Celebrity Autographs And Celebrity Addresses

American Language Center. UCLA Extension’s center hosts a free open house for its English as a Second Language Programs. Extension Lindbrook Center, 10920 Lindbrook Dr, Westwood, (310) 825-9068. Uclaextension.edu/openhouses. Wed at 6.

Tori Amos. Musician signs Piece by Piece, a collection of her personal history. Tickets required. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Bl, West Hollywood, (310) 659-3110. Booksoup.com. Mon at 7.

Steve-Elliot Altman and Michael Reaves. Authors sign their graphic novel The Irregulars. Dark Delicacies, 4123 W Burbank Bl, Burbank, (818) 556-6660. Darkdel.com. Sat at 2.

Anna Balint. Author presents Horse Thief as part of the New Short Fiction Series. Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N Rexford Dr, Beverly Hills, (310) 288-2220. Fri at 8.

Matthew Barney. NY artist speaks on his drawings, photographs, videos and sculptures that have been exhibited internationally. Hammer Museum, Gallery 6, 10899 Wilshire Bl, Westwood, (310) 443-7000. Arts.ucla.edu. Thur at 7.

Danny Biederman. Author presents The Incredible World of Spy-Fi. Barnes & Noble, 16461 Ventura Bl, Encino, (818) 380-1636. Wed at 7:30.

A.S. Byatt. Booker prize-winning author will be giving a reading, lecture and book signing. UCLA, Royce Hall, Westwood, (310) 825-2101. UCLAlive.org. Fri at 8.

Matthew Carnahan. Author signs debut novel Serpent Girl. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Bl, West Hollywood, (310) 659-3110. Booksoup.com. Wed at 7.

Anita L. DeFrantz. Olympic Bronze medalist will give a free talk titled “Women in Sports: Life Lesson.” Santa Monica College, Concert Hall, 1900 Pico Bl, Santa Monica, (310) 434-4209. Smc.edu. Tue at 11:15 a.m.

Dolphina. Bellydancer to such celebrities as Salma Hayek and Carmen Electra presents Bellydance. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Bl, West Hollywood, (310) 659-3110. Booksoup.com. Thur at 7.

Dr. Seuss 101st Birthday Celebration. Free story hour, an exhibit of rare drawings, and screening of 5000 Fingers of Dr. T at the Aero Theatre across the street. Every Picture Tells A Story, 1311 Montana Av, Santa Monica, (310) 451-2700. Sun at 2.

Gallery Talk. Artists Lauren Bon, Krysten Cunningham, Michael O’Malley, and exhibition curators James Elaine, Aimee Chang, and Christopher Miles lead a gallery talk through THING: New Sculpture from Los Angeles, about 45 works by 20 up-and-coming Los Angeles-based artists. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Bl, L.A., (310) 443-7000. Thur at 6.

Girls Can’t Play Pool. A staged reading by Blanchard Ryan from an entry in the 2004 Screenplay and Teleplay competitions. Son of Semele Ensemble @ Cell 2, 3301 Beverly Bl, L.A., (323) 466-1786. Slamdance.com. Mon only, at 8.

Kenneth Goldsmith and David Antin. Poets will be presenting their works. Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Bl, (310) 822-3006. Beyondbaroque.org. Fri at 7:30.

Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council. Toluca Lake Elementary School, 4840 Cahuenga Bl, Toluca Woods, (818) 505-8940. Tolucalake-nc.com. Tue at 7.

Holaday Mason. Poet hosts Wednesday Night Poetry, a free workshop. Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Bl, Venice, (310) 822-3006. Wed at 8.

Home Ownership Seminar. Freddie MAC and the California League of United Latin American Citizens present a free seminar to promote home ownership, explaining credit, personal financial management, and the mortgage process issues involved. Santa Monica City College, Student Cafeteria, 1900 Pico Bl, Santa Monica, (310) 391-8995. Calulac.org. Sat 9 a.m.-noon.

Randall Horton. Writer will be featured at Anansi Writers Workshop, where writers can present their work and participate in a critique. The World Stage, 4344 Degnan Bl, L.A., (323) 293-2451. Wed at 8:30.

Howdy Partner. The bolo tie takes center stage as a key to understanding the American West. Museum of the American West, Imagination Gallery, 4700 Zoo Dr, Griffith Park, (323) 667-2000. Sat 10 a.m.-5.

