Adam Sandler is 42 on Sept. 9. We are hereby boycotting his films until he stops finding work for Rob Schneider.

 

Conservative pundit and loofah enthusiast Bill O’Reilly is 59 on Sept. 10. We hear if you prick him with a pin, only hot air will come out.

 

O’Reilly’s arch-nemesis, Atlanta’s own rapping/acting powerhouse Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (pictured), is 31 on Sept. 11.

 

The beautiful Virginia Madsen is 47 on Sept. 11. You’ve come a long way from “Highlander II: The Quickening,” baby.

 

Atlanta-based country music star Jennifer Nettles is 34 on Sept. 12. And to think we knew her back in the day.

 

“Death Race” star Jason Statham is 36 on Sept. 12. Are we the only ones totally pumped for “Transporter 3”?

 

Yet another Atlanta superstar celebrates a birthday this week: Media mogul Tyler Perry is 39 on Sept. 13.

 

Photo: Spark St. Jude

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Usher Raymond may be happily married and a proud father, but that doesn’t mean the Grammy-winning R&B singer isn’t up for a one-night stand with a few thousand willing fans. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Usher revealed that he’s planning a special ladies-only “One Night Stand” tour that would take place at smaller, intimate venues.

 

“I feel like I’ve had such a connection with my audience,” the renowned ladies’ man said, presumably referring to his onstage relationship with his fans, as opposed to the ones formed backstage, in limousines and in hotel rooms during his single-guy heyday. In the interview, Usher discussed his sex-symbol status, remarking that “the ladies like to see that masculine build. They question if I still got it.” (Women aren’t the only ones wondering if Usher’s “still got it,” given the relatively modest performance of his latest CD, “Here I Stand.”)

 

Final details for the tour haven’t yet been disclosed, although we have to believe that the stage set-up will include candles, casual lighting, a heart-shaped bed and perhaps an Al Green CD to set the mood.

Photo: Spark St. Jude

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.On Wednesday night, after Gov. Sarah Palin's acceptance of the GOP's vice presidental nomination, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)  sent a text over to CNN calling Palin's speech "shrill." That word is applied to only one group of people on this planet: women. Period. It denotes, in a very derogatory way, a sense of Victorian hysteria with which the most sexist men tar women. Yet, when Campbell Brown wisely and fairly pointed this out, Democrat sycophant Paul Begala accused Brown of "toning back" her journalistic analysis, as if pointing out this obvious sexist comment by Reid was somehow an indication of softness. (Full article and comments)

In their eagerness to discredit a politician, even reporters at the best of newspapers can accept shady information as fact, without checking adequately on its source. It's a sloppy way to do business, but  in a hurried profession it happens. Maybe it's just because the New York Times is so huge and so widely read that it appears to rack up more big sloppy errors than most.  A mispelling here and there, the occasional wrong date on an event, etc, these are to be expected at any newspaper, but the Times, in an odd turnabout, does pretty well on the little things and outrageously badly on some of the big things. Take for example the paper's most recent error in covering GOP vice presidential pick. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. This was published in today's Times: (Full article and comments)

According to today’s New York Times, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience in New Philadelphia, Ohio, before Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention: “You did not hear a single world about the economy “Not once did they mention the hardships that people are going through.”

Well, he might have said that before Sarah’s speech, but it was already a huge oversight at best and outright lie at worst. Both Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rudolph Giuliani talked about the economy, specifically citing higher prices and lower home values. After their speeches, Palin took the stage and pointed to higher prices for groceries, gas, and heating oil—referring to homes in the northern United States in particular that use oil rather than natural gas for heat—and how these daily costs are undermining the ability of families to take care of themselves. (Full article and comments)

Just about every mom hears this at some point in her career: “Considering the hours/travel/demands, we went with another candidate for the job/promotion.” What that means is: “You have kids, so, we won't give you the job/promotion you deserve.” Which translates directly into “We’re not hiring/promoting you because you’re a woman who acts and lives like a woman.”

Remember this, because it’s going to be very important as the Democrats seek to dismantle Sarah Palin. You see, here’s something the majority of the women’s studies crowd believes, but never articulates: “The only women worthy of power are women in drag.”

