with a steel chair in tow, was waiting in the backstage area for Elizabeth and Savage to come through the curtain after a match. Roberts was about to strike Elizabeth with the chair, but Undertaker stopped him. This started Undertaker’s feud with his former ally.

In her final WWF angle, WWF Champion Ric Flair bragged that he dated Elizabeth before Savage met her. Flair’s tagline was, “She was mine before she was yours.” He showed photos of himself with Elizabeth in casual situations, which were later printed in an issue of WWF Magazine. Flair, with Mr. Perfect as his “executive consultant”, said that they were going to show a nude photo of Elizabeth on the screen at WrestleMania VIII, although this did not occur. Halfway through this match Elizabeth made her way to ringside against the wishes of WWF officials. After the match Flair tried to kiss Elizabeth who slapped him. Instead, Savage regained the belt in a match with Flair at the event, and WWF Magazine later revealed that the photos were doctored, as other photographs showed Elizabeth in the exact same poses and situations, but with Savage. Elizabeth’s final WWF appearance took place on April 19, 1992 during an overseas tour of England. Randy Savage pinned Shawn Michaels after Miss Elizabeth, who had earlier been sent backstage, returned to prevent Sherri’s interference.[3]

Savage and Liz divorced on September 18, 1992.

In January 1996, Miss Elizabeth returned to wrestling as a valet for Savage. She later turned against Savage and become Ric Flair’s valet in the Four Horsemen. She later turned against the Four Horsemen and joined the New World Order (nWo) alongside Savage and Hogan. In June 1998, she parted ways with Savage once again by joining Hogan’s side of the nWo, nWo Hollywood. Then, she accompanied Eric Bischoff on his way to the ring for the next few months.

Elizabeth briefly married Cary Lubetsky, a South Florida attorney, in December 1997. The wedding was held at the Cuban Hebrew Temple in Miami Beach. The marriage was short-lived, as the couple were divorced in 1998

On the January 4 episode of Nitro, Elizabeth was seen talking to police detectives. She claimed that Bill Goldberg was stalking her and that he even accosted her by the water cooler. She then filed charges against Goldberg. Goldberg was arrested later that night for aggravated stalking and taken into custody by police. However, later that night, Elizabeth admitted that she was lying. As it turned out, Elizabeth was a pawn for the nWo so that Goldberg wouldn’t be able to have his scheduled title match with Kevin Nash later that night. Due to Goldberg’s apparent absence, the returning Hulk Hogan took Goldberg’s title shot in the match that became known as “The Fingerpoke of Doom”. Soon after, Elizabeth accompanied Lex Luger, and sometimes Kevin Nash, to ringside. However, Luger injured his biceps at a February 1999 house show and they soon took time off the road.

In February, Elizabeth managed the short-lived partnership between Luger and Ric Flair. The three of them were known as Team Package. The trio’s main goal was to take down Hulk Hogan, whom Luger had been publicly challenging to a match during the previous few weeks. Hogan made his return to WCW during the February 2 edition of WCW Thunder, and while his back was turned during an interview segment, Elizabeth came into the ring, baseball bat raised. However, Hogan quickly turned around and easily out-muscled the bat from her possession. As a receipt for her dastardly act, and in a throwback to his attacks on Sensational Sherri in the World Wrestling Federation, Hogan picked up Liz and held her up high in the air and delivered his patented atomic drop. However, Elizabeth no-sold the maneuver and quickly rolled out of the ring.Later that week, Hogan called into Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show to discuss his program with Luger, not to mention Elizabeth no-selling his atomic drop maneuver on the previous edition of Thunder. Hogan claimed that Elizabeth refused to take a bigger bump because she wasn’t wearing any panties underneath her skirt. Shortly thereafter, Team Package went their separate ways as they fought various members of The New Blood. Elizabeth engaged in short-lived feuds with Vince Russo and Kimberly Page. On May 8, 2000, Elizabeth wrestled in her first official match against Daffney. She then competed in matches against Rhonda Singh and Madusa.

WCW released Elizabeth from her contract on August 17, 2000.

Despite being let go by WCW, Elizabeth and Luger stayed together as a couple. Friends of Elizabeth said the two were planning on getting married sometime in 2003. After her departure from wrestling, Hulette began working the front desk at Main Event Fitness in Marietta, Georgia, a gym that Luger had owned for years after he and Steve Borden opened it during their wrestling heyday.

Elizabeth was advertised to make her first wrestling appearance since her departure from WCW during the World Wrestling All-Stars tour of Europe in November 2002 and December 2002 alongside Luger.[8] She accompanied Luger on the tour overseas, but didn’t appear on a single show. Elizabeth never made another wrestling appearance after her release from WCW. Luger ended up winning and losing the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in matches with Sting during the tour.

On April 19, 2003, Elizabeth was involved in a domestic dispute with Luger, who allegedly struck her in the garage of their townhouse in Marietta, Georgia. Cobb County police found Elizabeth with two bruised eyes, a bump on her head, and a cut lip. Luger was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery and released on $2,500 bond. Two days later on April 21, Luger was arrested for driving under the influence after rear-ending another car while driving his Porsche. According to the report on the arrest, Luger had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and could not locate his driver’s license. Luger had a 9-mm handgun in the car. Elizabeth was a passenger in the vehicle, and was sent home in a taxicab. Luger was also driving with a suspended license for not appearing in court on March 5, 2003 for a hearing on a previous offence (driving with expired tags and having no proof of insurance).


On May 1, 2003 in Marietta, Georgia, Luger called 9-1-1 from his home and reported that Elizabeth was not breathing. She did not respond to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and paramedics rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Luger’s phone call was later aired on an episode of WWE Confidential. Elizabeth and Luger were taking mixed pills of hydrocodone and Alprazolam (Xanax) with vodka. Luger was arrested later that day after a search of the residence revealed a number of illicit controlled substances, including anabolic steroids, OxyContin, synthetic growth hormone, testosterone, and Alprazolam. He was charged with 14 drug possession counts, 13 of them felonies. Luger pled guilty to the charges on February 3, 2005. He was given a $1,000 fine, and sentenced to 5 years probation.

Her final resting place is in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the Frankfort Cemetery next to her grandparents, the Sorgs.
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Michael Pate died he was 88

He was born Edward John Pate, on 26 February 1920 in Drummoyne, Sydney. In 1938, he became a writer and broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on Youth Speaks. For the remainder of the 1930s he worked primarily in radio drama. He also published theatrical and literary criticism. He enjoyed brief success as an author of short stories, publishing works in Australia and the United States.

During World War II, Pate served in the Australian Army in the South West Pacific Area. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as “The Islanders”, entertaining Australian troops in various combat areas.

After the war, Pate returned to radio, appearing in many plays and serials. Between 1946 and 1950 he began breaking into films. In 1949 he appeared in his first leading role in Sons of Matthew. In 1950 he appeared in Bitter Springs with Tommy Trinder and Chips Rafferty.

Also in 1950, Pate adapted, produced, and directed two plays — Dark of the Moon and Bonaventure. Later that year he travelled to the U.S. to appear in a film adaptation of Bonaventure for Universal Pictures. This was released in 1951 as Thunder on the Hill, starring Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth. In 1956 he appeared in the film The Court Jester.

Pate spent most of the 1950s in the U.S., appearing in over three hundred TV shows. Most notable among these was a 1953 Climax! live production of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, in which Pate played the role of “Clarence Leiter” (instead of Felix, in the credits), opposite Barry Nelson’s “Jimmy Bond”.

During his time in the U.S., Pate became an acting instructor and lecturer, and wrote many screenplays and teleplays for the major American networks. In 1959, he returned briefly to Australia, where he starred in the TV program The Shell Hour. He returned to the U.S. for another eight years, during which he enjoyed a successful career as a television character actor, appearing repeatedly on such programs as Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Branded, The Virginian, Batman, Mission: Impossible (“Trek”), The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Get Smart, Rawhide (“Incident of the Power and the Plow”), and Wagon Train. In the 1963 movie PT 109 he played the part of Arthur Reginald Evans, the Australian coast watcher who helped rescue John F. Kennedy and his crew.

In 1968, Pate returned to Australia and became a television producer, winning two Logie Awards while working at the Seven Network. In 1970, he published a textbook on acting, The Film Actor. From 1971 to 1975 he starred as Detective Sergeant Vic Maddern in Matlock Police. In 1977 he wrote and produced The Mango Tree, starring his son Christopher Pate.

Pate continued working in theatre in both Sydney and Melbourne. In 1979, he adapted the screenplay for Tim from the novel by Colleen McCullough. The film would star Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie. For his adaptation, Pate won the Best Screenplay Award from the Australian Writers Guild.

During the early 1980s Pate and his son Christopher collaborated in a stage production of Mass Appeal. This was a success, and closed with a season at the Sydney Opera House.

Although Pate retired from acting in 2001 he remained busy with voiceover work, and was writing a screenplay at the time of his death. He was married to Felippa Rock, daughter of American film producer Joe Rock. He died on 1 September 2008 at Gosford Hospital, of pneumonia and a chest infection.


Michael Pate died he was 88

He was born Edward John Pate, on 26 February 1920 in Drummoyne, Sydney. In 1938, he became a writer and broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on Youth Speaks. For the remainder of the 1930s he worked primarily in radio drama. He also published theatrical and literary criticism. He enjoyed brief success as an author of short stories, publishing works in Australia and the United States.

During World War II, Pate served in the Australian Army in the South West Pacific Area. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as “The Islanders”, entertaining Australian troops in various combat areas.

After the war, Pate returned to radio, appearing in many plays and serials. Between 1946 and 1950 he began breaking into films. In 1949 he appeared in his first leading role in Sons of Matthew. In 1950 he appeared in Bitter Springs with Tommy Trinder and Chips Rafferty.

Also in 1950, Pate adapted, produced, and directed two plays — Dark of the Moon and Bonaventure. Later that year he travelled to the U.S. to appear in a film adaptation of Bonaventure for Universal Pictures. This was released in 1951 as Thunder on the Hill, starring Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth. In 1956 he appeared in the film The Court Jester.

Pate spent most of the 1950s in the U.S., appearing in over three hundred TV shows. Most notable among these was a 1953 Climax! live production of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, in which Pate played the role of “Clarence Leiter” (instead of Felix, in the credits), opposite Barry Nelson’s “Jimmy Bond”.

During his time in the U.S., Pate became an acting instructor and lecturer, and wrote many screenplays and teleplays for the major American networks. In 1959, he returned briefly to Australia, where he starred in the TV program The Shell Hour. He returned to the U.S. for another eight years, during which he enjoyed a successful career as a television character actor, appearing repeatedly on such programs as Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Branded, The Virginian, Batman, Mission: Impossible (“Trek”), The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Get Smart, Rawhide (“Incident of the Power and the Plow”), and Wagon Train. In the 1963 movie PT 109 he played the part of Arthur Reginald Evans, the Australian coast watcher who helped rescue John F. Kennedy and his crew.

In 1968, Pate returned to Australia and became a television producer, winning two Logie Awards while working at the Seven Network. In 1970, he published a textbook on acting, The Film Actor. From 1971 to 1975 he starred as Detective Sergeant Vic Maddern in Matlock Police. In 1977 he wrote and produced The Mango Tree, starring his son Christopher Pate.

Pate continued working in theatre in both Sydney and Melbourne. In 1979, he adapted the screenplay for Tim from the novel by Colleen McCullough. The film would star Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie. For his adaptation, Pate won the Best Screenplay Award from the Australian Writers Guild.

During the early 1980s Pate and his son Christopher collaborated in a stage production of Mass Appeal. This was a success, and closed with a season at the Sydney Opera House.

Although Pate retired from acting in 2001 he remained busy with voiceover work, and was writing a screenplay at the time of his death. He was married to Felippa Rock, daughter of American film producer Joe Rock. He died on 1 September 2008 at Gosford Hospital, of pneumonia and a chest infection.


Who is Kirsten Caroline Dunst?

