Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Remembering, Thanking, Giving Back, Speaking Out

Today is Veterans Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day depending on where you are. It is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. The major hostilities of WWI were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

It is a day to remember all those who have sacrfificed, served and are serving in the military. Despite political viewpoints, feeling and philosphies, all acknowledge the service and sacrifice millions of men and women have given all over the world.

This month Austin has a unique opportunity to give back to the thousands of US military currently serving overseas in Germany and Turkey through participating in the USO celebrity entertainment program.

The USO was formed in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt who determined it would be best if private organizations handled the on-leave recreation needs of the rapidly growing U.S. armed forces. Roosevelt’s call to action led six civilian agencies to coordinate their civilian war efforts and resources to form a new organization – the USO (United Service Organizations). The USO was incorporated in New York February 4, 1941. The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, supported by private citizens and corporations. For sixty eight years the USO has meant a little bit of home in a faraway place. Where Americans have gone, the USO has gone.

Celebrities give their time and talents, traveling to foreign countries and to installations in the United States. They are there to shake hands, sign autographs, teach clinics, and help service members and their families feel a little closer to home. "They visit the most remote military installations and receive no talent fees. Performances often take place in unique locations, such as airplane hangers, flatbed trucks, military tents and bunkers." Of course the most famous USO celebrity entertainer was Bob Hope.




Austin will be bring a little a bit of home, and for sure, a big bit of Texas to soldiers serving. He will be joining Sophia and Milo Ventimiglia of the television show Heroes.

Hope that we get to hear about his trip, see pictures, and learn what that experience was like for him.

Hair cuts and camo.



We also need to remember those who have served and are serving now in silence, because of current military policy in the US, and ask that Don't Ask Don't Tell be repealled. We know from other militaries around the world, that orientation has nothing to do with service, ability, committment or duty.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
:) said...

Oops sorry, wrong blog :)

:) said...

Amanda Peet is in the middle of her first action movie--and it's a show-stopper. 2012 gives director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) the chance to recreate every major disaster imaginable as Peet and her ex-husband, played by John Cusack, flee with their kids from the end of the world.

Hedging her bets.
"I e-mailed Jake Gyllenhaal, who was in Day After Tomorrow, before I signed on. I said, 'Is Roland Emmerich great or is he a nightmare? Tell me the truth because life is short and I need to know what's up.' And Jake replied, 'He is the most divine, great person to work for ever and you should run and do it.'"

Why Amanda Peet Refuses to Spend Her Life at the Gym

Ted said...

People Who are Not Toothy Tile Gallery

Not Zac Efron
Zac's still up and coming—although we must say, his career is looking better than Toothy's right now.


Not Will Smith: But come on—W.S. loves to blab about his and Jada's sexcapades. Toothy doesn't do that about his beard, and certainly not about dear old Grey Goose.

Not Brad Pitt: Brad Pitt
Pitt's in a whole other status level than T.T.—fame- and kids-wise.

Not Gerard Butler
G.B. has only been getting a lot of press lately because of the various women he's supposedly bedded. Toothy's never been that guy. At least not in any kind of repeat fashion.

Not Matthew McConaughey
Sorry, Toothy's M.O. is hardly to play the bongos nude. It's to have secret guy-on-guy rendezvous in parking lots…duh. Well, used to, at least, before he went all publicist on us.

Not Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Sorry, Ben's got his own issues to deal with, and they aren't Toothy Tile's. But of all the dudes on this list, Ben comes closest to T.T., acting oeuvre-wise.

Not Kevin Spacey
It's obvious why Spacey would be an obvious choice here. Except T.T. is younger and is still working his way up the H'wood ladder. Kevin is too vintage. Too a lotta things.

Not Shia LaBeouf
Too young—and Shia's problems are way too public. Toothy likes to keep his stuff über-secret, you all should know that by now. Also Toothy controls his substances far better

Not Jamie Foxx
Probably the least likely Tooth candidate of this list. T.T. isn't that dark and handsome. At least not to some folks. Also, J.F. hardly hides his naughtiness, unlike Tooth, who's all about it these days.

