Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Holy art show, Batman! Adam West paints his vision
West will drive the original Batmobile to a Beverly Hills, California, art gallery for the opening of the first exhibit of his paintings and drawings depicting his vision of Batman and his crime-fighting world Friday evening.
"The pictures are pretty raw and untamed, just like me," West said as he prepared for the exhibit, which will run for a month at the David W. Streets Beverly Hills Art Gallery.
West is a "cultural pop art expressionist," said gallery owner Streets.
"This is a huge genre coming out of pop culture, American television history and culture," Streets said. "It's really a tremendous art form and really fun."
The energetic 82-year-old West said it was time "to open up a new phase" of his career.
"After 45 years of doing all this nonsense, who better to bring it to life in paintings or drawings than the guy who created the character for film," West said. "People seem to like it and respond to it."
One painting titled "The Birth of Batman," is a surrealist depiction of the pain and agony of a young Bruce Wayne's transformation from an orphan to a superhero, he said.
"Batman saw his parents murdered in front of him as a little boy and, of course, he had to train for many years to create the kind of avenger crime fighter that he is," West said. "So, this represents a really tough birth."
Another frame holds what West said is his "sense in some kind of dream of Bruce Wayne."
West has kept busy in recent years attending fan conventions, but he still is in demand as an actor. He is a regular on "Family Guy," playing Mayor West on the animated Fox series.
"In a very real sense, I represent pop culture in an iconic way," West said. "It's been very good to me, so anything I can do to help the fans to tumble along -- it's good."
West began painting "without anyone knowing, except the folks in my household, about 40 years ago," he said. Few people have seen his art work until now.
"I'm flattered that they want to pay money for my pictures," he said. "It's terrific."
The gallery opening Friday night promises to be a reunion for the original Batman cast with the first Catwoman, Julie Newmar, and sidekick Robin,played by Burt Ward, also expected.
Taylor Swift, Jake Gyllenhaal reunite in L.A.
They've been spending a lot of time together lately in New York and Nashville, and now, after about a week apart, the busy lovebirds have reunited in Los Angeles.
As soon as she landed in L.A. in a private jet Wednesday, Swift, who turns 21 Monday, hightailed it to Gyllenhaal's Hollywood Hills home where the couple hung out late into the evening.
The next day, the pair were spotted out on afternoon drive around town. As Gyllenhaal, 29, navigated his Audi, he also made an effort to amuse his date, says a witness.
"Jake and Taylor seemed to be catching up and were chatting nonstop in the car," the onlooker says. "Jake was making Taylor laugh and she looked very happy."
The couple appear to be getting closer, though there's no word whether Gyllenhaal will help Swift celebrate her birthday -- which, she told PEOPLE recently would be "a winter-themed birthday [party] -- Christmas-themed."
North Carolina teen may have fallen from plane in Massachusetts
(CNN) -- Authorities are investigating what happened to a North Carolina teenager whose body was found along a flight path in Massachusetts with "trauma that was consistent with a fall from a significant height," a Massachusetts district attorney said.
"It appears, more likely than not, that (Delvonte) Tisdale was able to breach airport security and hide in the wheel well of a commercial jetliner without being detected by airport security personnel," William R. Keating, district attorney for Norfolk County, Massachusetts, told reporters Friday.
The mystery started November 15, when 16-year-old Delvonte was last seen by a sibling at their home in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to Keating.
Later that day, his family discovered Delvonte wasn't home and reported him missing.
"About 7 p.m., a Boeing 737-400 aircraft was boarded and took off from North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport, en route to Boston's Logan Airport," Keating told reporters.
"At approximately 9:30 p.m. that same evening, a group of area college students came upon a severely injured body" in the town of Milton, Keating said. "This was directly below a flight path."
The body was later determined to be Delvonte's.
The autopsy on Delvonte's body "did not reveal any knife or gun wounds, but did show trauma that was consistent with a fall from a significant height," Keating said. He said a toxicology test turned out negative.
Investigators examined two planes that had originated in Charlotte and followed a similar flight path, Keating said. They found "what appeared to be physical evidence of someone having been in a left wheel well of one of the planes was located and documented -- including hand prints visible in greasy areas and scuff marks in the area that would accommodate a person."
