Thursday, March 29, 2007
Oprah's latest book pick
CHICAGO -- Don't expect a lot of sunshine in Oprah Winfrey's latest book club pick. Publishing's leading hit-maker has chosen Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," a bleak, apocalyptic novel by an author who rarely talks to the media. McCarthy, 73, is known for novels such as "All the Pretty Horses" and "Blood Meridian," and has been widely cited as an heir to William Faulkner for his biblical prose and rural settings. Critic Harold Bloom, famous for his discerning taste, has called McCarthy one of the greatest living American writers, along with Don DeLillo, Philip Roth and Thomas Pynchon.
Peas' Taboo arrested
INDUSTRY, Calif. -- Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a collision, police said. The 31-year-old hip-hop singer, whose real name is Jaime Luis Gomez, was taken into custody Tuesday morning after a collision in Industry, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, said Los Angeles sheriff's Lt. Mark Relyea. Gomez was released that evening with a citation for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a prescribed medication without a prescription and driving under the influence, Relyea said.
'Da Vinci' suit rejected
LONDON -- Britain's Court of Appeal rejected a suit Wednesday from two authors who claimed novelist Dan Brown stole their ideas for his blockbuster novel "The Da Vinci Code." Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh had sued Brown's publisher, Random House Inc., claiming he copied from their 1982 nonfiction book "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail." Both books deal with the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had a child, and that the bloodline continues. One of the judges said copyright protects an author's labor in researching and writing a book, but does not extend to facts, theories, and themes. Brown testified last year that he studied the plaintiffs' book when writing his best-seller but did not copy from it.
No charges for rocker
LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors declined to file charges Tuesday against the former lead singer of disbanded punk group Mest in the fatal stabbing of a man during an argument. Anthony Lovato, 26, who fronted the suburban Chicago punk band, was arrested early Sunday after calling police to report the altercation, authorities said.
"There was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was not a justified use of force in self-defense," said Jane Robison, a district attorney's office spokeswoman.
Authorities said Lovato and the 25-year-old man argued early Sunday in a parking structure. When police arrived, they found the man lying on the ground with knife wounds. He later died at the hospital.
Today's birthdays
Author Judith Guest is 71. Former British Prime Minister John Major is 64. Comedian Eric Idle is 64. Composer Vangelis is 64. Singer Bobby Kimball (Toto) is 60. Actor Christopher Lawford is 52. Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas is 51. Rock singer Perry Farrell (Porno for Pyros; Jane's Addiction) is 48. Comedian-actress Amy Sedaris is 46. Model Elle Macpherson is 44. Actress Lucy Lawless is 39. Tennis player Jennifer Capriati is 31.