Who is Kirsten Caroline Dunst? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Kirsten Dunst, she is an American actress and singer. She made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks, a short film directed by Woody Allen for the anthology New York Stories (1989). She appeared in Little Women (1994) opposite Winona Ryder and Claire Danes, before securing the role that brought her widespread recognition, as the vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire (1994). She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

Dunst became well known when she was cast as Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man films. Since then, she has played the title role in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006), and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008). She will next star in the 2009 films All Good Things, and Sweet Relief.

Dunst made her singing debut in the film Get Over It (2001), in which she performed two songs. In the 2001 film The Cat’s Meow, she performed Henry Creamer and Turner Layton’s song “After You’ve Gone” for the end credits of the film. In 2008, Dunst admitted that she was battling with depression and checked herself into rehab, and discharged herself in March 2008. Dunst has dated playwright Jeff Smeenge, actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell.

Dunst was born born April 30, 1982 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey to Klaus and Inez Dunst. She has a younger brother, Christian. Her father was a medical services executive and her mother was an artist and former gallery owner. On her father’s side, Dunst is of German descent and on her mother’s side, is of Swedish descent.

Dunst lived in New Jersey until the age of six, where she attended Ranney School, before she moved with her mother and younger brother, to Los Angeles, California in 1991. In 1995, her mother filed for divorce from her father. In 1996, she began attending Notre Dame, a private Catholic high school in Los Angeles. Dunst graduated from Notre Dame in 2000 and left to continue in her acting career. When asked if she had any regrets about the way she spent her childhood, Dunst said: “Well, it’s not a natural way to grow up, but it’s the way I grew up and I wouldn’t change it. I have my stuff to work out… I don’t think anybody can sit around and say: ‘My life is more screwed up than yours.’ Everybody has their issues.”


Dunst began her career as a child fashion model at the age of three in television commercials. She was signed with Ford Models and Elite Model Management. At the age of eight, Dunst made her film debut in Woody Allen’s Oedipus Wrecks, a short film that was released as one-third of the anthology film New York Stories (1989). Soon after, she landed a small part in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) as Tom Hanks’ daughter. In 1993, Dunst played Hedril in “Dark Page”, the seventh season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. At the age of 15, Dunst was the voice of the title character, Kiki, a 13-year-old apprentice witch, who leaves her home village to spend a year on her own, in the 1997 anime film Kiki’s Delivery Service. She also had a recurring role as a child prostitute, Charlie Chiemingo, taken under the guidance of Doctor Doug Ross, played by George Clooney, on NBC’s medical drama ER.

Dunst portrayed young Amy March in the 1994 film adaptation of Little Women. The film received generally good reviews; critic Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote that the film was the greatest adaptation of the novel, and also remarked on Dunst’s performance: “The perfect contrast to take-charge Jo comes from Kirsten Dunst’s scene-stealing Amy, whose vanity and twinkling mischief make so much more sense coming from an 11-year-old vixen than they did from grown-up Joan Bennett in 1933. Ms. Dunst, also scarily effective as the baby bloodsucker of Interview With the Vampire, is a little vamp with a big future.”

She later appeared in the fantasy film Jumanji (1995), loosely based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 book of the same name. The story is about a supernatural and ominous board game which makes animals and other jungle hazards appear upon each roll of the dice. She was part of an ensemble cast that included Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, and David Alan Grier. The movie grossed $100 million worldwide. That same year, she was named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, which she repeated in 2002. In 1997, she was the voice of Young Anastasia in the animated musical film Anastasia.

Dunst was also offered the role of Angela in the 1999 drama film American Beauty, but turned it down because she did not want to appear in the film’s suggestive sexual scenes or kiss co-star Kevin Spacey. Also adding, “When I read it, I was 15 and I don’t think I was mature enough to understand the script’s material.” That same year, she appeared in the comedy Dick, alongside Michelle Williams. The film is a parody retelling the events of the Watergate scandal which lead to the resignation of then US president Richard Nixon.

