Award-winning author Munro misses International Festival of Authors

Award-winning author Munro misses 
International Festival of Authors

By Alex P. Vidal

TORONTO, Ontario -- Like many writers and guests currently attending the 33rd International Festival of Authors (IFOA) at the Harbourfront Center, I was disheartened that Alice Munro failed to appear at this year's festival. 
Munro’s long-time friend and editor, Douglas Gibson, explained that: “Alice is 81 years old now, and her health is frail, making it impossible for her to attend this IFOA event, although she would very much like to be able to do so.”
Festival organizers were disappointed knowing how successful, enriching and entertaining her appearances at the IFOA have been in the past. Organizers worked to the eleventh hour to try and make the event possible however it was determined that this course of action was best. 
Winner of the 2009 Man Booker International Prize for her lifetime body of work, Alice Munro Haagensen was born in 1900 at Waquoit Bay on Cape Cod, where her family had a summer place, according to The Palisades Newsletter. Her father, a medieval historian, taught at the University of Pennsylvania, then at the University of Wisconsin in Madison (she remembered the lakes, the winter sports, walls of snow), and finally at Princeton as the head of the history department, always summering on the Cape.

'ARTICULATE FAMILY'

The second youngest of five children in an "articulate family" (her words), Alice,  a three-time winner of Canada's Governor General's Award for fiction, and a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize,  attended Wellesley College and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1921. She knew that she wanted to be a writer. After a year at the Sorbonne, she worked in New York as a reporter on the Globe (making $5 a day) and then for awhile at Scribner's Press. 
She met her husband, Cushman Haagensen (whose family had come to North Dakota from Norway in the 1850s) on a transatlantic ship - he was the ship's doctor, newly qualified, and she was returning from Europe. She told how he saw her coming aboard and had her seated at his table. By the end of the voyage, they were engaged. 
Throughout their sixty-year marriage, she was his constant helpmate. She ran the house, entertained colleagues and students and visiting dignitaries, helped with the editing of his book, Diseases of the Breast (he was a foremost expert on breast cancer), taught herself Greek when he opened a clinic in Athens and needed an interpreter.

ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE

Historic Houses of Palisades, published by the Historical Committee in 2001, is largely based on Alice's encyclopedic knowledge of the village and its inhabitants. 
In the 1980s she helped with applications that resulted in two Palisades districts and several individual houses being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
She was consulted on Sneden family history by the Virginia Historical Society and received the Rockland County Historical Society's Zehner award for her work. She continued to collect material on the early twentieth century and her own period in Palisades, planning for a continuation of her book.
"We hope our audience joins us in wishing the best for Ms. Munro," organizers announced five days before the start of the festival.
This year’s International Festival of Authors includes more than 200 participants and over 70 events. Each October, the IFOA presents a wide range of readings, round table discussions, onstage interviews, book signings and a number of special events featuring the most exciting authors in contemporary literature. Administered by Authors at Harbourfront Centre, this year’s 33rd annual IFOA takes place from October 18 to 28, 2012. 

How Obama ‘lost’ debate with Romney

How Obama ‘lost’ debate with Romney

By Alex P. Vidal

LOS ANGELES, California – I was one of the more than 50 million viewers who watched “live” on TV the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney at the University of Denver Wednesday night (October 4).

Like millions of those who thought the debate would conclude in a lopsided thumping in favor of the gifted first American-African president , I ended up gnashing my teeth in astonishment as the Republican standard bearer hammered out  an incredible performance that put the Democrat reelectionist at bay five weeks before the election day.

Both gentlemen squared off on issues on job, healthcare and economy and Romney, often sneered at for being muzzy with his own policy proposals, made a sustained effort to rattle off dollar figures, rates, and plan-points in a rhetorical blitz that Obama seemed unable to ward off.

“But you’ve been president four years,” whistled Romney as he uncorked a sally and turned the tables when Obama tried to establish his own agenda particularly his promise to shave $4 trillion off the deficit with a plan his administration was “putting forward to Congress right now.”

Obama could only smirk he “liked” the term “Obamacare” when the former Massachusetts governor scored him for cutting $716 billion from Medicare to pay for Obamacare.

Gregory J. Krieg of ABC News observed that when Obama suggested Romney's declared "love" of teachers was not backed up by his budget plan, the challenger was prepared with one of those much-anticipated "zingers."

