Ron Ablang's Blog
Saturday, September 27, 2003
On The Set With Hilary Duff
We caught up with ym's October cover girl, Hilary Duff, on the set of her latest movie, Cheaper by the Dozen. In it she shares screen time with Smallville's Tom Welling, Steve Martin, and Bonnie Hunt.
What made you decide to do this movie?
I really liked it because I had never been part of a large ensemble cast before and, of course, it's such a great one on this movie. I love the director, Shawn Levy, too, and the story's really cool 'cause it shows the struggles of parents dealing with a family and the happy times and the sad times.
Who are you closest with on-set?
Tom's [Welling] awesome. I don't think I'm close to one person more than the other. We all get along totally well. But Tom's really cool. I love him.
What's the atmosphere like during filming?
We all have a good time. There was this scene we just did where we had to get covered in eggs. It was really disgusting, but we all had a good time. We were all joking around about it.
In this movie you get to work with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt — who's funnier?
Bonnie's really, really funny. Steve's really nice, but he's a little calmer. Bonnie's just like the comedian out of everyone. We always joke around and she calls me her mini-me.
Do you spend your entire time on-set trying not to crack up?
Yeah. When we're on-set and someone does something funny, we're trying to concentrate, but there are 12 of us. If someone makes a funny remark, all of us will start laughing and we can't control it. We just keep laughing forever and they have to cut.
How have your friends reacted to your fame?
A lot of my friends are in the business and then some of them aren't and it's hard sometimes because you can't go out and do normal things anymore. You can't go to the movies — we can, but it's really hard. You can't really go to the mall and when we go out to dinner there's this restaurant called Bob's Big Boy, which is by my house and it's open all night, so we go really late. Even then it's hard because people will form a line down the restaurant to my table and the restaurant won't do anything about it, so my friends will finally say, "She's eating right now. Will you leave us alone?" It's kind of hard.
How do you handle that?
I'm used to it, so I'm always really nice to people and sometimes I'll say, "Oh, I'm just hanging out with my friends being normal right now, so thanks for watching the show" or something. Usually I'll sign autographs, take pictures, and they're the people who let me do what I love to do everyday, so it's so much easier to be nice to them than it is to be rude.
Does it still feel weird to drive down the street and see your face on a huge billboard?
It's definitely rewarding. You're like, Yes, it's so cool! But at the same time it's weird to have a picture of your face this big on the street.
Do you ever think about missing out on going to high school?
I think about it sometimes. It's really cool because I get to see my friends everyday and they still go to school and have this whole social scene going on, but I love my life and I would never trade it for anything. I think there's trade-offs — there's good and bad parts of both lives. I did get to go to a prom and that was fun.
How was prom?
I went with a bunch of my friends. I'd just come from a movie premiere, so [my dress] was prom-ish. It wasn't like a princess ball gown or anything. I was like, This is exciting; this is cool." We danced; we talked to their friends. I didn't really know anybody, so it was like, Okay, this is fun."
What else are you working on now?
My album, which is going to be out in September and is called "Metamorphosis." My sister's writing a couple songs for it. She's a really great singer and she's an actress and a songwriter.
What can we expect from the record?
Before I did songs like "I Can't Wait" and "Why Not," which were from the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack and Lizzie McGuire TV show, but they're a little more pop. This album's a lot more rock.
What kind of bands are you into right now?
I really love rap music, even though that's totally not my style of singing. I love Eminem, Nas, Jay-Z; I like R. Kelly's new song, and bands like Simple Plan, Boomkat, and Good Charlotte.
Who would you compare your style to?
That's really hard because I don't like to think of my music as being like other people's music. I'm actually working with this writer right now who composes weird, funky music and that's going to be on my album. I like Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch. I play the piano. I took lessons for a long time when I was little, then I dropped out and now I started taking them again.
— Marine Bury
http://www.ym.com/stars/inthespotlight/sep0203.jsp
Hilary Duff Plans Break From Movies
09.08.2003 8:26 PM EDT
Hilary Duff
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
NEW YORK — Good news for the 203,000 people who bought Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis in its first week on shelves: The actress-turned-singer is officially taking a break from movies to focus on music.
"I will be touring, I'm practicing right now," Duff said at Radio City Music Hall while in town for the MTV Video Music Awards. "I just finished doing a movie and I've been rehearsing with my band every night after work, so maybe in November and December."
Until then, Duff will continue to promote Metamorphosis in other ways, such as with the television special "Hilary Duff's Island Birthday Bash!," which airs September 24 on the WB.
The "Lizzie McGuire" star will also release a follow-up single to "So Yesterday," most likely her favorite song on the album, "Come Clean."
"It's a little more mellow than 'So Yesterday,' but it's not really pop music," Duff said. "It sounds sort of like techno, but it's slow. It's really cool."
And although she's finished making movies for the year, Duff has two in the can. "Cheaper by the Dozen," a remake of the 1950 comedy and starring Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling and Piper Perabo, opens on Thanksgiving, and "The Cinderella Story" is due early next year.
"The Lizzie McGuire Movie," which topped the box office in April, was recently released on DVD, and sales of its soundtrack just crossed the 1-million mark (see "Mary J. Blige, Hilary Duff Take Over Top Slots On Albums Chart").
For a full-length feature on Hilary Duff, check out "Hilary Duff: Not Just For Kids."
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1477947/20030908/index.jhtml?headlines=true
Subj: Terms of Service
Date: 9/8/03 12:33:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TOS USENET
To: Rablang, Superlants, Hugo ballz, Tha lance, MrAblang
Dear Member:
This letter has been sent to all sub-screen names on this AOL account to inform you that AOL has received a report regarding a violation of AOL's Terms of Service (TOS) agreement by one of the screen names on this account. AOL's Terms of Service agreement, which includes our Community Guidelines, represents the agreement between AOL and its members regarding online conduct. You can review this agreement at keyword TOS.
In keeping with our commitment to protect the privacy of our members, details of this violation have been sent in a separate e-mail to the master screen name(s) on this account. Details of TOS violations are not sent to sub-screen names.
To review the details of this violation, please sign on using your primary screen name (the first screen name you created for this account) or any other screen name you have designated to be a master screen name.
If you have any comments or questions regarding this violation, please send e-mail from your master screen name to the screen name TOSGeneral.
Regards,
Stephen
Community Action Team
America Online, Inc.
Subj: Tips from CAT (and Take charge)
Date: 9/8/03 12:32:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TOS
To: twocanlan, Rablang, Superlants, Hugo ballz, Tha lance, MrAblang
Dear Member,
Thank you for contacting America Online's Community Action Team.
A key function of AOL's Community Action Team is to empower members: Teach them how to stay safe while having fun online. Practically all Terms of Service (TOS) violations can be avoided if everyone who uses your account actively protects the security of the account and understands AOL's Terms of Service policies (see Keyword: TOS).
Here's what you need to know to keep your account secure:
1. Keep your password a secret. Change it frequently at Keyword: Password. Never release your password online or give it out to friends. Don't create passwords that are easy to guess. The best passwords contain at least six characters that are a combination of numbers and letters.
2. Beware of Websites that claim to be America Online. Members sometimes receive e-mail with a link to a website that claims to be an 'official' America Online website. Be very cautious when going to these websites, especially if they ask for your password or personal information.
