Wednesday, August 31, 2011

TV Director Reza Badiyi Passes On

Reza Badiyi, who directed television shows ranging from Get Smart to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, passed on 20 August 2011 at the age of 81.

Mr. Badiyi was born in Arak, Iran on 17 April 1930. He studied acting at the Academy of Drama in Iran. He eventually switched from acting to cinematography, and then to making documentaries. Before moving to the United States in 1955, he had made 21 documentaries. His documentary Flood in Khuzestan caught the attention of the United States, who invited him to come to the U.S. to study filmmaking. He studied filmmaking at the Syracuse University, then went to work for industrial film company Calvin Co. in Kansas City, Missouri. There he met director Robert Altman. He was assistant camera on Mr. Altman's short "The Magic Bond (1955) and  an assistant director on Mr. Altman's feature film debut, The Delinquents in 1957.

Reza Badiyi went onto be an assistant director on Carnival of Souls (1962) and an associate producer on the movie Terror at Black Falls (1962) and the TV series Run, Buddy, Run. In 1967 he created the titles for legendary sitcom He & She. He would go onto create title sequences for The Good Guys, Mary Tyler Moore, and Hawaii Five-O. He would be best known in television for his directing. Indeed, according to the Director's Guild, Mr. Badiyi holds the record for directing the most hours of American television. Over the years he directed episodes of such shows as  Get Smart, Hawaii Five-OThe Doris Day Show, Mission: Impossible, The Magician, Mannix, Serpico, Man From Atlantis, Baretta, The Rockford Files, Hart to Hart, Falcon Crest, Jake and the Fatman, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, In the Heat of the Night, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Nowhere Man, La Femme Nikita, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Reza Badiyi was not simply a prolific director in television, but a talented one as well. He was equally at home directing sitcoms as he was action adventure shows or dramas. In fact, in his long career he directed nearly every genre of television, from comedy to police drama to science fiction to horror. It was his skill as a director that allowed him to create the memorable title sequences to Hawaii Five-O and Mary Tyler Moore. Mr. Badiyi was a superior television director who paid more than usual attention to the camera work on the shows he directed.

Ron Artest joins Dancing with the Stars cast




Ron Artest © Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty
Ron Artest is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, but due to the NBA lockout (for all non-sports fans: a situation where players and owners fail to reach a new contract) he has much more time on his hands. Now the athlete has joined the cast of the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars, although he actually doesn't dance and isn't a big fan of the dressing up. So what made hime decide to start dancing? His daughter Diamond, she said "Daddy, you should do it." Diamond is now 8-years old, but she battled cancer at age 4, the possibility to raise money for cancer research played a role in Ron's decision to put on his dancing shoes. "I had a change to play basketball overseas and I had a chance to do Dancing with the Stars. She asked me to do it, and I thought I could dance and raise some money for cancer research. I'm going to donate the profits," Ron, 31, said.

Dan Karaty and wife Natasha welcome a baby girl




Dan Karaty © Edwin Smulders
Choreographer Dan Karaty is a dad!

Natasha, the wife of the 34-year old Holland's Got Talent judge, gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday evening. Dan had flown back to the US on Friday, to be there for the birth of their first child. The new parents live in the Netherlands, where Dan is a talent show judge. However, they did want for their child to be born in their homecountry, so Natasha had gone home earlier in the pregnancy. Dan has said in the past, that when the family remains in the Netherlands, they're planning on raising their daughter bilingual.

Further details (name & weight) are currently unknown.

Congrats to Dan & Natasha!

UPDATE: On Friday September 2nd, Dan announced to the world - in a live show of Holland's Got Talent - that he and Natasha have named their daughter Quinn Vanessa.

Laser Printer Was Feeling Blah



Laser Printer was feeling blah.





Salad tomato really took the news hard.





Packing tape dispenser couldn't believe his eyes.





Home Depot Bathroom Sink didn't give a shit.





Toilet paper dispenser was hiding from Pac-Man, who had just eaten a power pill.





Ladder was aghast (submitted by Emily Kane).