"Mr. President," he said, "you're entitled as the president to your own airplane and to your own house, but not to your own facts. All right, I'm not going to cut education funding. I don't have any plan to cut education funding."

"Republicans and Democrats both love America," Romney said toward the end of the 90 minute-meeting. "But we need to have leadership, leadership in Washington that will actually bring people together and get the job done and could not care less if it's a Republican or a Democrat. I've done it before. I'll do it again."

"Well, first of all," Obama said, "I think Governor Romney's going to have a busy first day, because he's also going to repeal Obamacare, which will not be very popular among Democrats as you're sitting down with them."

When debate moderator Jim Lehrer, the PBS anchor, asked Obama for a response to the charge, the president elected to speak about Romney and running mate Paul Ryan's plan to privatize parts of Medicare.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews who covered the debate “live” sharply criticized Obama’s performance and reported on the difference in demeanor between the two presidential candidates ranting that Obama missed opportunities to combat Romney’s claims on healthcare.

“Where was Obama tonight?” Matthews bewailed.

On medicare issue, Romney claimed Obama's health care law would take $716 billion out of Medicare.

“What I support is no change for current retirees and near-retirees to Medicare. And the president supports taking $716 billion out of that program,” Romney enthused.

In fact, that $716 billion comes from trimming planned future increases over the next decade, not cutting funding. And those trims come from limiting payments to health-care providers and insurers -- not limiting care to seniors.

And Medicare's chief actuary says Obama's health reform "substantially improves" the program's finances.

Romney's claim that his plan would not change anything for seniors and near retirees is true. His changes would not affect anyone currently over the age of 55.

What would happen for younger Americans under Romney's plan?

Has essentially endorsed the latest version of the Ryan budget plan, which substantially transforms Medicare by giving future seniors a payment -- Democrats call it a “voucher,” Republicans call it “premium support” -- to purchase health insurance. Under Ryan's plan, seniors would have the choice of buying private insurance or through Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service model.

On deficit, Obama said his plan would cut the deficit by $4 trillion.

“Now, we all know that we've got to do more. And so I've put forward a specific $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan. It's on a website. You can look at all the numbers, what cut we make and what revenue we raise,” the President declared.

That estimate comes from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities -- $3.8 trillion over 10 years.

The president is counting money saved by letting the Bush tax cuts expire for people making more than $250,000 a year.

But he's also counting on savings already agreed to last year when the White House and Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling.

At the outset of the debate, NBC News reported that Obama and Romney tangled over taxes. Romney objected to the president's claim that his tax cuts would cost $5 trillion.

“Let me repeat what I said, I'm not in favor of a $5 trillion tax cut. That's not my plan. My plan is not to put in place any tax cut that will add to the deficit,” he suggested.

What is Romney's plan? He has proposed making the Bush tax cuts permanent for all income levels -- then cutting all rates by an additional 20 percent. He would also repeal the alternative minimum tax and permanently repeal the estate tax.

The non-partisan Tax Policy Center concluded that Romney's tax plan would cost $4.8 trillion over 10 years.

Romney said -- once again tonight -- that his plan would be paid for by closing loopholes in the tax code and by getting rid of some tax deductions and credits. But he has repeatedly declined to say which deductions he'd eliminate, saying he'd work with Congress to make those decisions.

As an observer, I will give former Vice President Al Gore the benefit of the doubt when he offered as excuse Obama’s “late” arrival in Denver “at 2 p.m. today” or just a few hours before the debate started.

For Democrats, or at least one high profile former party leader, observed Krieg, there's some solace in knowing the next meeting will take place in Hempstead, N.Y., just 66 feet above sea level.

But one thing’s for sure. With two more debates and a little more than a month to the election, Republicans are daring to dream again.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love child photographed in public with mom

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love child

photographed in public with mom

LOS ANGELES, California -- There are no real coincidences in Hollywood now, are there? Alexis L. Loinaz of Eonline reported that “on the heels of a manic promo blitz by Arnold Schwarzenegger hyping his new autobiography—and right on the cusp of a hotly touted 60 Minutes interview airing this weekend—the Governator's love child and ex-mistress were spotted stepping out together on Thursday, Sept. 27, in Los Angeles.”