She had the role of troubled adolescent Lux Lisbon in Sofia Coppola’s independent film The Virgin Suicides. The film was screened at a special presentation at the 43rd San Francisco International Film Festival in 2000. The film received generally favorable reviews; The San Francisco Chronicle in review of the film, noted: “Dunst beautifully balances innocence and wantonness.”

In 2000, she played Torrance Shipman the captain of a cheerleading squad in Bring It On. The film generated mostly critical reviews, with Charles Taylor of Salon.com noting: “‘Bring It On’ doesn’t provide Dunst with as good a role as she had in last year’s underrated political satire Dick or as she had earlier this year playing ’70s dreamboat Rapunzel of The Virgin Suicides.” While Jessica Winter of The Village Voice complimented Dunst, stating “Dunst… delivers a performance as sprightly and knowingly daft as her turn in Dick. She provides the only major element of Bring It On that plays as tweaking parody rather than slick, strident, body-slam churlishness.” The movie grossed $68 million worldwide.

The following year, Dunst depicted the late American actress Marion Davies in The Cat’s Meow (2001). The film was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Derek Elley of Variety described the film as “playful and sporty” and said of Dunst, “[She] gives her best performance to date amid a skilled older cast. Believable as both a spoiled ingenue and a lover to two very different men, Dunst endows a potentially lightweight character with considerable depth and sympathy.” In the Esquire review, Tom Carson called her performance “terrific”. For her work, she won the Best Actress Silver Ombú category award at the 2002 Mar del Plata Film Festival. Also, in 2001, she had a role in the comedy Get Over It.

Dunst supported Democratic candidate John Kerry in the 2004 US presidential election. She supported Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.Viewed as a sex symbol, she was ranked in the “Hot 100 List” by Maxim magazine in 2003 and 2004.] She was ranked at number 59 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Kid Stars.[80] Dunst was featured on Richard Blackwell’s famous Best Dressed List for 2005.

Dunst confirmed that she was treated for depression early in 2008. She sought treatment at the Cirque Lodge treatment center in Utah. She explained that she had been feeling “low” in the six months prior to her going to rehab. In late March, she checked out from the treatment center and began filming All Good Things. In May, she went public with this information to “highlight the struggle faced by so many other successful women” and to dispel false rumors that had “been very painful for my friends and family”.

 

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‘Sopranos’ Actor Cleared Of Murder


NEW YORK — A slain police officer’s sister reacted with disgust after a jury cleared a former actor on “The Sopranos” of her brother’s killing during a botched burglary three years ago.

Lillo Brancato Jr. on Monday was convicted of a lesser charge of attempted burglary. He faces from three to 15 years in prison; the former actor could get credit for time served because he has been behind bars nearly three years.

“What message is this sending out to the New York City police officers today? It’s wrong,” said Yolanda Rosa Nazario, sister of the victim.

Prosecutors said Brancato, 32, and accomplice Steven Armento broke into a basement apartment to steal prescription drugs after a night of drinking at a strip club in December 2005. Officer Daniel Enchautegui (En-chow-TAY’-gee), who lived next door and was off duty, came out to investigate.

Armento blasted the 28-year-old officer with his .357 Magnum, hitting him in the heart. The dying officer fired back, wounding both men. Armento was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Brancato, who acknowledges problems with drugs and alcohol, said he was unaware Armento, 48, was carrying a weapon. He also argued he did not directly take part in the killing and was not armed. more


8-Year-Old allowed to go home for holidays, while awaiting first-degree murder charges


For one 8-year-old boy in Arizona, heading home for the holidays is a respite unlike most others.

Because after he spends time with his mother, he’ll return to juvenile detention where he will await potential first-degree murder charges.

The boy, whose name has not been released because of his age, has been charged with a double homicide for allegedly shooting his father and another man with a single-shot .22 rifle four times each Nov. 5.

He reportedly confessed during an hourlong interrogation video released by the Arizona’s Prosecutor’s Office.

In the video, the boy admits to the shooting about 40 minutes in, but said it was because his father was already “suffering.”

By that point, however, the boy had changed his story several times about the events that had led to the death of the two men.

“I went upstairs and then I saw my dad and then I got the gun and then I fired it at my dad,” the boy said calmly. “He was on the ground and then I reloaded it.”