3. Beware of 'Trojan Horses.' Trojan Horses are files attached to e-mail or web pages. Some Trojan Horse programs are designed to send your AOL password to another person, which gives that person access to your account. This is why we recommend that you never download an e-mail attachment sent to you by someone you don't know and are very careful about what you download from the Internet. If you think you may have downloaded a Trojan Horse, go to Keyword: Anti-Virus, then click on the Try It Now For Free button. Once you click on the Download Now button, you will be registered for the McAfee VirusScan software. Just follow the instructions as they come up. The software will download and install itself with pauses where the computer needs to be restarted. After the software is installed, don't forget to run a virus scan.
Enjoy your first month FREE of McAfee VirusScan Online brought to you by AOL. After your free trial offer, the service is $2.95 a month plus any applicable taxes in addition to your basic monthly AOL membership fee, conveniently billed to your AOL billing information on file. To avoid being charged a monthly fee, simply cancel your membership before the trial period ends.
4. Don't include personal or identifying information in your profile. This includes your full name, exact date of birth, full address, phone number, or the name of your school or workplace. You can create or modify the information in your profile at Keyword: Member Directory. Simply click on the 'My Profile' icon and fill out the pop-up form. To view your profile, hold down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard and type the letter G. Enter the appropriate screen name and click 'OK.' (Note: To create or modify a profile, you must be signed on to the corresponding screen name.)
5. Visit Keyword: Neighborhood Watch regularly. AOL's Neighborhood Watch contains a wealth of information on account security, including how to report violations. You may also want to check out the security options available at Keywords: Parental Controls and Mail Controls.
If you think someone has gained unauthorized access to your AOL account, there are steps you can take to resecure it:
1. Check the screen names on your account. Go to Keyword: Names, click 'Delete a Screen Name,' then click 'Continue.' If you see a screen name you do not recognize, highlight it and click 'delete.' If you are missing a screen name that you formerly had on your account, you can restore it by selecting 'Restore a Screen Name' from the main Screen Names menu.
2. Check each screen name's profile to see if it has been altered.
3. Review your detailed bill at Keyword: Billing for unauthorized surcharges. (NOTE: Even if someone gains unauthorized access to your account, your billing information is secure. The only way someone can gain access to your billing information is if you send it in an e-mail or instant message.) Although your billing information is safe, communication surcharges could be incurred if your account was used to access AOL through a long-distance phone number or through one of AOL's 800 Numbers. If you have questions about your detailed bill, you can talk with a billing consultant online in the Billing Help Interactive area, available at Keyword: Billing.
4. Check 'Mail Sent' under each screen name on your account. Click 'Mail Center' on your toolbar and select 'Mail Sent.' Look for mail that you don't remember sending, particularly mail to screen names you do not recognize. If possible 'unsend' the mail. If you or your child(ren) use a screen name that sent unfamiliar mail, you may want to delete the screen name and create a new one. This will ensure you do not receive unwanted responses. If you do not wish to delete the screen name, you can block unwanted mail using the features available at Keyword: Mail Controls.
I hope you find this information to be useful. Please note that this screen name cannot accept replies. Therefore, if you have any other TOS-related questions or comments, please go to Keyword: TOS Questions.
Regards,
Community Action Team
America Online, Inc.
***Have you recently moved? Has your phone number or area code recently changed?***
***Just a reminder to please visit Keyword: Billing periodically to make sure your billing information is current.***
Thin 'Lizzie': Duff's Music Lacks Spunk
Malcolm Mayhew of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reviewed Hilary Duff's debut album, claiming the 'Lizzie' star "sings the songs with so little conviction and sentiment, you know that someone just handed her a sheet of paper and said, 'Sing this line'." He added, "'Metamorphosis', her first CD of all-original material, is exactly what you'd expect from a young female singer these days: modern pop/rock songs that have a stinging guitar bite, just like material by Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch, mixed in with touches of R&B and soulful balladry. There's not the least bit of inventiveness or adventure here. But chugging-guitar anthems are the way to go now, thanks to Branch and Lavigne, and on that level, 'Metamorphosis' is a success."
http://www.popdirt.com/article19500.html
Lizzie McGuire star begins celebrating Sweet 16
Associated Press
TORONTO — Hilary Duff doesn't turn 16 for another three weeks, but the reigning queen of tween music and film began the party early on Sunday with a birthday bash in Toronto to raise money for children's charities.
More than 1,000 ticketholders - mostly young girls with their mothers in tow - filled the hallway conference level of a downtown hotel waiting to get into a special celebrity challenge event featuring Duff.
"Last time I was up here I was doing an autograph signing and there was, like, 5,000 kids that came and they were so supportive and so friendly and kind," the blond star of television's Lizzie McGuire told a news conference before the party began.
"It was really amazing how much they looked up to me. They liked my music, the show and everything, so I decided we should do it in Toronto."
In addition to conquering the hearts of pubescent youngsters and the worlds of television and film, Duff's new album Metamorphosis just entered the Canadian charts at No. 1 with sales of 13,600. That makes her the youngest artist to debut at the top spot in Canadian Nielsen SoundScan history.
"I can't believe how much people support me here," said Duff, who was casual in a sparkly hoodie top and low-rise jeans. "It's really amazing."
At the main event, Duff and 16 invited celebrities, including Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and his brother Aaron Carter, took part in a "celebrity challenge" - a series of wacky games and contests - with kids from the audience and special needs youngsters.
It commanded a price of $100 per person, which adds up to a whole lot more than most youngsters have in their piggy banks.
But parents were prepared to shell out to give their kids the opportunity to hang out with Duff and some other members of the Lizzie McGuire show, including Adam Lamberg, who plays Gordo and Ashlie Brillault, who portrays Kate.
Linda Nower paid $300 to bring her daughter Kathleen, 9, and eight-year-old friend Allison Soule to the bash.
"Well, I'm a fan of Hilary Duff's too," said Linda Nower. "I think she's a very good role model for preteen girls. I think she's down to earth and she comes from a good family with some good values."
"I watch her TV show almost every day unless I'm away on vacation or something," Kathleen said. "I really, really like Hilary Duff," added Allison.
The money is earmarked for a number of children's charities, including Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
Other beneficiaries are Kids With a Cause, a Los Angeles-based organization which promotes charitable works by actors and singers, and Park Lane Project, which helps kids and teens with neurological disabilities.
A high tea with Hilary in the hotel ballroom earlier in the day - at $5,000 a pop - was limited to about 100 youngsters. Corporations sponsored needy children to attend.
The celebrities were brought to the city for the event by Jack Lenz of Lenz Entertainment, which has projects ranging from the music for Mel Gibson's latest movie, The Passion, to scoring the television series Train 48. Lenz's daughter attends Park Lane School, a public school that serves neurologically handicapped children and teens.
Altogether, the Toronto events raised $300,000, Lenz said.
Duff's actual birthday is Sept. 28, and she arrived in Toronto after filming a WB special in Hawaii to mark the event. Barring any last-minute rescheduling, the program is expected to air Sept. 24, an organizer said.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1063022922262_47/?hub=Entertainment
Teenager of the Year
Hilary Duff has already conquered TV and movies. Next up: Music, and turning sixteen
By Mark Binelli
The new Britney
This year's Teen Choice Awards, held at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, is as good a place as any to make some generalizations about girls under fourteen. Here is one: Girls under fourteen love to shriek. They will shriek for Keanu Reeves. They will also shriek for John Ritter. Also: Girls under fourteen love half-shirts, low-riding jeans and excessive makeup. Add ten years to the crowd's age, and the place could pass for a stripper convention.
Though Britney Spears, who has arguably done more to advance the jailbait look than any other American, is a presenter, the most rapidly ascending pop icon in attendance may be Hilary Duff, the chirpy, wholesome fifteen-year-old star of the Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire. Since its debut in 2001, the show has become one of the highest-rated cable programs for viewers between the ages of six and fourteen. The Lizzie McGuire Movie, released in May, grossed $42 million, and the soundtrack, featuring songs performed by Duff, has gone platinum. She's just released her first proper solo album, Metamorphosis.