The Invisible Made Visible. Luisa Del Giudice lectures on food and ritual performance in the Sicilian St. Joseph’s Day feast. UCLA Kinross Building, 11000 Kinross Av, rm 104, Westwood, (310) 825-3281. Arts.ucla.edu. Tue at 5:30.

Inquiries and Discoveries: Pillars of the Community. Discussion on Paul Revere Williams and L.A. African American architectural landscape. California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, L.A. (213) 744-2133. Sat at 10 a.m.

Jesus Gonzalez. Author signs Survivor and The Beloved. Dark Delicacies, 4123 W Burbank Bl, Burbank, (818) 556-6660. Darkdel.com. Sat at 2.

Judy Grahn and Susan McCabe. Authors will read and sign their books for the Ruskin reading series. 800 S Plymouth Bl, L.A., (818) 831-0649. Sun at 2.

Francine R. Kaufman. Former president of the American Diabetes Association presents Diabesity: The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic that Threatens American – and What We Must Do to Stop it. Dutton’s, 11975 San Vicente Bl, Brentwood, (310) 476-6263. Sat at 2.

Doug Knott, Bruce Bauman, Rachel Resnick. Fictioneers and authors will present their works. Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Bl, (310) 822-3006. Beyondbaroque.org. Sat at 7:30.

Laura Flanders and Robert Scheer. Part of the Provocative Speaker Series. Friends of Valley Cities Jewish Community Center, 13164 Burbank Bl, Sherman Oaks, (818) 783-0256. Tue at 7:30.

Lost in the Grooves. Contributors to this book sign copies and sharing their stories of record collector excess. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E Colorado Bl, Pasadena, (626) 449-5320. Sat at 4.

Mobile-making workshop. Learn how to turn wire, construction paper, and odds and ends into a moving piece of art. Corita Art Center, 5515 Franklin Av, L.A, (323) 466-2157. Corita.org. Sat at 11 a.m.

Pat Morita and George Takei. Actors cover propaganda and its impact on civil liberties during the World War II period. Japanese American National Museum, 369 E First St, downtown L.A., (213) 625-0414. Janm.org/events. Sat at 2.

Poem.X. Poets Jenny Factor and James Ragan read from their works. Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third St. Promenade, Santa Monica, (310) 260-9110. Fri at 8.

Renzo Piano. Architect discusses his views on art and architecture. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Bl, L.A., (323) 857-6010. Lacma.org. Sun at 4.

John Rechy. Author presents Beneath the Skin: the Collected Essays of John Rechy. A Different Light Books, 8853 Santa Monica Bl, West Hollywood, (310) 854-6601. Thur at 7:30.

Terri Silverman. Artist-in-residence holds a writing workshop. Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Bl, Venice, (310) 822-3006. Thur & Sun at 8.

Jordan Fischer Smith. Author discusses Nature Noir. L.A. Public Library, Central Library, 630 W Fifth St, L.A., (213) 228-7025. Tue at 7.

Sci-Fi Summit. 13th annual convention offers fans from around the world the chance to meet celebrity guests from Star Trek, Star Wars, Angel, Firefly, Stargate, and more. Pasadena Conference Center, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, (818) 409-0960. Creationent.com. Fri-Sun from noon-6.

UC Irvine Reading Series. An afternoon of poetry and fiction readings with current students in the MFA Writing Program. Long Beach Museum of Art, Lane Oceanview Gallery, 2300 E Ocean Bl, Long Beach. Sun 2-4:30.

Ann Bedford Ulanov. Author will present the lecture “Meditations on Aliveness and Deadness.” C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, 10349 W Pico Bl, L.A., (310) 556-1193. Junginla.org. Fri at 7:30.

Women in the Global Struggle Against Apartheid. South African Consul-General Jeanette T. Ndhlovu speaks on women’s efforts against apartheid; a Q&A and short film follow. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Exposition Park, (213) 744-7432. Sat 1-3.

Melissa Worthington. The author of Living Beyond Your Expectations: Instead of Inside Others' holds free workshops. Borders Books & Music Store, 400 S Baldwin Av, Arcadia, (626) 445-1320. Sat at 2.

Yloc. Lecture on heterotopic fragments. SCI-Arc, Main Space, 960 E Third St, downtown L.A.. Sciarc.edu. Mon at 7.

CARLSBAD – Next week, according to the subpoena, he will be seated behind a desk on Capitol Hill to plead his case before the Congress of the United States.

