Below The Beltway

The last of the great triumvirate of Science Fiction authors has died:
Science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke has died aged 90, it was confirmed tonight.
The visionary author was most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for his collaboration with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name.
Clarke was the last [...]

If it fits, it fits:
LONDON, England (CNN) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney was Monday ordered to pay nearly $50M to his estranged wife as their long-running divorce saga came to an end.
Heather Mills told reporters she was “so, so happy” with the outcome of her fight for a share of the pop legend’s fortune, as [...]

Yea it’s a publicity stunt, but it’s still pretty cool that the Yankees have signed their most famous fan to a contract:
TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees are ready to add a touch of Hollywood to their roster, announcing their plans to sign actor and comedian Billy Crystal to a one-day contract during Spring Training.
Crystal will [...]

This story was in the National Enquirer this week, but now it has apparently been confirmed:
Twinkle-toed tough guy Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and might only have weeks to live, a rep for the dirty dancer said yesterday.
Swazyze’s publicist confirmed to Page Six that he’s suffering from pancreatic cancer, which could tragically [...]

Star Trek Actress Jeri Ryan has had a baby:
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Jeri Ryan and her husband, French chef Christophe Eme, have a new family member.
The 40-year-old actress gave birth Sunday to daughter Gisele in Los Angeles, her publicist David Lust announced.
“Both parents are thrilled. Jeri is resting comfortably and Christophe is playing the [...]

In what can only be called the most bizarre campaign ad of the season, Jack Nicholson endorses Hillary Clinton using clips from his movies:

And there’s a parody out that’s actually funnier:

From the London Telegraph, proof that winning an Oscar doesn’t preclude the possibility that you’re just plain crazy:
Oscar-winning Marion Cotillard was facing embarrasment with her new American public last night after it emerged that she doubted the official account of the September 11 attacks.
The 32-year-old French star has swept this year’s best actress awards, also [...]

Barack Obama was at the Meadowlands in New Jersey today along with the Kennedy’s and Robert DeNiro:
Mike Huckabee may have the support of Chuck Norris, but Barack Obama has someone new to watch his back: Robert De Niro.
You got a problem with that?
As the crowd at the Meadowlands awaited Mr. Obama’s arrival, Mr. De Niro [...]

Apparently, Los Angeles Police have taken Britney Spears to the hospital again:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — A police motorcade the length of a football field escorted troubled pop star Britney Spears to a Los Angeles hospital early Thursday to get her some help, a law-enforcement official told CNN.
This is the second hospital visit for Spears [...]

Apparently, Donald Trump is getting sued out in Las Vegas:
Nights at Vegas., Inc. is suing Trump, alleging he jock-blocked them in connection with the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas. Nights at Vegas is a licensed real estate property management company that leased out a number of the 1,200 condos in Trump complex.
When [...]