L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology is quoted as saying:

“Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion.”

Not to compare religious ideologies or beliefs, but that seems an unlikely foundation for any of the other major religions in the world. It is also important to note that no religion is without its failures, faults, murders, missteps and sordid history. But my conclusion is that Scientology isn’t a religion, and the mere fact that its founder based his ideology on making money goes to prove the point: money is the root of all evil. And tacking the term religion onto a derived set of self-help techniques cobbled together by a man who was previously known for writing mediocre science fiction, is dubious to say the least.

But wait, there’s more…

 

[Updates below]  How about the UCLA medical staff do the right thing this time and KEEP her there, unlike the incompetents at Cedars Sinai?

Well, I’m going to try to make sense of this, using information culled from various sources.  For a couple of days now, we’ve watched as Britney has exhibited some erratic behavior, even for her.  She stayed up, as of  yesterday evening, for approximately 60 hours, seemingly without or with very little sleep.  She made trips to Rite-Aid, a deli, a gas station for Red Bull (I swear, that stuff is from the Devil), and to nowhere, driving around erratically and with no real direction.  But last night is when things really got freaky and the police were called:

Last night, Britney’s new psychiatrist went to her home and felt she was a danger to herself and others — partly because of her reckless driving and partly because of her “downhill behavior.” As a result, the shrink launched a plan (days in the making) to have Britney committed to UCLA Medical Center by calling the cops.

Sources tell us the cops knew it was coming. In fact, the plan was for cops and paramedics to take Britney away the night before, but it was scrubbed. Last night, it all went down according to plan. Cops even used code to minimize craziness in transporting Britney to the hospital. Over the police radio, she was referred to as “The Package.”

Before the cops arrived, the shrink told her she was going back to the hospital and she offered no resistance. She said, “Is something wrong?” She made hot chocolate and waited. Her mom, Lynne, got extremely agitated, accusing Sam of engineering the impending commitment. We’re told Brit told her to “shut the hell up.” She demanded silence, sat on the floor and wrote notes to people who were there as they waited. When emergency personnel arrived, Brit went on the gurney without resistance.

But it doesn’t stop there.  Lufti and Brit’s parents are at odds, fighting at the hospital:

When everyone arrived at UCLA, things got heated. Jamie Spears began screaming at Sam Lutfi, accusing him of trying to control Britney. We’re told as far as the doctors are concerned — at least for now — Lynne and Jamie Spears are not calling the shots. The point guy for the docs is Brit’s friend, Sam Lutfi.

Sources say after Britney’s commitment earlier this month, she was extremely upset at her dad for getting angry at Sam and the hospital staff. Britney had lawyers draft several documents, however, we’re told she did not sign a durable power of attorney giving Lutfi the power to make medical decisions on her behalf. Nevertheless, something was signed and doctors are going to Lutfi for guidance. Jamie went off on Lutfi in the hallway, accusing him of trying to control his daughter.

 

Curiouser and curiouser.  On one hand, I think this Osmarmy guy is creepy and more than a bit dangerous.  After all, he’s had restraining orders against him concerning other people.  On the other hand, he HAS been the one who has been there through all of this, while Britney’s parents have not been.  The argument could be made saying that is what Brit wanted, but then again…these are her parents.  Now that they have finally decided to show up, should they be able to call the shots, when they haven’t been the ones there for the day-to-day drama that is Brit’s life?  Or is Osmarmy just making an already tragic and bad situation worse?

Sources tell us after Britney’s stay at Cedars earlier this month, she had her lawyers draft paperwork making it clear she did not want her parents involved in making medical decisions on her behalf. We’re told her dad had gone ballistic back then, screaming and swearing at Lutfi — even pushing him — in front of Britney.

As to what paperwork was signed, the cleanest thing would be if Britney signed a durable power of attorney, giving someone power to make medical decisions on her behalf in an emergency. We are told no such document was signed, but somehow Britney made it clear she wanted Lutfi to make those decisions.

