The Who2 Blog

“Old Dog Pulls a New Trick”

“Having just turned 10, a Sussex spaniel called Stump became the oldest best in show winner at the Westminster Kennel Club, ending his retirement last week and taking the big prize Tuesday night.”ABC News has the story.Isn’t that kind of like a 70-year-old winning the Miss America pageant?

Bar Refaeli is the 2009 Sports Illustrated Cover Girl

She’s the Israeli supermodel who’s been dating actor Leonardo DiCaprio since 2006.The issue is due out in a few days, but SI already has posted its online edition, including slightly comical video of Refaeli rolling in the surf.Last year’s cover model was Marisa Miller.

Round Rapping at the 2009 Grammys

What to wear when you’re nine months pregnant and still performing at the Grammys? Rapper M.I.A. has two ideas.

Which Came First: The Darwin or the Abe?

“As Aquarians, they should both be stubborn, visionary, tolerant, free-spirited, rebellious, genial but remote and detached — hmmm, so far, so good.”It’s true: Scientist Charles Darwin and President Abraham Lincoln were born on the exact same day: 12 February 1809.

The Lincoln Canon

There’s a joke in the publishing world. A writer asks his editor for ideas about a commercially promising topic for a book. “Lincoln’s doctor’s dog,” the editor unhesitatingly responds.What to read for Abe Lincoln’s 200th birthday? Fred Kaplan breaks down the bios (and cracks on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “hyperbolic” Team of Rivals).

So Long, James Whitmore

“I find the process of making movies absolutely boring. It’s so fragmented. You wait and wait and wait and then, look, as Jack Lemmon says, ‘It’s magic time.’ In the theater, once the curtain goes up, the actor is in charge.” The actor James Whitmore has died at age 87 of lung cancer. He was diagnosed just before Thanksgiving.

“We’re Gonna Be In the Hudson”

Newsday has the transcript and audio of US Airways flight 1549, that short hop from LaGuardia to the Hudson River.It starts with Capt. Chesley Sullenberger saying “This is, uh, Cactus 1539, hit birds. We’ve lost thrust in both engines, returning back towards LaGuardia.” (“Cactus” is the air traffic call sign for US Airways.)

Does Oscar Hate Tantrums?

So says The LA Times, weighing in on the Christian Bale fracas.

Happy 70th, George Romero!

Insert “living dead” joke here: Horror director George Romero turns 70 today.Last year was the 40th zombieversary of his cinematic cult classic.

Steve Martin, Banjo Master

Add one more thing to the list of things Steve Martin does well.

50th Anniversary of “The Day the Music Died”

Yup: it was 50 years ago today that Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens were killed in an icy plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.(Don MacLean called it “the day the music died” in his 1971 hit “American Pie.”)

2009: Phil Sees His Shadow

Six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.Phil also slipped in a slightly clumsy promo for the local football team:”Hear Ye Hear YeOn Gobbler’s Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 2009 Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers…Proclaimed that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time

How Fit is Rafael Nadal?

Fit enough to play a 5-hour, 14-minute match on Friday night, then a 4-hour, 23-minute match on Sunday night. Fit enough to do it in Australian summer heat. Fit enough to beat Roger Federer (again) and win the Australian Open for the first time.

Confusable Names

TV star Vanessa Minnillo and TV star Alyssa Milano.

Which Is the Best Best Picture Ever?

Newsday is holding a vote. First they’re weeding it down decade by decade — then those winners, plus a few wildcards, go head to head for the title of Best Best Picture of All Time.Here were my votes: