Piper Perabo

Happy Birthday!

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Piper was born on October 31, 1976 in Dallas, Texas as Piper Lisa Perabo. She is 5' 6" [1.68 m] tall.

Although the first time I saw her was in a movie called "The Prestige." Not much of a roll but I noticed because my son's name is Piper (named after his maternal grandfather). I did not realize that she has had such a career and still going well with the TV show "Covert Affairs." I didn't notice at the time but I saw her in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and on "House." Another movie I should see, and my son would enjoy is "Cheaper by the Dozen," the 2003 Steve Martin version of course.

Factoids:

• Mother (Mary Charlotte Ulland) is Norwegian and father (George William Perabo) is Portuguese.
• Named after actress Piper Laurie.
• Sister of Noah Perabo and Adam Perabo.
• Graduated from Toms River (NJ) High School North class of 1994.
• In high school, she appeared in all four yearly musicals. Her senior year, she was Katie in "Meet Me In St. Louis;" junior year, Cousin Fan in "Mame;" sophomore year, Lady Brighton in "Me and My Girl;" and freshman year, a dancer in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
• In high school, she was the president of National Honor Society and the editor of the school literary magazine, Polaris. Also, she was a member of the Marinerettes as a dancer in the field show during the football games.
• She graduated with a theater degree summa cum laude from Ohio University.
• She is a vegetarian.
• One of the owners of Employees Only, a restaurant/bar in New York City.

Quotes:

• Any time I'm playing opposite somebody in a love relationship, if I know them it's easier, because I know how much I can trust them.
• I think that you love who you love, and there are people who you love that people aren't going to understand why, and that sort of doesn't really matter.
• To me, a great love story is a great love story, and it doesn't matter what gender is involved.
• I walked into the audition and was like, "I'm from New Jersey, I work in a bar, I play guitar - there's no reason you shouldn't give me this part." And it worked! - On auditioning for Coyote Ugly (2000).

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Find more Piper Perabo stuff here.

Find more Piper Perabo stuff here.

F-4 Phantom II

My father-in-law passed away this week.
He was a flight surgeon during the Vietnam war and to get the respect of the pilots he took care of, he went on a mission with one of them. They flew an F-4. This one is for him.

Find F-4 Phantom II stuff here.

F-4s where my favorite jets when I was growing up. They looked different. They looked cool and futuristic, not like the Migs or even the European jets from Saab or Hawker. I even liked it more as I grew up and found out that it was the fastest jet in the world. Now, today, the F-4 is listed with a top speed of Mach 2.23 but there is this supposed record breaker from the U.S.S.R., a Mig 23 variant called a Ye-152 that states a top speed of Mach 2.8+. I don't think it happened. Not only because it is one of the most ugliest jet fighters ever made but the record was broken, again supposedly, by about 60 mph. When the top speed of a machine has a number with a plus sign after it and it breaks a speed record, they should know exactly how fast the machine went. On top of that, the Ye-152 that was flown was designated as a Ye-166, so why not call it a modified Ye-152? Was it that different? Look at this small picture and tell me it is not ugly... please. When I see the thing flying past a stock F-4, then I'll want to see it against the record breaking, modified F-4.

I guess the point is mute now, the SR-71 holds the record now with a listed top speed of Mach 3.3. Who knows how fast a Blackbird can go.

General characteristics:

• Crew: 2
• Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m)
• Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m)
• Wing area: 530.0 ft² (49.2 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0006.4–64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
• Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
• Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J79-GE-17A axial compressor turbojets, 17,845 lbf (79.4 kN) each
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0224
• Drag area: 11.87 ft² (1.10 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2.77
• Fuel capacity: 1,994 U.S. gal (7,549 L) internal, 3,335 U.S. gal (12,627 L) with three external tanks (370 U.S. gal (1,420 L) tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 U.S. gal (2,310 or 2,345 L) tank for the centerline station).
• Maximum landing weight: 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

Performance:

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Cruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)
• Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)
• Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi, 2,600 km) with 3 external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
• Wing loading: 78 lb/ft² (383 kg/m²)
• lift-to-drag: 8.58
• Thrust/weight: 0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW
• Takeoff roll: 4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)
• Landing roll: 3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

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Find more F-4 Phantom II stuff here.