Not Ryan Gosling
Thank goodness it's not a stud fave of Team Awful's like Gosling. Toothy's beard has most definitely not been Rachel McAdams. Think less studly, slightly.

Not Robert Pattinson
Fear not, Team Edward—R.Pattz hasn't been relevant long enough to be a contender in the Toothy guessing game. But he's sure got the right blush.

Not Bradley Cooper
Cooper has his secrets, sure, but he's not quite Toothy status yet. Although B.C. is a fab guess.

maybe wrong blog but good comment said...

I'm glad it's not being pre-screened; I think sometimes the critics can do a good movie disservice, and it's only their opinion after all, no more important than ours. It'll be interesting to go into Brothers cold - the trailer still leaves room for what could happen, and any hints it gives are no different than what's done in other trailers.

I think that trailer reveals too much - thre are only two things that I really want to know: why was Tommy in jail and what will bring Grace and her husband together again (I only presume that will happen).

Meg said...

Can't help but be amused that Reeke's 'secret' wedding plans are being publicised in the UK edition of the National Enquirer.

Can't begin to explain how low down the food chain this publication is in the UK, you really would be embarassed if you were caught reading it at the supermarket (in fact its so trashy some shops's don't even sell it). Such a classy way to announce the forthcoming nuptials I feel.

fyi said...

Abbie's movie just opened in the UK recently didn't it? Maybe they have the same strategy over there to divert attention to themselves everytime Abbie or Ryan do anything at all.

destiny said...

I like the fact that Austin is doing things like the USO tour and that fundraiser for the Wilmington police. They're not things that necessarily get you a lot of attention, but they are great causes.

Kind of on topic, the female policewoman who stopped that nut at Fort Hood went to high school in Wilmington and got her start on the police force of one of the nearby beach communities.

Meg said...

fyi.. somehow I don't think the people who buy National Enquirer in the UK are the target market for a film about Keats, would be surprised if NE's target market could afford the price of a cinema ticket, more likely a dodgy knock off pirate dvd (apologies for unashamed snobbery there).

I however did go and see Brightstar and have to say I thought it was absolutley brilliant. Ben Wishshaw as Keats is just a delight (and totally heartbreaking) and Abbie Cornish is very, very good (and also wears some knock-out period costumes). Would highly recommend it to anyone.

audience member said...

Seen the Brothers ad, what 10 times now, and with each viewing interest wans further. Why would I spend my hard earned money on two hours of misery?

Am all for "serious drama", but people yelling, smashing and generally being douches, while the children stand in the doorway, is really not my idea of entertainment.

Not that PoP is either, for that matter.

Also rather miffed at the gratutious Jake in Towel shot slapped in there. What, appealing to women's (and gay men) intellect not PR worthy?

Special K said...

Nice quote about Roland from Jake.

Amanda Peet talking about working on 2012.

"I e-mailed Jake Gyllenhaal, who was in Day After Tomorrow, before I signed on. I said, 'Is Roland Emmerich great or is he a nightmare? Tell me the truth because life is short and I need to know what's up.' And Jake replied, 'He is the most divine, great person to work for ever and you should run and do it.'"

Amanda Peet in Parade Magazine

double check your vocabulary said...

the female policewoman

I'm surprised, annoyed and disappointed you wrote this destiny of all people. And on this blog. Old sexist habits die hard. It should be - and I'm shocked that you aren't thinking this way - the police officer. Just like "fireman" has evolved to "firefighter" and "mailman" to "mail carrier."

lol said...

Jake replied, 'He is the most divine

Speaking of vocabulary..

:) said...

"double check your vocabulary"

UV, is that you?

not surprised said...

Figures. The same poster who calls anyone posting twitters a silly troll, believes that someone who is aware of sexist language is a UV/babbler.

:) said...

I'm just curious. Well?

Same old same old said...

Not surprised/vocabulary expert, I'm not surprised that you're here again trying to stir things up. Your tone is offensive and meant as an insult to destiny. Is it any wonder that you and your ilk are called trolls?

wft2 said...

