Katie Holmes embracing Scientology

[dissention]

Sandler has his moments - like the Han. song. Kutcher "plays" dumb well. In the end - neither will ever win any awards, but they are fun for a rental - well usually :laugh:

Yeah, I just can't stand them. I'll take toilet humor in the form of John Waters over the antics of those two men who come across as actually being developmentally slow. :laugh:

[dissention]

Wouldn't you have to pry Elijah Wood off him first ?

That little bitch looks like he'd put up quite a fight.

[amber]

Take a number ! I want him first.
I told her to get in line, so you're third. :cool:

[sparky]

I told her to get in line, so you're third. :cool:

I missed the Viggo pig pile line. But then, he lives closer to me. If I were a stalker I'd go hang out in his neighborhood.:]

[Serrart]

I'm not really sure what this sentence means. Look, most of the country for 20 years has liked Cruise. We all (all the people my age) fell in love with Risky Business, Top Gun, (though of course there was always a Cruise/Kilmer debate. I say, why pick? I'll have them both! :lol: ) and that show me the money film. He's so likeable. That's just it. So, I have no shame in liking him. Plus, he has features that I, personally, find handsome. Nice jaw, gorgeous smile, green eyes, cheekbones, kinda short and stocky. He's like the boy version of Demi Moore, who is also most gorgeous ever. :) :woohoo:
Good Day!

Top Gun... my brother loved it and saw it twenty times at least. He knew every line, and Tom Cruise's voice kept flowing in my house. It was a torture at the time but now I think it worked as an antidote... Demi Moore is quite bad too, but at least she behaves better on the couches when invited to talk shows.

Romy

[The Tower]

Also, what are you gonna do about Bale at like 212 pounds?
Pound him like the hot piece of meat he is, baby!

Wouldn't you have to pry Elijah Wood off him first ?
Hell, no! I do 'em both at the same time. Yummy!

I told her to get in line, so you're third. :cool:
Excuuuuuuuse me, missy- I believe I am second in line, which would put you at thirsty thirds and Sparky at flatulent fourths... Jeezus, I'd hate to hafta wrangle with you at the deli counter line!

I missed the Viggo pig pile line. But then, he lives closer to me.
Sorry, babe- I live even closer, so you'll hafta get behind me.

[sparky]

Sorry, babe- I live even closer, so you'll hafta get behind me.

Hmmm, Viggo in the front, you in the middle, Sparky behind you.

One Tower Sandwich, comin up ! :woohoo: :laugh:

[amber]

Pound him like the hot piece of meat he is, baby!


Hell, no! I do 'em both at the same time. Yummy!


Excuuuuuuuse me, missy- I believe I am second in line, which would put you at thirsty thirds and Sparky at flatulent fourths... Jeezus, I'd hate to hafta wrangle with you at the deli counter line!


Sorry, babe- I live even closer, so you'll hafta get behind me.
Just a quick aside - Doesn't Viggo like girls??? :woohoo:

[amber]

Top Gun... my brother loved it and saw it twenty times at least. He knew every line, and Tom Cruise's voice kept flowing in my house. It was a torture at the time but now I think it worked as an antidote... Demi Moore is quite bad too, but at least she behaves better on the couches when invited to talk shows.

Romy
Thanks for sharing. Really.

[dissention]

Pound him like the hot piece of meat he is, baby!


Now you're talking. He'd have to be decked out in his Batman regalia just for my own kinky entertainment, though.

[amber]

Excuuuuuuuse me, missy- I believe I am second in line, which would put you at thirsty thirds and Sparky at flatulent fourths... Jeezus, I'd hate to hafta wrangle with you at the deli counter line!


Wait - the deli line? :lol: What are you saying? That I'll fight fiercely and to the death over a choice piece of meat???

[The Tower]

Hmmm, Viggo in the front, you in the middle, Sparky behind you.

One Tower Sandwich, comin up ! :woohoo: :laugh:
Sounds delish- however, there would have to be a slight change in the lineup. :laugh:

Just a quick aside - Doesn't Viggo like girls???
Quiet, you! :p Quit ruining my fun. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Hottie Viggo has dabbled on my side of the street.

Now you're talking. He'd have to be decked out in his Batman regalia just for my own kinky entertainment, though.
That would work perfectly with your leather fetish. Maybe he could lightly tickle you a little bit while he's at it?

Wait - the deli line? What are you saying? That I'll fight fiercely and to the death over a choice piece of meat???
I never thought of it that way (although, it sounds like fun). I was referring to you cutting in line with your ticket, insisting that you are number two.

[sparky]

Sounds delish- however, there would have to be a slight change in the lineup. :laugh:

Oh come on. Live a little ! :lol: Viggo and I could be very persuasive.

BTW, what the HELL is that in your avatar ? All this time I have thought it was a chihuahua sitting on it's haunches with a cigarette in it's little yap.

[amber]

You guys are cute. Next time Viggo (I call him Biggo) stops buy, I'll tell him your plans. We'll both have a good laugh, and then he'll f*** the s*** out of me!!! :thumbsup:

[dissention]

That would work perfectly with your leather fetish. Maybe he could lightly tickle you a little bit while he's at it?

Sure, why not, I wouldn't turn his fingers down. Seeing as how tickling and leather get me so hot, I'd be in a state of ecstasy.

[mylittledemon]

Big whoop. Let em have their fun with their publicity stunts. I'd give the relationship about 2 years, then they'll be tired of one another. That Katie must have some killer poon to put one over on Cruise & make him act the way he did on Oprah.

And if it is love, well then God bless those crazy kids.

[dissention]

That Katie must have some killer poon to put one over on Cruise & make him act the way he did on Oprah.

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[amber]

killer poon

:lol:

That is sooo going to be my next pet's name.

[The Tower]

Oh come on. Live a little ! :lol: Viggo and I could be very persuasive.

:] :] :]

BTW, what the HELL is that in your avatar ? All this time I have thought it was a chihuahua sitting on it's haunches with a cigarette in it's little yap.
That is my dog, Bubbles (yes, she is a chihuahua). She is sitting on the carpet holding a twisted rawhide stick in her paws and chewing on it.

You guys are cute. Next time Viggo (I call him Biggo) stops buy, I'll tell him your plans. We'll both have a good laugh, and then he'll f*** the s*** out of me!!!
And you thought I was delusional about him.... :laugh: :laugh:

That Katie must have some killer poon to put one over on Cruise & make him act the way he did on Oprah.
Oh yeah... it was her rocking vagina that got Tommy all hot and bothered. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[mylittledemon]

I bet it was. The Cruise probably got a little nutso from not being laid in awhile. He went from having to go to bed with Kidman every night....to Penelope Cruz....I mean, this is one of the luckiest men alive! So then onto some young thing like Katie? She must have some mystical powers.

[The Tower]

I bet it was. The Cruise probably got a little nutso from not being laid in awhile. He went from having to go to bed with Kidman every night....to Penelope Cruz....I mean, this is one of the luckiest men alive! So then onto some young thing like Katie? She must have some mystical powers.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[dissention]

He went from having to go to bed with Kidman every night....

That's reason enough for me to possess an intense combination of jealousy and hatred. I take solace in the fact that his queer ass probably never touched her. :cool: :laugh:

[amber]

Oh yeah... it was her rocking vagina that got Tommy all hot and bothered. Yeah, that's the ticket.
:lol: :lol:
"oh, these are my sweet little kitties...this is Killer Poon, and the one over there is Rockin Vagina...."

[amber]

That's reason enough for me to possess an intense combination of jealousy and hatred. I take solace in the fact that his queer ass probably never touched her. :cool: :laugh:
HA!!!! I KNEW IT! Jealous Hater. I'm sure you're gay enough to get Nicole, too, sweetie. See her on letterman last night? She was her usual twitchy but charming and humble self.

[ontheEdgeof17]

That's reason enough for me to possess an intense combination of jealousy and hatred. I take solace in the fact that his queer ass probably never touched her. :cool: :laugh:


and he's impotent :eek:

[dissention]

HA!!!! I KNEW IT! Jealous Hater. I'm sure you're gay enough to get Nicole, too, sweetie. See her on letterman last night? She was her usual twitchy but charming and humble self.

Course I saw her. I worship her. :laugh:

I thought Letterman was an ass for bringing up Toothy and Katie. She looked gorgeous, though.

[amber]

Course I saw her. I worship her. :laugh:

I thought Letterman was an ass for bringing up Toothy and Katie. She looked gorgeous, though.
He always does that, because she's all shy and she always does the same thing when he embarrasses her, and it's cute. He does it on purpose. :)

[dissention]

and he's impotent :eek:

Yeah, I always got the impression he was flaccid.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Yeah, I always got the impression he was flaccid.


I read that years ago...when he adopted his first kid.

[sparky]

That is my dog, Bubbles (yes, she is a chihuahua). She is sitting on the carpet holding a twisted rawhide stick in her paws and chewing on it.


OMG. You have a purse dog ??? :eek:

That so doesn't fit my image of you. :shocked:

[The Tower]

OMG. You have a purse dog ??? :eek:

That so doesn't fit my image of you. :shocked:
I have three "purse" dogs. I live in a 1600 sq ft condominium on the fourth floor in the heart of WeHo. Whadja expect- that I would have a Neopolitan Mastiff?? :laugh: :laugh:

They're sweet, sweet honeys. Just remove the Paris Hilton/Britney Spears connotations from the imagery and you're fine.

[Moony]

You know what? I'm going to buy 2 awesome pit tickets, not tell you, and just fricking HOLD the other one, and go by myself. :woohoo: Oh, by the way, I will be looking like a skanky white trash whore at the time, too. :woohoo:
That's just cruel.

and this thread is starting to gross me out

[sparky]

I have three "purse" dogs. I live in a 1600 sq ft condominium on the fourth floor in the heart of WeHo. Whadja expect- that I would have a Neopolitan Mastiff?? :laugh: :laugh:

They're sweet, sweet honeys. Just remove the Paris Hilton/Britney Spears connotations from the imagery and you're fine.

Okay, okay. But weenie dogs are funnier.

Actually, my association is more along the lines of BH plastic surgery disaster housewives at the century city mall with their rodents in their purses.

But I will buy your story that they're cool. I mean, you're cool, yer dogs are probably cool. :nod:

[The Tower]

That's just cruel.

and this thread is starting to gross me out
My mind was :confused: about why this thread was grossing you out, and then {BING!!} the light came on regarding the killer poons and rocking vaginas.... :laugh: :laugh:

Don't sweat it, Dan-O! Just visualize Viggo in your bed and your golden. :blob2:

Okay, okay. But weenie dogs are funnier.
At the LA Pride parade this weekend, there were two dykes who had just got a little baby minature long-haired dachschund. He was really cute!

Actually, my association is more along the lines of BH plastic surgery disaster housewives at the century city mall with their rodents in their purses.
Yeah, those chicks puke me out, too. However, I would classify them as Shih Tsu/Maltese type owners, not chihuahuas. Chihuahuas are too cool for plastic old ladies.

[skcin]

I don't like ankle biters - btw, I mean little dogs, not men :cool: - but I guess it would not be practical to have a big dog in your home.

And are we all really horny today, or what? Bang this, tickle that, cooters, mansandwiches, rockin' vaginas, flaccid peepees, the list goes on & on.

And to think, the thread was about Katie converting to scientology. :shrug:

LOVE it!

[The Tower]

I don't like ankle biters - btw, I mean little dogs, not men :cool: - but I guess it would not be practical to have a big dog in your home.
My doggies are snuggy-kissy type dogs. They never yap or bite. I would love to have English Setters one day, but I'm gonna hafta have a big house with a BIG yard.

And are we all really horny today, or what? Bang this, tickle that, cooters, mansandwiches, rockin' vaginas, flaccid peepees, the list goes on & on.
Yeah- me likey! Thanks for starting it with the "bang" post! :laugh: :laugh:

[sparky]

And are we all really horny today, or what?

Evidently. I know I am. LOL. Had a date last night and have another tomorrow.
The more I get, the more I want, apparently.
TMI, probably, I realize. :lol:

[sparky]

At the LA Pride parade this weekend, there were two dykes who had just got a little baby minature long-haired dachschund. He was really cute!

Yeah, those chicks puke me out, too. However, I would classify them as Shih Tsu/Maltese type owners, not chihuahuas. Chihuahuas are too cool for plastic old ladies.

Weenie dogs, to me, are some of the funniest creatures on earth. Wiry, smooth, long haired, all of them. The very thought of them makes me snicker.