Find more F-4 Phantom II stuff here.

Angie Harmon

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Angie was born on August 10, 1972 in Dallas, Texas as Angela Michelle Harmon. She is 5' 10" [1.78 m] tall.

She's married to former defensive back Jason Sehorn since 2001 and that's a record for "famous people" marriages; and they really got married. Jason "I hope the answer is yes" Sehorn proposed to her on "The Tonight Show." Talk about going "all-in" if you don't mind the poker parlance. If you didn't respect Jason as a DB, then you gotta give him some chops for that proposal... still don't like the Giants though. Scroll down to the "Factoids" to see more fun stuff.

Factoids:

• Was once pulled over by a police officer for a "rolling stop" violation. When asked to step out of the vehicle, she responded, "No." The officer asked why, and she told him that she had no pants on. He shined his flashlight in to see and responded, "Oh!" Her pants and blouse were in the trunk along with her driver's license, which the officer initially wanted to see. It turned out that before she got in the car she had accidentally sat on some fire ants and had to strip to her bra and panties to get them off her. She told this while on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992) in May 1999.
• "Discovered" by David Hasselhoff on an airline flight.
• Went to Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. She graduated in 1990. (1972+18=1990, yup, she graduated on time. -ed.)
• Her parents, Lawrence Paul (Larry) Harmon and Daphne Demar Caravageli, both were models.
• On October 14, 2003, at 10:55 a.m. she and husband Jason Sehorn welcomed their first child, a daughter, Finley Faith Sehorn in Dallas, Texas.
• She met Jason after she attended a Giants football game.
• Of Irish, Scottish and Cherokee Native American heritage on her father's side and of Greek heritage on her mother's side.
• Spoke at the Republican National Convention with her husband, Jason Sehorn, on August 30, 2004.
• No relation to Mark Harmon, although both starred in a series also starring Sasha Alexander.
• On June 22, 2005, she and her husband, Jason Sehorn, welcomed their second child, a girl named Avery Grace Sehorn, in Dallas, Texas.
• Attended the same Dallas high school, Highland Park High School, as "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) cast member Stephanie March. Angie was a senior when Stephanie was a freshman.
• On December 18, 2008, she and her husband, Jason Sehorn, welcomed their third child, a daughter named Emery Hope Sehorn.

Quotes:

• [on her character's voluptuousness in Agent Cody Banks (2003)] We had so much stuff in there: shoulder pads and things that look like chicken cutlets. It's not The Hours (2002), I know - I had prosthetic boobs instead of a prosthetic nose.
• I'm half Greek and half American Indian, so my dermatologist told me I'll never age.
• When I feel like I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do as a mother, I torture myself. I find some consolation in the fact that all mommies feel it. If there was a way to cure mommy guilt, I would bottle it and be a bazillionaire

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Find more Angie Harmon stuff here.

Find more Angie Harmon stuff here.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

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Rosie was born on April 18, 1987 in Plymouth, Devon, England, U.K., as Rosie Alice Huntington-Whiteley. She is 5' 9" [1.75 m] tall.

Besides being a "Victoria's Secret model, her claim to fame is replacing Megan Fox in the "Transformers" series of movies. She did an admirable job considering that it is her first and only acting job as of today. I know some who have said, "Why replace Megan Fox?", well, here is the reason and I believe it is a good one. What Shia LaBouf has said might be a factor too but let's face it, she shouldn't have mouthed off about the boss while working and especially comparing him to someone no one except maybePol Pot and a few others can come near. And by near, we're talking hundreds of miles near. So, Rosie, don't blow it and be a super-star in the next "Transformers" movie.

Factoids:

• Is in a relationship with Jason Statham as ofApril 2010 to current. (Sorry guys but go right ahead and see if you can "take" Jason. -ed.)
• Worked previously with Michael Bay on a Victoria's Secret commercial in 2009. (And so, there is the connection. -ed.)
• Grew up on a farm in rural England. (Farming, like working in a good restaurant brings humility and the knowledge of importance in teamwork. I'm impressed. -ed.)