FYI: Amanda's husband is David Benioff, the screenwriter/playwright who scripted Brothers.

moviefone said...

More nice comments about Roland from Jake via A.Peet:

Question: So, was it the overall nature of the film that appealed to you?

Peet: Well, I thought the script was a page-turner, and I thought that it had some nice character moments, even though it was this big action movie. And then I called Jake Gyllenhaal, and I said, "What's it like to work with Roland Emmerich?" And he said, "It's a dream. Go - run, right away, and go work with him." And he was right. Because he's so lovely, and so easy and so supportive and gentle.

www.moviefone.net

destiny said...

Thanks :)

Meg, I really wanted to see Bright Star, but it disappeared very quickly from the theaters in NY. That doesn't bode well for Oscar buzz. Films like that used to stick around for months, but now so many movies get released they get lost in the shuffle, and they move them out because there's 10 more coming out the next week.

prairiegirl said...

Boy, I searched back through Just Jared to find that post on Austin and finally found it. I went through about a page of comments and gave up. The majority of the comments were criticizing him for saying that he thought this season of OTH was one of the best ever. I don't even remember for sure what his exact words were but boy, they were all saying that he obviously hadn't watched the first three seasons. Peyton seems to be missed very much as well. I liked Peyton; there was something very real & earthy about Hilarie that I liked. I bet Peyton & Brooke had a great friendship/chemistry, although that's just a guess on my part because I certainly never watched OTH before Austin was on there.

We are so busy at work. Slam!! It hit us just like that. No warning, no easing into it, no nothing. Just whack! There ya are! Man.

You know, I don't see anything wrong with pointing out the gender of someone. And I'm sorry but it's no detriment sometimes for the distinction to be made between men and women, only if you take it that way. I didn't think anything about it.

prairiegirl said...

The peaceful return to quiet makes me kind of sad for one reason.

One invitation to a big Jaustin discussion and Scatter!!. Come on!!!

I was really looking forward to having a big roundtable with all our new guests, too. Reminisce about that all day JFC trailer visit a couple years ago. Reminisce about the TDAT filming. Laker Game. Parking Lot Snogging. Morning Coffees with Bedhead. Border Store visits. Furniture Buying with Dazzling, Ditzy, Loopy Smiling. Awwwww...that picture was so cute, the furniture shopping one.

Come back and everybody's gone. What in the heck. We could've really racked up the comments and gotten that Google Hit-O-Meter pinging.

Special K said...

Well PG you know I am alway up for a Jaustin discussion. : )

prairiegirl said...

Special, I wish I had been around when those guys were at the height of their "freeness". I sure missed out. All I can do is look at the memories and try to think about what it was like. I bet you guys were going nuts. That grin of Jake's outside that furniture store - that was the loopiest grin I've ever seen.

Well, those Laker game grins rank right up there, too, though.

prairiegirl said...

Darn, I tried to google Jake visits John From Cincinnati trailer and it took me to TMZ but my screen froze up and I had to close the browser window. How funny to go back and look at all the google sites when you type in "Jake G and Austin N". The stir that those Laker pictures caused. And you know, I think that's right around the time I got my first laptop and those pictures were everywhere. And that's when I started googling Jake & Austin and I found OMG.

Anyway, to look back at Jake in that period of time and to look at his life now and it's like night and day. Not only that, but to look at Austin in those Laker pictures and he looks like a high school kid, lol! Actually, so does Jake.

Okay, I'm off to Word. Everyone have a good evening and all that.

Special K said...

And that special grin is just for one special guy. Look at Jake he just lights up when he see Austin, and that grin just grows. When the pictures of him out furniture shopping came out there were no pictures of Jake with Austin, and then after the Lakers you realized that was who he was meeting at the store. How happy he was, he looked like he could bounce with joy. No one has ever made him look like that before or since in any pictures we've seen of him. Even when thinking of Austin, Jake's grin grows.