Much of Duff's success has to do with the fact that she comes off as the genuine article, a real-deal teenager. Her favorite expression is "Oh, my God!" She is blond and has dimples. When someone mentions that she's been nominated for Best Hottie Female, she blushes. Tonight she is wearing a pink sweater with serrated sleeves, pointy yellow shoes, jeans with a gold-chain pocket loop and a pink thong. The thong is visible only when Duff crouches to sign an autograph for a young fan in a wheelchair who is brought backstage by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
While there is no "right" moment to take note of a fifteen-year-old's underwear, noticing at this particular moment is clearly very, very wrong. Still, such is the state of the teen-pop world today, wherein there's no denying that coy, Barely Legal flirtations can help a female performer's career. Duff has yet to make a video involving an overtaxed indoor sprinkler system. Right now, she comes off as refreshingly innocent as her TV counterpart, so the innuendo is left to others -- for instance, the show's host, David Spade. "You're almost sixteen?" he asks Duff in his opening monologue. "As my good buddy R. Kelly says, 'If only she was two years younger.' "
Franz Kafka's short story "the metamorphosis" begins with the line "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a giant insect."
Hilary Duff's new album, Metamorphosis, begins with a song called "So Yesterday":
You can change your life
(If you wanna!)
You can change your clothes
(If you wanna!)
If you change your mind
Well, that's the way it goes
But I'm gonna keep your jeans . . .
They look good on me
You're never gonna get them back!
Duff has not heard of the Kafka story, but she says it sounds cool. Then her sister Haylie asks, "How gross was the guy eating cockroaches last night?" During a Teen Choice segment about favorite reality-TV moments, a man dressed as an exterminator ate a handful of live bugs.
"So gross!" Hilary agrees.
We are having brunch at a bistro-style restaurant near Universal Studios. Haylie, 18, is also blond and pretty, and slightly bossy in a manner befitting an older sister. Hilary is excited because she was allowed to drive to brunch.
"We drive illegally around the neighborhood all the time," Haylie says.
"Oh, my God!" Hilary says.
The Duffs were born in Houston. Their father, Bob, co-owns a chain of convenience stores. Haylie started performing in preschool. Hilary soon followed suit, and after the pair were cast in a few commercials, their mother, Susan, decided to move them to Los Angeles for a pilot season. Susan Duff insists she has never been a showbiz mother and that the choice to perform was always the girls'. "My husband and I were never involved in anything artistic, so it was never anything we focused on," she says. The girls spent the next couple of years auditioning, with little to show for it.
Haylie: We worked on a pilot called The Underworld.
Hilary: Huh?
Haylie: Remember? The alien came through the window and ate us?
Hilary: Oh, my God! [Pause] No.
Haylie: You were probably nine.
Susan and the girls were ready to move back to Texas -- where Bob Duff had remained, visiting L.A. every three weeks or so -- when Hilary landed Lizzie McGuire. The show chronicles the travails of a lovable, put-upon junior-high student. Young girls quickly became enraptured with Duff. Expanding the franchise was inevitable.
Hilary met her music manager, Andre Recke, backstage at a Radio Disney concert in Anaheim, California. "I was never that into music," she admits. Still, Recke, a lanky German who had initially made his mark with boy-band merchandising rights in Europe, spotted a potential star. He hooked Duff up with a vocal coach, and soon she was recording a Christmas album. For Metamorphosis, Recke assembled a team of crack producers and songwriters -- including the Matrix, who produced "So Yesterday." "I actually didn't want to have control of the writing on my first album," Duff says. "To write, you have to have time to connect with yourself. I don't have that time right now, because I'm so busy."
Duff says she listens to a wide range of music: Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Sublime, 50 Cent. Some other facts about her: She refuses to eat eggs, which she refers to as "pre-life." She and Haylie joke about opening a Texas steakhouse in L.A., even though the restaurant thing didn't work out so well for Britney Spears. "Didn't somebody find something in the food there?" Hilary asks. She's currently reading a book by a psychic who claims that babies who die from sudden infant death syndrome have actually done so by choice. She has also started Hillary Clinton's autobiography. Her favorite television shows are Sex and the City and Nip/Tuck. After our interview, Duff has a photo shoot. "Then I have to go home and clean my room," she says, sighing.
Metamorphosis is a slick collection of pop songs, master-crafted to appeal to huge numbers of young people, but the X factor, in the end, will be Duff herself and whether she, and not her Lizzie persona, will be appealing enough to sell the product.
I ask the girls, and then their mother, if the sexually provocative route taken by Spears and Christina Aguilera is a concern or a consideration. Hilary looks embarrassed and picks at her food. Haylie shrugs: "It's a choice. A career decision."
Later, Hilary says, "There was a tabloid rumor saying I was at White Lotus, doing tequila shots and showing off my new boob job. Hello!" She gestures at her chest, as if she's a magician showing off a conjured rabbit. Then she asks, "Have you been to White Lotus? It's a cool club in L.A. But I was in Petaluma at the time."
Susan seems annoyed by the question. "Hilary is personally a modest young woman. She does not need to go around exposing herself. What you see is what you get with Hilary, basically. It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?"
In any case, the Duff juggernaut has only just begun, though the Lizzie McGuire series is over, after much-publicized tensions with Disney. (The Duffs claim Disney fumbled contract negotiations, then bad-mouthed the family in the press; sources say the Duffs demanded $100,000 per episode.) Coming soon: two movies (a Cinderella update and a remake of Cheaper by the Dozen), a WB special and a line of Duff merchandise, Stuff by Hilary Duff.
For most fifteen-year-olds, this all might be a bit much. But Duff seems unflappable. Backstage at the Teen Choice Awards, she is led to a VIP area, where the Teens' Choices grab a variety of gifts - among them, necklaces that spell cute messages in Morse code. She fingers several before making her choice. "I almost took 'effed up,' but I took 'sweet,' " she says, flashing her dimples. "I thought I'd be good."
http://www.rollingstone.com/features/featuregen.asp?pid=1915
People Magazine Review of Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis
Hilary Duff (Buena Vista)
Reviewed by Chuck Arnold
She played a teen who's mistaken for a pop star in this year's The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but actress Hilary Duff wants to be a real singing sensation. After releasing a Christmas disc last year and performing two songs on the Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack, Duff, 15, has come out with her first full-length CD of new material. And while she won't make Avril lose any beauty sleep, Duff makes fairly tasty bubblegum for tweens. With a voice at least as good as that of another actress turned singer, J.Lo, and a charming girl-next-door personality taht translates well from screen to record, Duff gets passable marks on pop-rock numbers like the first single "So Yesterday." Duff, who helped write only the title track, delivers age-appropriate lyrics about topics like turning 16, discovering herself, resisiting pressures to have sex and, of course, boys. But not even her middle school fans will not be convinced when she attempts to go heavy metal on cheesy cuts like "The Math" singing, "If you can't do the math, then get out of the equation."
BOTTOM LINE: A credible career change
--
Hilary Radio Station!! Read!!
Hey guys, I started the first LIVE STREAMING Hilary Duff RADIO STATION (ONLINE)!!
check out http://www.densityhost.com/hilary
It will stream Hilary Duff 24/7/365. It streams her FULL METAMORPHOSIS CD as well as a few extra songs (Lizzie What Dreams are made of, I can't wait, etc". Anyways, soon this station will have a live show once a week where we will accept calls, have a live dj, etc. Starting this weekend there will be news streamed live, updated daily about Hilary. This is THE PLACE TO GO!
