Nicole Kidman a Very U.N.-Happy Woman
Nicole Kidman, seven months pregnant and none the worse for wear, is looking to improve the lives of all women, fellow mothers-to-be definitely included.
The actress, named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women in 2006, was at U.N. Headquarters in New York Tuesday to brief officials and reporters about the ongoing struggle to end violence against women around the globe.
"Every voice counts, and every amount counts," Kidman said in urging individuals and governments to pledge their support. "Let survivors of violence around the world know that they can count on us.” Per the UN News Centre, the campaign's Say No to Violence Against Women online petition has collected more than 200,000 signatures since its launch in late November.
"One in three women will encounter violence in some way, shape or form against them in their lifetime," Kidman said, asking that "ending violence against women be made a top priority for governments everywhere."
Matt Roloff found not guilty of DUI
Matt Roloff, patriarch to the Roloff family of the very popular TLC reality show Little People, Big World, was found not guilty of Driving Under the Influence by a Washington County, Oregon judge. He made this decision even though it was a jury trial. You see, a few of the jury members got into a bit of trouble. But first, more about Matt.
Back on June 19th of last year the 46-year-old Roloff was pulled over after a sheriff’s deputy saw his van leaving a bar and weaving over lane lines. During testimony last week Roloff mentioned that he was only dropping off a friend at the bar and never left his car. He also testified that he was tired from a cross-country RV trip he took with his family and that the pedal extensions on the van he was driving (it was his wife Amy’s van) were different than what he was used to.
The verdict was given by Circuit Judge Donald R. Letourneau rather than the jurors because a few members did not heed instructions to not look up any information about the case. Two of the jurors looked up definitions of “implied consent” and “beyond a reasonable doubt” on the Internet. In addition, one of those two looked up information about the eye test that deputies say Roloff failed twice the night he was pulled over. After chastising the jury about disobeying the law, Judge Letourneau dismissed the panel and gave the verdict on his own.
Despite Roloff’s acquittal, he still isn’t scott free. Under Oregon’s “implied consent” law, Matt’s driver’s license was suspended for three years because he refused to take a breath test after his June arrest and had gone through a previous drunken-driving diversion program within the past five years. At this point in time, he cannot get his license back any sooner.
On the Roloff Farms website, Matt thanked his fans for their support and encouragement over the last few months and that his top priority is to spend time with his family. He also says that in the coming months he’ll be able to share more about what happened during the arrest as well as everything leading up to the trial.
Marvel Studios and Lionsgate Make Deals with WGA
Joining United Artists, the Weinstein Co. and Worldwide Pants in the “If we can do it, so can you” club, Marvel Studios and Lionsgate made interim deals today with the Writer’s Guild that allow their studios to return to business as normal.
We’re very excited about our summer releases Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and look forward to resuming work with writers on our future projects including Captain America, Thor, Ant-Man, and The Avengers,” said Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel in a press release.
Wouldn’t it be dandy if Marvel took a cue from Troma’s Toxie and started releasing in-person statements via Ant-Man? And I guess The Avengers is top priority, for realz. Like a masked person’s secret identity, details of Marvel’s agreement were not disclosed, while Lionsgate’s is similar to UA and WWP. Furthering the cause, Lionsgate drew a rainbow with its finger, saying…
“The writers’ issue seems on its way to being solved, and Lionsgate felt it was an important time, particularly in view of our television series, to have our writer partners get back to work. We look forward to a broad industry agreement soon.”
Just as American Gladiators was putting a death grip on the nation’s feigning attention!
New Prince Caspian Poster
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has a new poster, which is much better than the first one. It looks similar to the Lord Of The Rings posters, which is not a bad thing. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe earned a gigantic $744 million worldwide, making Caspian a top priority.
I quite like this poster. You have the wise lion taking up a good amount of the thing. The handsome prince, the ‘ready for war’ children, the souring eagles, a water man (you can tell I havent read any of the books) and if you happen to be a small child looking at this poster on the wall, the main thing you will see is a sword fighting rodent. Small children like things like that, so will probably annoy their parents into going to see it. These marketing people think of everything don’t they?
Click for a larger version.