When they shopped at Border's you notice that huge grin that breaks across Jake's face. And how they stand so near.

When you see Austin you see how he somehow he gets himself between the camera and Jake. Maybe not alway physically but in presence. It in almost protective way.

destiny said...

Big sigh for memories of the good old days. Whatever happened to the Jake that wasn't afraid to be himself instead of a manufactured product.

TV Fanatic said...

Austin Nichols Pushes for "Greatest Happy Ending Ever" on One Tree Hill

Austin Nichols is enjoying his first season as a regular on One Tree Hill. He stars as Julian Baker on The CW hit.

As the real-life boyfriend of co-star Sophia Bush, the actor has a unique perspective on the show. He shared it in a recent interview, going into detail about his status and his hopes for Julian's future...

On full-time cast member status: “It’s great. It’s exciting. It’s different from being a guest. You feel more responsible for the show as a whole, for the final in product, as a regular. But it’s been fun. As far as I can tell, this season there has been really great material and better than any season before it, so it’s been really cool.”

On his return: “When [creator Mark Schwahn] asked me to come back as a series regular I told him I only would if we could make a really powerful love story for Brooke and Julian. I wanted him to give them the greatest love story. I mentioned The Notebook to him. I wanted him to give them that kind of love and story."

On hopes for Brooke and Julian: "I want them to have the greatest happy ending ever."

Viewers will need to wait awhile to see if that comes true.

jo said...

I don't see anything wrong with pointing out the gender of someone. And I'm sorry but it's no detriment sometimes for the distinction to be made between men and women, only if you take it that way. I didn't think anything about it.

"female policeman" ? I do believe people would have figured out the gender when they came to and got her start on the police force

I was NOT picking on destiny. I was just pointing out an obvious sexist faux pas in her description of the police officer. If my tone was severe, I apologize. But my point is that language plays a crucial part in societal thinking, and it's extremely revealing to a person's mindset, i.e. when someone uses "it's so gay" as an insult. IIRC destiny has posted her feelings of disgust at that expression. I just wanted to remind her and everybody that describing a person in a career that doesn't "go" with their gender not right. I would have pointed out the same thing if someone wrote "male nurse."

I am not UV. I am not a babbler. I am not a troll. But one thing I am is sure that the poster below wanted me to answer their accusation, in order to get the blog stirred up and cause namecalling, fights and eventually, divisions and bad feelings. I will not be baited. Posters such as "same old" are the ones you need to be suspicious of:

I'm not surprised that you're here again trying to stir things up. Your tone is offensive and meant as an insult to destiny. Is it any wonder that you and your ilk are called trolls?

prairiegirl said...

I don't see anything wrong with male nurse. My uncle was a nurse when he was working in the service. Why do people say male nurse? Because they're alot more rare than female nurses. Or at least back when he was in nursing they were. Now they're a little more common.

There are alot more male police than female police.

I can understand the sensitivity of this but really, it's like the sock/sandal sensitivity. If we go around this world looking for all the harm & bad in every little thing people say, we're going to see it.

And I honestly didn't think twice about what was said. Until it was just pointed out. So what does that say?

Special, I love that furniture store picture. Love the bedhead picture. Like the Borders holding up the book grin. Love the Laker pictures.

Where is that guy? Think of those pictures and then look at the pictures of him coming out of the Buffalo Club. It's just startling.

prairiegirl said...

You know we couldn't go the whole day without a picking on a commenter comment. And yeah, that's what it was because of the tone with which it was made.

If that wasn't the purpose behind the comment, how about joining Special and me in a discussion on Jake & Austin?

Seems to be a much more positive convo. I wish all those people who say all we do is pick on Jake & tear him down were here to join in right now. Here is the golden opportunity.

Man, my kingdom for another Jake/Austin picture. please, fellas. crawls along sidewalk It's like the search for Bigfoot. A sighting comes along now only every five years or so. The throat is parched, the eyes are bloodshot tired, the muscles are weak, and the spirit is flagging and faint.