Still, the entire time, Cab Window was nonplussed (also by Emily Kane).
DID WHITNEY HOUSTON SHARE AN EROTIC MOMENT WITH BUBBLES THE CHIMP???!!!: WHITNEY HOUSTON once had an erotic moment at MICHAEL JACKSON'S Neverland Ranch. But not with Michael.

According to London's "Mirror", this is what David Gest, Liza Minnelli's ex-husband and Michael's friend, said during a taping for a Jackson documentary that's supposed to air in the UK this October


"Whitney was having dinner with Michael at his Neverland home when she accidentally dropped her knife under the table. While Michael was retrieving it for her, Whitney felt her toes being sucked.

"She moaned, 'Michael, is that you? Don't stop. That's so sensual.' Yet Michael's head popped up and her toes were still being sucked. It turned out it was Bubbles [the chimp]."

IS THIS WHAT BEYONCE'S BABY WILL LOOK LIKE???: A forensic artist who has worked as a consultant for the FBI has come up with a picture of what he thinks the spawn of JAY-Z and BEYONCE  will look like. If it's a boy, anyway. Jay and Bey haven't announced the gender yet.

Check It

IS KIM KARDASHIAN TRYING TO BUY BACK HER SEX TAPE???: Porn producers at Vivid Entertainment claim a mystery buyer wants to buy KIM KARDASHIAN'S famous sex tape with singer Ray J and take it off the Internet.


According to TMZ, the buyer has consulted a lawyer in Tennessee about acquiring the tape and is willing to pay big bucks. The buyer also wants to purchase all of the raw, unused footage that never made it to the DVD. While the buyer wasn't identified, the lawyer said that he or she, quote, "does not intend to distribute or broadcast the 'tape', but hopes to completely remove it from the market."

Obviously, most people assume this anonymous would-be buyer is Kim herself, or mama Kris.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31 INCLUDE RICHARD GERE AND DEBBIE GIBSON

IN DENIAL - ANGELINA JOLIE CLEARS UP RUMORS: ANGELINA JOLIE is denying some viral rumors in a new interview with "Vanity Fair". Angie tells the magazine (1.) she’s not pregnant, (2.) nor is she adopting any time soon. She also adds that (3.) there is no “secret wedding” in her and partner BRAD PITT'S future.

Jolie then goes on to talk about her upcoming film, "In the Land of Blood and Honey", which she wrote and directed but it's pretty boring stuff so I'll spare you the details.

COULD BE TRUE COULD BE CRAP - JENNIFER ANISTION PREGNANCY RUMORS HEAT UP: The JENNIFER ANISTON pregnancy rumors are once again in full effect. Now that she and the man she pilfered have moved in together, "Us Weekly" claims she's been fetused.

Their proof is that Jen was supposedly sick during the couple's recent trip to Hawaii, and she wasn't drinking at Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's August 20th anniversary party.


And if that's not enough for you, one insider told the magazine she, quote, "looked pregnant."

WILL BRITNEY NO LONGER NEED A CONSERVATORSHIP?:There was a routine hearing for BRITNEY SPEARS' conservatorship yesterday, reportedly to deal with accounting issues -- however, after Britney's tour concludes this fall, word is her doctors and advisers are going to meet to see how much longer the conservatorship needs to last.

A source said, "It's likely that Britney's business affairs will still remain under control of the conservatorship though, [but] they [may] determine that she no longer needs it for herself personally." on her own."


Meanwhile ... according to RadarOnline, Britney couldn't be more grateful that her father is overseeing her affairs. A source said, "Britney now recognizes that if her father hadn't stepped in and taken the action that he had, well, let's just say Britney is now crediting Jamie for saving her life."

"Britney's relationship with her dad is in a very, very good place now. She was extremely emotional backstage before leaving for the VMAs and kept telling her daddy how much she loves him."

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Photo: Jason Castro's newborn daughter




Madeline Emilia Castro
Jason Castro and his wife Mandy welcomed their first child into their family on Sunday, when Mandy gave birth to a daughter. The baby girl was given the name Madeline Emilia.

Jason and Mandy got married last year and revealed news of their pregnancy in April. He then wrote on his website, "We just found out yesterday that it is going to be a girl! That makes me laugh ... what am I going to do with a sweet little girl?! Probably just smile a lot ... I cannot wait!!!" Now former American Idol contestant Jason, 24, posted photos of his adorable daughter on his website. Among the photos a cute shot of the new dad with his little girl.



Jason Castro with his daughter Madeline

Love Is...



...a no-look handjob from a pretty blonde.





Hunger Games Trilogy

Still in summer mode. I'm currently reading Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe. It's quite dense and poetic, perhaps a bit serious for August heat. However, I was inspired by my trip to Asheville and visiting the Thomas Wolfe Memorial.



For a true beach/poolside/anytime read, consider the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I first gave a review on 7/1/11 of The Hunger Games. I was hooked. This fast paced story follows Katniss, a resourceful young lady who must play to live in a dystopian future.

Spoiler Alert: Her hunting skills come in handy, plus she's paired with Peeta, the baker's son who's declared his love for her. Does she fight him, too? Or does love build the alliance? But Gael, her true love figures strongly. What happens in victory?



Spoiler Alert: With a win, comes fame, plus more. Katniss was never the Capitol's darling and now President Snow threatens her life and family. Political manipulation calls for another special game, the Quell, and it pits former Hunger Games winners against each other. Will Katniss and Peeta remain a duo? Who else can be trusted? In the meantime, there are rumors that districts are uprising, inspired by Katniss, the Mockinjay. Again, who will live and who will die? Collins' pace, characters, and plot are a complete package.







Final Spoiler Alert: Katniss awakes in a hospital to find that District 12 is gone, others are battling, and she as the Mockinjay must lead the rebels to overcome the Capitol. It's heady business for a teen and she's in constant denial of her power. Gael helps her lead, and sadly Peeta, captured by the Capitol, appears to have turned against her. You, the reader, will keep the pages turning into the wee hours of the night. When you finish the series, you'll be very satisfied with your time spent with Katniss and crew. Whew! I'm out of breath still from this futuristic adventure. Excellent trilogy.


'DANCING WITH THE STARS' CAST REVEALED - FIRST TRANSGENDER TO BE CONSTESTANT: The new cast of 'Dancing With the Stars' was officially announced last night, and it includes the show's first transgender contestant. That would be CHAZ BONO,  SONNY and CHER'S son who used to be Chastity.


He says, quote, "Doing this show is an opportunity for me to reach a larger, more mainstream audience with just a simple message of being transgender is okay and not something to be scared of."


The rest of the celebrity hoofers are:

Nancy Grace
Kristin Cavallari (former Hills star who was recently dumped by Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler)
Ricki Lake (former talk-show host and actress)
Chynna Phillips (Wilson Phillips singer)
Carson Kressley (fashion expert best known for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
Hope Solo (U.S. Women's National Soccer Team goalie)
Elisabetta Canalis (George Clooney's Italian ex)
David Arquette (Courteney Cox's estranged husband)
Rob Kardashian (Kim's little brother)
J.R. Martinez (All My Children star)
Ron Artest (L.A. Laker)

CELEBRITIES BEHAVING BADLY - MATTHEW FOX: 'Lost' star MATTHEW FOX has been accused of assaulting a female bus driver in Cleveland.


The one-time Jack Shephard was detained by police after allegedly punching driver Heather Bormann in the chest and stomach after she refused to let him board a party bus because he wasn't a member of the party.

Bormann told TMZ she punched back, hitting Fox in the mouth and cutting his lip. The actor was not arrested and Bormann says she's considering pressing charges.


LISTEN: The bus driver explained to TMZ what went down

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY LIST FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 30 INCLUDES CAMERON DIAZ

ROMANCE REPORT - HAVE JUSTIN AND JESSICA REUNITED???!!!: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JESSICA BIEL were spotted taking an afternoon bike ride in Toronto Sunday after having brunch together.