After 72 hours, Brit can’t be forced to take medication against her will, but her psychiatrist can go to the court and can ask for her to be held an additional 14 days if she refuses to take her meds after the initial 72 hours.

Contrary to reports circulating around the internets, there was no suicide attempt, but rather a continuing pattern of strange behavior.  Reports from inside the house at the time the drama was unfolding say that this time, Britney was calm and quiet, even as a battle was raging between her parents and Osmarmy:

At her home earlier in the evening, we’re told Sam Lutfi informed Brit he had been working with her psychiatrist and the cops and she would be going back to the hospital. At that point, we’re told, Lynne Spears became extremely upset and accused Lutfi of trying to control her daughter. Brit then told everyone to “shut up,” saying “I’ll do what I need to do.”

After that, Britney demanded complete silence. She sat on the floor and began passing notes to Lutfi, Adnan and others as they waited for the cops and emergency workers.

And People reports that Britney knew something was wrong with her, but keep in mind this quote is from Osmarmy:

“She went willingly. It was like something in her heart was telling her she should go. She knew something was wrong,” confidant Sam Lutfi tells PEOPLE.

In an ironic twist, it is reported that Lynne Spears is upset with the psychiatrist in charge of calling the police to start with:

We’re told Lynne Spears is at the house and is upset with the shrink. Sam Lutfi is in favor of the 5150, given Britney’s mental state.

However, contrary to other reports, X17 is reporting that Osmarmy isn’t even allowed inside the hospital.  If Brit has drafted some sort of papers authorizing his as the go-to person in case of an emergency, how would it be that he wouldn’t be admitted…unless, of course, the “papers” aren’t legal.

However, just to muddy the waters further, the Daily Mail is saying that not only did Lynne orchestrate the whole thing last night, but that Brit also has abused crystal meth, to add to her other problems:

A source told Mail Online that Britney’s trip to UCLA was the result of a meticulously planned “snatch and grab” intervention led by her mother Lynne.

“She had no idea it was coming,” said the source, adding: “Lynne planned it down to the last detail.” […]

Co-heading Lynne’s team of helpers, says the source, was Britney’s father Jamie, along with representatives from Britney’s legal team and record label Jive Records.

Contrary to reports, Mail Online understands that Lynne was fully aware the psychiatrist was planning to force Britney into treatment.

“She did everything in her power to get Britney away from her boyfriend Adnan, but most of all from Sam Lutfi,” said the source.

“He has been controlling her life at every turn and they needed to put a stop to it.”

“Lynne’s opinion is that it has gone on long enough. She needs to get Lutfi out of Britney’s life - and by whatever means necessary.” […]

A US report claimed she had been on a three-day binge using the deadly addictive drug crystal meth in the time leading up to the stand-off over her children. “Britney was high on meth and naked all day before,” a source said.

“Even when losing her boys became an issue, she didn’t stop. After the boys were taken from her, Britney went on another drug binge, using crystal meth almost every day for an entire week.”

Now, even as I am writing, Brit’s parents have taken control of the situation at the hospital, and Osmarmy has left:

TMZ has learned Britney’s parents have won round one in the tug of war with Sam Lutfi. We’re told the doctors at UCLA are now “fully cooperating” with the parents in the treatment of Britney Spears, however, the war probably is not over until a judge signs an order as to who has control.

By the way, the men in white coats are giving props to LAPD’s “SMART Unit” which specializes in mental health cases for coordinating the events that went down last night and early this morning.

It seems that there has been some sort of plan for weeks to get Brit recommitted, and last night is when it all came together.  There’s been no real word on Anon Brazilianwax, though it is known that he rode to the hospital with Lynne.

And right now, that’s about all we know.  Britain’s Daily Mail has a good pictorial timeline of events over the past few days, although they seem to have a few of their facts jumbled.

It does make me wonder if this latest manic episode has anything to do with my theory of her menstrual cycle making her bipolar symptoms worse.  It has been said that she takes her medication for a while, feels better, then goes off it, thus making things worse, but it has also been reported that her bipolar symptoms are so bad that thus far no medication has helped.

