New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez is 33 on July 27. What to get a rich baseball player? Since he’s allegedly dating Madonna, how about a tetanus shot? We’re just sayin’ …

 

Atlanta hip-hop performer Soulja Boy hits the big 1-8 on July 28. And we’re sure he’ll celebrate the big day like the mature young gentleman he is.

 

Academy Award-winning “90210” alum Hilary Swank is 34 on July 30. She and Mr. Ed—separated at birth? Discuss.

 

Bodybuilder, politician and bad actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is 61 on July 30. Could he be the first robot president of the United States?

 

“Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling is 43 on July 31. For her birthday, she plans to buy all of England—just because she can.

 

“Blade,” “Blade II,” “Blade: Trinity”—make it stop! Actor and tax evader Wesley Snipes is 46 on July 31.

 

Rapper Coolio (pictured) is known for “Gangster’s Paradise” … and that’s about it, really. He turns 45 on Aug. 1.

 

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images 

 

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1. Blayne from “Project Runway”: for his adamant over-usage of his own invented buzzword, “girlicious.” Just when you thought there were already enough tired catchphrases on Bravo …

 

2. Jason Connery: While creating an entire existence based around his father’s fame, Sean Connery’s D-list actor son was allegedly cut from Dad’s will after threatening to change his last name to something “not Connery.” Well played, Jason.

 

3. Brooke Hogan (pictured): When asked who she would vote for in the upcoming presidential election, Hulk Hogan’s bleach-blonde intellectual superpower of a daughter insisted that she isn’t voting because “It’s kinda crazy that a woman is running, because they have PMS and menopause and stuff.”

 

4. Andy Dick: In an attempt to salvage his fledgling career, Dick decided to get wasted at a Buffalo Wild Wings, and grabbed a 17-year-old girl’s breasts in hopes of a media onslaught. We hope he had fun in L.A. County Jail.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

 

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Thanks to 99x.com, alternative band Filter will be playing a free show tonight at the Tabernacle's Pontiac Garage! Filter is joined by local Atlanta bands Sleep Therapy and The Julia Dream. Doors are at 7:30. Admission is first come, first served, so show up early!
 
“Filter is one of the many bands who shaped 99X’s alternative sound through the mid and late ’90s with “Hey Man Nice Shot” and “Take a Picture.” This show means a lot to us longtime fans of both the band and 99X.” —Eric (Dutch) Van de Steeg
 
The show is all ages, and you can get more info on it at 99X.com. (Full article and comments)

There’s no more highly anticipated movie this summer than Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” the sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins.” And the film (screened yesterday for local critics) delivers on that anticipation. It’s a (mostly) fast-paced, intelligent action film; leave out the fact that its main character dresses up in a bat costume, and it’s still an exceptionally executed action thriller. Some quick highlights: 

1.                         
ACTING: Yes, Heath Ledger’s jittery, unhinged portrayal of the Joker (pictured) is every bit as arresting as early reports have indicated. I’ve not always been a huge fan of Ledger’s past work, but his turn raises “The Dark Knight” several levels above just another ordinary superhero movie. With his creaky voice (which reminded me a bit of Peter Lorre), roughly applied makeup and menacing stare, he’s simply magnetic; it’s impossible to notice anything else when he’s onscreen.

But Ledger’s isn’t the only impressive performance. In keeping with the growing trend of casting talented actors in thoughtfully written comic-book films (“Batman Begins,” “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk”), “Dark Knight” boasts a top-caliber cast, none of whom simply cashes a check. Gary Oldman, in particular, shines as Batman’s police ally Jim Gordon, fully inhabiting this slightly schlumpy, dedicated cop; a wrenchingly emotional scene toward the end of the movie shows that Oldman takes his work here seriously. 

Aaron Eckhart (as crusading district attorney Harvey Dent) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (taking over for Katie Holmes as Batman/Bruce Wayne’s kinda/sorta love interest, Rachel Dawes) also deliver strong performances; Gyllenhaal, in particular, has a brief but heartbreaking scene that will stay with you long after the film ends. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine execute their supporting roles with aplomb. Even smaller roles are impressively cast. (Oddly enough, star Christian Bale isn’t given all that much to do, comparatively, but he turns in solid work nonetheless.)

 

2.      ACTION: There’s plenty of it, from an opening bank robbery (with William Fichtner as a bad-ass bank manager) to an assault on a Hong Kong office tower that would feel at home in a James Bond film. And there’s a high-speed car chase, of course, the main attraction of which is the introduction of the BatPod, basically an economy-size motorcycle.

 

3.     TONE: Take the “Dark” part of the title seriously. The cinematography boasts a modern urban palate of dark shadows, dim lighting, concrete and steel, especially the streets of Gotham City, which forsake the ornate structures and murky, nightmarish feel of Anton Furst’s designs in the Tim Burton “Batman” movies for a more conventional but still slightly imposing cityscape.

 

On the story side, there’s a fair amount of violence (but little blood or gore—with one notable exception—to endanger the PG-13 rating), and a few very intense moments not recommended for small children (especially involving Eckhart and Gyllenhaal). The Joker’s twisted manipulations are far more chilling than anything in any of the “Saw” movies. And thematically, the film deals a lot with the idea of what it means to be a hero, in some gloomy ways, but without falling into easy postmodern cynicism.

 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

 

 

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1. “I Was Told There’d Be Cake”: In true Gen-Y form, Sloane Crosley’s charming collection of essays (about her own life, told from a twentysomething’s point of view), has already been optioned by HBO.