Quotes:

• [on landing the lead female role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)] It was a crazy opportunity that was handed to me and spent seven months making the movie with a great cast and a great director. (And that is why she may get more roles, especially with Michael Bey. -ed.)
• [on being taller than her co-star Shia LaBeouf] I had to wear heels the whole way through filming, when it came to our kissing scene, I said 'Please Michael, let me take my shoes off. I feel so unelegant and I feel so unfeminine,' ... and he said 'No. You're giving small men across America hope.' (Oh, so true. I'm 5' 7 ¾" [1.72 m] tall. -ed.)
• I'm not here to win a popularity contest. I'm here to work and have a career. Let the haters hate. I'm ready for the criticism.
• It helps to have someone who wants to understand your job and support it. I've never really been concerned about cracking under the pressure and turning to the dark side though. I've never been a big drinker and I've never done drugs. I like to go out and dance, but I'm always the person that needs to go to bed first. I'm not a party girl. I want to pay my bills and make my family proud. I've got no other criteria apart from that. (Oooh, do I see a "Star Wars" reference? Strong with the Force, this one is. - ed.)

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Find more Rosie Huntington Whiteley stuff here.

Find more Rosie Huntington Whiteley stuff here.

Blake Lively

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Don't know too much about Blake Lively. I haven't even seen "The Green Lantern" yet, so, no commentary.

Blake Lively was born on August 25, 1987 in Tarzana, California as Blake Christina Lively. She is 5' 10" [1.78 m] tall and has a great smile.(my only commentary -ed.)

Factoids:

• She is the daughter of actor Ernie Lively and talent manager Elaine Lively.
• She has an older brother Eric and a younger half-siblings of Lori Lively, Jason Lively and Robyn Lively from her mother's side.
• When auditioning for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), she walked in and gave them nothing but her photo, since she had never done anything before that, they all thought she was joking but when she left the room, they knew that she was definitely the Bridget they wanted.
• She stayed busy juggling duties as class president and cheerleader as well as performing with her national championship show choir.
• She has stated that she has known her "Gossip Girl" (2007) co-star Penn Badgley since she was 11 years old.
• She was involved in a lot of activities at her high school including: cheerleading, choir, and student government and she was also a class president.
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) was her first job, not just in acting.
• On "Live with Regis and Kelly" (1988), stated that she and her older brother didn't want to go to school alone when it came time for him to be in 1st grade. At the time she was three but very tall for her age. Her mother lied and said Blake was 6. Blake attended 1st grade and the school reported that she was "slow" when in reality she was 3 and couldn't talk very well. She claims it made her brother happy, so she was happy.
• Has stated that she is rather self conscious about being tall. So much so, that she actually dislikes wearing heels.

Quotes:

• My whole family's been in the business. My whole family is crazy.
• (About filming racy scenes on "Gossip Girl" (2007)) It's the most awkward thing! There's a room of 40 people watching you, they're telling you exactly how to move your head, and it's completely silent. It's awful!
• In high school, there are so many cliques. You're never safe. In between my junior and senior years, I went away to film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), and I came back ready to do the things with my friends that we always did, but things change. People get older, and there are some inside jokes that you don't know about that have happened. You feel lost for a while, and it's hard to come back from that. Then the friends who have "replaced" you are territorial. I've experienced that a little bit. There are catty, insecure, and gossipy girls everywhere, but for me, I don't think it's a matter of any of them being genuinely bad at heart. I just think that maybe the different ways in which people are raised make them different and insecure. They point out the bad things in others just to make themselves feel better. It's everywhere.
• (After moving to New York to film "Gossip Girl" (2007)) I was raised in California, so this whole New York winter thing is completely new for me. I've already justified buying seven coats!
• I've kissed just three people in my life, other than stuff I have done for TV or movies. I know, I'm weird! I hope Brad Pitt doesn't hear this, he is never going to want to marry me!
• I'm on a very commercial show ["Gossip Girl" (2007)], so the last thing I want to do is a commercial movie. I wanna take risks, I don't wanna play it safe. I mean, I could probably make more money if I did more commercial projects. It would be nice to buy an apartment, but I'm 22, and I don't need to yet.
• I want to have a brunch place, a bakery, and a Southern restaurant - because my family's from Georgia - and then I want a place that is all-over-the-world cuisine. I take a cooking class everywhere I travel. I find it's the best way to get to know a culture. It's what people bring to the family every day, what they break bread over - it's a very intimate thing.
• Yeah, I don't comment on my relationships... My anonymity is something I treasure. Wanting to be an actor and wanting to be famous are different.
• With acting, I think half of it is just acting confident. We stand on these red carpets and pose in these dresses, but we're all only so confident. It doesn't mean we think we're great looking or anything. It's all a façade.
• [on being cast as Carol Ferris in Green Lantern (2011)]: It was nice for me that this was a studio that wasn't looking for some girl to have her legs greased up and her boobs out - and that was all that mattered. I imagined that no one else knew anything about 'Green Lantern'. As soon as I got the role I was humbled about how naive I was. They were grilling me about Star Sapphire and Hector Hammond and how many Green Lanterns are going to show up. All I could say was 'What are you guys talking about?'

