An Evel Hero
Few men acquire as unique a reputation as did Evel Knievel, who rocketed to fame in the 1970s with his death-defying stunts. While in popular culture his name remains synonymous with daredevilry, Knievel had long since faded from public view before his death this past Friday. Best known for his courage on the bike - and his flamboyantly patriotic jumpsuits - in his later years he suffered from a variety of illnesses and physical burdens. By his death at the age of 69, Knieval depended on metal plates and pins to hold his bones together, The New York Times reports. The Associated Press reported that he had been "in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs." With his death, so dies an American icon.
Writers are still Complaining.
(Russia solved this problem - it's called the gulag.)
Plenty has been written about the current Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, with the WGA continuing to demand for Internet advertisement revenues. And expect much more to be written. Variety reports that the talks are not going as well as television viewers could hope for, and that an agreement on episode-streaming residuals remains unclear. Variety cites one WGA negotiator as saying, "This [negotiation period] is going to set the tone of Internet pay for all eternity, so we have to get that right." Looks like those Law & Order marathons will have to suffice.
Brains over Beauty in Hollywood?
In a move assured to stir naturally pacifistic individuals to the point of contention, Entertainment Weekly saw fit to award its latest "power list" on the basis of smarts, not brawns. If that weren't enough, the magazine gave the No. 1 spot to none other than Superbad guru Judd Apatow. Actually, what are we saying? Go Apatow! Who could have known that it'd take a Knocked Up director to shove Spielberg to the No. 2 spot? Apatow better watch it, though. Will Smith and James Cameron (the dude who sank Titanic and showed 12-year-olds everywhere their first naked woman) are hot on his tail. Hopefully plenty of Cox - Dewey Cox, that is - can preserve his position of power. Er, smartness.
2008 Woodie Awards