I personally think, from observing from a distance, that it is the latter, since she really never seems to get “better”, but rather just has quieter degrees of bad.  And this latest phase started a few days ago, which coincides with my theory of her ovulation times being tied to the beginning of a phase of irrational behavior.

Regardless of what caused it or what made it worse, I certainly hope that UCLA can help her and HOLD her, even if she demands to be released.  Please, let’s not see a repeat of the fiasco that went down at Cedars Sinai (and if Dr. Phil gets within 100 yards of the place, I’d give out orders to set phasers on stun).  I certainly do hope that this will be the beginning of the intensive help that she so desperately needs to get her life back on track.  Right now, forget custody battles…just concentrate on getting Britney better.

So much for, “Leave her alone, it’s all the fault of the paparazzi, if everybody would let her live her life she’d get better,” huh?

I’ll update during the day in this post if new events develop.

UPDATE#1:  People is saying that Brit hasn’t slept since Saturday (it was late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning when all this went down), and that this has been in the works since the last time she was admitted in early January.  They also have a story on Dr. Phil saying her hospitalization is a good thing, but I won’t dignify it with a link, I just pointed it out to laugh at him.  TMZ is saying that she was taking up to 10 laxatives a day (and driving around?  No wonder she stops in gas station bathrooms all the time and walks funny).  She was also allegedly spewing profanity at the staff and accusing Lynne of sleeping with her boyfriend (no specifics).

Hmm.  That doesn’t jibe well with the “official” report that she went peacefully, unless she just thought she was going for a drive.

Frankly, I don’t know what Lynne is doing being so worried now…after all, she’s the one who let her teenage daughter basically grow up without a parent and whored her out to the highest bidder.  Not saying Lynne’s actions caused this, but they certainly didn’t help any.  She’s surprised, why?

UPDATE #2:  Most media reports I’ve seen have listed Lynne as the instigator of the hospitalization, with Osmarmy being denied access to the hospital.  Since there’s now more than one source saying it, I’m more inclined to believe it.

X17 has a report that Lynne wants to take Brit OUT of the hospital and back home to Louisiana, but I don’t believe it…they’re probably getting their information straight from Osmegma, and he’ll say pretty much anything.

At least she’s doing something.  I want to believe she’s been orchestrating some sort of help behind the scenes, but let’s face it…Brit’s problems aren’t something that have sprung up overnight.  While she would probably have had mental issues regardless of her upbringing (if they are hereditary and/or hormonal related), they’ve undoubtedly been made worse by Lynne’s hands-off, closed-eyes approach to raisin’ up chitlins.

UPDATE #3:  According to TMZ, Britney is sicker than was previously thought:

Sources at UCLA Medical Center tell TMZ Britney Spears has been classified as “G.D.” - Greatly Disabled. That is a huge and dangerous deal. That means the patient is unable to take care of basic needs, such as the acquisition of food, clothing or shelter. Being G.D. is one of the criteria for involuntary commitment.

Several health care professionals tell us Britney has fallen into a “manic state” due to her bipolar disorder. We’re also told, she arrived at the hospital this morning at around 2:15 AM but wasn’t admitted until 4:15 AM, because she was causing such a scene in the hospital.

We first reported that Britney accused her mother of sleeping with her boyfriend. Now we have more. We’re told Britney screamed, “the only reason she’s admitting me is because she wants to be alone with her boyfriend! She wants to sleep with my boyfriend!!” Britney never said exactly who she was talking about.

When Brit calmed down, she talked about her kids, how much she misses them and how it’s unfair that she doesn’t have them.

Not to blow our horn here at GlossLip, but we’ve been saying that she needs to be involuntarily committed for some time.  Even we could see that she can’t take care of basic needs.

In the meantime, Osmegma has wasted no time in beginning his smear campaign against Brit’s parents:

When Sam was asked how he and Lynne Spears were getting along following Britney’s second hospitalization, he sounded off, saying he does not think Lynne cares about Britney.