You are right about the purse dogs. They are usually the fluffier variety. I liked the Taco Bell dog. Until the PC army killed it.

[dissention]

At the LA Pride parade this weekend, there were two dykes who had just got a little baby minature long-haired dachschund. He was really cute!

Sooooooooo, you didn't tell me. Did you get to see Deb? I heard she sang 8 1/2 Rumba! :eek:

[dissention]

I don't like ankle biters - btw, I mean little dogs, not men :cool: - but I guess it would not be practical to have a big dog in your home.


http://www.perezhilton.com/topics/katie22222.jpg

I looooooooove little ankle biters. I could gush about my mini weiner dog all day. :laugh:

[GODDESS6]

http://www.perezhilton.com/topics/katie22222.jpg

I looooooooove little ankle biters. I could gush about my mini weiner dog all day. :laugh:

omg i have a mini weenie dog too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

[skcin]

I don't really consider weiner dogs ankle biters. Chihuahuas are OK too. It's more those little fluffy yippers that bark all the f*cking time & piss on everything. Maltese, toy poodles & the like. Maybe it's more an irresponsible owner I detest rather than the dog itself - you know, a person who gets a tiny dog cuz it's "in" right now but has no clue how to train it & care for it *COUGH jessicasimpsonCOUGH*

When Bubba sees a really small dog I crack up - it's like he can't figure out what the hell it is. I can almost see his mind going "Looks like a cat, but smells like a dog. I'm confused!" The chihuahua that was in his obedience class was obsessed with him though, I should post some pics.
I also enjoy pointing out to people that my dog could eat their dog. :D

And is it, like, a homo law that gay men must own small dogs? :shrug:

BTW, Diss - I'm so glad you love your little weiner. :cool:

[dissention]

And is it, like, a homo law that gay men must own small dogs? :shrug:

Beats me, I've grown up with mini weiner dogs. :nod: Ever see those two queens on Showdog Moms and Dads fighting over Liberace? Jeezum crow, they should be tossed into the booby hatch.

BTW, Diss - I'm so glad you love your little weiner. :cool:

:thumbsup:

[strandinthewind]

Scotties really are the only way to go :wavey:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/strandinthewind/_O9Z8520.jpg

That is Wynn (ee the pooh) posing for her Award of Merit at the Scottie Specialty - so take that ankle biters :laugh:

[skcin]

Beats me, I've grown up with mini weiner dogs. :nod: Ever see those two queens on Showdog Moms and Dads fighting over Liberace? Jeezum crow, they should be tossed into the booby hatch.



:thumbsup:

Ever seen Best In Show? :lol:

I just knew Jason would put up a pic of one of those dogs soon!

[strandinthewind]

Ever seen Best In Show? :lol:

I just knew Jason would put up a pic of one of those dogs soon!


Now Now - they are sitting right here glaring at your post

:p :p

[skcin]

Here - this should scare the **** out of them:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/tongue3.jpg

[sparky]

And is it, like, a homo law that gay men must own small dogs? :shrug:

Perhaps. I shirk the law. My fondness for weenie dogs aside.

But then, we have established that my card was revoked long ago. :lol:

[sparky]

Here - this should scare the **** out of them:



Priceless.

[The Tower]

Sooooooooo, you didn't tell me. Did you get to see Deb? I heard she sang 8 1/2 Rumba! :eek:
We just got back from Hawaii VERY late Friday night, so we were to pooped for Deb. It was super duper crowded at the stage area about 6ish (packed like sardines) so we decided to go home and eat dinner.

A friend of mine worked one of the booths in the pavilion area and told me that the set was kinda short. She didn't have any musicians with her (which I had expected- LA Pride is not that big of a "concert" event for the full band type gig). She had some backup dancers with her and I guess she did a lot more dancing and gettin' down than singing. However, he said she seemed to be in fine voice.

It woulda been cool to see, but I would rather see her in a real concert environment than a sardine can/tape track type thang.

[dissention]

We just got back from Hawaii VERY late Friday night, so we were to pooped for Deb. It was super duper crowded at the stage area about 6ish (packed like sardines) so we decided to go home and eat dinner.

A friend of mine worked one of the booths in the pavilion area and told me that the set was kinda short. She didn't have any musicians with her (which I had expected- LA Pride is not that big of a "concert" event for the full band type gig). She had some backup dancers with her and I guess she did a lot more dancing and gettin' down than singing. However, he said she seemed to be in fine voice.

It woulda been cool to see, but I would rather see her in a real concert environment than a sardine can/tape track type thang.

Oh, I totally forgot that you went to Hawaii. Hope you had a grand time. ;) :xoxo:

Thanks for the info, all I knew was that she did 8 1/2 Rumba (I'm still dying over that), the Blow Up version of Good Boys, a new version of In the Flesh, Rapture, Heart of Glass, and End To End. I did hear that she also wore this huge fanny pack that no one knew what was for, but in the middle of her set, her dancers (The Fishsticks) came out, unzipped it, and unfurled a huge rainbow flag. :laugh: Supposedly a very interesting and great performance.

[The Tower]

Oh, I totally forgot that you went to Hawaii. Hope you had a grand time. ;) :xoxo:
:xoxo: Kauai is very beautiful. It's almost otherworldly. I'm getting our pictures back tomorrow, so I'll post some of the good ones. I went snorkeling in a crazzzzy thunderstorm with rain pouring down on us.

I was trying to get in shape for the beachy-type atmosphere, but I didn't quite succeed. Even so, with all modesty I must say that I was one of the hotter people on the island (read: there were a lot of fat, grody tourists in bathing suits much too small for the swimmers' bodies.... :eek: )

Thanks for the info, all I knew was that she did 8 1/2 Rumba (I'm still dying over that), the Blow Up version of Good Boys, a new version of In the Flesh, Rapture, Heart of Glass, and End To End.
My queenie friend told me that "Heart of Glass" was a really long, extendo track. I'm guessing that all the 70's queens still alive were creaming their jeans over that one.

[strandinthewind]

Here - this should scare the **** out of them:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/tongue3.jpg


Darling - my terriers have taken down Rottweilers - So BRING IT ON :] :] :]

In edit - what a cute poooooops :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[trackaghost]

From the imdb today:

Holmes' Religious Confusion
Fans of Tom Cruise's new belle Katie Holmes are baffled by her interest in Scientology - because she is a devout Catholic. The Dawson's Creek actress has been reading about the controversial faith since she first stepped out with Cruise in April. She recently said, "I have looked into it (Scientology) myself and I really like it and I think it's really wonderful... I feel like I'm bettering myself." Cruise added, "She digs it." But earlier this year - before her romance with Cruise hit Front pages - Holmes talked about the importance of her faith and how it had helped her career. She told magazine CosmoGirl, "I was raised Catholic and I've always had faith in God. It gives me a lot of security."

[skcin]

Darling - my terriers have taken down Rottweilers - So BRING IT ON :] :] :]

In edit - what a cute poooooops :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:


Oh yeah? Well, anytime, anywhere! Blinded by the light of the day. :laugh:

[cliffdweller]

I will give Mystic River its props except for Penn, who I found overwraught, stoned, or in a histrionic fit that would have made a silent film star jealous :laugh:

I kind of have to agree with Strand here :eek:. I like Sean Penn [I liked him a helluva lot better before he started his self-important streak with the media :rolleyes:] but that performance was a wee bit much for me. I thought Marcia Gay Harden stole the show, I LOVE HER!! She's also a U.T. grad so of course I'm a bit biased.

By the way Diss, have I told you lately that your avatar is seducing me mercilessly? :laugh: It's like I have to control myself everytime I see one of your posts and you KNOW how hard that is with your large quantity of postage! :laugh:

[cliffdweller]

So was Russell Crow. :eek:

Russell Crowe and (shudders) Tom....Cruise....(god, it's hard to even type that!) as Aragorn would have been an abomination to the role! I'm sure I never would have stepped into a theater to see those movies if either one of those jackasses had been in it.

[trackaghost]

I kind of have to agree with Strand here :eek:. I like Sean Penn [I liked him a helluva lot better before he started his self-important streak with the media :rolleyes:] but that performance was a wee bit much for me.

I still wish Bill Murray won the Oscar that year.

[cliffdweller]

I still wish Bill Murray won the Oscar that year.

There ya go. He was so f*cking brilliant in Lost in Translation. That movie made me WEEP!!!

[trackaghost]

There ya go. He was so f*cking brilliant in Lost in Translation. That movie made me WEEP!!!

I totally agree. And he would have given a much better acceptance speech!
Bill was totally cheated that year. No wonder he looked pissed.

[strandinthewind]

There ya go. He was so f*cking brilliant in Lost in Translation. That movie made me WEEP!!!


I thought he was good, but the movie the was not. I thought the director was way out of her league and it showed. I thought the hype over it was because of her name and that Bill M. managed to make good out of bad material. Of course every critic in the world disagreed with me :laugh: http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/lostintranslation/ Who knows - maybe it was because I found her smug.

On edit: That year it was

Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"

Ben Kingsley in "House of Sand and Fog"

Jude Law in "Cold Mountain"

Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation"

Sean Penn in "Mystic River"
___________________________________________

I would have given it to Depp because that performance was stellar, but Murray would have been right up there with him - I may have given it to Murray because of the career history as well.

I LOVED Ben K. in that part and think he is a marv. actor, but BM and JD just outshined him.

[sparky]

I will give Mystic River its props except for Penn, who I found overwraught, stoned, or in a histrionic fit that would have made a silent film star jealous

Gawd how I hated that film and everything in it. :lol:

[cliffdweller]

I thought he was good, but the movie the was not. I thought the director was way out of her league and it showed. I thought the hype over it was because of her name and that Bill M. managed to make good out of bad material.

On edit: That year it was

Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"

Ben Kingsley in "House of Sand and Fog"

Jude Law in "Cold Mountain"

Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation"

Sean Penn in "Mystic River"
___________________________________________

I would have given it to Depp because that performance was stellar, but Murray would have been right up there with him - I may have given it to Murray because of the career history as well.

I LOVED Ben K. in that part and think he is a marv. actor, but BM and JD just outshined him.

Well, Ben Kingsley was great in The House of Sand and Fog but I don't know if it deserved an Oscar. Penn was over the top, Johnny Depp (like Jude Law) is hotter than hell but his performance was not necessarily Oscar caliber. I'd say it was more cartoony than anything (I felt like I was watching a kid's movie most of the time).

I still say Bill Murray should have won. His performance was gut-wrenching one minute and then hilarious the next...the emotional range he displayed was remarkable. And Scarlett Johansson's character? I could totally relate. Maybe that's another reason why I got into it so much.

[cliffdweller]

I thought he was good, but the movie the was not. I thought the director was way out of her league and it showed.

I don't know what this is supposed to mean. What league do you think Sofia Coppola is trying to fit into? I think she's a great, subtle director who pays attention to the nuances of life, and the lives of her characters, in a way that directors these days tend to neglect. I loved the whole "life transitions" theme that ran throughout Lost in Translation.

[SuzeQuze]

I don't know what this is supposed to mean. What league do you think Sofia Coppola is trying to fit into? I think she's a great, subtle director who pays attention to the nuances of life, and the lives of her characters, in a way that directors these days tend to neglect. I loved the whole "life transitions" theme that ran throughout Lost in Translation.

I also thought it was very well done. I gotta see that film again. I love Bill Murray anyway, Groundhog Day is one of my favorite films.

[The Tower]

I thought he was good, but the movie the was not. I thought the director was way out of her league and it showed. I thought the hype over it was because of her name and that Bill M. managed to make good out of bad material.
I really didn't get what the big deal was with that movie. It was soooo boring. Scarlett Johanson looked like she was on tranquilizers the whole time. And (like Tom Cruise) Bill Murray was just playing "Bill Murray Goes To Japan" :shrug: . Johnny Depp was just doing an over-the-top Keith Richards impersonation- where's the creativity in that??

I think movies (and especially the Oscars) have left a lot to be desired lately (LOTR excepted!!!).

[dissention]

I kind of have to agree with Strand here :eek:. I like Sean Penn [I liked him a helluva lot better before he started his self-important streak with the media :rolleyes:] but that performance was a wee bit much for me. I thought Marcia Gay Harden stole the show, I LOVE HER!! She's also a U.T. grad so of course I'm a bit biased.