Yesterday, the seat and table were set up in a Costco in North County. In order to get a copy of ex-player Jose Canseco's controversial book "Juiced" and the author's signature, people were lined up almost long enough to fill two center lanes at the wholesale store, winding past the fake plants and the inkjet-printer cartridges and the Thomas Bros. guides and the reading glasses.

The tell-all book, Canseco said, is what prompted the House Government Reform Committee to summon him and 10 other baseball people to testify on the matter of steroids in the national pastime. Several of the former and current players – Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi and Rafael Palmeiro – were alleged to be steroid users in Canseco's book.

"If the Major League Baseball (officials) and players don't show or take the Fifth, then you'll know this is the truth," said Canseco, meaning the book. "We're finally going to find out what Major League Baseball is trying to hide."

Wearing sunglasses inside for the 6 p.m. signing – but taking them off to check out plasma TVs before issuing autographs – Canseco said that eventually other players will come forth and confirm his charges that steroid use has been rampant in the majors.

General managers "all knew" about the steroid problem, Canseco said, but "they didn't care."

The only team official included in the 11 subpoenas was Padres General Manager Kevin Towers, no doubt due to the fact that Towers reiterated his suspicions about the steroid use by former Padres star Ken Caminiti and has regretted not doing anything about it since Caminiti's drug-related death last year.

"You should commend Kevin Towers," Canseco said. "He may have saved somebody's life. It could be your child."

Most of those lined up for autographs were adults, one of them wearing an Oakland Athletics cap and an A's jersey with Canseco's name on the back.

"I'm a Canseco fan, but a bigger Mark McGwire fan" said Alex Stencel, a 27-year-old courier who resides in Escondido. "I grew up with Canseco and McGwire. I played baseball. I know he's telling the damn truth. He was the only one able to say anything, to speak his mind. Nobody else had the (courage) to speak out. This will ruin baseball's reputation, but he speaks the truth."

Yet, in his book, Canseco effectively brings down the legend of McGwire, citing an incident in which he and Big Mac shot up steroids in a bathroom stall. Asked if he believed McGwire was juiced when breaking the single-season home run record in 1998, Stencel wasn't so adamant.

"I don't know, I can't say," he said. "For me to say anything like that would be gossip."

Photo Opportunity - Meet Matt Bonner this Saturday
Toronto Raptors' "Red Rocket" will meet and greet
fans at Best Buy store in Scarborough

TORONTO, March 11 /CNW/ -

What: With NBA playoffs just around the corner and Canada's team
back in the game, it's time to show the Raptors that their
fans are cheering them on. That's why in the spirit of
'March Madness,' Best Buy is bringing Raptor's forward Matt
Bonner to its Scarborough location. Known to many as the
'Red Rocket,' Bonner and team mascot The Raptor will be on
site at Best Buy to meet fans and sign autographs.

Bonner will be on location for two hours. Fans will have an
opportunity to line up to meet the NBA star around 1:30 pm
who will sign autographs on a first-come first-serve basis.
Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to
participate in a slam dunk contest for a grand prize worth
$1000 in Raptors and Best Buy merchandise.

This is all part of Best Buy's March Madness partnership
with the Toronto Raptors. Over the next month, Best Buy and
the Raptors have teamed up for a number of events around
the GTA.

When/Where: Saturday, March 12th, 2005 from 2-4 pm

Best Buy Scarborough Store, 480 Progress Avenue

Interviews: TV crews and photographers are welcome. As time is extremely
limited, no interviews will be permitted with Mr. Bonner,
however, Best Buy representatives and fans may be available
for comment.

Mercurial superstar Michael Jackson, wearing slippers and pyjamas, on Thursday turned up more than an hour late for a court showdown with his child sex accuser after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

In a dramatic turn of events, Judge Rodney Melville ordered the pop icon arrested and said he would lose his $US3 million ($3.79 million) bail unless he showed up at court within an hour.

"I'm forfeiting his bail, I'm issuing a warrant for his arrest, and I'm holding the order for an hour," Judge Melville said after the star failed to turn up at the required time to hear his alleged victim testify against him.

The judge issued the stunning order even after Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, said the star was being treated in a hospital emergency for a "serious back problem".

Just over an hour later, a dishevelled and distressed-looking Jackson, 46, wearing slippers and pyjama bottoms, arrived at the courtroom about two minutes after the deadline for his arrest passed.


advertisement

advertisement

Assisted by aides and accompanied by his parents, Jackson, his usually-immaculate hair uncombed, shuffled slowly and unsteadily into the courtroom.

