Melrose Place: Where Are They Now?

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When Heather Locklear began appearing as a special guest star on “Melrose Place,” she revved up the ratings and the innuendo on the show. Supershort hemlines and sassy retorts were Amanda’s staple and the short-term stay turned into a long-term gig. Since the show wrapped, Locklear has had some success in her acting career. She starred in “Spin City” for three seasons and was the headliner in the short-lived “LAX.”

Recently, Locklear made the tabloid headlines because of her love life rather than her acting. She divorced her husband, rocker Richie Sambora, in April 2007.

Today Josie Bissett is a parenting expert, author and mother of two. But, before she became the mom next door, she played Jane Andrews Mancini for the entire run of “Melrose Place,” a rare feat for the ever-evolving cast.

The apartment complex was drama-filled and Bissett’s character got no leniency. Her husband cheated on her and after their divorce, her husband had a fling with her irresponsible sister.

Kristin Davis is getting plenty of press these days because she is reprising her role as Charlotte York in “Sex and the City’s” jump from the boob tube to the big screen. Before she helped shape how single women talk about sex, Davis appeared on “Melrose Place.”

She stayed on the show only one season because producers found the audience hated her snarky character. But three years later, she landed the role that launched her career into the stratosphere.

“Melrose Place’s” resident heartthrob with a heart of gold Billy Campbell was played by Andrew Shue. Shue became a fan favorite. He left the show before its final season and since then has kept a low profile artistically.

Shue appears in the 2007 film “Gracie” as a soccer coach.

Kelly Rutherford was Megan Lewis on “Melrose Place.” After leaving the show she had a handful of reoccuring roles on several television shows and it looks as though 2007 might be her biggest year yet. Rutherford will play Lily van der Woodsen in the much hyped television show “Gossip Girl.”

Marcia Cross has hung her hat on two of television’s most infamous addresses: Melrose Place, and now the decidedly more suburban Wisteria Lane. Cross was Dr. Kimberly Shaw on “Melrose Place”, and now plays perfection embodied in housewife Bree Hodge. She hardly had a break between the two roles. She’s been busy professionally and now her personal life will be just as fun-filled, with the arrival of her fraternal twins Savannah and Eden in February.

“Melrose Place’s” Alison Parker was played by actress Courtney Thorne-Smith, and she’s been a busy girl since leaving the show. First, Thorne-Smith went to “Ally McBeal,” and then to “According to Jim.” Now she can add accomplished author to her resume, with the release of her first book, “Outside In,” in which she addresses her body image issues.

The stunning Laura Leighton, “Melrose Place’s” Sydney Andrews, married co-star and America’s favorite husband Doug Savant. Since leaving the world of prime-time soap drama, Leighton has made a name for herself on the prime-time crime drama circuit, appearing on shows like “Boston Legal,” “Law and Order: SVU” and “CSI: Miami.” She recently finished filming the horror-thriller “The Burrowers.”

His breakout role may have been as the gay character on “Melrose Place,” Matt Fielding, but Doug Savant still managed to land a wife out of the gig, actress and co-star Laura Leighton. And the role certainly didn’t hurt his career. Now Savant plays the ultimate hetero, hunky Doug Scavo– opposite Felicity Huffman– on “Desperate Housewives.”

Jack Wagner, “Melrose Place’s” Dr. Peter Burns, has kept busy, appearing as Dominick Marone on the CBS daytime drama “The Bold and The Beautiful” since 2003. Personally, he’s hit the jackpot– dating former co-star Heather Locklear.

Thomas Calabro is one of the few cast members to remain on “Melrose Place” for its duration. On the show he played the often dubious Dr. Michael Mancini. He was the character fans loved to hate. Mancini had a host of problems when it came to women. Actually, it really was just one — being faithful.

Today Calabro has placed his scheming characer aside as he has appeared in television shows like “Nip/Tuck” and “Cold Case.”

Today, actress Daphne Zuniga works for environmentally and socially friendly causes, like cleaning up toxic waste and counseling kids on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Before she became engrossed in charities, Zuniga starred on “Melrose Place” as Jo Reynolds for four seasons. After leaving the show, she guest starred in several television series.

Rob Estes met and married his “Melrose Place” co-star Josie Bissett. Though the two are now separated, they have two children and Estes continues to act. His latest roles were in “Women’s Murder Club” and a “CSI: Miami” episode.

Grant Show was “Melrose Place’s” bad boy hottie, who always rode in on his motorcycle. His character, Jake Hanson, was a fan favorite during Grant’s years on the show. Following its end, he starred in many TV movies and appeared on such shows as “Six Feet Under,” “Strong Medicine” and “Point Pleasant.”