“No. Her mother is not someone who cares about her daughter, she’s only concerned with herself. Sad but true. She was too busy getting a manicure to come over yesterday, despite her daughters (sic) pleas. Sad, very sad,” Sam wrote to Access in a text message.

Well, isn’t that nice.  You know what?  I think that there’s plenty of blame to be splattered on everyone here.  I think Osmegma and Anon Brazilianwax need to be dropkicked right out of Brit’s life, and I think her parents need to be jackslapped for allowing this to go on for this long.  Where has Lynne been since Brit was an adult?  A teenager?  Why has Brit grown up without her parents?  Wait…why has Brit not grown up?  Why has she not had a life?

I certainly hope that Britney can get the help she needs, and I hope that the PTB out there in La-La Land can do whatever it takes to get her intensive help and care.

Is it any coincidence that today is Justin Timberlake’s birthday?

UPDATE #4:  Just read this on Perez’s site:

They tell PerezHilton.com:

“her mom [Lynne] was too busy to come to her aid cause she was getting a manicure.

when her mom got to the house she was screaming, ’sam’s trying to get you commited, get in my car lets go to malibu.’

does that sound like a mother that truly cares?

even adnan was there yesterday and he even thought if anyone should be commited it should have been her mom.

it’s unreal and sad to see the disgust this family represent, so damn sad.

a manicure?? despite britney begging her mother all day to come visit, how sad.”

Take that for what it’s worth. One side of the story.

Now, it IS Perez…so, well, you know.  But…he has been right before, think what you will about him.  And here’s a photo of Lynne yesterday:

With the closeup of the nails:

And:

Well, they look pretty much the same as any other time I’ve seen them…but you can get the same thing done over and over, I guess.

In a new video, as well as a posted apology to the family who was incorrectly targeted as attacking one of their servers, the group calling themselves “Anonymous” are making efforts to set the record straight on who they are as an entity and condemning the less than savory elements of their loosely banded, but growing organization.

Essentially, they are making it clear their fight is with what they see as the destructive and corrupt practices of the leaders of Scientology, rather than those members who have been mislead about the COS “alleged” illegal activities.

This is a move in the right direction. We certainly agree with their new mission statement to unveil the truth, and condemn any illegal activities which have taken place in the past, present or future.

We will continue to keep you posted on this story.

Are you an undecided voter? Are you having trouble deciding which candidate best represents the issues which are most important to you? We may have the answer. Ian Manheimer of the non-partisan website www.GlassBooth.org will be sitting in during Glosslip’s daily segment of Shaun Daily’s BTRToday show, which airs Monday-Friday from 3pmPT/6pmET.

Glassbooth.org has some excellent tools that allow the user to match up their concerns using a point system, and then a brief survey to narrow down your political views. They then take that information and calculate which candidate best matches your interests and values based on percentage points. It’s non-partisan and it has a detailed and comprehensive list of the current candidates and shows you straight-forward quotes from the candidates themselves on the issues. I was particularly impressed with the quotes they chose to determine where that candidate stands on any particular issue. Brilliantly conceived and I encourage you to give it a look, even if you are completely decided on who you are backing in the 2008 Presidential Election.

As for the BTRToday show, most days, k or myself (and if you’re really lucky, both) check in with Shaun for a 30-minute segment to talk about the latest in celebrity gossip. It’s a fun and entertaining look at the day’s top stories and please feel free to stop by the chatroom, call in with questions or moon us. Not sure how you’d do that, but I bet Britney Spears could tell you.

 

Soccer (oh wait, football…no, check that, it’s soccer) star David Beckham has opened his third academy for aspiring young people:

The state-of-the-art World of Sport complex has been set up to benefit the children of Brazil and provide them with on-site coaching and access to top-class facilities, much in the same way as his academies in London and Los Angeles.

Beckham said: “This is by far the best training camp I have ever seen.

“It will be the best football facility in the world and I am very proud to have an academy in Brazil where kids can come and enjoy themselves and play football in a safe environment.”