Joseph Baena and his mother, Mildred Baena—who were at the center of the very public meltdown of Schwarzenegger's marriage to Maria Shriver—were photographed leaving a pet store.

Arnold Schwarzenegger comes clean about affair with housekeeper

It's been about a year since the two were last seen publicly after opting to keep a low profile following some canny media appearances.

Joseph, now 14, appears to be all grown up, sporting his father's hulking frame and signature curly brown locks.

Schwarzenegger has been actively dishing out his mea culpas as he stumps for his book, Total Recall. In a sneak preview of his 60 Minutes interview that aired on CBS This Morning earlier this week, he revealed that Shriver is "wishing me well with everything that I do" but admitted that she has yet to read the book.

Watch the trailer for his new book Total Recall—yep, it's got its own trailer!

And with good reason: In it, the Governator reveals pretty salacious tidbits, like having sex with Baena in the guest house of his California home in 1996 when Shriver was away on vacation with their four children.

Total Recall his bookstores on Oct. 1—a day before Joseph's 15th birthday.

See? No coincidences in Hollywood.

2012 Emmys Night: 10 Things You Gotta Know

2012 Emmys Night: 10 Things You Gotta Know

LOS ANGELES, California -- Tonight, TV is celebrating, well, TV. And we'll definitely be tuning in, reports John Boone of Eonline.

“And we assume you will too, which is why, with hours to go until the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards (which starts at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT) we've compiled a list of everything you need to know before the festivities kick off.

Oh, and after you're prepped, tune in to our Live From the Red Carpet coverage (at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on E!) as well as logging on to our official Livestream, hosted by Alicia Quarles and our very own TV guru, Kristin Dos Santos.”

But back to the essentials:

Make sure you brush up on the complete list of nominations before the show starts!

1. The Red Carpet Return of Giuliana Rancic: After the party is the after party (and the E! team will be covering all of 'em, don't fret)…but before the Emmys show kicks off, the legendary red carpet will roll out and our own Ryan Seacrest (who's competing for Best Reality Host) and Giuliana Rancic will man their mics, marking G's long anticipated return. Good luck, girl!

2. No Drama in the Dramatic Acting Race: Need a couple no-brainers to ease your way in to the night? Then rest assured knowing that Claire Danes and Bryan Cranston will be taking home trophies for their work on Homeland and Breaking Bad, respectively. Wins would tie Cranston for most wins ever in Best Actor races and officially confirm that Danes was the breakout star of last season.

3. A Little Less Glee to Go Around: While some familiar faces from the choir room will surely pop up (as creator Ryan Murphy will be celebratring his highly nominated series American Horror Story), the Emmys will be missing one Gleek: Lea Michele. Instead, Rachel Berry herself (who handled her acting snub with grace) will apparently be across the country in New York, working.

Relive some of the most memorable notable quotables ever said at the Emmys!

4. Zooey Deschanel Could Win…Best Dressed: As much as we love Jess and all her adorkableness on our favorite Fox comedy, New Girl, we have a feeling the "It Girl" of the season won't lock that Best Comedy Actress award (that honor will probably go to Julia Louis-Dreyfus). But, no tears, Ms. D., as we're sure you'll earn a spot at the top of the Best Dressed list.

5. New Girl Will Get GOOP-ified: And Zooey might have some company at the top of the Best Dressed list, though of the male variety: Costar Max Greenfield, who will both compete in the Supporting Comedy Actor and cover the event for pal Gwyneth Paltrow's website. Just don't expect Zooey and Max to have a fashion feud, as he told us, "We're coordinating. We want to make sure we don't wear the same outfit!"

6. Mad Men Might Get Beat by Meth: The critical AMC darling might take home its fifth Best Drama Series win this year. In fact, your bookie would likely tell you to bet that way. But wait! Don Draper (Jon Hamm) could be overshadowed by a little drug dealer named Walter White (that'd be Cranston). And you better believe we'll be glued to the screen when that envelope opens.

The competition will be fierce on the red carpet—look back at the best of the best!

7. Nothing New About Modern Family's Luck: Might ABC's hit series complete the hat trick of three consecutive years of Best Comedy wins? Probably. In fact, it's nearly inevitable. And while we obviously love the Pritchett-Dunphy gang, we'd consider it a complete shock (in the best possible way) if the win went to the more controversial but equally deserving Girls.