Grindhouse: Death Proof **** Quentin Tarantino movie review

Death Proof is Quentin Tarantino’s latest film and in one word I would call it simply spectacular. It has the look of a 1970 era film ala Starsky and Hutch. It’s sexy, thrilling, and the music soundtrack is excellent. I wont’ go into the full synopsis since I have that listed below. All I’ll say is you have to see this film. Tarantino is a great filmmaker and this is a great film.

Popular cult filmmaker Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this high-octane thriller that stars Kurt Russell as a serial murderer who uses his revved-up car as a killing machine. After transforming his Dodge Charger into an indestructible weapon, Stuntman Mike climbs behind the wheel to terrorize a group of women on the road. Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Ladd and Vanessa Ferlito also star in the ultimate road rage film.

 

Sameritech’s 4 star guide:

**** Loved it
*** Really liked it
** Average, but watchable
* Didn’t like it, wasted my time, would rather have watched a George Bush speech

Fred Thompson reacts after his motorcade runs over a dog

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson reacts after his motorcade ran over a dog after it got away from a little girl. The mother (shown below) tries to shield and comfort her daughter after the incident.

Freedom of speech is not disgusting

Since when did freedom of speech become “disgusting”? As and active duty military member, I don’t feel that MoveOn.org’s ad on General Petraeus was, as the President called it, disgusting. It’s freedom of speech. It’s not what I would have said but who can argue with their claims?

It’s their right to question the Iraq progress report when DoD’s fuzzy math formula reportedly doesn’t count it as violence if one is killed or injured by a car bomb and only counts an assassination if you’re shot in the back of the head (not the front). Let’s not forget the touting of decreased violence in Iraqi neighborhoods while totally ignoring the ethnic cleansing that occurred beforehand.

Was it disgusting when right-wing groups attacked and lied about war hero John Kerry’s Vietnam record in the last election? Was it disgusting when last year’s Republican controlled Congress (and the President signed) a 2007 defense spending bill which gave the military their smallest pay raise in 13 years? Was it disgusting when certain leaders used “educational deferments” and National Guard duty to avoid having to go to Vietnam? What kind of robot society would we have if we had a bunch of bobble-head citizens who never questioned the actions of their elected leaders?

Pluto chases kid at Disney

I guess the kid pulled his tail or something. Looks like the parent got pissed, then Pluto falls off the curb.

Travelers Ask to See Senator Larry Craig’s Bathroom Stall

 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — When tourists ask for the bathroom in the Minneapolis airport lately, it’s usually not because they have to go.

It’s because they want to see the stall made famous by U.S. Sen. Larry Craig’s arrest in a sex sting.

“It’s become a tourist attraction,” said Karen Evans, information specialist at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. “People are taking pictures.”

Craig was arrested June 11 by a Minneapolis airport police officer. The Idaho Republican pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Craig has since said his guilty plea was a mistake. His request to withdraw the guilty plea will be heard Sept. 26, just four days before he has said he will step down from his Senate seat.

Just 15 minutes into her shift on Friday, Evans said she had been asked directions to the new tourist attraction four times. Other airport workers field the same question.

“It’s by the Lottery shop, right next to the shoeshine shop,” said newsstand worker Abdalla Said, adding he gets the question daily.

The Royal Zino Shoeshine shop owner’s grandson, Royal Zino, said it has been hectic.

“People have been going inside, taking pictures of the stall, taking pictures outside the bathroom door _ man, it’s been crazy,” he said.

On their way to Guatemala, Jon and Sally Westby of Minneapolis made a visit.

“We had to just stop and check out the bathroom,” Sally said. “In fact, it’s Jon’s second time _ he was here last week already.”

MoveOn.org General Petraeus ad

Here’s the General Petraeus MoveOn.org ad:
petraeusnytad.pdf

And here’s MoveOn.org’s substantiation of the facts

Arctic Ice the Size (and shape) of Florida Gone in a Week

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Arctic Ice Continues Record Melting

Scientists report that arctic ice the size (and shape) of the state of Florida has melted in the last week.

Arctic Ice the size (and shape) of Florida gone in a week

By CLAYTON SANDELL

An area of Arctic sea ice the size of Florida has melted away in just the last six days as melting at the top of the planet continues at a record rate.

2007 has already broken the record for the lowest amount of sea ice ever recorded, say scientists, smashing the old record set in 2005.

Currently, there are about 1.63 million square miles of Arctic ice, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo. That is well below the record of 2.05 million square miles set two summers ago and could drop even lower before the final numbers are in.