I agree, too. But, for me at least, Sean Penn wasn't the star, it was an ensemble and everyone was collectively fabulous. Marcia Gay Harden was the best, though I found Laura Linney to be absolutely chilling in that last scene. She made the hair on my arms stand up. :eek:

I'm not a Sean Penn fan at all, so you get no arguments from me. I was happy to see him so restrained in The Interpreter. I had taken my mother and her firend to see it nad when we walked out, her friend turned to me and said "I'm glad they didn't have Kidman hook up with that old man, I hate when they do that." I told her that they were aroudn the same age and she goes "She looks like she's twenty and he looks an old rock." :laugh:

By the way Diss, have I told you lately that your avatar is seducing me mercilessly? :laugh: It's like I have to control myself everytime I see one of your posts and you KNOW how hard that is with your large quantity of postage! :laugh:

:D :laugh:

Not to worry, it taunts me just as much. :p

[dissention]

I still wish Bill Murray won the Oscar that year.

Me, too. :nod: Love that movie, Bill, Scarlett, and Coppola.

[dissention]

On edit: That year it was

Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"

Ben Kingsley in "House of Sand and Fog"

Jude Law in "Cold Mountain"

Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation"

Sean Penn in "Mystic River"
___________________________________________

I would have given it to Depp because that performance was stellar, but Murray would have been right up there with him - I may have given it to Murray because of the career history as well.

I LOVED Ben K. in that part and think he is a marv. actor, but BM and JD just outshined him.

Depp was fun, but Oscar-worthy he wasn't. Kingsley was reduced to a mere prop when he shared scenes with Shohreh Aghdashloo; she was ****ing brilliant. Loved Jude Law, that was a difficult character and he worked wonders with it. Sean Penn...no way. :laugh: In the end, it would have been between Murray and Law for me. They were both fantastic.

[gldstwmn]

Here - this should scare the **** out of them:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/skcin/paula/tongue3.jpg

Good christ, it's scaring me. :laugh:

[dissention]

I really didn't get what the big deal was with that movie. It was soooo boring. Scarlett Johanson looked like she was on tranquilizers the whole time. And (like Tom Cruise) Bill Murray was just playing "Bill Murray Goes To Japan" :shrug: . Johnny Depp was just doing an over-the-top Keith Richards impersonation- where's the creativity in that??

Depp is a fantastic actor, but he's only now getting recognition because his movies now make money. When he was just a cult actor, he was largely ignored and that's when he gave his best performances. Why didn't he win an Oscar for Ed Wood? Now that he's a huge star, they'll nominate him for anything. Forgive me, but Finding Neverland was unwatchable, saccharine swill and I didn't particularly find his work to be Oscar caliber in it.

I, personally, thought the chemistry between Scarlett and Bill in Lost In Translation was amongst the best of any actors I've ever seen. Just marvelous. I'm glad that Murray is finally starting to get recognition for being a good actor, he deserves it. And I just loooooooove Scarlett, she's so cute and a great actress. She was especially good in A Love Song For Bobby Long. :nod: Can't wait to see her new Woody Allen movie.

[gldstwmn]

I still wish Bill Murray won the Oscar that year.

So do I. He was great in Lost In Translation. I love that movie.

[strandinthewind]

I don't know what this is supposed to mean. What league do you think Sofia Coppola is trying to fit into? I think she's a great, subtle director who pays attention to the nuances of life, and the lives of her characters, in a way that directors these days tend to neglect. I loved the whole "life transitions" theme that ran throughout Lost in Translation.


I thought she seemed like an amateur and the story was trite, despite Murray's wonderful performance, which IMO saved it. I just do not like her.

[strandinthewind]

Depp was fun, but Oscar-worthy he wasn't. Kingsley was reduced to a mere prop when he shared scenes with Shohreh Aghdashloo; she was ****ing brilliant. Loved Jude Law, that was a difficult character and he worked wonders with it. Sean Penn...no way. :laugh: In the end, it would have been between Murray and Law for me. They were both fantastic.


See, I think it is okay for over the top comedy to win an Oscar, which puts me in the clear minority I know :laugh: I thought Depp's portryal was magnificent.

[dissention]

See, I think it is okay for over the top comedy to win an Oscar, which puts me in the clear minority I know :laugh: I thought Depp's portryal was magnificent.

I wouldn't mind if a comic performance won (I was actually rooting a little bit for Renee in Bridget Jones), I just look at the other performances and judge them accordingly. To me, Depp was nowhere near as good as Murray and Law that year.

[strandinthewind]

I wouldn't mind if a comic performance won (I was actually rooting a little bit for Renee in Bridget Jones), I just look at the other performances and judge them accordingly. To me, Depp was nowhere near as good as Murray and Law that year.


Maybe I just relate better to someone playing a has been, sunkissed drunk :eek:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :]

[The Tower]

Maybe I just relate better to someone playing a has been, sunkissed drunk :eek:
Well, DUH!!!!

:p ;) :p

[dissention]

From the imdb today:

Holmes' Religious Confusion
Fans of Tom Cruise's new belle Katie Holmes are baffled by her interest in Scientology - because she is a devout Catholic. The Dawson's Creek actress has been reading about the controversial faith since she first stepped out with Cruise in April. She recently said, "I have looked into it (Scientology) myself and I really like it and I think it's really wonderful... I feel like I'm bettering myself." Cruise added, "She digs it." But earlier this year - before her romance with Cruise hit Front pages - Holmes talked about the importance of her faith and how it had helped her career. She told magazine CosmoGirl, "I was raised Catholic and I've always had faith in God. It gives me a lot of security."

Did you see this, too?

Kidman Attacks Snapper on Red Carpet
Nicole Kidman blasted a rude photographer at the New York premiere of her new film Bewitched on Monday night after he booed her for not stopping to pose for him. The actress, who was still mourning the death of her make-up artist Rob McCann, initially asked her publicist to deal with the snapper, but then decided to confront him herself. Losing her famous cool for a moment, Kidman blasted, "You're very rude," before returning to the red carpet, visibly upset. Her publicist was overheard asking, "Are you OK?" - to which the Aussie actress replied, "No, I'm not," before hurrying into the cinema. A publicist for the actress insists Kidman was just reacting after having had a particularly bad day.

[skcin]

Good christ, it's scaring me. :laugh:


My Bubby's a sexy beast. :nod:

[gldstwmn]

My Bubby's a sexy beast. :nod:

I'm sure he's very sweet. :)

[seeker007nmss]

I'm sure he's very sweet. :)


Any spouse that supports a Mac/Stevie/Lindsey obsession is a keeper. :nod:

[The Tower]

Any spouse that supports a Mac/Stevie/Lindsey obsession is a keeper. :nod:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[gldstwmn]

Any spouse that supports a Mac/Stevie/Lindsey obsession is a keeper. :nod:

I was talking about her dog. :o

[seeker007nmss]

I was talking about her dog. :o


*Doh* I read it as HUBBY - husband - not BUBBY. :eek: :p :laugh: Maybe her HUBBY is a sexy beast? *My stomach hurts - that cracked me up*

[wondergirl9847]

Losing her famous cool for a moment, Kidman blasted, "You're very rude," before returning to the red carpet, visibly upset.

That cracked me up! She sure blasted him!! I am sorry to hear about the death of her makeup artist :( , but that sentence just made me laugh.

If that were me, I would have gone off on somebody...but she's more of a lady than I. :laugh:

[skcin]

*Doh* I read it as HUBBY - husband - not BUBBY. :eek: :p :laugh: Maybe her HUBBY is a sexy beast? *My stomach hurts - that cracked me up*


Nope. It's my dog Bubba (who I call Bubby) that I call the sexy beast. :lol:

Hubby's OK, too, I guess. :shrug:

[The Tower]

I was talking about her dog. :o
That was soooo awesome. Oooooooo my eyes are watering from the humor.

[Moony]

My mind was :confused: about why this thread was grossing you out, and then {BING!!} the light came on regarding the killer poons and rocking vaginas.... :laugh: :laugh:

Don't sweat it, Dan-O! Just visualize Viggo in your bed and your golden. :blob2:

(grrr)
Actually, Towie, it was your mention of Flatulent Fourths ( :eek: ) that really grossed me out. NASTY :lol: The vag mentions didn't help either. :nod:

Viggo in my bed? MMM yes, nice visual...


And is it, like, a homo law that gay men must own small dogs?
I certainly hope not. I want a Newfoundland. My mom has a pomeranian - that cured me of EVER wanting a small dog!

but Finding Neverland was unwatchable, saccharine swill and I didn't particularly find his work to be Oscar caliber in it.
You heartless bastard! ( ;) ) I loved that movie. Cried my eyes out.

[The Tower]

Nope. It's my dog Bubba (who I call Bubby) that I call the sexy beast. :lol:
My doggie's name is Bubbles and I sometimes call her Bubbie, too. Although, I wouldn't refer to her as a sexy beast (she's too tiny) and she's probably smaller than your Bubby's tongue :eek: .

Hubby's OK, too, I guess. :shrug:
Your enthusiam is hilarious.

[The Tower]

(grrr)
YES!! Bullseye!! :laugh: :laugh: :xoxo:

Actually, Towie, it was your mention of Flatulent Fourths ( :eek: ) that really grossed me out. NASTY :lol:
It's odd that so many read so much into that one. I was just trying to think of something funny that rhymed with "fourths". What came to mind was someone farting during sex because they had been going at it for so long, however, it looks as if the dirtier minded people around here (not me, of course) have read some kind of scatalogical connotations into the mix.....

[Moony]

YES!! Bullseye!! :laugh: :laugh: :xoxo:

:lol: Ohhh,....you're gonna get it....


It's odd that so many read so much into that one. I was just trying to think of something funny that rhymed with "fourths". What came to mind was someone farting during sex because they had been going at it for so long, however, it looks as if the dirtier minded people around here (not me, of course) have read some kind of scatalogical connotations into the mix.....
Well, regardless of your intentions, it just sounds disgusting :laugh: Oh well.

[skcin]

It's odd that so many read so much into that one. I was just trying to think of something funny that rhymed with "fourths". What came to mind was someone farting during sex because they had been going at it for so long, however, it looks as if the dirtier minded people around here (not me, of course) have read some kind of scatalogical connotations into the mix.....


Yeah, my mind was in the gutter too on that one. Gross. Amusing, but gross. :lol:

[The Tower]

Well, regardless of your intentions, it just sounds disgusting :laugh: Oh well.
Yeah, my mind was in the gutter too on that one. Gross. Amusing, but gross. :lol:
Awesome! :thumbsup:

[strandinthewind]

Cruise says Katie Holmes romance is real
BERLIN (AP) — Tom Cruise says his romance with Katie Holmes is the real deal.
While in Berlin for the European premiere of his new movie, War of the Worlds, Cruise dismissed speculation by tabloid newspapers and celebrity gossip columns that their relationship is a stunt to promote their new movies.

"Come on, it's just ridiculous," Cruise, 42, said Tuesday. "Something magnificent has happened to me. ... She's really an extraordinary woman and I'm really, really happy."

Holmes was in London earlier this week to promote her new film, Batman Begins. She also dismissed those who have accused the couple of staging a relationship for publicity.

"It doesn't hurt me at all," the 26-year-old actress said. "There are a lot of people really, really happy for us. It's really exciting. We are so happy. I don't really care about the critics."

Cruise said Holmes was scheduled to attend an event Wednesday in Berlin to promote her new film. The couple then planned to travel to Rome, where they were first photographed together in April.

Since then, the couple have made headlines, with Cruise declaring his love for Holmes in an exuberant appearance last month on The Oprah Winfrey Show.


Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-15-cruise-holmes_x.htm

[ontheEdgeof17]

"Come on, it's just ridiculous," Cruise, 42, said Tuesday. "Something magnificent has happened to me. ... She's really an extraordinary woman and I'm really, really happy."


She must be a tranny.

[dissention]

:rolleyes:

If she had hooked up with that fine, fine piece of ass known as Christian Bale, I would understand. But c'mon. BEARD DUTY and we all know it, Joey.

[sparky]

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

[dissention]

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

It's probably a stipulation in her beard contract.

[strandinthewind]

Cruise, Holmes engaged to marry
Actor pops question atop Eiffel Tower



PARIS, France (AP) -- Actor Tom Cruise said he and girlfriend Katie Holmes are engaged, after he popped the question early Friday morning atop the Eiffel Tower.

Cruise, speaking at a Paris news conference with Holmes, said: "Yes, I proposed to her."

The couple often shared smiles as Cruise turned to look at her, with a massive diamond ring on her finger.