THIS IS FOR BROADBAND/CABLE/DSL ONLY! You can not listen if you have Dial-up! Sorry guys, but People with fast connections you are in luck. The music is CD quality, and streams fast! Check it out. Again it's www.densityhost.com/hilary
Check it out! Enjoy! You can IM me at "e i i l e r s" on AIM or e-mail me at: steveeilers@hotmail.com
Ron, I do not have any pictures here at work 'cause I have so many pets and all are loved. They include 3 cats, 2 dogs, 3 rabbits, 2 geese, 4 turkeys, 9 chickens, 4 Pigmy goats, 2 Boer goats, and my favorite "Daisy" a Nubian milk goat. I also, feed numerous wild birds (hummers, jays, crows, magpies, robins, doves, sparrows, rens, etc).
Proper vet care and good nutrition is essential for your pets long healthy life.
Good luck with "Hilary".
Cyndi
Hilary Duff goes on the record
Teen queen: TV, films and now music
By BILL BRIOUX -- Toronto Sun
While most 15-year-olds are picking out back-to-school outfits and enjoying a final day of freedom, Hilary Duff is busy going Platinum.
The winning young star of Family Channel's Lizzie McGuire is, as the title of her brand new CD suggests, going through her own Metamorphosis. She's in a full cross-promotional publicity blitz. One minute she's a fledgling pop star (grabbing a little face time at last week's star-studded MTV Awards), the next she's a movie princess (she co-stars with Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt and Ashton Kutcher in a re-make of Cheaper By The Dozen, due in theatres Christmas day).
Last week, she was in L.A., New York and Hawaii promoting Metamorphosis. At the end of this week, she'll be in Toronto, hosting a celebrity-packed Sweet 16 birthday bash next Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Royal York Hotel.
Duff's older sister Haylie, Allison Mack, Taryn Manning, Yani Gellman, Ashlie Brilliant and Spencer Breslin are among the cool guests. Anyone with $100 (donated to the Hospital For Sick Children and other Kids With A Cause charities) can join in on the fun. (Tickets are available at 1-877-387-2687).
Duff says she heard all about Toronto's miserable summer.
"What with SARS and everything else, you guys had it tough," she says on the phone last week from her home in Houston.
She says coming north is her way of showing a little support. She was blown away last May when she visited Toronto to promote her album. A west-end Wal-Mart signing was a total mob scene.
A lot of those kids were Lizzie McGuire fans which is cool, says Duff, who loved that character but is done with the role. When Disney failed to "show the love," as her mother put it, and pony up with a fat raise for a third season, she moved on to movie and singing projects.
It was just two years ago that Duff was cast as McGuire. The role of the mixed-up teen fit her like a glove, she agrees.
"It all seemed to come naturally. Half the time I didn't even know I was acting," she says.
So far, she hasn't completely trashed her Disney girl roots. There are no hot pics of Duff in bustiers and net stockings on her clean and simple Web site, which instead links to a weekly diary and news about her various charities.
Will she take the same path to skanky superstardom that slightly older Britney and Christina have taken? Parents can only hold their breath, but one good sign is that her mom Susan, who set up this interview, stays very hands-on with her daughter's career.
According to last week's National Enquirer (so it has to be true), mom is so hands on she even recently chased away a suspected stalker at the family's California home!
Duff isn't sure how she'll spend her actual 16th birthday, which is on Sept. 28.
"I'll probably do something with close friends and family," she said.
She didn't know that the 28th was also Ed Sullivan's birthday and Harpo Marx's wedding anniversary, but who would?
She does know it means she can get her driver's licence. While she can hardly wait, she's not as goofy about it as her Agent Cody Banks co-star and pal Frankie Muniz, who already owned a car or two a full year before his 16th birthday. "Frankie loves cars," she said.
Duff is too busy becoming a North American idol to watch TV shows like American Idol -- although she did tune in a bit to cheer on fellow Texan Kelly Clarkson. Any advice for kids seeking the kind of fame she already has attained?
"Don't do it for the fame," she said.
"This life can be kinda nuts sometimes."
Diaz Tops Roberts
Sun, Aug 31, 2003, 02:08 PM PT
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Move over Julia. Cameron Diaz is the world's highest-paid actress, taking the title from Roberts, according to the Guinness World Records.
Diaz, who turned 31 on Saturday (Aug 30), is listed as the biggest earner in the 2004 edition of the group's record book, based on earnings of $42.2 million in 2001.
The reported earnings of Diaz, the leggy star of the "Charlie's Angels" films and "There's Something About Mary," are approaching the pay given to male actors in Hollywood.
The Guinness World Records Book lists Adam Sandler, 36, as the world's highest-paid actor, based on a salary of $49.5 million in 2001.
http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---18504,00.html
Jamie Kennedy Enlists More Celebrity 'X'-ers
(Saturday, August 30 09:40 AM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - An appearance on a hidden-camera show is becoming quite the hip cameo for celebrities.
A roster of famous names has signed up for the third season of "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" to help Kennedy work his goofs on an unsuspecting public. The list includes Tori Spelling, Carmen Electra, Pauly Shore and Kennedy's fellow WB stars Amanda Bynes and Holly Robinson Peete.
They join a list of pranksters that includes the likes of Jeff Goldblum, David Schwimmer and Melissa Joan Hart, who've gotten in on the joke in past episodes.
Among the celebrity-studded sketches Kennedy has planned for the coming season -- original episodes return Thursday, Sept. 18 -- include "Hook-Up Beach," a fake dating show where the marks think they're competing for a date with Spelling.
In addition, Bynes, Kennedy and hairstylist-to-the-stars Jose Eber will give some unlucky mark a makeover, and Electra and Donny Osmond will stage a new twist on game shows like "$20,000 Pyramid" and "Password."
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|83208|1|,00.html
'Survivor' Castaway Was Jerry Springer's Lawyer
(Sunday, August 31 10:48 AM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Does working for the Father of Trash TV give someone an edge when competing on a reality show?
TV viewers will soon find out. Chicago attorney Andrew Savage, a contestant on CBS' "Survivor: Pearl Islands," used to be the in-house counsel for "The Jerry Springer Show."
His former boss, for one, likes Savage's chances.
"Working for my show obviously qualifies you for survivorship," Springer tells the Chicago Sun-Times.
Savage, 40, took a job with "Springer" producer Studios USA in 1998, not knowing he would be working for the notorious talk show. His primary duties were advising guests of their rights and reviewing individual shows for legal issues.
He also appeared with Springer before the Chicago City Council in 1999, when a city alderman launched an investigation into whether the fights on "Springer" were real. The hearing received loads of coverage locally, and Springer says he basically treated it as a publicity stunt.
"From my point of view, the whole thing was pretty silly ...," Springer tells the paper. "So I said to him, 'Let's really make this look official, so every once in a while, lean over and whisper in my ear, so we can look like the Army-McCarthy hearings.' "
"Survivor: Pearl Islands" premieres at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 18 on CBS.
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|83255|1|,00.html
Joe Pantoliano
Ralph Cifaretto
In an interview with HBO.com, the man who gives life to the inimitable Ralphie talks about getting whacked, working on those "uncomfortable" scenes and his job as an assistant rubber scientist.
HBO.COM: So you came onto "The Sopranos" in the third year.
JOE PANTOLIANO: Yes.
HBO.COM: The show was already a cultural phenomenon, when you joined the cast -- why do you think people are so passionate about this show?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, frankly if I knew the real formula...I'd rip it off and do my own show.