North Pole’s Ice Disappears

From September 3 to September 9, researchers say 69,000 square miles of Arctic ice disappeared, roughly the size of the Sunshine State.

Scientists say the rate of melting in 2007 has been unprecedented, and veteran ice researchers worry the Arctic is on track to be completely ice-free much earlier than previous research and climate models have suggested.

“If you had asked me a few years ago about how fast the Arctic would be ice free in summer, I would have said somewhere between about 2070 and the turn of the century,” said scientist Mark Serreze, polar ice expert at the NSIDC. “My view has changed. I think that an ice-free Arctic as early as 2030 is not unreasonable.”

Sea ice melt will likely reach the absolute minimum in the next few days as temperatures at the North Pole cool and refreezing begins.

Worldwide Climate Implications

Melting sea ice, unlike land-based glaciers like the ones in Greenland and elsewhere, does not raise sea level. But it does play a major role in regulating the planet’s climate by affecting air and ocean currents.

“It will shift some of the weather patterns in ways that we are just beginning to understand,” said Robert Correll, a scientist who chairs the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment and is also the climate change director at the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment in Washington, D.C.

Correll said that white sea ice also acts as a mirror at the top of the planet, reflecting much of the sun’s energy back into space. As it melts, it reveals darker water that absorbs more energy from the sun — further warming the ocean in a process scientists call a “feedback.”

“If there is no ice, the ocean is going to continue to heat, and that is going to accelerate the global warming process,” said Correll.

In coastal villages throughout the Arctic, less sea ice also means less protection from wind and waves that erode the shoreline. It also means less habitat for animals like polar bears and other marine animals.

Last week, the United States Geological Survey issued a report that found if the ice continued to decline at the current rate, two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population will disappear by 2050.

“Our results do give me some concern,” said Steve Armstrup, a Polar Bear Project Leader with the USGS. “In Northern Alaska, where I’ve been working for these years, there may not be polar bears. So as Polar bears go, that probably reflects to a great extent a lot of things that are happening to other organisms in the Arctic system.”

Northwest Passage Opening

The melting ice continues to open up the fabled Northwest Passage, long-sought by explorers and shipping companies as a short cut between Europe and East Asia.

Historically, that debate has been largely theoretical because the passage has been frozen and impassable. But in August, satellite images showed the passage has now become more navigable than ever, fueling a hot debate between the United States and Canada over who should control it.

At a summit last month in Montebello, Canada, the leaders of the two nations expressed their disagreement.

“Canada’s position is that we intend to strengthen our sovereignty in the Arctic area, not only military, but economic, social, environmental and others,” said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“We believe it’s an international passageway,” President Bush countered a moment later.

The latest satellite image shows a clear, wide path running through the Arctic that has major implications for global commerce.

For example, ships that must currently go around South America’s Cape Horn because they are too big to traverse the Panama Canal could save about 10,000 miles out of their shipping route.

The passage also saves about 5,000 miles when shipping between Europe and Asia.

Canada, the United States and Denmark are also competing for resources as melting Arctic ice reveals potential deposits of oil and gas.

A mini-submarine placed a Russian flag at the North Pole last month in a symbolic claim to that country’s share of Arctic resources.

Environmental groups worry that increased traffic through the Arctic could put the natural resources in jeopardy if there is an oil spill or other disaster in the remote region.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Disturbia *** – Movie Review

If you haven’t see Disturbia, you’re in for a treat. It’s a take from Hitchcock’s 1954 thriller Rear Window. I’ve seen both films and both are excellent but Disturbia is obviously more up-to-date than it’s James Stewart counterpart. David Morse is superb as a bad guy and the sequence of scenes in the first 5 minutes will have you hooked from the start. It plays on the voyeur in all of us as Kale watches the day-to-day goings on of his neighbors after being sentenced to house arrest.

Disturbia is sexy and hip yet thrilling and chilling. If you’re in the mood for a very good thriller that doesn’t insult your intelligence from scene to scene, this is the film to rent.

Disturbia – In this modern retelling of Hitchcock’s thriller Rear Window, Kale (Shia LaBeouf), a troubled teen sentenced to house arrest, begins watching his neighbors out of boredom — only to discover evidence that a serial killer lives a stone’s throw from his home. As his suspicions of his neighbor (David Morse) grow, Kale enlists the aid of friends Ashley (Sarah Roemer) and Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) in his increasingly dangerous snooping.

Sameritech’s 4 star guide:

**** Loved it
*** Really liked it
** Average, but watchable
* Didn’t like it, wasted my time, would rather have watched a George Bush speech

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