Davey Boy also hopes that his new facility will draw soccer clubs from all over the world to train, and hopefully to help future athletes in the form of Brazil’s young people.

But here’s what I really want to say about the whole thing:

PULL YOUR PANTS UP!!!

Great balls of fire…he’s a zillionaire, but he can’t afford pants that fit right?  Yank that belt tighter!  Srsly!

This Sunday is D-Day for Superbowl XLII, where the country gathers around the television to watch two teams of tough, rugged, trained and taut manly men compete in the testosterone-laden game of football. There’s no room for “gay stuff” in this game, ok? Oh, maybe not ok.

According to this article, one of the teams competing in this year’s championship at UP’s Football Stadium has some not-so-out gay guys on their team. That’s not all, there’s said to be at least a 15% rate of gay men playing in the professional league today. Gives a new meaning to towel-snapping in the locker room.

But wait, there’s more…

 

I know this is just a short little blurb of a post, and most of it isn’t even my writing, but I liked it so much I had to share it with my loyal GlossLip readers.  Being as I watched many a catfight between Alexis and Krystle back in the day, this little bit caught my eye:

JOAN Collins — whose husband, Percy Gibson, is 32 years her junior — still has an eye for a well-turned male derriere. The 74-year-old cougar, after dining with female pals at Spago in Beverly Hills last week, donned a pair of huge black sunglasses and sashayed out of the restaurant to customers’ delight, said a source. While waiting for her car outside, Collins tipped her glasses down, peeked at the valet’s “rather large” behind, and commented, “Now, ladies, that’s the proper way to end a lunch.”

Now why can’t they have waiters like that at my local Choke-n-Puke?

 

You know, when I first read this, it reminded me of manipulators who take someone emotionally weaker than they are and work on that, telling them that their family and friends don’t care any more, that the manipulator is the only one who TRULY cares.  I could be wrong, but then again…?

[Sam] Lutfi said of [Britney’s] family, “They have an agenda. Their agenda is jealously because they don’t fit in. I do. They see her three times a year.”

Britney was by the phone during Lutfi’s conversation with [Harvey] Levin [owner of TMZ]. Lutfi claimed he did not force Britney to buy a car, asking Brit, “Did I force you to buy a car.” In a heavy southern accent she responded, “No.” He continued, “Do I ever bug you.” She replied, “We argue.”

Is anyone else totally creeped out by that?  It’s like the manipulator and his prisoner…he brings her up out of her box to stand there and parrot monosyllabic answers while he does all the talking.

But what else is interesting about this little tidbit is this line:

Lutfi said there was no intervention last night, but then said Britney’s family “barged in.” For the record, the family is staging an intervention and Lutfi has been kept in the dark.

Um…HELLO?  Isn’t an “intervention” supposed to be a surprise thing?  It sounds like the only one surprised is Osmarmy because everybody else on the planet knows about it.  Way to keep it on the down-low, folks.

And like I said yesterday, I don’t think “intervention” is quite the correct term here…what are they going to say to her, if she doesn’t get help they’ll never speak to her again?  They barely speak to her now.  Or that they’ll withdrawal monetary support?  Um, she’s the one supporting them.  Perhaps they’ll not let her see her kids?  The court tried that, it didn’t work.  They aren’t planning an intervention…an argument, perhaps, or a strong talking-to, or a finger-waggle with a “no no no”, but not an intervention.

In other Brit news, she took delivery of a new Mercedes-Benz yesterday.  Yes, another one.  And apparently she went shopping for it in the middle of her, um, intervention:

As TMZ first reported, the family is staging an intervention so Britney can get help for her bipolar disorder. Family sources say they are furious at Lutfi, claiming he pushed Brit into going to B.H. Mercedes today to buy a new car — in the middle of the effort to save her.

And just what did she buy?  A black, two-seater, SLK 350 Mercedes-Benz, for which she paid $55,000.  Cash.  Paid in full.  What, no place for child seats?  Then she went out driving in it later that night, only to get lost and have to ask one of her pap friends to help.