I think it starts with the writing. That's number one. Number two: people. In "The Sopranos" you have a sympathetic character in Tony Soprano, who's also a bad man. Who does bad things and is a bad guy. And I think for an audience there's a certain freedom in that. When Tony takes matters into his own hands, we are thrilled by the freedom.
HBO.COM: What do you like about playing Ralphie?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, like every great villain there's always something that challenges you. When David Chase called me up to tell me about this role he was creating, he said that he would be charming, he would be funny, he would ultimately come up against Tony. I've played characters that you loved to hate. But this guy crosses the line--he is diabolical. And charming also. So I think that the writers become stimulated and intrigued and they have a lot of fun, creating wacky situations and lethal situations to put this guy into.
HBO.COM: Now you were part of that episode with Stacy that got so much attention. Was that a tough show for you to do? It really pushed a lot of buttons-some network executives used it as an example of the creative liberties that HBO takes.
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, to act in it no, because the shooting of that sequence was so technical. It's not until it's all cut together you see something else. You have this beautiful actress, Ariel Kiley, who had three hours of makeup--and, you know, being an actor is kinda like being in high school anyway. It's fun, it's like doing the high school play. And so she's, she's getting these prosthetic pieces put on her face, and she's getting to wear these really funny teeth, because she has bad teeth in the show and, and then she's all bloody, while I'm in the back of the Ba Da Bing beating up a dummy, you know, a five-foot stuffed dummy.
I frankly, was more disturbed with that little scene where Ralphie is, um, with Tracy having sex with her, while she's, uh, you know, um, performing...There's anal sex going on, there's, uh, she's giving a police officer a blow job, I mean, I thought that was rather disturbing.
What was intriguing to me about the reaction is you have Tony Soprano and Paulie Walnuts and Christopher and, and all of these other characters, brutally beating up men and killing men all the time on this show. But the fact that it was a woman was a whole different story for the fan base.
But, you know, it's the freedom that David has. The reason why networks are going crazy is you can't try to tell a good story and worry about selling soap, it just doesn't work.
This show is filled with surprises and a lotta laughs. I'm only in the last two seasons, I can't speak for the first two seasons but, but as far as I've been involved with the show I think it's the best stuff I've seen.
HBO.COM: What's your pick for favorite line from the show?
JOE PANTOLIANO: My favorite one-liners usually come out of the mouth of Uncle Junior, like "What you don't know could-could fill a book."
HBO.COM: TV Guide ranked Sopranos number five in their top shows of all time...
JOE PANTOLIANO: Yeah, what a bunch of assholes. [LAUGHTER]
HBO.COM: What'd you think about that: You guys were right behind Seinfeld, Lucy, The Honeymooners, and All in the Family.
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, you know, I think it's a great honor because, uh...well, you know, honor-schmonor...Personally -- and this is just Joey Pantoliano talking--I think those kinds of things tend to be dangerous. You know, they, they tend to build you up. You're still on the air, and if they're saying that you're so great, when they start saying that you're not anymore, you're supposed to believe that too.
HBO.COM: On the set when the scripts come out, the reaction is incredible. People just dig into them voraciously. What's it like when you get those new scripts?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, I'm a veteran actor, you know, so I've been in all kinds of situations, and coming to this set was an unusual phenomenon. Because people truly do love each other. And the standard of the work is so high, that, as a fan, you just wanna read 'em, and you're surprised by them and you're stimulated by them.
You know there are acting schools all over the world. And all the good teachers tell you that when the material doesn't work for you, you need to personalize it out of your own life. To stimulate yourself to be truthful to the material, right? Well, on this show you don't need it because the material is so stimulating, all the time. It's a joy. It's like a gift; it's rare.
HBO.COM: What do the fans ask you about when they come up to you?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well, me personally, it depends. If they're Sopranos fans, they're always wondering if I'm gonna survive, you know, when is Tony gonna kill me.
HBO.COM: Are you afraid about getting whacked?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Everybody on this show is, that's one thing about this show that's imitating life. In the Mafia, what they usually do is they take you out to dinner, and then they kill you. And on The Sopranos when they kill you, everybody takes you out to dinner afterward.
HBO.COM: What's your favorite mob movie of all time?
JOE PANTOLIANO: On the Waterfront.
HBO.COM: What would you be doing if you weren't an actor?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Running
HBO.COM: What's your favorite Italian dish?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Sophia Loren. HBO.COM: What's the craziest thing you've ever had to do to get a part? JOE PANTOLIANO: Every time I walk into a room I gotta do something crazy.
HBO.COM: Who's the strongest person you've ever known?
JOE PANTOLIANO: My mother.
HBO.COM: Who's tougher, New Jerseyites or New Yorkers?
JOE PANTOLIANO: Well I'm from New Jersey. Um...Hobokenites.
HBO.COM: What's the strangest job you've ever had?
JOE PANTOLIANO: I can't even describe it. When I'd just gotten out of high school and I was working, in a rubber factory. I was assisting a scientist, who was creating a new kind of rubber. So assistant to a scientist, a rubber scientist.
http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/interviews/joe_pantoliano.shtml
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Walmart
With over 3,000 stores in the United States and additional store chains in Canada, Britain, Germany, China, Korea, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world. To meet investor expectations, the company must continue its aggressive global expansion at a relentless pace. With over $160 billion in annual sales, Wal-Mart nets more money each year than Microsoft and IBM combined.
Read an historical overview of the empire founded by businessman Sam Walton. Learn some startling facts and figures. Get an inside look at the Wal-Mart Corporation, its expansion and business practices, including employee relations, corporate contributions, censorship policies and more.
http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores.html
Here are Bankrate's Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Home:
1. Enter Bankrate.com's "Gargantuan Giveaway Sweepstakes" and
2. What's best for you: 15 or 30-year mortgage? Just ask Bankrate!
Tell us about you, and we'll tell you which mortgage is financially
right for you.
http://dnes1.ordyne.com/ct?id=118670&urlid=7064&lid=53&nlid=0&sid=698&cid=323&oop=o
3. Fixed or adjustable rate mortgage -- which one will save you
money in the long run? We'll calculate the right choice for you.
http://dnes1.ordyne.com/ct?id=118670&urlid=7065&lid=53&nlid=0&sid=698&cid=323&oop=o
4. Should you borrow from your home equity? Answer a few short
questions, and we'll give you a full report on what we think.
http://dnes1.ordyne.com/ct?id=118670&urlid=7066&lid=53&nlid=0&sid=698&cid=323&oop=o
5. Compare mortgage rates in your local area. Rates are creeping
up, but they're still at a 46-year low!
http://dnes1.ordyne.com/ct?id=118670&urlid=7067&lid=53&nlid=0&sid=698&cid=323&oop=o
A recent college graduate took a new job in a hilly Eastern city and began commuting each day to work through a tiring array of tunnels, bridges and traffic jams. Thinking it would make the trip more bearable, he invited several coworkers to share the ride. However, the commute actually got more stressful, especially the trips through the tunnels. He consulted the company doctor.
Doc," the frustrated commuter complained, "I'm fine on the bridges, in the traffic, in the day and at night, and even when Joe forgets to bathe all week. But now, when I get in the tunnels with those four other guys crowded into the car, I get anxious and dizzy, and I feel like I'm going to explode."
Without further analysis, the doctor announced he had diagnosed the ailment.
"What is it, Doc? Am I going insane?"
"No, no, no, my boy. You have something that is becoming more and more common."
"Tell me! What is it?"
"You have what is known as Carpool Tunnel Syndrome."