 

2. “Stuff White People Like: A Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions” (pictured): From blog to book form, Christian Lander’s painfully spot-on cultural observations (about NPR, Nalgene bottles and Macintosh devices) hit uncomfortably close to home.

 

3. “Chasing Darkness”: Robert Crais’ latest novel starring wisecracking P.I. Elvis Cole is a typically grabbing, fast-paced thriller filled with indelible characters, complex turns and powerful writing. 

 

4. “When You Are Engulfed in Flames”: David Sedaris tallies up the most bizarre moments of his last 25 years, filled with his trademark wit and biting honesty.

 

5. “Dear American Airlines”: Jonathan Miles’ hilariously sad account of a stranded passenger who takes a complaint letter much further than it should ever go—but in a good way.

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Is just standing there and soaking up the envy more your cup of tea? Take your smokin' hot self to the small screen. ABC is casting for a new show called "The Great American Beauty." If you’re beautiful and between the ages of 18-29, contact Brian at updyke.brian@gmail.com. Darn, we just missed the cutoff age. (Full article and comments)

If you think you've got singing and dancing skills a cut above the rest of the rhythm nation--we're talking Janet Jackson (pictured) or Justin Timberlake-level chops--tomorrow's your chance to put your money where your groove thing is. MTV, 25/7 Productions and Wright Crear Management are holding an open call audition as part of a nationwide search for singers and dancers to take part in Mz. Jackson's new reality show. Those who are chosen get to compete to become Jackson's protege, as she and choreographer Gil Duldulao shape one lucky winner into tomorrow's superstar.

Auditions take place Wednesday, July 9 at Dance 411 Studio, 749 Moreland Ave. SE in Atlanta. Registration is from 9a.m.-3p.m. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age, and not appear older than 22. You must also be able to sing a cappella and dance in your own personal style. Those who impress the casting director will be invited to a second call-back round in front of Gil Duldulao.

For more information, visit www.prodigycasting.com.

Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images

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1. “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”: Ten unsuspecting Americans go in, one comes out.

 

2. “Flipping Out”: Paranoid, bipolar house-flipper Jeff Lewis (pictured) takes his frustrations out on his assistants and somehow manages to work the current housing market to his advantage.

 

3. “Hopkins”: While Dr. House takes a summer hiatus, catch real resident surgeons at Johns Hopkins Hospital strike a balance between patients and their personal lives.

 

4. “Wipeout”: Arrogant and moderately crazy athletes battle the elements (and obstacles like the Big Balls and the “Dreadmill”) in this mud-filled take on Spike TV’s “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.”

 

Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

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If you haven't already, check out this week's cover story on 10 signs of the apocalypse. Then send us your own. Is there something that just doesn't seem right in the world today, a signal that the planet has shifted on its axis, that reality has taken a horrifying left turn? Let us know. Submit them to us via the "Write In" feature at the top right-hand corner of our Web site, or post them as a reply to the story itself. Who knows? We may even publish some in an upcoming edition of SP.

(Photo by Raymond Hagans)

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This weekend's for celebrating -- not just in the sense of "proud to be an American," but also in the "proud to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and any other category you might happen to fall in because you were born a certain way and damn it, you embrace yourself" sense. Yes, Atlanta Gay Pride is upon us, my friends. If you like it, come celebrate. If you don't, put your angry "gays are spawns of Satan, but I still wear wool and eat pork" Bible-beating signs down and give it a rest already.

 

Why we celebrate...

What the hell is Atlanta Gay Pride, anyway? It's certainly not just a flamboyant show of feathers and leather. It's far more meaningful. Typically, Atlanta Gay Pride takes place in late June (the third weekend, to be exact) to honor the historic Stonewall Riots, which took place June 28, 1969. The event was a major catalyst for the GLBT community as it helped us develop a very strong and unified front. Standing together, we were going to fight back ... again and again. With organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign lobbying for our rights in Congress and California legalizing gay marriage, progress continues to be made, though we're far from true equality. As we band together during Pride, we're embracing our community for all that it is -- a veritable rainbow of bright personalities from all walks of life, be it attorneys and surgeons, teachers and police officers, military and artists, CEOs and sanitation workers, editors and accountants, restaurateurs and ministers, neighbors and friends. Together, we celebrate our similarities and our differences -- proudly.

 

What to do this weekend...

Because of the drought, Pride's 3-day celebration has been moved to the 4th of July weekend and from Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Civic Center. There's a plethora of activities this weekend to celebrate Atlanta Gay Pride, not just at the Atlanta Civic Center and the parade, but also at all the gay and lesbian bars around town. 

 

The main Atlanta Pride event is the three-day Atlanta Pride Festival, which takes place this year downtown at the Atlanta Civic Center (395 Piedmont Ave. NE). The festival kicks off at 6 pm on Friday, July 4, and lasts until 11 p.m. The next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the festival continues at the park, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Admission is free, and during the festival there's live music and comedy; a Pride Market featuring dozens of vendors, GLBT organizations and crafters; and a variety of forums and ceremonies.

 

Entertainment at Atlanta Pride is extensive and varied, and typically includes movies, concerts, cabaret and fashion shows. On Saturday, the Festival presents the first of two big parades, the Dyke March, which starts at 6 pm. The Atlanta Pride Parade is held on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.

 

Happy Pride!

  

 

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