That’s right, folks…all you who shelled out fifteen bucks for her CDs are co-conspirators with Osmarmy.  She used your money to buy a car that’s worth more than many people’s houses, possibly more than the houses of the very people who have supported her by buying her products.  That’s the money she uses to blow her life away, while her kids grow up with no mother.

Can I tie this very irrational decision to my theory on the effects of her menstrual cycle to her possible bipolar symptoms?

This is quite possibly the most frightening video of Brit I’ve seen yet.  I like what Michael from dlisted had to say about it:

Brit’s relationship with the paps is so f*cking strange. She’s standing there like a little girl and they are saying sh*t like “ooooh, it’s ok Britney…it’s ok…don’t be scared” while snapping away. It’s like they are petting her head and slapping her in the face at the same time.

(video language NSFW)

UPDATE:  TMZ is reporting that Brit is getting some medical help for her mental health issues, which apparently have been confirmed as bipolarity.  However, she is having the typical problem of taking her meds for a while, feeling better, and then stopping them:

Britney has seen doctors who have been referred by other doctors, plus doctors who have been referred by celebrities Britney knows, and doctors referred by her lawyers, family and friends. We’re told the process has been excruciating for her, partly because her disease is severe.

Sources tell slightly different stories about the efficacy of the medication. A friend says when Britney takes her medicine she is like “a different person — normal and sweet.” But she takes her meds for a while and then feels as if she can live without it — so she stops taking them — and her condition quickly deteriorates. But a professional tells TMZ flatly, “The medication just isn’t working.”

That same professional tells TMZ, “She’s really trying. Whether it works — we’ll have to see.” That person also says it’s extremely frustrating when the media shows video of Britney out on the town acting crazy, adding, “She has a disease. Sometimes when you see her she’s in the middle of an episode. It’s like mocking someone with Down syndrome.”

UPDATE#2:  You simply must see this video.  At some point she turns her shirt completely around and wears it backwards (you don’t see it on tape but it’s obvious).  And check out Osmarmy’s eyeroll.

WHERE IS HER MOTHER???

UPDATE #3:  According to X17 (I really hate that site, but sometimes it’s the only place to go for info, true or not), Brit has been up for over 60 hours.  It would seem this is the manic phase.

I didn’t realize her name wasn’t Miley until about a week ago.  It’s actually Destiny Hope, or it was, until she decided she didn’t appreciate the name her parents gave her and changed it:

She plays Hannah Montana, and was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, but now she’s officially Miley Ray Cyrus.

Given the nickname “Smiley” when she was growing up, Entertainment Tonight reports that the 15-year-old has legally changed her name to Miley to reflect that. She chose to adopt Ray as her middle name in honor of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Oh.  Well, okay, it makes sense then.  It isn’t like famous people change their names all the time without going to the trouble of making it all legal and stuff, but whatever floats her little boat.

I predict a flood of little girls named “Miley” in the next year or so.

In other Miley news (have I ever done any Miley news?  I don’t think so, probably because I don’t care), she had a bit of a mini-scandal when racy photos of Destiniley in a bikini and in her undies were leaked onto the internets:

The music industry’s good girl, Miley Cyrus, is juggling more than a booming music and film career these days. After photos of the 15-year-old leaked online showing her posing in front of a camera in her underwear, those behind the star’s “clean image” are fearing the effect it may have on the teen sensation’s reputation. […]

As for the recent batch of pictures making it’s way over the Internet, the insider says, “Miley was just having fun and goofing around in all these pictures, like any normal teen. They were never supposed to be made public, and Miley feels very betrayed that someone close to her leaked them.”

Billy Ray, a word of advice:  You need to keep a better eye on your daughter and her friends.

You see, the entire purpose of taking photos in your smalls (in this case, apparently at a slumber party) is for one reason…to show them to someone else.  You don’t take photos like that, look at them and say, “Wow, I look hawt!” and then delete them.  Or you don’t wake up one morning and just decide on the spur of the moment to take photos of yourself in your unders for no reason whatsoever.  Every action has a reason.  And the declaration that Milestiny feels “betrayed” that “someone close to her leaked them,” just shows that she did show them to someone other than herself, send them to someone (not necessarily a male, possibly a girlfriend), or allow someone else to have a copy.