"It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven't slept at all," he said. "Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman."

Asked why he chose the famed Paris landmark, he said: "I've never been to the Eiffel Tower. It's Paris, it's a beautiful city, it's very romantic."

Cruise, 42, was in Paris to promote the French release of the Steven Spielberg film "War of the Worlds" next month. He and 26-year-old Holmes went public with their romantic relationship in April.

Earlier this week, Holmes said she was embracing Scientology, the religion of Cruise.

Holmes, who was in London to promote her new film, "Batman Begins," said Monday that she's excited about her lessons in Scientology, a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

The former Catholic and star of television's "Dawson's Creek" grew up with a poster of Cruise on her bedroom wall and has said she grew up wanting to marry him.

"We all keep dreaming, and luckily, dreams come true," Holmes said.

In an interview in the June 17 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Cruise was asked if Holmes is curious about Scientology.

"Yeah, absolutely. She digs it," he told the magazine.

In response to a question about whether he'd asked Holmes not to do "Factory Girl" -- about Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol -- because of the drug use in the movie, Cruise said: "I don't even know what 'Factory Girl' is."

He added: "Listen, the thing you've got to know about Katie is that she's an incredibly bright and self-determined woman. She makes her own decisions."

Cruise was previously married to Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, and dated Penelope Cruz for several years.

Holmes and actor Chris Klein recently called off their engagement, after dating for five years.

When asked by Entertainment Weekly if he planned to propose to Holmes, Cruise replied: "It's gonna happen, man. It'll happen."


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/17/cruise.holmes.ap/index.html
_____________________________________________________

Maybe Tom and Chris Klein are dating and Katie was both of their beards :laugh:

[GODDESS6]

are you kidding me :shrug: :eek: :shrug: ~ it's not the age thing 4 me, hell my hubby is like 8 yrs older than me, but when i see tom jumping on chairs & katie saying "he is my man" it just plain freaks me out :distress: ~

[skcin]

That is just wrong on so many levels. :rolleyes: Again, I beg of you Katie:

For the love I have for your life, turn around. RUN, KATIE, RUN!

[ontheEdgeof17]

This is worse than Bennifer.

DOWNGRADE!

[SuzeQuze]

are you kidding me :shrug: :eek: :shrug: ~ it's not the age thing 4 me, hell my hubby is like 8 yrs older than me, but when i see tom jumping on chairs & katie saying "he is my man" it just plain freaks me out :distress: ~

Same here, I don't care about the age thing either. They just freak me out as people and even worse as a couple.

[SuzeQuze]

This is worse than Bennifer.

DOWNGRADE!

What the hell do we call them? Tomatie? :laugh:

[ontheEdgeof17]

What the hell do we call them? Tomatie? :laugh:

:laugh:
They already have a name. TomKat. :o

[SuzeQuze]

:laugh:
They already have a name. TomKat. :o

Ohhh...http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/obscene/eck16.gif

[DrummerDeanna]

What's with the trend of combing names?? Damn Bennifer - they started the whole thing - it annoys me....Brangelina :p Yuck

But I know Tomatie better than TomKat :laugh:

[catinthedark]

This whole relationship just gives me the creeps. I haven't even been able to bring myself to read this thread. I saw Katie on Letterman (I think) the other night, and it was actually disturbing. And don't even get me started on him. I think it's the whole public aspect of it. Like, if they were really so in love, wouldn't thye want to protect their privacy and keep it between them?? I mean, who really wants to see that much public display of affection? It seems so un-genuine to me.

[skcin]

What's with the trend of combing names?? Damn Bennifer - they started the whole thing - it annoys me....Brangelina :p Yuck

But I know Tomatie better than TomKat :laugh:

Hmmmm, what would Mark & I be called?

Park or Maula

Blech. :rolleyes:

Has anyone else noticed that when they kiss, their lips are crammed shut so tightly they're practically grimacing? Not that I want them to have their tongues down eachother's throats in public, but it does look really odd.

[amber]

Omigosh - So I have this alarm clock with a radio and a beep. First time it goes off this morning, what do I hear? The DJ saying - "I'm not sure I care for Tom Cruise. He doesn't seem sincere to me. The way he acts in interviews seems totally different than the way he would act if you were his buddy hanging out with him."
So I'm like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" and I hit snooze. So then, when my alarm goes off a few minutes later again, I hear the DJ talking to whatever other DJ's, and the other DJ, or whoever it is, is all:
"I have a lot of gay friends, and it's well known in homosexual circles that Tom is gay. He employs a series of high profile beard girlfriends." and then they chatter about that for a sec.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :shocked: :shocked:

[JazmenFlowers]

:rolleyes:

If she had hooked up with that fine, fine piece of ass known as Christian Bale, I would understand. But c'mon. BEARD DUTY and we all know it, Joey.

lol...I agree.

I think it's all publicity. War of the Worlds and Batman Begins...it's all to much of a co-in-ki-dink

[Johnny Stew]

So Katie Holmes is the future ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise, eh? :rolleyes:

[DrummerDeanna]

So Katie Holmes is the future ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise, eh? :rolleyes:


:laugh: :laugh:

:nod: that's riiiight.

On a side note a co-worker and I were discussing Katie Holmes and who wacky Scientology is when another co-worker friend of mine said that he'd researched Scientology and found it really interesting :eek: Yikes...I guess there's one born every minute ;)

[skcin]

:laugh: :laugh:

:nod: that's riiiight.

On a side note a co-worker and I were discussing Katie Holmes and who wacky Scientology is when another co-worker friend of mine said that he'd researched Scientology and found it really interesting :eek: Yikes...I guess there's one born every minute ;)


For the love I have for YOUR life, turn around! Run, Deanna, run! I don't care if he's just a coworker, you can't be too careful! :eek:

[CelticGypsy]

Katie, really needs to run from this weirdo. I guess when Tom gets tired of Katie, she will become a more famous movie star :laugh: and he will be trying to pick one of the Olsen Twins as his next bride or someone younger who he can brainwash :shrug: :shocked:

Their whole "relationship" seems way too quick, too public and too phony :(




Cruise, Holmes engaged to marry
Actor pops question atop Eiffel Tower



PARIS, France (AP) -- Actor Tom Cruise said he and girlfriend Katie Holmes are engaged, after he popped the question early Friday morning atop the Eiffel Tower.

Cruise, speaking at a Paris news conference with Holmes, said: "Yes, I proposed to her."

The couple often shared smiles as Cruise turned to look at her, with a massive diamond ring on her finger.

"It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven't slept at all," he said. "Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman."

Asked why he chose the famed Paris landmark, he said: "I've never been to the Eiffel Tower. It's Paris, it's a beautiful city, it's very romantic."

Cruise, 42, was in Paris to promote the French release of the Steven Spielberg film "War of the Worlds" next month. He and 26-year-old Holmes went public with their romantic relationship in April.

Earlier this week, Holmes said she was embracing Scientology, the religion of Cruise.

Holmes, who was in London to promote her new film, "Batman Begins," said Monday that she's excited about her lessons in Scientology, a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

The former Catholic and star of television's "Dawson's Creek" grew up with a poster of Cruise on her bedroom wall and has said she grew up wanting to marry him.

"We all keep dreaming, and luckily, dreams come true," Holmes said.

In an interview in the June 17 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Cruise was asked if Holmes is curious about Scientology.

"Yeah, absolutely. She digs it," he told the magazine.

In response to a question about whether he'd asked Holmes not to do "Factory Girl" -- about Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol -- because of the drug use in the movie, Cruise said: "I don't even know what 'Factory Girl' is."

He added: "Listen, the thing you've got to know about Katie is that she's an incredibly bright and self-determined woman. She makes her own decisions."

Cruise was previously married to Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, and dated Penelope Cruz for several years.

Holmes and actor Chris Klein recently called off their engagement, after dating for five years.

When asked by Entertainment Weekly if he planned to propose to Holmes, Cruise replied: "It's gonna happen, man. It'll happen."


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/17/cruise.holmes.ap/index.html
_____________________________________________________

Maybe Tom and Chris Klein are dating and Katie was both of their beards :laugh:

[SuzeQuze]

:laugh: :laugh:

:nod: that's riiiight.

On a side note a co-worker and I were discussing Katie Holmes and who wacky Scientology is when another co-worker friend of mine said that he'd researched Scientology and found it really interesting :eek: Yikes...I guess there's one born every minute ;)

Hmm, interesting like watching a side show knowing it's all phony or like "I might want to try that."? :shudder:

[gldstwmn]

This whole relationship just gives me the creeps. I haven't even been able to bring myself to read this thread. I saw Katie on Letterman (I think) the other night, and it was actually disturbing.

I agree. :nod:

[gldstwmn]

Omigosh - So I have this alarm clock with a radio and a beep. First time it goes off this morning, what do I hear? The DJ saying - "I'm not sure I care for Tom Cruise. He doesn't seem sincere to me.

It's the eyes. Something's missing there.

[gldstwmn]

So Katie Holmes is the future ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise, eh? :rolleyes:

Exactly! :lol:

[ontheEdgeof17]

So Katie Holmes is the future ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise, eh? :rolleyes:

I'll be surprised it they make it to the altar. This is all a sham. It will go on right up until Misson Impossible 3. They will break up. He will promote his movie and say how bad she was to him, not able to committ fully and couldn't embrace the "Religion"....she broke his heart...blah blah...feel sorry for me and go see my movie.

[bikerchic]

Tom.Cruise.Makes.Me.Sick.

If this whole lovey, dovey, kissy, she makes me so f**king happy crap, is for publicity and to keep him in the lime light and to keep the younger fans going to his movies since his movies are kinda bombing now, I'll say it back fired and his publisist should be fired. JMO.

[trackaghost]

Well here's the latest gossip I heard.
A while back a big story about Tom was about to break (I can guess what it was) and so Mr Cruise and his people were trying to do damage control by scouting around trying to find him a new girlfriend (as in, look he can't be gay he has a much younger girlfriend!). Apparently his publicist was calling the PR people of all the young actresses in Hollywood. Among those who turned him down: Jennifer Garner and Jessica Alba. I guess Katie saw it as a good career move. Shame she's not as good an actress as Nicole Kidman to pull it off.

[Serrart]

Well here's the latest gossip I heard.
A while back a big story about Tom was about to break (I can guess what it was) and so Mr Cruise and his people were trying to do damage control by scouting around trying to find him a new girlfriend (as in, look he can't be gay he has a much younger girlfriend!). Apparently his publicist was calling the PR people of all the young actresses in Hollywood. Among those who turned him down: Jennifer Garner and Jessica Alba. I guess Katie saw it as a good career move. Shame she's not as good an actress as Nicole Kidman to pull it off.

All this thing is so ridiculous, he must be really afraid this time his star status wouldn't be enough to protect him from gossip or he's really passing a crazed religious phase. He's obliging journalists to have tours of Scientology centers, before giving them interviews, that's insane. I can imagine why Pat Kingsley didn't want to be involved in this pathetic mess.

Romy

[gldstwmn]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0617052cruise1.html

Oy. :eek:

[Johnny Stew]

An 8-page confidentiality agreement?
No, he doesn't have anything to hide! :rolleyes:

[madformac]

It's really interesting reading this thread which is about a rather trivial story but it does enlighten me to the way many of you think and some of you that take a judgemental approach.

I like quite a few of Cruise's films and from what I've seen of him in interviews he seems to be reasonably sound of mind to me. (He was on the Parkinson show in the UK last year and seemed totally honest when he was asked about his childhood, his parents and sisters. Questions he wasn't expecting. He changed from film star to normal person for about 5 minutes and it was quite riviting).

OK, if he's straight or not, it's his choice and his choice to reveal it or not. What is worse is all the gossip that surrounds everything he does. Although even this probably helps sell the movies anyway.

Same with his views on his way of life. He chooses to live as he does. I would think it's arrogant presumption to attack him about Scientology when to be perfectly honest, the religions based on faith (i.e. not factual evidence of existence) such as Christianity or Islam, to an outside observer seem equally as absurd. (Just for the record I don't subscribe to any particular religion, I think all have their merits and failures but when viewed with an open mind no single one is right or wrong, no living human actually knows the truth, it's all guesswork)

This girl (Holmes) is an adult, I'm quite sure she knows what she's doing. Kidman was not a major player in the business when she married Cruise and now she is. If their 10 year marriage was staged she did pretty damn well out of it. In fact she probably did better than him. (she's the one with a shelf full of awards)..

