The beautiful Kate Winslet (pictured) is 33 on Oct. 5. Can anyone even remember the last good movie she was in?

 

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke is 40 on Oct. 7. Least sexy frontman ever? Not while Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo still lives.

 

Simon Cowell is 49 on Oct. 7. In our opinion, he’s the only reason to watch “American Idol.” Ever. 

 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson is 67 on Oct. 8. Think he still wants to cut Barack Obama’s you-know-whats off?

 

“America’s Got Talent” judge Sharon Osbourne is 56 on Oct. 9. Married to Ozzy, mother to Jack and Kelly—when has she ever been exposed to talent?

 

“Dancing With the Stars” vet Mario Lopez is 35 on Oct. 10. But he’ll always be A.C. Slater to us.

 

Actor Luke Perry is 43 on Oct. 11. Luke, let us offer you some career advice—whatever you do, don’t go back to “90210.” You’ll hate yourself in the morning.

 
Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images

 

 

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The U.S. House has passed the $700 billion "Wall Street bailout," bill formally known as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, by a vote of 263 to 171 today. When the bill was first introduced in the House on Sept. 29, only two of Georgia's 13 members of Congress supported it, Rep. Sanford Bishop of Columbus and Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon, both Democrats. It was defeated. Today when it returned to the House laden with incentives for passage after its approval by the Senate on Oct. 1, two more Georgians, also Democrats, voted yes, Congressman John Lewis and Congressman David Scott, both of Atlanta. Lewis sent out a press statment quoting the speech he made explaining his vote switch: 
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If your jaw didn’t hit the floor when Palin said that she would seek to expand the powers of the vice presidency using Dick Cheney’s model, then you must have been wearing your Hannibal Lecter muzzle for the evening. That, gentle reader, was a deal-breaker. That was a “get you coat and let’s go” moment. She plans to expand the powers of the vice presidency on a ticket where John McCain has more than graciously allowed an admitted neophyte to perch? For many, many voters it has been hard enough to deal with the possibility of Palin stepping into the Oval Office in the event that something untoward happens to McCain. To suggest that she’s going to appropriate some of his power while he’s still alive and kicking is insulting (Full article and comments)

Katie Couric is to journalism what the Muppet Show’s Swedish Chef is to Swedish—she does a meaningless mimicry of it to great effect.

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Usually, women candidates are lauded for their compassion. So, it was odd and disappointing for me—someone who’s gone to bat for Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential pick—to see Palin fail to extend that kind of compassion to Sen. Joe Biden. Please keep in mind, I am a longtime, outspoken, non-fan of Joe Biden. Tonight, Sen. Biden opened up in a way that wasn’t necessary, a way that must not have been pleasant for him, but that he felt, I suppose, might help him to introduce himself to Americans who don’t know him. He recounted what was probably the most heartbreaking day of his life—the day his first wife and their infant daughter were killed in an automobile accident. He was visibly struggling to finish his sentence. Palin, in her response to the same question, had a perfect opportunity to show compassion, in fact, for most of us it would have been the natural thing to do. (Full article and comments)

Facing the music is hard. With the sinking economy and the price of eggs skyrocketing, life is no walk in the park these days. But getting down and out won't help anyone, especially not you. It's time to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and laugh, dammit. And you can do it on the cheap, too. The Village Theatre, the hotly anticipated new improv comedy destination, premieres this Friday, Oct. 3, with another performance Saturday, Oct. 4. The shows are just 10 bucks. A totally affordable, hilarious night out for friends, couples and first dates, too.
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30 p.m. (The company will add Thursdays to its repertoire beginning Oct. 9.)
Where: The Village Theatre, 486 Decatur St., Atlanta, GA 30312 (next to Lenny's Bar, between Inman Park and Cabbagetown)
How: Tickets are $10. Purchase via phone (404-688-8858), e-mail (villagecomedy@gmail.com) or at the door.
Why: It takes a village. (Full article and comments)

Head to Phipps Plaza Thursday, October 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. for the 80th anniversary celebration for Cole Haan, a premier luxury lifestyle brand offering men’s and women’s footwear, accessories and outerwear. Meet acclaimed jewelry designer Anna Sheffield, who recently designed two limited edition jewelry collections for Cole Haan, and Cole Haan’s CEO Jim Seuss, while enjoying cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a 20 percent discount off all merchandise.  (Full article and comments)

One of my favorite Southwestern dining destinations, Agave Restaurant, is having a fantastic Partida tequila tasting dinner tonight, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Agave Restaurant at 404-588-0006 (242 Boulevard SE, www.agaverestaurant.com)

The menu:
The Elegante Tequila Dinner Featuring Partida Super Premium Tequilas & The Cuisine Of Chefs Jack Sobel & Richard Silvey

Seared Lamb Shank Taco with Hatch Chili with Sweet Yellow Corn Puree, Lobster & Poblano Sauce and a Smoked Jalepeno & Red Pepper Drizzle
served with Partida Blanco Traditional Margarita

Seared Gulf Shrimp in a Ginger, Butter & Cilantro Sauce over Arugula and Homemade Flatbread topped with Red Chili Oil & Citrus Crema
served with Fresh Fruit Mango & Partida Blanco Margarita with Partida Agave Nectar

Spicy Fall Chicken Soup with Pasta, Basil & Tortilla Strips
served with Partida Reposado Top Shelf Margarita

Chile Seared Wild Salmon over Fire Roasted & Crushed Local Heirloom Tomatoes & Baby Spinach topped with Fresh Lemon and Poblano Crema

served with Partida Perfecto Anejo

A Rich Chocolate Ganache and Caramel Torte with Belgian Chocolate Chips & Fresh Cream
served with a shot of the Exquisite Elegante

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Last night at the gym, a middle-aged black man who renovates houses for a living held forth on the proposed bailout: “Let them fail!” he raged. “Let them fail! People in this country need to wake up! Those banks and investors that were reckless shouldn’t get one dime, not one dime, from other people who work for a living!” He was mad as hell, and as he moved from bench to platform lugging lots of heavy weights, he continued without drawing a breath, “We have raised a whole generation to believe that they are entitled to everything, that if they make a bad decision, somebody else will bail ‘em out. If I make a bad decision, who bails me out? Nobody. Nobody. And I am sick and tired of people who think they deserve help because they didn’t get what they wanted. And here they go, telling me to vote for somebody because he’s ‘cute’? To hell with that.”

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So, there we were, me and about 70 or more of my fellow citizens, lined up in an orderly fashion at the Quick Trip on Briarcliff Road near Shepherd’s Lane a little after 10 a.m. today, when it seemed to me that the guy filling his small burgundy Chevy pick-up (with DeKalb County plates) had been there for a very long time and was filling his tank in a very odd fashion. He was basically squatting next to the pump away from prying eyes and I could see gas spilling in generous pools on the ground. That’s when I saw the gas cans—four or five of them. Having filled his tank, he was filling gas cans, and as he moved the nozzle from can to can without stopping the pump, generous rivers of gas were pouring onto the concrete, even as the line of cars grew. (Full article and comments)