The fate of the arrest warrant was not immediately clear, but his trial resumed with Jackson's 15-year-old molestation accuser taking the witness stand to testify against him for the second day.

The judge did not immediately confirm he would quash the bench warrant, but told jurors they should not draw any "adverse inferences" from the morning's events.

Jackson's publicist Raymone Bain said the star was delayed in a hospital emergency room for three hours after seeking pre-dawn treatment for back pain.

"His back went out," she said. "He went to the emergency room to get a muscle relaxant but we don't know why it took so long."

Thursday's proceedings are seen as one of the most critical in the trial of the world's most famous defendant.

Jackson's young accuser, who began testifying on Wednesday, began a gruelling day in which he is expected to offer graphic details of his alleged sex abuse at the hands of the pop icon two years ago.

The prosecution alleges that Jackson plied the teenager with alcohol and molested him on several occasions at his Neverland Ranch two years ago, when the boy was a 13-year-old recovering cancer victim.

If convicted on those charges and another of conspiring to kidnap his young accuser's family, the pop star could be jailed for 20 years.

The boy told jurors on Thursday that his mother feared for her children's lives at Neverland and that the singer plied him with him wine that the pop icon dubbed "Jesus juice" and urged him to keep quiet about the drinking.

The softly-spoken youth said he and his brother drank wine and vodka with Jackson "every night" the star was at home at Neverland and played a bizarre drinking game while making crank telephone calls.

The teenager also said that Jackson served him alcohol in his hotel suite in the southeastern US city of Miami and aboard his private jet.

During a flight on Jackson's jet from Miami to California in February 2003, the star handed the boy a Diet Coke can that was apparently filled with wine and asked if the boy had heard of "Jesus juice".

"He said, 'you know how Jesus drank wine, well we call it Jesus juice,"' the boy said, adding that he took a sip of the alcohol and told Jackson that it tasted "ugly".

Before Jackson's plane took off on the return trip to California, the boy claimed that Jackson gave him a watch that he told him was worth $US75,000 ($94,625), urging the boy never to tell anyone of their drinking exploits.

"He said not to tell anyone about the Jesus juice and said this is like a symbol that we'll be friends forever," the boy said.

The teenager took the witness stand on Wednesday after his brother, now 14, had testified to twice witnessing Jackson fondling his sibling at the fantasy-style ranch in February and March 2003

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Professional athletes who try to pad their million-dollar paychecks with paid autograph signings won't be welcome in Rhode Island under legislation being considered today.

Senator Roger Badeau says he's fed up with athletes charging upwards of 100 dollars for an autograph at large-scale autograph signing events.

Badeau's bill would ban professional athletes, entertainers or promoters from charging a fee for an autograph to a child under age 16. They would be fined 100 dollars for each violation.

The Democrat says he got the idea after seeing Red Sox players getting paid for autographs at an event in Providence after their World Series victory.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary plans to consider the bill this afternoon.

Celebration III Autographs

Posted By Dustin on March 8, 2005
Starwars.com have posted some news about a few more names we can add to the ever growing list of celebritites who will be signing autogrpahs at Celebration III.

Matt Wood, the talent who created the voice for General Grievous for Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

Michonne Bourriague: The striking bounty hunter Aurra Sing, The Phantom Menace.

Nalini Krishan: Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith.

David Barclay: Jabba Puppeteer, Return of the Jedi.

Toby Philpott: Jabba Puppeteer, Return of the Jedi.

Sean Crawford: Yakface and mime artist, Return of the Jedi.

Ian Liston: Wes Janson, The Empire Strikes Back.

Tim Rose, Admiral Ackbar, Return of the Jedi.

Femi Taylor, Oola, Return of the Jedi and Return of the Jedi: Special Edition.

By my count this places us at 28 celebrities so far for autograph signings at Celebration III! Just how many will there be!? Stay tuned to TheForce.net for more!

Volunteers needed | Volunteers are needed for the Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which will be held April 11. Most volunteers only will be needed for that day. There are, however, tournament needs beginning April 8 and concluding with the cleanup effort April 12. The volunteer package will be $25 and consist of tournament volunteer golf shirt and hat, tournament volunteer badge, one additional grounds pass to the Pro-Am and free lunch on scheduled work days. Tickets for the Hootie & the Blowfish and friends concert and the Monday Pro-Am event are on sale. To obtain a volunteer application or for ticket information, call tournament coordinator Alexa Devine at (843) 881-2531 or go to www.hootiegolf.com.