Get a piece of paper and number it one to eleven.
In the first two slots, write two of your favorite numbers
In slots 3 and 7 write the names of two people you are attracted to (must be real people-- no movie stars, etc.)
In slots 4, 5, and 6, write the names of any three friends or family members.
In slots 8, 9, 10, and 11, write the names of four songs you like.
Now, make a wish and don't tell anyone what the wish is.
Ok, here's what this list represents:
The number in slot two is the number of people you must give
this game to in order for your wish to come true. The number
in slot one is the amount of days you have to do this.
The person in slot three is the one you love. The song in
slot #8 matches this person.
The person in slot #7 is someone you're really interested
in, but it just can't work out. The song in slot #9
represents this person.
The person in slot #4 is the one you care the most about.
The person in slot #5 knows you really well.
The person in slot #6 is your lucky star (whatever that means).
The song in slot #10 tells you about the state of your mind.
The song in slot #11 represents what you feel about sex.
Ed Zachary Disease
A woman was very distraught at the fact that she had not had a date or any sex in quite some time. She was afraid she might have something wrong with her, so she decided to seek the medical expertise of a sex therapist. Her doctor recommended that she see the well known Chinese sex therapist, Dr.Chang. So she went to see him.
Upon entering the examination room, Dr. Chang said, "OK, take off all your crose."
The woman did as she was told. Now, get down and craw reery, reery fass to odderside of room."
Again, the woman did as she was instructed.
Dr. Chang then said, "OK, now craw reery, reery fass back to me."
So she did.
Dr.Chang shook his head slowly and said, "Your probrem vewy bad. You haf Ed Zachary Disease. Worse case I ever see. Dat why you not haf sex or dates."
Worried, the woman asked anxiously, "Oh my God, Dr. Chang, what is Ed Zachary Disease?"
Dr. Chang sighed deeply, and replied: "Ed Zachary Disease is when your face look ed zachary like your ass.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Celebrity Worship Syndrome
By Keturah Gray, ABC News
Sept. 23— Feeling a little let down now that Ben and Jen's wedding is on hold? Don't worry — you're not alone.
In fact, a lot of people who would have never made it past security at the reception are fretting over the couple's future — not to mention all those presents that have to be returned.
"Any magazine editor will tell you, Colin Farrell still sells better than Colin Powell."
-William Bastone, smokinggun.com
"We as a society are becoming overly preoccupied with celebrities and the fantasy images it evokes," says James Houran, a psychologist with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
After surveying more than 600 people, Houran's team of researchers from universities in the United States and Britain recently identified a psychiatric condition they have dubbed "celebrity worship syndrome." It's an unhealthy interest in the lives of the rich and fabulous. According to the researchers, about a third of us have it to some degree.
To measure people's interest in celebrities, the group devised the celebrity worship scale. The three levels move from:
· Entertainment social: This is casual stargazing. The level of celebrity worship here is really quite mild: "My friends and I like to discuss how Ben could have moved from Gwyneth to J.Lo."
· Intense personal: The person seems to feel a connection with the star: "I consider Halle Berry to be my soul mate."
· Borderline pathological: Here, admiration has gone stalker-esque: "When he reads my love letters, Brad Pitt will leave Jennifer Aniston and live happily ever after with me."
"Celebrity worship has probably existed as long as there have been famous people," says Horan. "But it has probably only become as intense as it is given the technological advances that allow us to create societies, market them to a worldwide audience, and share information about them."
Pure Escapism
Today's culture, with its proliferation of celebrity news magazines such as Us, People and In Touch, and television shows like Entertainment Tonight and the all-celeb, all-the-time E! network, undoubtedly abet celebrity worship. But can you blame Americans for going a little overboard in their interest in Britney/Madonna kiss or the May-December romance of Ashton and Demi?
With the repercussions of 9/11, the ailing economy, and the war in Iraq, following the glamorous lives of these celebrities offers a diversion in the same way that Golden Age movie stars like Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Bette Davis did during the Great Depression.
"Any magazine editor will tell you, Colin Farrell still sells better than Colin Powell," says William Bastone, founder and editor of the popular Internet site www.smokinggun.com.
Simon Dumenco, a columnist for Folio:, a magazine about the magazine industry, goes further, remarking that gossip pages are "the magazine equivalent of crack. "
"These magazines are proliferating for the same reason prescriptions of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs are proliferating," he says. "They dull our emotional pain."
False Idols
In discussing celebrity worship syndrome, Houran is careful to add that a certain degree of star admiration is normal. "Celebrities can inspire people of all ages to be better than they are," he says.
Evolutionary biologists, say, in fact, that identifying with a famous person is a natural part of human development, and it's understandable to want to emulate celebrities.
"Humans, unlike other species, obtain most of their information about the world from other humans," says anthropologist Francisco Gil-White from the University of Pennsylvania. "We were selected not only to rank successful individuals highly and to prefer them as models, but also to kiss up to them in order to make them prefer us as interactional partners."
As the new season of reality television begins, and society is bombarded with instant celebrities from the latest cast of Survivor, perhaps Americans should take a closer look at their idols and whether they deserve all the adoration.
"Celebrities are no longer people who have special talents and attributes," says Houran. "Many celebrities are simply marketing products."
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20030923110509990010
Emmy Presenters Score Mad Loot
(Friday, September 19 04:17 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Now might be a good time for many journalists, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, nurses, restaurant managers and community theater actors to look away. Anybody, in fact, who works a demanding 9-to-5 or 8-to-6 job and earns a respectable (downright luxurious in some parts of the country) salary of, say, $40,000 a year may not be amused that the gift bags given to this year's presenters at the 55th Annual Primetime Emmys are worth more than $30,000 apiece. What's even more disconcerting is that for almost all of these actors and actresses, that's something of a pay cut for an afternoon's work.
While supporters of the underpaid American worker may be outraged at the excess of these tokens of the Academy's affection, fans of celebrity perks will be agog at the collection of technology, food, cosmetics, fashion and trinkets are fruits of mere moments of labor for the rich and famous. If sales of People and US Weekly are any indication, there are millions more of the second group of people than the first.
Among the big ticket items in the bags, which will be given to each Emmy Presenter during Emmy rehearsals before Sunday night's big show, are a portable DVD player and a specially designed "Calypso" timepiece (or "watch" to the rest of us) for Maurice Lacroix. The bag also includes a trinity of cell phones from Nokia and a tote bag from David Spade's sister-in-law. For the drowsy, there's a Tempur-Pedic mattress (presumably not in the bag itself) and for those just waking up, there's a FrancisFrancis! espresso and cappuccino maker.
There's a one-year supply of Ethel M. Chocolates and a one year membership at The Sports Club LA to go with a one-year TiVo pass (plus DVR equipment and installation courtesy of DirectTV), a one-year supply of Lancome Paris beauty products and a one-year supply of Rembrant whitening products. Let's face it, it's gonna be a busy year for the Emmy presenters.
There's a plane ticket to San Francisco, a resort vacation in Bora Bora Nui and a private dinner at Arnie Morton's.
It is safe to say that if the recipients of these gift bags weren't already rich, famous and surrounded by fellow rich and famous celebs, the contents of the bags would be sufficient to make a lot of new friends.
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|83646|1|,00.html
Monday, September 22, 2003
9/22/03
NEW! SELF-SERVE: (for sale) Boys bike for sale
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/smp/16581925/72nz4
Your posting will expire off the site 60 days after it was created.
Your posting can be seen at http://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/16581925.html
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Rablang,
How are things going? I purchased a townhouse
in hollister it was 257.5K after closing costs.