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I'm not the religious type, but right now New Orleans and its residents, as well as the folks all along the Gulf coast, need our prayers and goodwill. In a few days, they may need much, much more than that. We went though this, almost to the day, just three years ago, and we learned a lot. We all learned about not being prepared, about the emptiness of just hoping for the best and leaving it up to someone else to protect us. (Full article and comments)

“Rush Hour 3” thespian and Atlanta native Chris Tucker is 36 on Aug. 31. We hear he’ll celebrate the occasion by dropping out of sight. Oh, wait, he’s already done that.

 

Richard Gere is 59 on Aug. 31. Respected actor, personal friend of the Dalai Lama, and still the guy’s as exciting as wet cardboard.

 

Life guru, television show host and professional windbag Phil McGraw (aka Dr. Phil) is 58 on Sept. 1.

 

An inspiration to wooden, monotone actors everywhere, “Matrix” action hero Keanu Reeves (pictured) is 44 on Sept. 2.

 

Father-to-be and all-around role model Charlie Sheen is 43 on Sept. 3. What if he were still a movie star, and Robert Downey Jr. was stuck in sitcom purgatory?

 

Beyoncé Knowles is 27 on Sept. 4. What do you get for a girl who has everything? Maybe hubbie Jay-Z will buy her a small country.

 

Atlanta native Jeff Foxworthy is 50 on Sept. 6. Is he smarter than a fifth-grader? Dude got filthy rich making fun of his own people—what do you think?

Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

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I know you’re a very private person, and you’re probably still smarting from your recent breakup with rock star and former Atlanta resident JOHN MAYER (pictured). But I’d like to personally invite you to attend your ex’s sold-out headlining gig at local radio station Star 94’s annual STARFEST concert tonight at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. I’m not a former Eddie’s Attic fixture and I haven’t penned ubiquitous soft-rock hits like “Your Body is a Wonderland” and “Daughters.” I haven’t fronted my own blues trio, either. And my new concert film wasn’t bundled in as a freebie with purchase of a new Blu-ray player, as John’s “Where the Light Is” was. But I also don’t make his ridiculous guitar faces, either, and I’ve never dated Jennifer Love Hewitt or Jessica Simpson. Oh, and I won’t make you sit through opener OneRepublic. What do you say? 

Kevin

Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images (Full article and comments)

The first Monday in September was originally set aside as a day off for working stiffs. But that one day has long since morphed into the extravaganza we know and love as LABOR DAY WEEKEND. As befits its status as the undisputed big daddy of holiday weekends, the coming three-day (or more) blowout offers Atlantans a number of ways to commemorate the end of summer in style. Here are our favorites:

 

With two days of movies, killer tunes, a bitchin’ car show, overnight camping and the mother of all tailgate parties, DRIVE INVASION has staked an undisputable claim as the ATL’s premier hipster celebration. This year’s event includes comedy (“Blazing Saddles,” “Kentucky Fried Movie”) and sci-fi classics (“Barbarella,” “Forbidden Planet”), as well as Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and Atlanta garage-rockers the Forty-Fives. Saturday and Sunday at the Starlight Six Drive-In. www.driveinvasion.com.

 

Now in its third year, the DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL has grown into a nationally recognized feather in the city’s cap (the fact that the fest’s daily-paper sponsor covers books now mostly as an afterthought is just a delightfully ironic bonus). This year’s impressive roster of national and local names includes Billy Collins (Friday’s keynote speaker), Pearl Cleage, Rick Bragg, Eric Jerome Dickey, Karin Slaughter, Elizabeth Dewberry and Roy Blount Jr., as well as a closing concert by Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers on Sunday. For complete schedules and other information: www.decaturbookfestival.com.

 

Last but not least, DRAGON*CON, Atlanta’s annual passport to other worlds, offers a stellar lineup (pun intended) of sci-fi, fantasy, comics and pop-cultural figures, from “Heroes” hottie Hayden Panettiere (pictured) to Kevin Sorbo, Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”), Avery Brooks, Adam West and Beau Bridges. Oh, yeah—and hundreds of self-proclaimed geeks in elaborate costumes. Friday-Monday at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Hilton and the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. www.dragoncon.org. 

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

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