Don't ask for the world. Just...just a little tiny pic. Heck, even a fight over a Chick Fil A lunch would do. Austin slapping the crossword puzzle newspaper down at Jake's plate and Jake upending the table with chicken nuggets & waffle fries flying everywhere would be something at least.

Or even a bicycle stranded with a flat tire outing would be better than nothing.

How about a chance meeting at a local coffee/latte stand? You could even be 9 feet away from each other, giving barely a stiff, awkward nod or a tilt of the nose at each other. That would be better than nothing.

heavy sigh

m said...

It's so great that Austin will be making a trip to see the troops. I think that is a very maturing experience to go through. I wonder what kind of performance he will give. He has a good singing voice. Plus he gets to Europe again and we know how much he wanted to go the last time.

I read through those Jared comments the day it first showed and was surprised at the reaction. I think that one of the problems is that Austin's role is kind of sappy this year. I'll keep watching though.

PG, I'm swamped at work too lately. Maybe a sign that the economy is improving. Anyway, it's wearing me out in a good way. At least I finally finished my massive reread of Best Friends Forever so I will be getting some decent sleep. I kept waking up to read another chapter.

:) said...

Posters such as "same old" are the ones you need to be suspicious of

Bullshit.

oscar said...

For Your Consideration ads are starting to pop up all over the web and have some confirmation of category placements.

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart - LEAD
Seth Rogen - Funny People - LEAD
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated - LEAD
Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin- It's Complicated - SUPPORTING
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - pulling the same campaigning as "The Departed," it has it listed as For Your Consideration 'THE ACTORS'
Max Records - Where the Wild Things Are - LEAD
Tobey Maguire - Brothers - LEAD
Jake Gyllenhaal & Natalie Portman - Brothers -SUPPORTING

...Tobey Maguire, who we've had on our radar going LEAD for Jim Sheridan's Brothers has probably destroyed his chances but now we'll keep a close eye on Jake Gyllenhaal who might be something to watch out for considering the weakness of Supporting Actor but it's looking pretty crowded already with Christoph Waltz, Alfred Molina and/or Peter Sarsgaard, Matt Damon for Invictus, and Stanley Tucci for either The Lovely Bones or Julie & Julia.

Awards Circuit Blog

:) said...

If I were a betting man, I’d have said Maggie Gyllenhaal’s performance opposite Jeff Bridges in Scott Cooper’s “Crazy Heart” was a sure-fire Best Supporting Actress contender. The role, after all, fits that unfortunately reductive “suffering spouse” template to a T, the sort that has fared well in this category in years past (Michelle Williams, Sophie Okonedo, Marcia Gay Harden — twice, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jennifer Connelly, etc.).

Well I’d have lost that bet. Fox Searchlight, perhaps due to that ever-present (and overstated) sense that the Best Actress field is “weak,” will be pushing Gyllenhaal as a lead for the film. And despite my reservations, I think she should be taken seriously.

Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the race for Best Actress

london tb said...

Thanks for this great post, Spesh.

PG, they were great days and we did go crazy :)

LOL said...

Mommy, mommy! Jake from 'Donnie Darko,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' and 'Jarhead' is singing! I can't wait to see him in 'Brothers!

if your Kindergartner is even aware of Gyllenhaal's existence, you may very well be something of a slack ass parent.


LA Times - Sesame Street promos

Kindergartner said...

Mommy, mommy! Jake from 'Donnie Darko,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' and 'Jarhead' is singing! I can't wait to see him screw his sister in law in 'Brothers' and fuck like a rabbit in 'Love and Other Drugs' that movie about Viagra!

destiny said...

Everyone in my office has been really busy too. Fingers crossed that things will finally get better on the employment front.

Ted said...

Dear Ted:
Reese Witherspoon played Jennifer Aniston's sister on Friends, do they have things in common—like the men they date? If yes, would you say Brad might be Reese's type also?
—ANC

Dear Angled Wrong:
I see where you're trying to get me to go. What, you want my ass fired?

Awful Truth

reminder said...

Cheyenne Jackson joins the cast of 30 Rock tonight.