Entertainment
Arts
Play It Again, Sams – NZ International Comedy Festival
If you could live your life over, what would you do with it? What would you change? What regrets would you act on? Would you still watch all of Casablanca knowing that they never actually say “Play It Again, Sam”? …
Wellington | Wednesday, 16 May 2012 – Saturday, 19 May 2012
Raybon Kan is Completely Uncalled For – Comedy Festival 2012
For one imperial hour, sepia-toned soliloquist Raybon Kan recites nonsensical non-sequiturs, for the delectation of your cognitive dissonance.
Fresh from a bruising news cycle in 2011, when he was water-boarded …
Wellington | Tuesday, 15 May 2012 – Saturday, 19 May 2012
Book Review: The Baroness
Book Review: Distrust That Particular Flavor
Every time William Gibson publishes a book, I wait for some pretentious young indie band to name themselves after the title. It’s curious to discover that this master of the offhand cool moniker used to have so much trouble naming…
Books
Research takes crime writer to scary situations
Peter James has been on risky police raids, spoken with some of Britain’s most dangerous psychopaths, and put up with his own stalker for 10 years.
Author’s book confused with ’50 Shades’
The author of a book called “Shades of Gray” says her work is being confused with that of a chart-topping erotic fiction writer.
Christchurch man tracks Lego history
$5 Blyton book reaches $1200 on Trade Me
Bids in an online auction for a signed copy of an Enid Blyton book have already reached $1200, with huge interest in the Nelson find.
Celebrities
American Idol Elimination Shocker: The Final 2 Revealed!
“American Idol” said goodbye to one of its most celebrated singers on Thursday as the Season 11 Final 2, who will compete for the title, were revealed. (SPOILER: This story contains the results of “Idol.”)
Adam Lambert Performs On ‘American Idol’
Adam Lambert sang his new single, ‘Never Close Our Eyes,’ on tonight’s ‘American Idol’ results show. Watch his performance here! Adam Lambert never fails to disappoint! The 30-year-old former American Idol contestant performed on the semi-fin…
‘American Idol’ down to final 2 singers
Review: 3 isn’t company in edgy play ‘Cock’
A cockfight is a contest between two gamecocks, often conducted in a circular arena called a cockpit. That partially explains the wry title and unusual staging of Mike Bartlett’s edgy play, “Cock,” but of course, there’s more to it.
History
18/05/1966 – Death of Māori King Koroki
Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero was the fifth Maori monarch to head the Kingitanga movement that began in 1858 in response to European colonisation.
25/05/1978 – Bastion Point protestors evicted
Police and army removed all 218 occupants of Bastion Point, Auckland, ending an occupation that began in January 1977. Ngati Whatua were protesting the loss of land in the Orakei Block, which had once been declared ‘absolutely inalienable’.
24/05/1854 – Parliament’s first sitting in Auckland
23/05/1966 – Coronation of first Maori Queen
Princess Piki, the daughter of King Koroki, was selected as the sixth Maori monarch − and first Queen − during her father’s funeral, in accordance with Kingitanga protocol. She assumed her mothers name, Te Atairangikaahu.
Movie
Jessica Alba to return in 3D for Sin City 2
Get ready for more black-and-white murderous mayhem: Details have been announced for the sequel to 2005′s hit R18 film Sin City .Both Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke will return for Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For , which will be…
Dominic Corry: Has Sacha Baron Cohen run out of ideas?
Comedy is a funny thing. No movie genre is more subjective. How much you get out of a comedy can be drastically affected by what kind of day you’re having, who you see the movie with, which pants you’re wearing and so on.From any…
Cleavage quip from irate female directors
Movie review: Man on a Ledge (+trailer)
The title pretty much sums up this thriller, with Avatar actor Sam Worthington stuck on the ledge of a high-rise New York hotel for the majority of the film.Nick Cassidy (Worthington) is a wrongly convicted ex-cop desperate to…
Music
Stars pay tribute to Donna Summer
Stars have been quick to express their grief at news that Grammy-winning disco legend Donna Summer, who steamed up the charts in the 1970s and 80s with raunchy hits like Love to Love You Baby and Hot Stuff has died aged 63.”Early…
Is ‘sick’ 50 Cent faking an illness for publicity?
US rap star 50 Cent has tweeted that is recovering in hospital and posted a picture of himself with an array of cuddly toys – although some questioned whether it was all a publicity stunt.The rapper posted a string of messages on…
Four minutes of Spider-Man unveiled (+10 links)
Meet the new yellow, (Ms) Wiggle
A cleanout of The Wiggles has seen a woman join the Australian children’s musical troupe for the first time. Emma Watkins, who has served as the group’s back-up dancer for the past two years, will join the group in place of Yellow…
Stars
Grace Zabriskie (actress, 1941)
Grace Zabriskie’s impressive list of screen credits includes Angelica Huston’s directorial debut Bastard Out of Carolina, A Family Thing, The Waterdance, Fried Green Tomatoes, …
Bill Paxton (actor, 1955)
As one of the industry’s most accomplished talents, actor-director-producer Bill Paxton moves effortlessly between major studio films as well as independent features. Last year, Paxton made …
Bob Saget (actor, director, comedian, 1956)
Enya (musician, 1961)
Enya (born 17 May 1961), birth name Eithne Ní Bhráonain (sometimes seen as the Anglicized Enya Brennan) is Ireland’s best-selling solo artist. But Enya is really three people: Enya herself; …
TV
The Diary: TV’s sexiest stars team up for Breakfast
He’s not taking the weather with him, so much as leaving it behind. The Diary can reveal popular Breakfast weatherman Tamati Coffey will be the new host of Saturday Breakfast – starting tomorrow. He joins Toni Street.Rawdon Christie…
Best to shop around before TV switchover
The digital television changeover is coming and for those who haven’t got the gear they need, it pays to shop around, a study shows.Consumer magazine looked at the costs of buying and installing a UHF aerial or satellite dish and…
Big shake-up for The Wiggles
Quickflix backs new regulator
The Commerce Commission’s tools are too blunt to deal with the growing convergence between telecommunications companies and broadcasters, and an independent regulator would be a better option for the sector, according to ASX-listed…
Video
Pilot shocked at video uproar
SAN FRANCISCO – A pilot who posted YouTube videos criticising security at San Francisco International Airport said yesterday that he is shocked at the uproar they’ve created.Chris Liu, 50, told ABC’s Good Morning America that…
Pilot shocked at video uproar
SAN FRANCISCO – A pilot who posted YouTube videos criticising security at San Francisco International Airport said yesterday that he is shocked at the uproar they’ve created.Chris Liu, 50, told ABC’s Good Morning America that…
Weird News
Cat fine after hair-raising roof ride
A car surfing cat took an almost two kilometre ride on a car roof through Blenheim before being saved by a mystery man.
Police wait on swallowed diamond to pass
Police in Canada say they are waiting for a man accused of stealing a US$20,000 (NZ$26,000) diamond and swallowing it to produce the evidence.
Sir David Beckham? Olympic-sized error
Fugitive penguin spotted alive in Tokyo Bay
After Penguin Number 337 made a daring bid for freedom from a Tokyo aquarium and vanished into the waters of Tokyo Bay two months ago, many feared the worst for the adventurous feathered fugitive.
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