Does this mean they're back together? E! Online says those close to the couple say we shouldn’t read too much into it. The ride, sources say, means "nothing official." (--Jessica is in Toronto shooting the "Total Recall" remake.)

COVER SHOT - NEW PHOTOS FROM KIM K’S WEDDING: Hello! Magazine has jumped on the KIM KARDASHIAN wedding photo bandwagon with the cover photo depicting Kim walking down the aisle with new hubby Kris Humphries …


Their latest issue features new pictures from the reality starlet’s special day including a photo of Kim posing with her two sisters, and bridesmaids, Kourtney and Khloe

WATCH: A while back, KIM did a music video for her singing debut, a song titled "Jam (Turn It Up)", but it never saw the light of day due to a lack of interest in the song itself.

Now, 54 seconds of footage from the shoot have surfaced online, and in all honesty I'm not sure anyone needs to see more. But We Report, You Decide …

Monday, August 29, 2011

More birds and flowers

My bff Gretchen and I went birding last Saturday and, while we didn't see anything too unusual, we did see some nice places and beautiful wildflowers and butterflies.



Our first birds of the trip were some Wild Turkeys:Baby G told me that in the fall, the toms all hang out together and the hens hang out in their own groups, and they don't intermingle again until the mating season starts up. Interesting! There were three beautiful toms in this group, and nary a female in sight.



We started our birding at Bald Eagle State Park, where we saw quite an impressive array of birds at several hotspots along the lake. Highlights were several Osprey, a young Bald Eagle, a Cliff Swallow, a Green Heron that flew right past us at eye level and maybe 20 feet away, a beautiful Black-and-white Warbler, and huge flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Some photos:

A hanging nest incorporating some discarded fishing line



a very shy Cliff Swallow who refused to let us see much more than this



not one of the greatest photos of the Black-and-white Warbler



Red-eyed Vireo tocks! Every time I got a great look at him through the bins,

I would lift my camera and he'd hide. Grrrr.




We also went to Julian Wetlands and, a first for me, the new Governor Tom Ridge Wetlands Preserve, named after the former governor of PA. I had no idea he was any kind of environmentalist, but whatever. We saw some great butterflies in both spots, but not a lot of birds:
We saw lots of these--is this a male Eastern Black Swallowtail?



one of my favorite signs of fall, the New England Aster







These two photos are from the same plant. It's a new flower for me, but I can't find it in my books. Any ideas? They almost look like different flowers, but I think they were from the same plant.



a very worn Monarch on some New York Ironweed



a beautiful female (judging from the larger blue smudges)

Eastern Black Swallowtail on some New York Ironweed



this looks like a White Wood Aster, judging from the width of the leaves,

the sparse petals, and the shaggy center



I can't find this flower in any of my books. What the heck is it? There was TONS of it out there.



a Cardinal Flower -- what a beauty!



there were tons of mushrooms, which made Gretchen happy

as mycology is her newest interest. That flap under the cap is called a "veil."



look at this beautiful little spot, tucked into the woods behind the Tom Ridge wetlands



a shroom, just emerging



a grown-up version of the same kind of shroom


Gretch told me about the difficulty of mushroom ID; it's not about color or shape or appearance so much as it's the smell (don't they all smell alike?), the color of the spores (you make a "spore-print" by doing something or other--I kinda forgot what--with the cap to make it release spores onto a piece of paper), what kinds of trees the mushroom is growing near, and a bunch of qualities you can only see by tearing the mushroom apart.



I'm sure glad bird ID isn't so... um... physical.

Ruben Nicolai is a dad again

Ruben Nicolai © fotovantellingen.nl
Dutch presenter Ruben Nicolai and his girlfriend Laurien welcomed a daughter on Saturday morning. The baby girl was given the name Daantje. Ruben, 36, and his girlfriend are already parents to 4-year old daughter Liv.
Congrats!

Special Hurricane Irene Post!

Since we are stuck at home due to the hurricane snarling all trains to NYC, let's review what we saw during Hurricane Irene news footage, shall we? No? Well, I'm doing it anyway. Fuck you guys.











Every channel had a Hurricane Irene logo for their newscast. Some were better than others.