5.875 int. rate.
Dan gt88sd@yahoo.com
--
That's great. Congratulations. I remember you calling me a few weeks ago to tell me that. You gotta send me some pics of the layout. So I guess you're settling in to that place and you're not in danger of getting the pink slip.
Friday, September 19, 2003
Hey Ron,
Yep, you're right, Unforgiven is another RAW-only event. My sister was
supposed to be in northern California from Thursday afternoon through
Sunday night. However, her flight got cancelled due to the Hurricane back
east. She lives in North Carolina. At the moment, I don't know if she
will still be flying to Northern California or not. If she is not coming
to northern Cali., then we can definitely hook up for Unforgiven. If she
happens to come up to Cali, then I'm not sure if I would be visiting her in
Mountain View, CA on Saturday evening or Sunday during the daytime. I am
hoping for Saturday evening, but that would depend on when her flight would
actually be.
I probably won't hear anything until later on this evening, and then I can
probably give you a definite answer. In the meanwhile, let me know what is
the best way to get back to you on either Friday night or Saturday.
Later,
Arvern
--
Looks like Unforgiven is a RAW-only PPV. Can we get together
this Sunday for that?
Thursday, September 18, 2003
New home vs. used home -- which is for you?
By Steve McLinden • Bankrate.com
The durable argument of whether it's best to buy a new home or older one dates back centuries. And it's never quite been resolved.
For every qualifier, there's a disqualifier. For every "on one hand," there's an "on the other hand."
Homebuilders and old-line real estate sales people might even bicker heatedly about the topic, with their own "Looks-great! Less-fulfilling!'' twist on the old light-beer argument.
The truth is, builders can never fully re-create the nation's quaint old neighborhoods, where every house was built architecturally distinct from the neighbor's. And home buyers will never be able to fully assemble their dream homes the way they can on a vacant lot with a fantaz view.
So the choice between the two is always a relative call, not a dollar-and-cents one, says business author and investment expert Ric Edelman.
"There are many factors beyond economics that drive the decision," says Edelman. "Buying a home should be more of a lifestyle decision, because so much of the economics are beyond your control."
Continued below
Edelman, who penned such bestsellers as "The Truth About Money" and "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth," has built two family homes over the years and is now fixing up a "resale" he purchased recently.
"One of the fundamental mistakes that consumers make is a rush to judgment," he said. "They often dismiss a new home or a resale when one is far more appropriate for them than the other."
So how do you decide which best fits your needs and personality?
Below are a few pros and cons in the own-resale debate:
Locale: The oft-recited real estate mantra of "location, location, location" is still relevant. Most older, established neighborhoods are in the town's center, which can be good or bad depending on the vitality of your urban area. New subdivisions -- and newer schools -- are generally on the outskirts. But the expense of a daily commute is one factor that many buyers forget to consider, Edelman said.
Price: Existing homes are usually less expensive per square foot, in part because of escalating land costs in new subdivisions. But ownership costs are considered more predictable -- almost inevitable -- in a new home, especially considering the cost of a code upgrade or remodeling of a vintage home. Some builders will include closing costs as part of their price of a new home, although that builder has a set amount he must get from that home to make a profit. Price is more readily negotiable for an existing home. Also, a hidden cost in many new subdivisions is a homeowner's association, with mandatory fees and other assessments as well as architectural controls that may surface at remodeling or expansion time. Do your homework.
Move-in complications, advantages: The resale is sitting there waiting for occupancy, warts and all. But the wait for a new home can seem interminable, though the buyer can check on quality control as it's being built. If your finished house is among the first in a new subdivision, prepare to navigate through construction teams and precariously misplaced nails for months on end. And don't forget that daytime hammer serenade.
Neighborhood: "People moving into new neighborhoods are more homogeneous -- the same things that appeal to you also appeal to others like you," says author Edelman. "When a development goes up, it offers an opportunity for you to help create your own neighborhood lifestyle. If you want to move into community where your children have lots of playmates, that may be for you." In an older community, he said, people have moved in and out over the years and you tend to get more diversity of neighbor backgrounds that include older people, singles, families and renters.
Living space and design: Lower building costs of the past mean more home for the money for the buyer of a resale. Resale basements may have been finished out nicely for additional living space. On the other hand, new-construction homes often employ more efficient, innovative uses of square footage and property. Also, newer "zero-lot-line" developments offer more living space per square foot than a same-size lot that surrounds a resale.
Customization: In a new house, you can pick your own color schemes, flooring, kitchen cabinets, appliances, custom wiring for TV's, computers, phones and speakers, etc., as well as have more upgrade options. Modern features like media rooms, extra-large closets and extra-large bathrooms and tubs are also more attainable in ground-up construction. In a used home, you rely largely on the previous resident's tastes and technological whims, unless you plan to farm thousands into a remodeling and rewiring. Be warned: It's unwise to wallpaper for at least one year in a new house until it settles, says Edelman. The wallpaper will tear. (But it is OK to paint.)
Character: While many new homes are built in "contextual" style, which blends elements of the old and the new, it's still hard to emulate a pre-Civil War house in New Orleans, a Victorian home in San Francisco or a brick Row House in Boston. Hardwood floors, vaulted windows, high ceilings, built-in cabinetry and other design nuances express a certain individuality in older homes that's nearly impossible to copy. Many new-home buyers believe they put the character in their own homes.
Safety: Builders have to follow very strict guidelines in new-homes and additions, especially in the West and Northwest, where earthquake safety standards must be observed. In general, new homes are usually more fire-safe and better accommodating of new security and garage-door systems.
Landscaping: Mature trees, robust shrubs, gardens, rose bushes and perennially well-watered lawns are some of the rewards of an older home, while most new homes are apt to yield wee trees, fewer walkways and sparse vegetation. Landscaping is an expensive proposition today for the cost-conscious home builder.
Energy efficiency: Advantage: new construction. Game, set and match as well. New-home designers can use new building materials such as glazed Energy Star windows, thicker insulation and other technology that will lower future energy costs for the owner. Most states now have minimum energy-efficiency requirements for new construction. Kitchens and laundry areas in new homes are designed to house more efficient energy-saving appliances. Older homes, unless they have undergone an energy retrofit, usually cost much more per square foot to air-condition and heat.
Amenities: Many new subdivisions of
19 things you need to know about auto insurance
By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com
Chances are mama never sat you down for that little talk -- the one about liability, collision, comprehensive and deductibles.
Still, if you drive a car, you need to know the auto insurance facts of life. And better you should learn it here than on the street -- after an accident. Here are 19 pearls of motherly wisdom to help you get the most coverage for the least money:
1. Spend your insurance dollars wisely.
"Shift the money around to the things that could wipe you out," says Jack Hungelmann, an agent/consultant with Corporate 4 Insurance Agency of Edina, Minn., and author of Insurance for Dummies.
While most people could cover a $500 deductible, a $500,000 lawsuit would be a different matter. So why do so many consumers pay extra for low deductibles and carry close to the minimum on liability coverage?
Instead, Hungelmann says, raise your deductible (and bank that amount for emergencies) and increase your liability coverage. Your premiums should remain roughly the same
Hungelmann's rule of thumb in a society where critical care bills can easily cost six digits: "Nobody should carry less than $500,000 per person," he says.
The good news: Taking your total liability coverage from the standard $300,000 to $500,000 will only cost about $60 a year for two cars or $60 for one car if you're a younger driver.
Continued below
"But younger people who have a fairly low net worth don't need hundreds of thousands in liability coverage," says Bill Feldhaus, associate professor of risk management and insurance at Georgia State University.