OK, so, if all of this relationship is to hype up his career then right at this moment it's working. Otherwise we would not be discussing it here. All publicity is good business...

Carry on the hype.... :nod: :wavey:

[Mari]

hm ok, I just deleted a post because I realised I hadn't read your post that well.

I guess I can agree to some of it, but still, I can't shrug it off that he's in that cult. Neither for him dragging in that girl with him.

[strandinthewind]

It's really interesting reading this thread which is about a rather trivial story but it does enlighten me to the way many of you think and some of you that take a judgemental approach.

I like quite a few of Cruise's films and from what I've seen of him in interviews he seems to be reasonably sound of mind to me. (He was on the Parkinson show in the UK last year and seemed totally honest when he was asked about his childhood, his parents and sisters. Questions he wasn't expecting. He changed from film star to normal person for about 5 minutes and it was quite riviting).

OK, if he's straight or not, it's his choice and his choice to reveal it or not. What is worse is all the gossip that surrounds everything he does. Although even this probably helps sell the movies anyway.

Same with his views on his way of life. He chooses to live as he does. I would think it's arrogant presumption to attack him about Scientology when to be perfectly honest, the religions based on faith (i.e. not factual evidence of existence) such as Christianity or Islam, to an outside observer seem equally as absurd. (Just for the record I don't subscribe to any particular religion, I think all have their merits and failures but when viewed with an open mind no single one is right or wrong, no living human actually knows the truth, it's all guesswork)

This girl (Holmes) is an adult, I'm quite sure she knows what she's doing. Kidman was not a major player in the business when she married Cruise and now she is. If their 10 year marriage was staged she did pretty damn well out of it. In fact she probably did better than him. (she's the one with a shelf full of awards)..

OK, so, if all of this relationship is to hype up his career then right at this moment it's working. Otherwise we would not be discussing it here. All publicity is good business...

Carry on the hype.... :nod: :wavey:

I agree about this all being the choice of the players, etc. What I do think though is that many people on the inside and in the know all think this whole thing is a sham to help their careers, which I sort of do not get because his is certainly not in the toilet and both of their movies would have been huge hits regardless of this relationship. But, in any event, Mr. and the future Mrs, Cruise have willingly put all of this in the public eye. Therefore, they should expect the public to comment on it. If they had wanted their privacy, they could have announced it and then refused to do any press on it. That they are treating this like a press junket to promote a new movie, which both are actually promoting BTW, makes this a little suspect. Anyway, my $0.02.

[madformac]

hm ok, I just deleted a post because I realised I hadn't read your post that well.

That's ok. I read it before you deleted it and I figured you hadn't read it fully. :xoxo:

I was about to reply then it went away!! :lol:


I guess I can agree to some of it, but still, I can't shrug it off that he's in that cult. Neither for him dragging in that girl with him.

The cult thing about Scientology. Yeah it's probably a cult, whatever the definition is these days.. BUT it seems all these ways of life attract their own little sects and with them bigots, as do religions too of course. While I'm not condoning embracing Scientology and it's, and I'm using the terms already posted here, "brainwashing" and money taking ways, I don't believe it's any better or worse than, for example, Catholic priests believing it's acceptable to sexually abuse children, or right wing Christians denouncing homosexual marriage. All ways and religions are open to interpretation. Not everybody plays by the same rules.

Don't get me wrong, personally I am not exactly thrilled by the idea of gay marriage myself, not because of the homosexual aspect at all but because I feel marriage itself these days is more about giving a public display of being a couple and less about wanting to spend the rest of your life with the person you love.

Love and marriage in modern society are two totally different things and I feel this would just add to the problems. If you truly love someone why feel the need to marry? Either to make it official for others or because your religion asks for it. Which is possibly the reason Cruise wants to marry, to give an outward image of bonding to the world maybe without any love whatsoever... It's gonna sell his movies by getting the marriage attention in the press..

As for Holmes being pulled into the Scientology "cult". Well, as I stated, she's a woman. A woman with management, advisors, friends and family. Possibly, her family feel the way most of you do, but she's doing it anyway. Which could be considered a clear indication she's looking to futher her career as happened to Kidman when she married Cruise. The alternative is she truly believes what they stand for, in which case, right or wrong, it's her choice...

[Mari]

That's ok. I read it before you deleted it and I figured you hadn't read it fully. :xoxo:

I was about to reply then it went away!! :lol:


:o I was afraid of that. I got carried away a bit, sorry.


The cult thing about Scientology. Yeah it's probably a cult, whatever the definition is these days.. BUT it seems all these ways of life attract their own little sects and with them bigots, as do religions too of course. While I'm not condoning embracing Scientology and it's, and I'm using the terms already posted here, "brainwashing" and money taking ways, I don't believe it's any better or worse than, for example, Catholic priests believing it's acceptable to sexually abuse children, or right wing Christians denouncing homosexual marriage. All ways and religions are open to interpretation. Not everybody plays by the same rules.

Don't get me wrong, personally I am not exactly thrilled by the idea of gay marriage myself, not because of the homosexual aspect at all but because I feel marriage itself these days is more about giving a public display of being a couple and less about wanting to spend the rest of your life with the person you love.

Love and marriage in modern society are two totally different things and I feel this would just add to the problems. If you truly love someone why feel the need to marry? Either to make it official for others or because your religion asks for it. Which is possibly the reason Cruise wants to marry, to give an outward image of bonding to the world maybe without any love whatsoever... It's gonna sell his movies by getting the marriage attention in the press..

As for Holmes being pulled into the Scientology "cult". Well, as I stated, she's a woman. A woman with management, advisors, friends and family. Possibly, her family feel the way most of you do, but she's doing it anyway. Which could be considered a clear indication she's looking to futher her career as happened to Kidman when she married Cruise. The alternative is she truly believes what they stand for, in which case, right or wrong, it's her choice...

How about marriage as a sentimental, or to use a more positive word ;), emotional decision? There's a lot of people who think marriage is quite romantic, you know? If that's what people want to do, gay or straight, I think they should have the right. That's not hurting anybody, is it. Quite the opposite if there's a nice little party coming with that wedding :D

I have my doubts whether Holmes is making a well thought choice as you describe it here. Love, hormones... her age ang lack of experience maybe.. but yeah, it's still her choice. And, I can have doubts about all of this, but I don't know this woman nor what's going on between her and Cruise.

[madformac]

How about marriage as a sentimental, or to use a more positive word ;), emotional decision? There's a lot of people who think marriage is quite romantic, you know? If that's what people want to do, gay or straight, I think they should have the right. That's not hurting anybody, is it. Quite the opposite if there's a nice little party coming with that wedding :D

I actually knew you were going to post this before it appeared.. Call it a psychic moment.. :lol: :blob2:

And I totally agree..

If you want to get married because you feel emotionally it's the right thing to do and it bonds you together and you feel as one with each other because of it then it's a great choice and I think you would be doing the right thing... It's still romantic if you feel like this and you feel it will cement the bond between two people..

I do think you would be in the minority in present times though. Maybe I've become too cynical.. I've seen too many marriages fail because I don't believe people were marrying for the right reasons, i.e. themselves and their love for each other. It's always been done for other peoples benefit.. Either parents, friends, religion or just they felt they had been together for a while so it's "the right thing to do". Or for publicity... ;)

[trackaghost]

I like quite a few of Cruise's films and from what I've seen of him in interviews he seems to be reasonably sound of mind to me. (He was on the Parkinson show in the UK last year and seemed totally honest when he was asked about his childhood, his parents and sisters. Questions he wasn't expecting. He changed from film star to normal person for about 5 minutes and it was quite riviting).

OK, if he's straight or not, it's his choice and his choice to reveal it or not. What is worse is all the gossip that surrounds everything he does. Although even this probably helps sell the movies anyway.

Same with his views on his way of life. He chooses to live as he does. I would think it's arrogant presumption to attack him about Scientology when to be perfectly honest, the religions based on faith (i.e. not factual evidence of existence) such as Christianity or Islam, to an outside observer seem equally as absurd. (Just for the record I don't subscribe to any particular religion, I think all have their merits and failures but when viewed with an open mind no single one is right or wrong, no living human actually knows the truth, it's all guesswork)

This girl (Holmes) is an adult, I'm quite sure she knows what she's doing. Kidman was not a major player in the business when she married Cruise and now she is. If their 10 year marriage was staged she did pretty damn well out of it. In fact she probably did better than him. (she's the one with a shelf full of awards)..

OK, so, if all of this relationship is to hype up his career then right at this moment it's working. Otherwise we would not be discussing it here. All publicity is good business...

Carry on the hype.... :nod: :wavey:

Most interviews are rehearsed before they are broadcast. I'm sure Mr Cruise had an idea of what he was going to be asked. He often gives a convincing performance on talk shows, other times he's standing on chairs announcing his love for Dawson's Creek stars.

Fair enough if he wants to keep his sexuality secret. Kevin Spacey for instance won't talk about it (but I know from friends who know him, he is). But Cruise appears to be going to such lengths to keep it under wraps. Why doesn't he just quietly marry some girl? There wouldn't be as much gossip if he did. Instead he choses to do it all in a wave of publicity. So why shouldn't we talk about it when this so-called romance is practically being shoved down our throats? Cruise is obviously using his romance, real or not, to sell himself and his movie. He promotes the gossip methinks.

Also, I still think scientology is a cult. It's all a matter of opinion of course.
Did you know Hollywood there's a scientology retreat only for actors and Hollywood executives? I always thought that was a bit odd.

[SuzeQuze]

I'm less concerned about Katie's involment with Tom himself than I am with Scientology. Below is an excerpt from rickross.com about what a cult is. Also, "brainwashing" is a real phenomenon and very dangerous. I have witnessed it first hand. It is very powerful and destructive. And the people that gain power this way then denounce the new member's family and friends as "evil" if they don't also join. They get people away from their families so they depend completely on the group.

If Scientology were really a religion I would have no problem with it. But it isn't, it's a destructive group.

Rick Ross defines a cult at http://www.rickross.com/reference/about/about8.html:
Any group of people that are intensely devoted to a person, place or thing could be seen as a cult following. The question really is what defines a destructive cult. There are many groups that might be generally called cults, such as the Amish, Elvis fans, or Trekkies [or Stevie fans - Suze's edit]. But these groups are benign and may actually even be beneficial to the people involved. Trekkies have a good time at conventions. Elvis fans also have a certain camaraderie. The Amish are a peaceful, productive society.

When most people use the term "cult," they mean a destructive cult. A destructive cult first and foremost can be defined as a group that has an absolute totalitarian leader and that is essentially personality-driven. Regardless of what they quote, whether it's the Bible, Freud, or Marx, what they really are about is the leader. Their leader is the focus of power within the group and defines it. He or she dictates virtually anything and everything, without any meaningful boundaries.

Second, you have an ongoing dynamic or process in the group that could be referred to as "thought reform," commonly called "brainwashing." People systematically are robbed of their ability to critically think or make independent choices. Ultimately, they essentially become dependent upon the leader to make value judgements and do their thinking for them, or through the leader's delegated counterparts. Members no longer are really thinking for themselves.

Third, the group is destructive. It hurts people. This can be seen through abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, labor exploitation, psychological and emotional trauma. A pattern of destructive behavior emerges. Not all destructive cults are the same. With some groups, certain facets of these three criteria may be expressed more strongly than in others.

[Serrart]

This girl (Holmes) is an adult, I'm quite sure she knows what she's doing. Kidman was not a major player in the business when she married Cruise and now she is. If their 10 year marriage was staged she did pretty damn well out of it. In fact she probably did better than him. (she's the one with a shelf full of awards)..

I'm quite sure Nicole Kidman would have become a major player even without Tom Cruise. She has an amazing talent and showed it from her first movie. Every film she did with her husband (with the exception of Eyes Wide Shut, but she had Kubrick who hated him and loved her so...) damaged her instead of helping her. Tom Cruise for me is a star but not an actor; Katie Holmes (who definitely hasn't the kind of talent that Kidman has) should stay away from his sets, but she wouldn't.I see a project for both in the next 6 months, if the marriage pact goes on of course. It's simple as that for me. I don't care if he's gay, a Scientology adept or a werewolf etc, but his arrogance in selling off his private life, insulting journalists when they say something he doesn't like or asking them to do what he wants to release an interview irritates me.