When police asked him whether he shot his father because he was mad at him, he offered a noncommittal “hmm,” but said he is in trouble “most of the time” at home, mostly for lying.

Police interrogated him without legal counsel present, causing some juvenile defenders to suspect police coercion, which the police deny. more


A 9-year-old Texas boy was decapitated, survived and is recovering?

Did you know a 9-year-old Texas boy has almost fully recovered after suffering an orthopedic decapitation in a car accident 3 months ago, CBSNews.com reported Monday.
Jordan Taylor had a 1-2 percent chance of surviving this type of injury, which occurred when his skull separated from his neck. His spinal cord remained intact, however.
“I just kept screaming,” Jordan’s mom, Stacey Perez told CBSNews.com. “I just wanted him to wake up.”
Perez was driving when a dump truck plowed into her car after running a stop sign, authorities said. Although Jordan was buckled up in the back seat, the impact was too much.
“The energy basically made his head lift up off his neck, and then move forward,” said Dr. Richard Roberts of Cook Childrens’ Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the pediatric neurosurgeon that saved Jordan’s life.
“All of the connective tissue that essentially keeps your head connected to your neck was destroyed,” Roberts said.
Doctors reattached Jordan’s skull with a metal plate and titanium rods. His head was stabilized by a “halo” or carbon fiber ring that is screwed to his skull and attached to a vest. more

Did you know 10 people a week are injuried playing Wii?

Did you know up to ten people a week are being hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games, prompting doctors in Britain to issue warnings of the dangers associated with the video game system.
“There has been a 100 percent increase in patients complaining of Wii-itis,” Dr. Dev Mukerjee of Broomfield Hospital, Essex, told The Sun newspaper.
Most patients are admitted after playing tennis or running games which involve sudden movements, resulting in tendon stretching or tearing.
“It’s possible Wii-itis may lead to rheumatism or arthritis later in life. Patients often have inflamation of the shoulder or wrist,” said Dr. Mukerjee. more


Brutally Tortured Teen Tied to Tree Dies From Dehydration

MACCLESFIELD, N.C. — A 13-year-old left tied to a tree as punishment for 18 hours in June had been badly beaten and likely died from dehydration and heat stroke, an autopsy report showed.
The report, made public Monday, also says Tyler McMillan’s body was covered with insect bites and he had bruises caused by a rod-like instrument and flesh missing from his buttocks. Marks on his wrists and ankles show he may have been restrained with plastic ties.
Authorities say Tyler McMillan’s parents found him unresponsive on June 12 after he had been tied to a tree overnight as punishment. His father, Brice McMillan, and stepmother, Sandra McMillan, have been charged with murder and felony child abuse.
Autopsy results were released after Raleigh television station WRAL challenged a judge’s order to seal the results based on a defense motion. Attorneys for WRAL wrote Superior Court Judge Franklin R. Brown in late October to challenge his ruling. The station received a copy of the autopsy on Monday, along with an order from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch Jr. The station provided a copy to The Associated Press.
The report says Tyler McMillan’s body temperature was 105.6 degrees when he arrived at the hospital. Brice McMillan told a deputy the teen was tied to a tree and forced to sleep outside on June 10 because he was being disobedient. Tyler McMillan was released the next morning, but again tied up that night for bad behavior. more

why I did it.

I think it started in elementrary school, I mean I always felt like a loner. That part might be on my dad though because of his stand-offish nature toward my twin sister and myself. Everybody always said I was the favorite because I looked and acted so much like my dad. But i always felt like i was never good enough. I mean my sister has the ambition and she has known what she what she has wanted to be since we were four and my brother the prophetic son he had the grades and the love and devotion of my father. My brother is my fathers only son so i can see why he favored him so added on with the fact that my brother was only allowed to see us every other weekend that might make my father care for him more. I always feel alone never reaally apart of any group. At school I talked to a couple of people but they didn’t mean anything. There wasn’t any real connection.Most likely because I didn’t trust them. I couldn’t trust anyone after my mother dissapeared and re-appeard in my life speratically.