On Friday, Milton police and other authorities conducted a search of the wooded area along the flight path, Keating said.
"They recovered two dark Nike Air Force sneakers with white stripes, consistent with those that the Tisdale family describe as belonging to Delvonte," Keating said.
During the investigation, Keating said, one local resident described hearing a loud, crashing noise shortly before 9 p.m. the night Delvonte's body was found.
State police have ruled out motor vehicle homicide as a possible cause for Delvonte's injuries.
"The theory that the death may have involved a fall from a passing airplane -- as has happened in other parts of the country and other parts of the world -- began to be explored," Keating said.
Fingerprints lifted from Delvonte's body were run through a national database, but no matches were found.
"But investigators released a handwritten note found in the pocket of the jeans he was wearing, and a member of the family recognized the name and made contact with Milton police," Keating said.
"It appears, more likely than not, that (Delvonte) Tisdale was able to breach airport security and hide in the wheel well of a commercial jetliner without being detected by airport security personnel," William R. Keating, district attorney for Norfolk County, Massachusetts, told reporters Friday.
The mystery started November 15, when 16-year-old Delvonte was last seen by a sibling at their home in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to Keating.
Later that day, his family discovered Delvonte wasn't home and reported him missing.
"About 7 p.m., a Boeing 737-400 aircraft was boarded and took off from North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport, en route to Boston's Logan Airport," Keating told reporters.
"At approximately 9:30 p.m. that same evening, a group of area college students came upon a severely injured body" in the town of Milton, Keating said. "This was directly below a flight path."
The body was later determined to be Delvonte's.
The autopsy on Delvonte's body "did not reveal any knife or gun wounds, but did show trauma that was consistent with a fall from a significant height," Keating said. He said a toxicology test turned out negative.
Investigators examined two planes that had originated in Charlotte and followed a similar flight path, Keating said. They found "what appeared to be physical evidence of someone having been in a left wheel well of one of the planes was located and documented -- including hand prints visible in greasy areas and scuff marks in the area that would accommodate a person."
On Friday, Milton police and other authorities conducted a search of the wooded area along the flight path, Keating said.
"They recovered two dark Nike Air Force sneakers with white stripes, consistent with those that the Tisdale family describe as belonging to Delvonte," Keating said.
During the investigation, Keating said, one local resident described hearing a loud, crashing noise shortly before 9 p.m. the night Delvonte's body was found.
State police have ruled out motor vehicle homicide as a possible cause for Delvonte's injuries.
"The theory that the death may have involved a fall from a passing airplane -- as has happened in other parts of the country and other parts of the world -- began to be explored," Keating said.
Fingerprints lifted from Delvonte's body were run through a national database, but no matches were found.
"But investigators released a handwritten note found in the pocket of the jeans he was wearing, and a member of the family recognized the name and made contact with Milton police," Keating said.
Last week, Massachusetts state and local police traveled to North Carolina to take samples of grease used in maintaining aircraft to see if the grease found on Delvonte's pants could be matched to that grease, Keating said. Forensics tests are still pending.
Barcelona sign huge sponsorship deal
Revealing the news on their official website, the Primera Liga champions could be in line to receive up to 170 million euros ($225m) for the five-and-a-half year deal, which incorporates commercial and image rights as well as various bonuses relating to success on the field.
Children's charity UNICEF has appeared on the club's shirts in recent seasons and their logo will continue to feature prominently.
However, kit manufacturer Nike will now redesign the jerseys to accomodate the name of the Qatar Foundation -- an organization set up in 1995 to improve education and community development in Qatar and the surrounding region.
Following the news, UNICEF released a statement, saying: "The groundbreaking partnership between UNICEF and FC Barcelona advanced the global message on the importance of children's issues in a unique way.
"UNICEF is looking forward to the next stage of the collaboration and is exploring various options."
Barcelona also released a breakdown of how the funds will be received, with the club getting 15m euros ($20m) for the second half of the season and 30m euros ($40m) for each of the following five seasons -- with up to 5m euros ($7m) in bonuses for any titles won.
The funds will provide a welcome boost for Barcelona, who have struggled financially, despite all their successes on the pitch.
The Catalan club made a loss of 80m euros ($105m) last season and are reported to have debts in the region of 440m euros.