Romy

[dissention]

I'm quite sure Nicole Kidman would have become a major player even without Tom Cruise. She has an amazing talent and showed it from her first movie. Every film she did with her husband (with the exception of Eyes Wide Shut, but she had Kubrick who hated him and loved her so...) damaged her instead of helping her.

:nod:

Dead Calm?
Flirting?
Billy Bathgate?
To Die For?

Homegirl was fabulous from the get-go. And, interestingly enough, on all the movies she made with her hubby, she's the one that got the majority of the rave reviews. Too bad her talent never rubbed off on him...

I think it's interesting to watch Cruise coo about his relationship with Holmes, while when he was married to Kidman, one question about his relationship sent him into a frenzy. It's rather funny to me, especially when coupled with his strange, goofy behavior. I remember when Kidman gave an interview shortly after the divorce and the interviewer asked what the one positive thing about getting divorced was and she said "Now I can wear high heels." :laugh:

[madformac]

:nod:

I think it's interesting to watch Cruise coo about his relationship with Holmes, while when he was married to Kidman, one question about his relationship sent him into a frenzy. It's rather funny to me, especially when coupled with his strange, goofy behavior. I remember when Kidman gave an interview shortly after the divorce and the interviewer asked what the one positive thing about getting divorced was and she said "Now I can wear high heels." :laugh:

A couple of years back in St.Thomas I got talking to an actor that was managed by Nicole's manager.

The alleged story I was told was that Tom wanted to outwardly portray a heterosexual family guy type of character. Tom promised Nicole very prominent film roles and Oscar opportunities in return for a 10 year partnership. He got the image he wanted, she got to be a major player. Just because her best roles were not in films he was part of does not mean he and his agents had nothing to do with her getting the parts....

Just another story out there, rumour or otherwise..

:wavey:

[The Tower]

Too bad her talent never rubbed off on him...
Nothing of hers ever rubbed off on anything of his...

[dissention]

Nothing of hers ever rubbed off on anything of his...

:laugh:

That's true, especially considering she never gave birth to one of his kids.

[Serrart]

I think it's interesting to watch Cruise coo about his relationship with Holmes, while when he was married to Kidman, one question about his relationship sent him into a frenzy. It's rather funny to me, especially when coupled with his strange, goofy behavior. I remember when Kidman gave an interview shortly after the divorce and the interviewer asked what the one positive thing about getting divorced was and she said "Now I can wear high heels." :laugh:

I think their story ended when he finally realized she was such an incredible actress. Probably Eyes Wide Shut was the ultimate realization. For the first time she played free even with him like she usually did in other movies, probably because Kubrick gave her the right confidence. And he came out totally annihilated by her in the film. He must have understood that she couldn't be the right Mrs. Cruise. ;)

Romy




Romy

[trackaghost]

Katie Holmes' Missing Days
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Roger Friedman

The newly engaged Katie Holmes still has some explaining to do to her friends and family.

There were 16 days in April during which no one seems to know where she was.

Holmes made a public appearance on April 4 at the premiere of "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway.

She came with her publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, and a couple of other friends. They were there to support Rebecca Gayheart, who was making her Broadway debut.

I know this because I spoke to Holmes at length during the play's intermission. She said she had just moved into her New York apartment and was looking forward to seeing the city.

I also know that on April 4, she had not yet made the acquaintance of Tom Cruise. She briefly dated Josh Hartnett after breaking up with actor Chris Klein.

Hartnett, Klein, Cruise: Which of these three is not like the others?


Klein and Hartnett are young and tall. Cruise is middle-aged and height-challenged.

On the other hand, he's the biggest movie star in the world. They are not.

Holmes was busy during that first week in April. On April 7, she was photographed at the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi event.

Four days later, Holmes was still in New York and was photographed at VH1's "Save the Music" concert. She still had not met Cruise.

Sometime that week, her friends say, she flew to Los Angeles for a meeting with Cruise about a role in "Mission: Impossible 3." The meeting took place after April 11.

The next time anyone heard from Holmes was on April 27, when she appeared in public as Cruise's girlfriend and love of his life.

Where was she during those 16 days?

Somewhere during that time, she decided to fire both her manager and agent, each of whom she had been with for years and who were devoted to her.

The manager, John Carrabino, also handles Renée Zellweger and is beloved by his clients.

Holmes also acquired a new best friend, Jessica Feshbach, the daughter of Joe Feshbach, a controversial Palo Alto, Calif., bond trader.

The Feshbach family, according to published documents, has donated millions to the Church of Scientology. Jessica's aunt even runs a Scientology center in Florida.

According to Richard Behar's now famous 1991 story in Time magazine about Scientology, the Feshbachs were the subject of congressional hearings in 1989.

Behar wrote: "The heads of several companies claimed that Feshbach operatives have spread false information to government agencies and posed in various guises — such as a Securities and Exchange Commission official — in an effort to discredit the companies and drive the stocks down.

"Michael Russell, who ran a chain of business journals, testified that a Feshbach employee called his bankers and interfered with his loans. Sometimes the Feshbachs send private detectives to dig up dirt on firms, which is then shared with business reporters, brokers and fund managers."

The risk-taking Feshbachs, known the world over for making their fortune "shorting" stocks, and the level-headed, conservative Holmeses would be a difficult mix at a dinner table.

Katie's father, Martin Holmes, is the senior partner in a large and respected Toledo, Ohio, law firm. His son, Martin Jr., has recently joined the firm. He's a Harvard graduate. Katie's mom, Kathy, is frequently cited in Toledo for her charity work.

There is some fear among Holmes' close circle that her instant romance with Cruise is not as organic as portrayed.

For one thing, Holmes was raised a strict Catholic. Also, gone from the picture are two close Holmes friends who used to be with her when she did publicity for a film.

One of these is Meghann Birie, a childhood friend who has suddenly disappeared from Holmes' world. Another, a local TV producer here in New York, was too afraid to discuss the situation with me.

We know that Cruise auditioned several actresses for this role before settling on Holmes. This column reported a story about Jennifer Garner. There have been published stories about Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba being approached.

A newer one involves Scarlett Johansson, who ran for her life when presented with a fait accompli dinner at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood.

And history has been rewritten since the April 27 unveiling.

Curiously, since the Cruise-Holmes situation popped up, we have heard over and over again that Cruise was the young actress' idol when she was growing up.

That's certainly interesting because all of the publicity that used to run on Holmes — still found all over the Internet — lists another Tom as her favorite actor.

That would be Tom Hanks.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160192,00.html

God, this "romance" couldn't be more transparent if it tried!

[dissention]

They were there to support Rebecca Gayheart, who was making her Broadway debut.

Oh my word, send us help and save us all.

I know this because I spoke to Holmes at length during the play's intermission. She said she had just moved into her New York apartment and was looking forward to seeing the city.

I also know that on April 4, she had not yet made the acquaintance of Tom Cruise. She briefly dated Josh Hartnett after breaking up with actor Chris Klein.

Hartnett, Klein, Cruise: Which of these three is not like the others?


Klein and Hartnett are young and tall. Cruise is middle-aged and height-challenged.

On the other hand, he's the biggest movie star in the world. They are not.

Holmes was busy during that first week in April. On April 7, she was photographed at the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi event.

Four days later, Holmes was still in New York and was photographed at VH1's "Save the Music" concert. She still had not met Cruise.

Sometime that week, her friends say, she flew to Los Angeles for a meeting with Cruise about a role in "Mission: Impossible 3." The meeting took place after April 11.

The next time anyone heard from Holmes was on April 27, when she appeared in public as Cruise's girlfriend and love of his life.

Where was she during those 16 days?

Somewhere during that time, she decided to fire both her manager and agent, each of whom she had been with for years and who were devoted to her.

The manager, John Carrabino, also handles Renée Zellweger and is beloved by his clients.

Holmes also acquired a new best friend, Jessica Feshbach, the daughter of Joe Feshbach, a controversial Palo Alto, Calif., bond trader.

The Feshbach family, according to published documents, has donated millions to the Church of Scientology. Jessica's aunt even runs a Scientology center in Florida.

According to Richard Behar's now famous 1991 story in Time magazine about Scientology, the Feshbachs were the subject of congressional hearings in 1989.

Behar wrote: "The heads of several companies claimed that Feshbach operatives have spread false information to government agencies and posed in various guises — such as a Securities and Exchange Commission official — in an effort to discredit the companies and drive the stocks down.

"Michael Russell, who ran a chain of business journals, testified that a Feshbach employee called his bankers and interfered with his loans. Sometimes the Feshbachs send private detectives to dig up dirt on firms, which is then shared with business reporters, brokers and fund managers."

The risk-taking Feshbachs, known the world over for making their fortune "shorting" stocks, and the level-headed, conservative Holmeses would be a difficult mix at a dinner table.

Katie's father, Martin Holmes, is the senior partner in a large and respected Toledo, Ohio, law firm. His son, Martin Jr., has recently joined the firm. He's a Harvard graduate. Katie's mom, Kathy, is frequently cited in Toledo for her charity work.

There is some fear among Holmes' close circle that her instant romance with Cruise is not as organic as portrayed.

For one thing, Holmes was raised a strict Catholic. Also, gone from the picture are two close Holmes friends who used to be with her when she did publicity for a film.

One of these is Meghann Birie, a childhood friend who has suddenly disappeared from Holmes' world. Another, a local TV producer here in New York, was too afraid to discuss the situation with me.

We know that Cruise auditioned several actresses for this role before settling on Holmes. This column reported a story about Jennifer Garner. There have been published stories about Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba being approached.

A newer one involves Scarlett Johansson, who ran for her life when presented with a fait accompli dinner at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood.

And history has been rewritten since the April 27 unveiling.

Curiously, since the Cruise-Holmes situation popped up, we have heard over and over again that Cruise was the young actress' idol when she was growing up.

That's certainly interesting because all of the publicity that used to run on Holmes — still found all over the Internet — lists another Tom as her favorite actor.

That would be Tom Hanks.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160192,00.html

God, this "romance" couldn't be more transparent if it tried!

I actually laughed out loud when I read this. It's so sickening, but it's so hysterical that people are actually this disgusting. What a hoot. Thanks for posting it.

And I just adore Scarlett Johansson. :laugh:

[trackaghost]

Oh my word, send us help and save us all.



I actually laughed out loud when I read this. It's so sickening, but it's so hysterical that people are actually this disgusting. What a hoot. Thanks for posting it.

And I just adore Scarlett Johansson. :laugh:

Scarlett is obviously a sensible girl! I would have run for my life too.

Scarlett's dating Josh Hartnett now. He's not a great actor but Josh is lovely, so I approve totally.

[Merf]

[I]Katie Holmes' Missing Days
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Roger Friedman


We know that Cruise auditioned several actresses for this role before settling on Holmes. This column reported a story about Jennifer Garner.



Sorry, JG is currently unavailable for that role, seeing that she is currently carrying the SpawnofAffleck(tm).

Yes, Hayley, we can bury our heads in the sand no longer. -_-

[dissention]

Sorry, JG is currently unavailable for that role, seeing that she is currently carrying the SpawnofAffleck(tm).

Thanks for reminding me.

[SuzeQuze]

Scarlett is obviously a sensible girl! I would have run for my life too.

Scarlett's dating Josh Hartnett now. He's not a great actor but Josh is lovely, so I approve totally.

Me too. Can't wait to see those two hotties together. Yummy. The above article scares the bejesus out of me. :shocked: Cults are really scary in the power they can have over people. One of the ways they ensure this is to separate the recruit from their friends. There is no more Katie, now she is one of them. Come back, Katie!

Edit: change "too" to "two" above. How did I do that? Oops.

[The Tower]

Scarlett's dating Josh Hartnett now. He's not a great actor but Josh is lovely, so I approve totally.
Bleccchhhhh.... That's a smell I can do without. What next? Keanu Reeves and Chloe Sevigny???

Sorry, JG is currently unavailable for that role, seeing that she is currently carrying the SpawnofAffleck(tm).
That is perhaps the grossest thing I've ever seen on The Ledge... :laugh: :laugh: And that, my dear, is saying something!

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw "SpawnofAffleck" was when Eric Cartman gave him a hand job and said, "Ewww, Ben Affleck splooge!!"

OY!

[SuzeQuze]

Bleccchhhhh.... That's a smell I can do without. What next? Keanu Reeves and Chloe Sevigny???


That is perhaps the grossest thing I've ever seen on The Ledge... :laugh: :laugh: And that, my dear, is saying something!

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw "SpawnofAffleck" was when Eric Cartman gave him a hand job and said, "Ewww, Ben Affleck splooge!!"