8. Three Cheers for the Epically Snubbed: We're still kind of bummed (and by "kind of" we mean really, really, really—snot on our faces, mascara running everywhere, ugly-Claire Danes-crying—devastated) that Parks and Recreation was snubbed for Best Comedy Series. But Amy Poehler will have a shot at the Best Comedy Actress Category, and we're sure that leaves Pawnee proud.

9. In Memoriam and Still In the Competition: It'll be a bittersweet night for Desperate Housewives fans, what with the late, great Kathryn Joosten earning a posthumous nom in the Best Supporting Actress Comedy race for her turn as neighborhood busybody Mrs. McCluskey. And whether she wins or loses, she will certainly be honored.

10. The Host with the Most? We'll See: But we're calling it: Sure, other hosts have done their best in the past, but Jimmy Kimmel—who will run the show tonight—will be a standout. Now don't let us down, Kimmel!

Get a good look at this year's most notable nominees before they hit the carpet!

True holiness consists in doing God's will with a smile.

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"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
MOTHER TERESA 

TOPLESS KATE PHOTOS ORDERED SEIZED

TOPLESS KATE PHOTOS ORDERED SEIZED

The Daily Beast has reported that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have won an injunction in a French court preventing celebrity magazine Closer from publishing further paparazzi shots of the duchess sunbathing topless. A criminal investigation has also been launched, targeting the editor of Closer and the unknown person who took the pictures.

No action has been taken against the publishers of the images in Italy and Ireland, however, with a palace source indicating such action was unlikely.

Mondadori France, Closer's publishing company, has also been ordered to hand over all copies of the image within 24 hours, or else face a fine of €10,000 per day.

A similar fine will apply if it breaches any other terms of the injunction, including a ban on transmitting the images.

Kate's lawyer said yesterday: "In what name did this magazine publish these shocking photos? ... It was certainly not in the name of information. This has no place on the cover of a magazine or even in an article in a magazine," and argued in court that the photographs were a breach of the French privacy laws and were "a shocking breach of their personal intimacy".

But one senior executive at a British celebrity magazine told the Guardian: "I think the action has been taken while the horse is already half way round the field."

The photos have been republished in Ireland and Italy, and are widely available online.

The editor of the Daily Star in Ireland was suspended last night.

When Closer published the photos on Friday, Will and Kate condemned the move as a "grotesque" invasion of the Wilkat's privacy "reminiscent of the worst excesses of worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales".

The pictures were taken while in Provence at a chateau owned by Lord Linley, the Queen's nephew, from a public road.

The couple fly home from Tuvalu, where they are completing their royal tour, later today.

They have also launched criminal proceedings against the editor of Closer and the unnamed photographer in France, which carry fines of up to €45,000 £36,000 and the possibility of a year in jail. These proceedings could take up to two years to work their way through the French courts.

The French prosecutor opened a preliminary criminal investigation into the pictures.

The first stage of the inquiry, which could take months, according to the Daily Telegraph, will allow the prosecutor to decide whether to proceed with a full investigation into whether taking and publishing the pictures breached the couple's right to privacy under French law.

The prosecutor will also have to decide who any criminal proceedings are directed against.

The royals' complaint cites “persons unknown” but it is understood they want proceedings brought against both the editor of Closer magazine, which published the photos on Friday, and whoever took the images of the couple sunbathing at a chateau in Provence earlier this month.

In court yesterday, Aurelien Hamelle, a lawyer for the royal couple, said the Duchess was a "young woman, and not an object" and the photos were from a "highly intimate moment".

Bringing the civil action, he said his clients were not demanding the magazine be pulled from shelves, as "the damage is done", but they did not want any more copies printed of last Friday's edition that contained the controversial pictures.

Drawing a parallel with the "useless, morbid and fatal hunt" by paparazzi that led to the death of William's mother Princess Diana, Mr Hamelle urged the judge to grant an injunction against all republishing of the photographs in print and in digital form and to ban their resale.

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, MY LORD!

I was born in the Philippines, so today (September 17 in the United States and September 18 in the Philippines) is officially my BIRTHDAY. Thank you very much for the gift of life, my Lord. Thank you very much for all the blessings! 

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