The announcement also continues Qatar's increasing influence in world football following their recent winning bid to host the 2022 World Cup finals.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Asia Pacific's first Radisson Blu hotel is in Cebu
He called it “a place that brings together essential elements that make Philippine tourism so special” – from its natural attractions to world-class accommodations.
Last month, the country’s chief executive found his way in Cebu once again as he led the formal launch of the province’s newest gem – the first Radisson Blu Hotel in the Asia Pacific region.
The hotel, targeted mainly at luxury tourists and businessmen, is a result of a tie-up between Radisson Blu’s Carlson group and the family of mall magnate Henry Sy.
“In launching this new facility (the Sy family) demonstrates it is bullish on our country’s economy,” Aquino said.
He continued, "Indeed, there is no better time to open up this new facility than now."
The rooms
Radisson Blu Cebu, located in the province’s capital, boasts of 400 rooms furnished with all the amenities expected of a first-class hotel.
Here, guests can enjoy a memory foam bed paired with goose feather/down pillows and duvets, a wall-mounted, 37-inch LCD television with cable channels, free high-speed wireless Internet, a laptop-sized electronic safe, a spacious work area and espresso machines, among others.
Those staying in the business-class rooms and suites have access to the Club Lounge on the 20th floor, where they can have more intimate breakfasts, refreshments and cocktails.
There’s also the Radisson Club boardroom, where business guests can use world-class facilities and secretarial services.
The large suite even has direct access to a helipad, the first hotel in the province to provide such a service.
“We’re always going for 100% guest satisfaction. Our staff is after quality service, the kind that leaves a positive and lasting impression,” said Grant Gaskin, Radisson Blu Cebu’s general manager.
Other services
Another highlight of Radisson Blu Cebu is Feria, an all-day buffet restaurant which offers a vast array of fresh local and international dishes.
On top of all these are the hotel’s state-of-the art function rooms and meeting facilities that have a “common room” concept for serving snacks and beverages.
Joan Danao, Radisson Blu Cebu’s marketing communication assistant director, said this will allow guests to eat and drink at their leisure, removing the hassle of waiting for the scheduled delivery of meals.
“Attendees can just come to the meeting plaza and help themselves to snacks and refreshments,” Danao shared as she gave a tour of the hotel.
With its classy rooms and innovative services, Radisson Blu Cebu sets new standards for hotel accommodation and services in the Philippines.
Photos courtesy of the Malacanang Photo Bureau and Radisson Blu Cebu
Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is located at Serging Osmena Boulevard corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. For more information, call (6332) 402-9900 or visit http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-cebu.
E-mail the author at karen_flores[@]abs-cbn.com. Visit her food and travel blog at http://asliceofkeix.blogspot.com.
Gay parade highlights push for anti-discrimination law
MANILA, Philippines - Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals and their supporters paraded around the streets of Quezon City wearing fabulous costumes and riding colorful floats to celebrate gay pride on December 4.
Collectively known as LGBT who are tolerated within the Philippine society, they are pushing for legal rights, including coverage in civil partnership, protection against discrimination at work, in school and hospitals, among others.
This year's theme is "One Love" to highlight that "we are all one humanity who shaare the same love," explains Rica Paras, a former reality show Pinoy Big Brother housemate who is currently the vice president of STRAP, or Transexual Women of the Philippines.
"We are in the streets because we want to declare that we exist while, at the same time, asking for compassion and sympathy [because] we are marginalized and we are seeking a quality life," Paras added.
"We are in the process of making sure that the anti-discrimination bill is passed in congress to protect the LGBT community," Paras stressed to ABS-CBN News.
Gatherings of the LGBT members and supporters are crucial to the efforts in pushing legislation like the Anti-Discrimination Bill, stressed Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño.
"The anti-discrimination bill has been stalled in the past... But, as we have seen tonight, the LGBT community and their supporters are growing in size. I think that, eventually, we will reach a critical mass for legistators to reconside their earlier positions against any bill respecting the rights of the LGBTs," he explained to ABS-CBN News.
"Congress has a macho culture. Despite its posturing that it is a democratic institution, in many ways, it is still difficult to push for democratic legislation. Plus, the fact also that the Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic country, [brings in] a religious aspect [into the congressional debates]. These are the things we are up against," he said.
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