OY!

:shocked: What what whaaat? :shocked: That show is way over the top.

[skcin]

I was just flipping through the channels & Tom Cruise was on - wait for it....











































BET - Black Entertainment Television! :lol: ROTFLMAO! He's plugging War of the Worlds & standing there looking terribley out of place. They asked him about the papparazzi in London & he goes "No, that guy was a journalist of some sort, not a papparazzi. I just deal with things like this and move on. I try to make people better."

Asked about his money & how he keeps it from running his life: "I try not to think about it. I invest it." The guy says "What's your favorite charity?" Tom says "Oh, yeah, I work with this Hollywood Literacy charity & I give a lot to Narcanon. Because Narcanon is just great, it's the only place that can get people off drugs for good." Mmmm-kay. :rolleyes:

[dissention]

I was just flipping through the channels & Tom Cruise was on - wait for it....

BET - Black Entertainment Television! :lol: ROTFLMAO! He's plugging War of the Worlds & standing there looking terribley out of place. They asked him about the papparazzi in London & he goes "No, that guy was a journalist of some sort, not a papparazzi. I just deal with things like this and move on. I try to make people better."

Asked about his money & how he keeps it from running his life: "I try not to think about it. I invest it." The guy says "What's your favorite charity?" Tom says "Oh, yeah, I work with this Hollywood Literacy charity & I give a lot to Narcanon. Because Narcanon is just great, it's the only place that can get people off drugs for good." Mmmm-kay. :rolleyes:

:laugh:

WHAT A ****ING QUACK. Narconon is evil, just like Toothy Cruise.

And BET?! Yeah, I bet he hangs with Tyler Perry and Tavis Smiley quite often. Tom Cruise is so white that he makes the rest of us look like the third world.

[trackaghost]

From the imdb today

Cruise Raises Kidman's Kids As Scientologists

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is raising his two children with Nicole Kidman as Scientologists. The couple's adopted kids, 12-year-old Isabella and 10-year-old Connor, live for half the year with the War Of The Worlds actor in Beverly Hills, California, where they are allegedly home-schooled by Cruise's Scientologist sisters Cass and Marian. According to the May issue of Source, a magazine endorsed by the Church of Scientology, Isabella has already completed the Basic Study Manual - an introductory course in the religion. When the Hollywood couple split in 2001, many friends blamed their religious differences, and consequently the issue of whose faith their children would adopt was cited as a major factor in the break-up.

[gldstwmn]

From the imdb today

Cruise Raises Kidman's Kids As Scientologists

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is raising his two children with Nicole Kidman as Scientologists. The couple's adopted kids, 12-year-old Isabella and 10-year-old Connor, live for half the year with the War Of The Worlds actor in Beverly Hills, California, where they are allegedly home-schooled by Cruise's Scientologist sisters Cass and Marian. According to the May issue of Source, a magazine endorsed by the Church of Scientology, Isabella has already completed the Basic Study Manual - an introductory course in the religion. When the Hollywood couple split in 2001, many friends blamed their religious differences, and consequently the issue of whose faith their children would adopt was cited as a major factor in the break-up.

I saw this too and find it disturbing. I'm wondering if eventually the children will grow apart from their mother. I've really got to hand it to Nicole. She's taken the high road in all of this.

[wondergirl9847]

Scarlett is obviously a sensible girl! I would have run for my life too.

Well, on Extra (or some Hollywood gossip show) yesterday, Scarlett said she didn't run from it, and had lots of friends who were Scientologists. :shrug:

It's all too weird.

[GardenStateGirlie]

No good -- Keri Russell working with Tom Cruise right now on a new film. Apparently has developed an interest :eek:

Keri Russell Scientologized? (http://www.yeeeah.com/weblog/2005/07/keri_russels_sc.html)

Sources say Keri Russell has fallen under Scientology's spell. Russell, who has a supporting role in Paramount's Mission: Impossible III, has become very interested in co-star Tom Cruise's religion and has even been spotted buying books at the sect's LA Celebrity Center. Paramount is not too happy with Cruise's recent War Of The Worlds publicity meltdown and doesn't want him to reiterate that behavior:

"Paramount is terrified that it will be deluged with lawsuits from extras, caterers, and actors who will say that they were coerced into Scientology on the set," an insider tells us. "Tom is not passive about having those tents set up. On the War of the Worlds set, he directed people to them and often asked them to talk out their issues in the Scientology tent." But it's not only the studio—Cruise is feeling the friction, too. "Tom is pissed that Paramount is going head to head with him over these issues," says another studio insider. "He really feels he is helping people and that Paramount is trying to prevent him from doing that. But they just want their movie made—they don't want to be involved in all this other crap."

Paramount spokeswoman Janise Madatian and Cruise's publicist-sister Lee Anne De Vette deny there's an argument between Cruise and the studio, saying, "There's no problem between Paramount and Tom. We have a great relationship."

We wonder how long movie studios will let Tom Cruise turn Hollywood's film sets into giant religious camping resorts.

[gldstwmn]

No good -- Keri Russell working with Tom Cruise right now on a new film. Apparently has developed an interest :eek:

Keri Russell Scientologized? (http://www.yeeeah.com/weblog/2005/07/keri_russels_sc.html)

Sources say Keri Russell has fallen under Scientology's spell. Russell, who has a supporting role in Paramount's Mission: Impossible III, has become very interested in co-star Tom Cruise's religion and has even been spotted buying books at the sect's LA Celebrity Center. Paramount is not too happy with Cruise's recent War Of The Worlds publicity meltdown and doesn't want him to reiterate that behavior:

"Paramount is terrified that it will be deluged with lawsuits from extras, caterers, and actors who will say that they were coerced into Scientology on the set," an insider tells us. "Tom is not passive about having those tents set up. On the War of the Worlds set, he directed people to them and often asked them to talk out their issues in the Scientology tent." But it's not only the studio—Cruise is feeling the friction, too. "Tom is pissed that Paramount is going head to head with him over these issues," says another studio insider. "He really feels he is helping people and that Paramount is trying to prevent him from doing that. But they just want their movie made—they don't want to be involved in all this other crap."

Paramount spokeswoman Janise Madatian and Cruise's publicist-sister Lee Anne De Vette deny there's an argument between Cruise and the studio, saying, "There's no problem between Paramount and Tom. We have a great relationship."

We wonder how long movie studios will let Tom Cruise turn Hollywood's film sets into giant religious camping resorts.

Religion in the workplace is a prickly issue. And there are unions involved here as well. Paramount had good reason to be worried.

[SuzeQuze]

Religion in the workplace is a prickly issue. And there are unions involved here as well. Paramount had good reason to be worried.

I know I would be bullsh*t if I had to work with that crap going on.

[gldstwmn]

Well, on Extra (or some Hollywood gossip show) yesterday, Scarlett said she didn't run from it, and had lots of friends who were Scientologists. :shrug:

It's all too weird.

What was she supposed to say though? I think these people are nutty and I ran from there as fast as I could? :lol:

[trackaghost]

This was also on the imdb today....


Alley, Preston & Travolta Join Cruise's Anti-Drug Crusade
Kirstie Alley, Kelly Preston and John Travolta have joined Tom Cruise's controversial battle against anti-depressants - by launching a public drive to restrict the use of medicines they believe cause suicide and violence among users. Alley, Cruise, Preston and her husband Travolta are long-term followers of L. Ron Hubbard's Church Of Scientology, which has been labeled a "cult" by some critics. And Cruise recently angered the American Psychiatric Association (APA) by attacking the use of anti-depressants, because the controversial faith teaches that drugs and psychiatry are destructive and dangerous. But Alley, Preston and Travolta have leapt to the War Of The Worlds hunk's defense, by joining a group of doctors who are pushing for American authorities to put tougher warnings on prescription medication about their possible side-effects. Alley and Preston wrote an open letter to the Food and Drug Administration, which reads, "We can no longer sit back and let the clock tick, waiting for more deaths, suicides or people driven to violent acts by psychotropic drugs." Alley explains, "Parents in particular have been misled about the effects of these drugs. They are highly addictive; kids are using them more than street drugs to get high." Preston adds, "Parents don't know that these drugs are turning kids into walking time bombs. Eight out of the last 13 school shooters were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs, and only now is the FDA investigating the fact these drugs can cause violence."

[GardenStateGirlie]

This was also on the imdb today....


Alley, Preston & Travolta Join Cruise's Anti-Drug Crusade
Kirstie Alley, Kelly Preston and John Travolta have joined Tom Cruise's controversial battle against anti-depressants - by launching a public drive to restrict the use of medicines they believe cause suicide and violence among users. Alley, Cruise, Preston and her husband Travolta are long-term followers of L. Ron Hubbard's Church Of Scientology, which has been labeled a "cult" by some critics. And Cruise recently angered the American Psychiatric Association (APA) by attacking the use of anti-depressants, because the controversial faith teaches that drugs and psychiatry are destructive and dangerous. But Alley, Preston and Travolta have leapt to the War Of The Worlds hunk's defense, by joining a group of doctors who are pushing for American authorities to put tougher warnings on prescription medication about their possible side-effects. Alley and Preston wrote an open letter to the Food and Drug Administration, which reads, "We can no longer sit back and let the clock tick, waiting for more deaths, suicides or people driven to violent acts by psychotropic drugs." Alley explains, "Parents in particular have been misled about the effects of these drugs. They are highly addictive; kids are using them more than street drugs to get high." Preston adds, "Parents don't know that these drugs are turning kids into walking time bombs. Eight out of the last 13 school shooters were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs, and only now is the FDA investigating the fact these drugs can cause violence."

There was an article on PerezHilton.com in reference to Kirstie Alley speaking out against medicine. I like Kirstie -- she doesn't need to be all crazy :distress:

[SuzeQuze]

There was an article on PerezHilton.com in reference to Kristie Alley speaking out against medicine. I like Kristie -- she doesn't need to be all crazy :distress:

Oh god, I saw coverage of her and Kelly Preston at an event speaking against giving meds to children and she was bawling her eyes out. It wasn't pretty.

[skcin]

Creeeeeeeeeeepy -

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/08/people.holmes.ap/index.html

Scientologist chaperone, huh? :shocked:

[wondergirl9847]

What was she supposed to say though? I think these people are nutty and I ran from there as fast as I could? :lol:


You have a point. Thank God I'm not a celebrity. I would wanna say, "Leave me the frick alone, Cruise!" :mad:

[BTFLCHLD]

:wavey: http://drtomcruisemd.blogspot.com/

[dissention]

From the imdb today

Cruise Raises Kidman's Kids As Scientologists

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is raising his two children with Nicole Kidman as Scientologists. The couple's adopted kids, 12-year-old Isabella and 10-year-old Connor, live for half the year with the War Of The Worlds actor in Beverly Hills, California, where they are allegedly home-schooled by Cruise's Scientologist sisters Cass and Marian. According to the May issue of Source, a magazine endorsed by the Church of Scientology, Isabella has already completed the Basic Study Manual - an introductory course in the religion. When the Hollywood couple split in 2001, many friends blamed their religious differences, and consequently the issue of whose faith their children would adopt was cited as a major factor in the break-up.

Yeah, Source is a fantastic and credible source when it comes to Scientology. :rolleyes:

[SuzeQuze]

They're not entirely wrong, but they sure don't represent their point well. Anti-depressants are over-prescribed. It's staggering how many particularly in the US use them, it's just a culture of prescribing drugs for any occasion. And the are often destructive to the user. I think there should be an effort to reduce the dependency on such prescriptions although this group is a little crazy.

They are crazy because I think that more often than not the drugs are very helpful. The SSRIs are very low in side-effects so they have little risk relative to other types of drugs. People can't just throw back pills though, they gotta take an active role in their medical treatment. Now, liberal conspiracy theorists will say that the drugs are prescribed on purpose so that people will be happy even though conservatives have made everything sh*tty. That's a whole other ball of wax though.

[amber]

The real problem is, my friend knows lots of home schooled kids, and she says they are invariably weird and strange and socially maladjusted. :D

[trackaghost]

ah the Cruise stuff keeps comin'!

Kidman Gave Up Friends During Cruise Marriage
Nicole Kidman's marriage to Tom Cruise wrecked friendships the Australian actress had kept for years because her husband was so private. The movie star was just 21 when she wed Cruise and struggled to stay in touch with pals back home because she became part of a very different world. She tells style magazine Glamour, "Part of me shut down, put up barriers and became very insular. It was very hard to keep friendships alive during that period." Since the couple split in 2001, Kidman has rediscovered her childhood friends and she's determined not to let her pals slip away again. She adds, "I've been able to keep my female friendships ongoing, which is so important. Recently, I went on a publicity tour and asked one of my oldest girlfriends to come along. Being together was like going back to when to when we were teenagers."