MESA, Ariz. - Moises Alou strode into HoHoKam Park Saturday and was headed to the San Francisco Giants' side of the field. That was until a vocal group of Cubs fans drew him over to the home dugout to sign autographs.

Alou stood and signed for about 15 minutes before heading down the tunnel to the Cubs' clubhouse. There, he renewed acquaintances with players before finally heading over to join his new team.

"It was very flattering and a thrill," Alou said after coming out of Saturday's game, won by the Cubs 8-2. "I'm still one of their favorites."

The Cubs chose not to re-sign Alou after last season, even after he hit 39 homers and drove in 106 runs. Although Alou said he missed being with the Cubs, he was emphatic in saying he would not have accepted a one-year offer to come back. With the Giants, he got two years and $13.25 million.

"To tell you the truth, I don't really know the truth," he said. "If they (the Cubs) wish I was still here, I would still be here. We could have worked on a deal. I understand the business of the game. Unfortunately, I've been part of it everywhere I've been."

Like Christmas: Joe Borowski reported success from Friday's simulated outing and proclaimed himself ready to pitch Monday against the Rangers in Surprise.

Borowski couldn't have been happier, a fact not lost on either him or manager Dusty Baker.

"Actually, Bake walked in early and asked me, 'When are you throwing?'æ" Borowski said. "I said Monday and had a big smile on. He said, 'Yeah, you got a big smile on your face.' It's exciting. I'm looking forward to it."

Borowski hasn't faced big-league hitters since last June, when a rotator-cuff injury put him on the disabled list for the rest of the season.

Stretching it out: Even though he has been talked about as the closer, Ryan Dempster said Saturday he may throw 5-6 innings in a game before spring training is over.

Dempster was impressive Saturday, striking out three in 2 perfect innings.

"What I care about is us winning," Dempster said. "Whatever role is best for our team to win, that's all I care about. I really do. I've never been to the playoffs. If me being a setup guy or a closer or a starter helps us win ballgames, that's all I care about."

If Joe Borowski continues to throw well, he'll likely regain the closer's job. Dempster could open the season as the fifth starter, with lefty Glendon Rusch moving to the pen. Or Rusch could be the fifth starter, with Dempster being a reliever and swingman.

Roster moves: The Cubs outrighted left-handed pitcher Carlos Vasquez to Class AA West Tenn and optioned lefty Renyel Pinto to Class AAA Iowa. Pinto was a late arrival to camp because visa problems hampered his exit from Venezuela.

ZANESVILLE -- Hundreds of Ohio State fans came to Colony Square Mall on Saturday to buy Ohio State memorabilia and purchase autographs from former OSU standouts Mike Doss, Craig Krenzel and Ben Hartsock, each a key player on OSU's 2002 national championship team.

"It's pretty exciting for me," said 18-year-old Keith Thieman, of Marietta, sporting a Doss jersey. "I've always went to games, but never met them before."

Lisa Ware of Newark picked up the autographs as a surprise first anniversary present for her husband Edward. Their anniversary is today.

Rod Van Allen of Zanesville brought his elementary school sons Josh and Jacob and their friend Josh Franks for the signings.

"(My son) Josh has an Ohio State room, and I thought we'd bring his Ohio State football and come get some signatures. The players are all very friendly and very personable," Rod Van Allen said.

"I think it's awesome," Josh Van Allen said of getting to meet the former Buckeyes now in the NFL.

"I was really pumped for this," said Brady Warden of Zanesville. "Mike Doss is my favorite player; Krenzel and Hartsock are just an added bonus."

For Ohio State fan B.J. Smith of Nashport, Saturday was an opportunity to talk with the former Buckeyes, and get autographs for herself and friends.

"I've been a Buckeye fan all of my life," she said. "The line was (very long) earlier. That shows how much we appreciate them."

Smith attended all but one of Ohio's State football games in 2002 and every OSU contest in 2003.

Don Dogwiler of WHIZ, coordinator of the event, was pleased with a turnout of an estimated 200 to 300 fans who purchased player photo autographs.

"I thought we had a very good turnout," said Dogwiler, who noted the event was set up just three weeks ago. "For Zanesville to have three NFL players in town is pretty special. That may never happen again. I'm thrilled with it, and I'm looking forward to the next one."

Ohio State seniors Dustin Fox, Lydel Ross, Simon Fraser and Bam Childress are scheduled to sign at Colony Square Mall on Saturday, March 19.