Best bet: Talk to a professional you trust and come to a decision on deductibles and liability coverage that works for you.
"You always want to look at the trade-offs -- what do I save in premiums vs. how much risk do I take on?" Feldhaus says.
Another place to shave some money from the premium, says Hungelmann: personal injury protection, also known as medical payments coverage. If you already have health insurance for yourself and your family, that would cover your medical bills after an accident, he says. Why pay twice?
2. Don't just look at your total liability -- also look at your coverage per person.
Many insurance policies specify that the company will pay up to $300,000 in total liability coverage if you are found liable for an accident, but only $100,000 for each person injured. That means if you are at fault in an accident that leaves someone with a $200,000 lawsuit, you will be on the hook for half -- even though you thought you had $300,000 worth of coverage.
Instead, says Hungelmann, have your agent write the policy, so the total amount paid per accident and per person are the same. That way $300,000 in coverage means $300,000 in coverage -- no matter how you divide it.
3. Consider buying an umbrella policy.
If you have considerable assets or are likely to have them in the future, consider an umbrella policy that would cover both your home and auto. Umbrella policies usually start at $200 to $300 a year for up to $1 million worth of coverage.
4. Seek out good advice.
Your brother-in-law may be a great guy, but do you really want to take his advice on auto insurance? If you think you have to buy from a friend or relative, get some advice from a neutral, credentialed professional. For a few hundred dollars, you can hire a pro to look at your specific family and financial situation and recommend an insurance plan.
If you're shopping for an agent, ask about experience. In many places, agents need only a week of training before they can sell insurance, says Hungelmann. His recommendation: Seek out a pro who has gone back to school to earn industry credentials. Designations to look for include: CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters), which requires about 1,000 hours of extra classes; CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), which requires about 100 extra hours; and the AAI (Accredited Adviser in Insurance), which also requires about 100 hours of study.
5. Keep a good credit rating.
Many insurance companies use your credit rating to determine whether to insure you and how much to charge.
6. Make your insurance company pay for a rental after an accident.
If you don't have an extra car in the garage, make sure your policy covers the cost of a similar-sized rental should your car have to go into the shop after a wreck. While a week may seem like the blink of an eye to a body shop, a one-week rental could add hundreds to your out-of-pocket costs after an accident.
7. Shop around.
"You can pay more than double for the same insurance, so it does pay to shop around," says Bob Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America.
Some states offer price guidelines for various types of coverage in different areas, and a few states even put the information online. Call your state insurance department, and ask if they have pricing information available.
If you call around for quotes, include a few brand name companies as well as a few independent agents who will shop more than one company for you. And don't assume that you'll pay more for a well-known entity.
"Insurance companies with the best satisfaction often have the best price," says Hunter.
Don't just ask for a quote. Give the agent exact numbers on the coverage you need.
"You want to compare apples to apples," says Dave Hurst, the public affairs liaison with State Farm Insurance Companies. "And the only way you can get that is to be specific."
8. Take advantage of every discount.
If you've gone a certain number of years without an accident or ticket, store your car in a garage or drive less than a certain number of miles each year, your company will probably give you a discount. Ditto if your car has safety features like airbags or anti-lock brakes, or anti-theft devices like a tracking system or alarm. You often get breaks if you have more than one car on your policy, if you buy your policy through the same company that insures your home or if you pay your premium annually.
Senior drivers can get a discount for taking a defensive driving course. Likewise, teens can shave a little off the premium by maintaining good grades or taking drivers ed.
9. If your teen is away at college, take him off the auto policy.
According to industry professionals, teen drivers add anywhere from 50 percent to 500 percent to a premium. If children are going to school more than 100 miles from home, you can take them off the policy and save a serious chunk of money, according to Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization. Two caveats: The kids can't drive at school unless they get their own insurance, and if they come home for a break, don't loan them the car.
10. If you drive an older car, consider dropping collision insurance.
This is one of those cost-saving measures where you have to do the math, and also make sure the idea meets your gut-check test. This is how it works: If you are driving a 12-year-old car worth $2,000 and the car is totaled, the most you will get from the insurance company is roughly $2,000. Would you rather bank the money you're paying in collision insurance? The critical questions to ask: How much of your premium is collision insurance? And could you lay your hands on $2,000 if you needed a new car tomorrow?
11. Shop service, as well as price.
Unlike homeowners insurance, most people will file an auto claim at one time or another. So you need a company that is responsive and responsible.
"Some companies view the policy holder as a member rather than sort of an enemy, and will help you get a claim settled at a reasonable amount, and some don't," says Hunter.
Your state insurance department and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners keep records of the numbers of complaints and will share the information.
After a major claim, a good agent will also act as a coach, says Hungelmann, advising you on the way to present the best case to the adjuster and helping you in a dispute if the adjuster makes a bad call. With an Internet-based company or one you can reach only through an 800-number, you may sacrifice personal service just when you need it most.
You can also check with companies like A.M. Best Company Inc. and Standard & Poor's Insurance Ratings Service to research a company's financial solvency. Cheap coverage does you no good if the company takes your premium and folds.
12. Understand the claims process when you buy your policy.
Make your agent walk you through the claims process upfront. Will your insurance pay for brand name or generic parts to fix your car after an accident? Will you be limited in your choice of mechanics or body shops? If the language in your contract is unclear, have your agent put anything you don't understand in writing.
13. Ask about "diminished value."
This is a hot button in the insurance industry, and the subject of lawsuits. The big debate: Is a car worth less after an accident? If so, should the insurance company have to fix the car and pay you the difference? Ask your agent, and call your state insurance department to find out about current regulations and rulings.
14. Call your agent as soon as you can after an accident.
"Most insurance companies have time limits, usually 48 hours," says Worters. If you want to be certain the company will cover your accident, make that call a priority.
15. If you have a claim, start a diary.
After an accident, put everything in writing -- names, dates and what was said. Depending on the laws of your state, you may also want to record phone conversations. Save receipts and get a copy of the accident report.
16. Do what you can to further the claims process.
"The best bet is for you to take the initiative," says Worters. "Shop around and get estimates."
17. Include everything in your loss estimates.
For instance, if your car is totaled, you may be entitled to recover the sales tax and registration fees for your replacement car. Contact your agent and your state insurance department to find out what you should include in your estimates.
18. Give an adjuster the benefit of the doubt -- but press on for what you need.
Adjusters are human. "And like referees, they might make a bad call once in a while," says Hungelmann.
You'll get further if you keep your temper and work your way up the food chain. If a claim is denied or if you think the amount the company offered is not enough, get the adjuster to put the reasons in writing. Compare the explanation the company gives with what's written in your policy.
Enlist your agent to make calls on your behalf. Talk to the manager of the claims department, and ask to have the matter reviewed. You can also file a complaint with the state insurance department.
If that doesn't work, consider arbitration. You pay half the associated costs, but you get an answer more quickly than if you go to court. Things to check first: Do you have any recourse if you're unhappy with the outcome? And what's the record on consumer satisfaction with this company's arbitration hearings? As a last resort: sue.
19. If you switch insurance companies, notify your old company.
Tell your old company in writing that you are canceling your auto policy and have obtained new insurance. Make sure that the new policy picks up immediately without any gap.
If your old company goofs and reports to the state that you are driving without insurance, some states begin steps to suspend your driver's license. If you get a warning letter from the state, address the situation immediately. Otherwise, your next routine traffic stop could be anything but routine.
Dana Dratch is a freelance writer based in Atlanta.
-- Updated: July 23, 2003
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/insur/20000128c.asp
Friday, September 12, 2003