Thomas Slams Reports He Seduced Cruise
Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas has rubbished reports he had sex with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise - and is even more mortified he's been labeled a fellow Scientologist. The singer is horrified by claims he was caught in bed with the War Of The Worlds star and has finally spoken out to end the rumors. But he's even more offended by reports he's joined Cruise and other followers of L. Ron Hubbard's Church Of Scientology, which has been labeled a "cult" by some critics. He says, "If I were gay, Tom wouldn't be on the top of my list...It would be Brad Pitt. I'm more offended by the rumors saying I'm Scientologist."

[DownOnRodeo]

Preston adds, "Parents don't know that these drugs are turning kids into walking time bombs. Eight out of the last 13 school shooters were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs, and only now is the FDA investigating the fact these drugs can cause violence."
Ack!! Talk about flaws in argument.

[dissention]

ah the Cruise stuff keeps comin'!

Kidman Gave Up Friends During Cruise Marriage
Nicole Kidman's marriage to Tom Cruise wrecked friendships the Australian actress had kept for years because her husband was so private. The movie star was just 21 when she wed Cruise and struggled to stay in touch with pals back home because she became part of a very different world. She tells style magazine Glamour, "Part of me shut down, put up barriers and became very insular. It was very hard to keep friendships alive during that period." Since the couple split in 2001, Kidman has rediscovered her childhood friends and she's determined not to let her pals slip away again. She adds, "I've been able to keep my female friendships ongoing, which is so important. Recently, I went on a publicity tour and asked one of my oldest girlfriends to come along. Being together was like going back to when to when we were teenagers."

Thank gawd she got away from that assclown. :laugh:

[SuzeQuze]

Thank gawd she got away from that assclown. :laugh:

No kidding. She probably smacks her forehead every day, "What was I thinking?"

[skcin]

They're not entirely wrong, but they sure don't represent their point well. Anti-depressants are over-prescribed. It's staggering how many particularly in the US use them, it's just a culture of prescribing drugs for any occasion. And the are often destructive to the user. I think there should be an effort to reduce the dependency on such prescriptions although this group is a little crazy.


You're right, Lux. I agree that these meds are way overused, and some people act like it's the norm for everyone to be on them. The thing that bothers me is that Scientologists don't believe in ANY psychotropic drug use. At all. Ever.

To tell someone who may really need these meds to function (people who are bipolar, clinically depressed, schizophrenic, etc.) that they DON'T need them & should stop taking them is a scary thing.

[catinthedark]

You're right, Lux. I agree that these meds are way overused, and some people act like it's the norm for everyone to be on them. The thing that bothers me is that Scientologists don't believe in ANY psychotropic drug use. At all. Ever.

To tell someone who may really need these meds to function (people who are bipolar, clinically depressed, schizophrenic, etc.) that they DON'T need them & should stop taking them is a scary thing.


I completely agree with you, Paula, and also with Lux's view that you replied to. I think that when it comes to major mental illness, like bipolar disease (is it disease?), schizophrenia, etc. medication is indicated. But those patients are also under strict psychiatric observation. For the average kid who's a little bit hyper, or more difficult to keep focused in school, I say first try getting the kid more exercise, and try other ways to stimulate his/her interest before you just drug 'em up. I may get flamed for this, but I have already decided that my kid (if ever I have one in the future) will never, ever be put on ritilin or any of that ilk. Not a chance in hell. I really believe that children's brains and bodies are growing and changing too much until they reach 18-21, and to alter with that development is just too much of a risk. This is just me, as I said; don't ask me for medical proof.

[SomeKindaMother]

I do agree that *many* drugs are overprescribed. Especially for a child who is simply 'active'. That is actually a quite maddening subject for me. Drugging your child for 'convenience'. But some medications are literally able to turn lives around for some people. I can't believe how unbelieveably irresponsible these 'celebrities' are being. I don't have a problem with critisizing the overuse...and clarifying that specific testing be done to determine a genuine need. But saying that *nobody* should *ever* use them is almost criminal.

Kelly :)

[irishgrl]

I do agree that *many* drugs are overprescribed. Especially for a child who is simply 'active'. That is actually a quite maddening subject for me. Drugging your child for 'convenience'. But some medications are literally able to turn lives around for some people. I can't believe how unbelieveably irresponsible these 'celebrities' are being. I don't have a problem with critisizing the overuse...and clarifying that specific testing be done to determine a genuine need. But saying that *nobody* should *ever* use them is almost criminal.

Kelly :)

Where I work, I deal with our local homeless population, and the majority of them have real mental issues. In CA, when Ronald Reagan was governor, he turned out onto the streets many of these mental patients and they comprise the overwhelming majority of our homeless folks. They DO need medicine, otherwise they would do physical harm to themselves or others. They live a hardscrabble life, and dont even think beyond their next meal or where they will sleep tonight. Most of them couldnt function at ALL without their medicine.

It's staggering how many particularly in the US use them, it's just a culture of prescribing drugs for any occasion.
and there we have Lux, GENERALIZING! and you know how much it pisses her off when someone else does it (or she thinks they are doing it!) Tsk, Tsk.

[SuzeQuze]

Where I work, I deal with our local homeless population, and the majority of them have real mental issues. In CA, when Ronald Reagan was governor, he turned out onto the streets many of these mental patients and they comprise the overwhelming majority of our homeless folks. They DO need medicine, otherwise they would do physical harm to themselves or others. They live a hardscrabble life, and dont even think beyond their next meal or where they will sleep tonight. Most of them couldnt function at ALL without their medicine.


and there we have Lux, GENERALIZING! and you know how much it pisses her off when someone else does it (or she thinks they are doing it!) Tsk, Tsk.

One of my childhood friends is schizophrenic and without her meds she is crazy with voices in her head and hallucinations. It is really sad. Someone else mentioned bipolar people, I used to work with a woman who jumped out of a moving car during an episode of mania. It was moving fast too, she hadn't slept for days and started thinking people were after her. Without meds she can't avoid those episodes. I agree with you, Kelly, that it is just about criminal to say all of these meds should always be avoided. I'd like to lock Tom up in a room with a shizophrenic not on meds.

[Serrart]

and there we have Lux, GENERALIZING! and you know how much it pisses her off when someone else does it (or she thinks they are doing it!) Tsk, Tsk.

Actually I agree with her on this. I guess outside US, your health care system is perceived only in its exaggerations.

Romy

[irishgrl]

Actually I agree with her on this. I guess outside US, your health care system is perceived only in its exaggerations.

Romy

my point was to highlight the fact that Lux is generalizing even tho she takes exception when she thinks others are doing it

our health care system does need help but not everyone here relies on drugs, contrary to how it may or may not appear to outsiders...if you want to know who is REALLY behind the push to rely on drugs, blame the pharmaceutical manufacturers, who have the Dr's in their back pockets... :shrug:

[Serrart]

my point was to highlight the fact that Lux is generalizing even tho she takes exception when she thinks others are doing it

our health care system does need help but not everyone here relies on drugs, contrary to how it may or may not appear to outsiders...if you want to know who is REALLY behind the push to rely on drugs, blame the pharmaceutical manufacturers, who have the Dr's in their back pockets... :shrug:

Obviously I'm aware that not everyone in US relies on drugs (even if after Presidential elections I had some doubts about most American population... ahem) the fact is how can you accept there's such a tight link between doctors and pharmauceticals manuacturers when your health is at risk in this way? It's just that I'm really curious about this subject.

Romy

[SuzeQuze]

Obviously I'm aware that not everyone in US relies on drugs (even if after Presidential elections I had some doubts about most American population... ahem) the fact is how can you accept there's such a tight link between doctors and pharmauceticals manuacturers when your health is at risk in this way? It's just that I'm really curious about this subject.

Romy

big business = big money = they get their way in America.

What do we do to fight it? Doctors get incentives to prescribe certain drugs by those drug companies. I guess lobby for a law to make that illegal? Not going to happen under the Rs in this administration.

[Stephanie]

Obviously I'm aware that not everyone in US relies on drugs (even if after Presidential elections I had some doubts about most American population... ahem) the fact is how can you accept there's such a tight link between doctors and pharmauceticals manuacturers when your health is at risk in this way? It's just that I'm really curious about this subject.

Romy

I can only speak for myself, but mainly I get samples of drugs from the pharm. reps, which i pass on free of charge to my low income or poorly insured patients. There are medicines that are equivalent, for example one of the drugs timolol goes by several names, and if I have a low income patient I do not care what brand name is on it, I will get it for them so they can stay on meds. I am not swayed by free lunches, freebies, etc.

[irishgrl]

Obviously I'm aware that not everyone in US relies on drugs (even if after Presidential elections I had some doubts about most American population... ahem) the fact is how can you accept there's such a tight link between doctors and pharmauceticals manuacturers when your health is at risk in this way? It's just that I'm really curious about this subject.

Romy

pharmaceutical companies spend big bucks developing their drugs, and need to get their stuff sold to recoup the money they put out in developing and testing, and so, they send in-house representatives out to doctors, and convince them that so and so drug is the latest cure all for such and such condition. Doctors are busy people and no matter how much they might try to keep up on the latest developments, its just not possible to stay on top of current drug offerings when you are working long hours seeing patients. Not to mention trying to stay abreast of latest sugical techniques or equipment. In the end, people trust their doctors (after all, theyve gone to school and all!) and there you have it....a system (in large part) controlled by profit, not humanitarianism....

having said that, not ALL companies engage in such blatant profit driven motives in drug sales, but the larger ones do...what's more, drugs are sold across our borders at a lesser price than we have to pay, and yet its against the law to buy them from Canada or Mexico at a reduced price....it sucks...
EDIT: I see Stephanie has just confirmed part of what I said re: in-house reps, as well as the fact that not everybody buys into the profitdriven mechanism. Hats off to YOU Stephanie.... :angel:

btw: the results of the last *election* had nothing to do with a drugged populace and everything to to with a rigged flotilla of machines. :nod:

[Serrart]

I can only speak for myself, but mainly I get samples of drugs from the pharm. reps, which i pass on free of charge to my low income or poorly insured patients. There are medicines that are equivalent, for example one of the drugs timolol goes by several names, and if I have a low income patient I do not care what brand name is on it, I will get it for them so they can stay on meds. I am not swayed by free lunches, freebies, etc.

That's a great thing Stephanie. Actually there's just been here a huge campaign to promote the use of those medicines that are equivalent. In that way, the government, that finances our health care system hoped to cut the expenses but it also helped us a bit to save some money.

Romy

[Serrart]

big business = big money = they get their way in America.

What do we do to fight it? Doctors get incentives to prescribe certain drugs by those drug companies. I guess lobby for a law to make that illegal? Not going to happen under the Rs in this administration.

pharmaceutical companies spend big bucks developing their drugs, and need to get their stuff sold to recoup the money they put out in developing and testing, and so, they send in-house representatives out to doctors, and convince them that so and so drug is the latest cure all for such and such condition. Doctors are busy people and no matter how much they might try to keep up on the latest developments, its just not possible to stay on top of current drug offerings when you are working long hours seeing patients. Not to mention trying to stay abreast of latest sugical techniques or equipment. In the end, people trust their doctors (after all, theyve gone to school and all!) and there you have it....a system (in large part) controlled by profit, not humanitarianism....

having said that, not ALL companies engage in such blatant profit driven motives in drug sales, but the larger ones do...what's more, drugs are sold across our borders at a lesser price than we have to pay, and yet its against the law to buy them from Canada or Mexico at a reduced price....it sucks...

Thank you both for the explanations, they helped me to understand more.

btw: the results of the last *election* had nothing to do with a drugged populace and everything to to with a rigged flotilla of machines. :nod:

Well... yes, that was my second hypothesis. :D

Romy

[SuzeQuze]

I can only speak for myself, but mainly I get samples of drugs from the pharm. reps, which i pass on free of charge to my low income or poorly insured patients. There are medicines that are equivalent, for example one of the drugs timolol goes by several names, and if I have a low income patient I do not care what brand name is on it, I will get it for them so they can stay on meds. I am not swayed by free lunches, freebies, etc.

:thumbsup: You rock. My doctors have been responsible in this way too.