Evel Knievel is Gone

The name synonymous to death defying, motorcycle flying stunts belongs to a mortal after all.

Evel Knievel died at 69 years of age, according to his website. He will forever be an icon with his red white & blue jumpsuit, inspiring daredevils of every age.

Read more from CNN.com. Photo courtesy of voormeryem.punt.ml.

The Spice Girls are back!

After babies, husbands, and unsuccessful solo careers, Posh, Scary, Sporty, baby & Ginger are kicking off their World Tour concert at Vancouver! Wow, talk about a 90's revival.

I was one of those Spice girls fanatics when they broke into the entertainment scene with "Wannabe", but honestly, the excitement of their reunion hasn't hit me yet. I guess seeing them perform together again will get me all hyped about it.

Read more about it from Reuters.com. Photos courtesy of communities.canada.com and aceshowbiz.com.

When Britney & Justin were young and innocent

I stumbled upon this old video of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake singing and dancing their hearts out at the Mickey Mouse Club. Man, her voice was pretty big and solid for such a young girl. The dancing, though cheesy, was pretty impressive. Of course, Justin was also showing signs of future stardom too. Maybe a bit awkward, but definitely talented.

After watching this, you wonder what happened to that sweet Southern girl who really loved to perform for the fans? Both of them had it then, but only Justin seems to still be at it.

If she could manage to equal Justin's current passion for music (like the Mickey Mouse club days) then there's hope for her. Post her bald-breakdown, undie-less with Paris, and unfit momma phase of course. Who knows, she just might surprise us one of these days (hopefully it's not because of another loser guy in tow!) Let's hope she gets her career (hopefully her life!) back on track. It's no fun dissing Brit (and she was so cute back then).

Photos courtesy of oilzine.com and riddleman.net.

Pulling the plug on Angels and Demons

Tom Hanks is going to wait much longer before work on the movie, "Angels and Demons" starts. The prequel to "Da Vinci Code" was slated for a December 2008 release, but this won't be possible with the standoff on the WGA strike. Reportedly, Akiva Goldsman's screenplay adaptation is not ready. Read more from Reuters.com.

Hmm, could this be an act of God?
Photos courtesy of cinemagazine.ch and audiobooksonline.com.

80s Hottie Phoebe Cates

I remember back in the late 80's when the movie "Date with an Angel" was shown. It wasn't a great movie, in fact you could call it boring. What made it a hit though were the stunning women in the cast.

While most may remember Emmanuel Beart who played the angel, Phoebe Cates was in the movie too - as the girl engaged to the guy who fell in love with the angel.

The thing is though, Phoebe didn't shine in the film, like the sexy, stunning beauty she's known for. To her defense, I think it was her short hair and understated look that made it so - a far cry from her usual look that made many teen guys crazy.

I beg to differ with those who said that Phoebe was no match for Emmanuel. Ask any guy who's seen Paradise or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and they'll tell you a thing or two. Besides, when you remember the 80s, Phoebe Cates is definitely one of the prettiest and sexiest actresses during that decade.

Fast forward...she's married to Kevin Kline since 1989, with 2 lovely kids Greta & Owen. She's been out of the limelight to focus on her family, while attending benefits and hosting dinner parties with her celebrity friends. Find out more from celebritywonder.com.

By the way, Phoebe is also a businesswoman, running a boutique called Blue Tree in Madison Avenue, New York City.

Photos courtesy of dawgsports.com, blogs.tampabay.com, ashleymorris.typepad.com and bundlesofjoy.org.

Where's Jamie Walters now?

Back in the early 90's, I was one of those young girls who had a mad crush on Jamie Walters. He was this James Dean look-alike, who sang the #1 hit song "How Do You Talk to an Angel" in 1992 as part of the band and TV show "Heights". Though this was short lived, he moved on to star in "Beverly Hills 90210" as the bad boy in Tori Spelling's life. After dating Drew Barrymore which led to an engagement that fell through, he seems to have disappeared from the limelight.