Regardless, it seems that Destiley didn’t learn anything from another Disney starlet, Vanessa Hudgens…never take photos of yourself.  And especially never give them to anybody.  They will be leaked.  Um…HELLO?

And don’t give me this baloney about how she’s so “grounded” and so “smart” and how she’s not your “typical” teen star.  I don’t care how intelligent she is or how much daddy Billy Ray tries to protect her, there are certain elements of being a teenage star that you cannot escape from.  Showbiz is knee-deep in former teen stars who hit their twenties as emotionally retarded adults, no matter how good the intentions of the parents and handlers.  This level of superstardom cannot be good for a developing psyche.  Plus, you really can’t win…employ a hands-off attitude and you’ve got a wild child on your hands, but protect them too much and they rebel when they hit adulthood.

I mean, I don’t mean to sound horrible and all that, but let’s face it…the odds are stacked against any young person who hits the kind of big-time this young girl has.  I certainly hope she can overcome, but I’m a realist, and I’m not holding my breath.  If she proves me wrong, then great.

Plus, if I hear that stupid “Best Of Both Worlds” song at Wal-Mart ONE. MORE. TIME, I’m going to go postal on one of their televisions.  I’m not kidding.

She’s fifteen?  Great.  Just can’t wait to see her when she’s twenty.  Maybe she’ll change her name to Britney.

 

After making tons of posts about the Britneys and Lindsays and Parises of the world, who go through men, movies, and music like so much used toilet paper, it’s refreshing to hear about true legends of the business who have not only managed to juggle a long-lasting career, but who have also managed to make a success of their personal life.

Despite a failed first marriage lasting nine years, Paul Newman, a WWII vet, has managed to make a success of his second marriage to actress Joanne Woodward, and today they celebrate fifty years together as man and wife.  They have three daughters together.  Newman had two daughters and a son with his first wife; however his son, Scott, died of an accidental drug overdose in 1978, inspiring Newman to create the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse to help others.  Their lists of awards won are too long to mention here, but her first Academy Award was for The Three Faces Of Eve in 1957, and he won one in 1986 for The Color Of Money.

Their contributions to acting, theatre, movies, and philanthropy (they donate the profits of their food sales, after taxes, to charity) are legend.  Today’s so-called “stars” would do well to take a few pages out of their book.  And I personally love his pineapple salsa.

Recently, Newman had cancer surgery:

He is fit enough to go out and has been seen outside his home in Westport, Connecticut, where his neighbours say he looks well.

An insider close to the star said that he recently checked into a New York hospital for serious surgery “related to cancer” which left him convalescing for three weeks.

“He initially was having trouble breathing and a hard time walking.

“After Thanksgiving, his family became concerned and took him to see a New York specialist.

“He was admitted right away into the hospital where he underwent surgery.

“He’s bounced back now but he’s not a well man and people in his company are trying to keep this very quiet.” He added.

Another friend of the star also confirmed to a US magazine that Newman had recently undergone a “major medical procedure”.

But he seems to have convalesced well, and this minor setback hasn’t stopped him from being his old self:

An observer at Newman’s restaurant added: “Paul does look frail and his thinning hair has gone nearly white.

“But he does seem feisty for a man of his advanced years.

“After exchanging small talk with some employees he and Joanne got into matching steel-grey SUV’s to follow one another home.

“Before Paul left he played speed racer and gunned it for a couple of laps around the parking lot.”

Yep, that sounds like Paul Newman, always the auto racer.  He owns a stake in Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, a Champ car team, and recently narrated Dale, a film about the late Dale Earnhardt.  He was also the voice of Doc Hudson in the animated movie Cars, both projects continuing his life-long love of auto racing.

So I raise my glass to a couple of true living legends, and recipients of a Breath Of Fresh Air award.  I certainly hope that they have a wonderful day today and many more happy years together!