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Find more Blake Lively stuff here.

Find more Blake Lively stuff here.

Heidi Klum

Find Heidi Klum stuff here.

She does have her own web site here and it is in German (auf Deutsch) and in English.

Heidi Klum's Shoe Store... really!

Heidi was born on June 1, 1973 in Bergisch-Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany as Heidi Klum.

Another well known super model but believe it or not, she has been in a few movies... well, as herself. She was in "The Devil Wears Prada," "Zoolander" and few more. She played a character in "Ella Enchanted" and played Ursula Andress in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers." It seems now she is spending more time as a producer, which I assume, allows her to be more with family.

She is 5' 9½" [1.77 m] tall.

Factoids:

• Last name pronounced "Kloom."
• Has 4 children, Leni Klum, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel, Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel and Lou Sulola Samuel.
• She has insured her legs for two million dollars.
• Keeps a small bag full of the teeth she lost as a child as a good-luck charm.
• Has designed collections for Mouawad jewelry and Birkenstock shoes.
• Has her own lines of clothing and swimwear.
• Has her own line of beauty products.
• Has a rose named after her, known as the Heidi Klum rose.
• Dedicated a sculpture she painted called "Dog With Butterflies" to commemorate the role of rescue dogs in the aftermath of 9/11.
• Like many people in her hometown of Bergisch-Gladbach, she still enjoys participating at the annual carnival parade.
• Released her first single "Wonderland," written for a series of television advertisements of retailer Douglas, and reached #13 on the German singles chart (November 2006).
• Due to her TV commercials for Katje wine gums, the company's turnover increased by 26.6 million euros in Germany (2005).
• Has designed a less expensive line of jewelry for QVC, the Heidi Klum Jewelry Collection. The line is similar to her collection of fine jewelry for Mouawad, both of which feature her signature clover design. 
• Said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that she got to know Seal in a New York hotel after he had trained in a gym and immediately fell in love with him.
• On Friday, November 20, 2009, she legally changed her name to Heidi Samuel.
• Won $250,000 for the "Twin Towers Fund" on a celebrity edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire in 2001.

Quotes:

• I'm very lucky. As I get a lot of role because of my name as a model and I probably wouldn't have got them without it. You have to make the best of your situation.
• Michael J. Fox is a great, sexy, funny, short man. I had so much fun on that show ["Spin City" (1996)]. There was this scene where we were lying in bed together after sex. But instead of having a cigarette, I start yodeling, because I'm German, see? He kept making me laugh, we were cracking up.
• I believe that when you put a smile out there, you get a smile back.
• Seal and I feel very lucky that we found each other. He's my best friend. He would never go in through a door first. He always opens the door for me and steps back so I walk through.
• I'd say I'm a good cook. I have a lot of German recipes that I can make - schnitzel, meatballs and things with cabbage. I love cabbage.
• You shouldn't wait for other people to make special things happen. You have to create your own memories.
• I've been heartbroken. I've broken hearts. That's part of life, and its part of figuring out who you are so you can find the right partner.

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Find more Heidi Klum stuff here.

Find more Heidi Klum stuff here.