That is, until I came across this E feature on Jamie in 2006. Turns out he's doing a much more noble role helping save people in real life. He doesn't look like the same hunk of a star nowadays, but I think his bravery and dedication to his wife and daughters pretty much overshadows that.
Watch this clip from You tube.
Photos courtesy of side2.no and musik.tdconline.dk.

The Mystery behind Horror Writer Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, born on January 19, 1809, is one of most famous American authors, widely regarded for his tales of mystery and macabre. I first came across his work thanks to a morbid classmate in 6th grade who decided to recite "Annabel Lee." While his work was written more than a century ago, his work still brings shivers in this day and age. Here are excerpts from the said piece:

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling -my darling -my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea - In her tomb by the sounding sea.


Edgar Allan Poe became quite famous after the success of "The Raven and other poems" in 1845. He continued to write critical essays, short stories and poems in later years. Yet for all his genius as a writer, he generally lived a very unhappy life. He lost his parents at a young age, and was adopted by a wealthy businessman whom he became estranged with because financial disagreements (some say unsettled gambling debts). He married his young cousin Virginia, but lost her to an illness after only 10 years of marriage. Read more about his life from The Literature Network and Poe Museum.

After succumbing to a drinking problem because of his woes, he was mysteriously found on a street in a sorry state, and brought unconscious to Washington College Hospital. He died shortly after on Oct. 7, 1849. Reposts cite that he was insane, but there were various speculations on the cause of his death from murder, rabies, to alcoholism.


Now however, there is a new theory thanks to Matthew Pearl, author of The Poe Shadow. After doing 3 years of research, he believes he uncovered proof that Poe had a brain tumor. This would explain the strange hallucinations and lapsing in and out of consciousness. Read more about it here from Guardian Unlimited.

In the end, there will always have an air of mystery wrapped around his name and his short life. People will find it hard to forget his chilling words and tales of the night, as captured by his greatest work:

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadows on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted--nevermore!

Photos from baddict.wordpress.com, foothilltheatre.org, art-shrines.com, and crissimon.wordpress.com.

Remembering the Sound of Music

I'm taking a break from writing about someone who passed on. Ironically it's Nov. 1, and in the Philippines, this is a holiday for visiting the graveyard of loved ones. This time though, I've decided to remember one of the movies that made such an impression on me about 20 years ago.

I was in 6th grade the first time I watched "The Sound of Music". Top billed by great actors and singers like Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, this is one movie that will always put a smile on an otherwise cynical face. With Oscar Hammerstein II & Richard Rodgers' wonderful songs, plus respected director Robert Wise at the helm, it's a very pleasant nostalgic trip that childhood memories should be made of.

I think that the simple story coupled with beautiful music from the movie sealed its place as one of the great classics. True, it may be the typical plot (governess falls for the widower who's the father of the children she cares for), but it's hard not to love the songs and moments that best express life's most relevant highlights...from falling in love, betrayal, building trust, and protecting one's family to survive. If I were a critic, I'd give it 5 stars, no matter how cheesy it may sound. I think we need more movies that make life seem a little bit better.

To give credit to the topnotch cast, here's a list of their names and roles, courtesy of Yahoo Movies and Sound of Music.com:

Julie Andrews - Maria
Christopher Plummer - Captain Georg von Trapp
Eleanor Parker - Baroness
Richard Haydn - Max Detweiler
Charmian Carr - Liesl
Heather Menzies - Louisa
Nicholas Hammond - Friedrich
Duane Chase - Kurt
Angela Cartwright - Brigitta
Debbie Turner - Marta
Kym Karath - Gretl
Daniel Truhitte - Rolfe Gruber
Peggy Wood - the Mother Abbess
Anna Lee - Sister Margaretta
Portia Nelson - Sister Berthe


Photos from the film from Yahoo Movies.