Dawn at The Safe House – 31 December 2010

Mickey Rourke To Play Gay Rugby Star – He’s not going to make a film about a gay rugby player. He’s going to make one about a rugby player who happens to be gay. That’s how Mickey Rourke put it this week when he revealed his intention to star in a biopic of the former Welsh captain, Gareth Thomas. The film’s script is still in development and finance has yet to be secured. That could be a challenge: movies about rugby, which in the US remains a minority sport, have a mixed commercial record. [independent]

The Most Famous Celebrity New Year’s Eve Parties – Want to ring in the New Year with your favorite stars? Well, celebs are hosting parties and headlining concerts across the country to ring in 2011 and guess what? You’re invited! From Jay-Z’s Las Vegas blowout to Kourtney Kardashian’s rooftop soiree, here are PopEater’s picks for the biggest New Year’s Eve parties. [popeater]

Black Eyed Peas For Abramovich NYE Party – Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is reportedly flying in the Black Eyed Peas to perform at his New Year’s Eve party in St Bart’s, the Telegraph reports. The Russian billionaire owns a $90 million, 70-acre estate on the Caribbean island and the hip hop band will perform for guests seeing in 2011 there. [luxuo]

Skype Launches Video Calling For iPhone – Skype’s official iOS client has finally sprouted the ability to make video calls, allowing iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and fourth-generation iPod touch users to share real-time video amongst each other and users of Skype’s Windows, Mac, and Linux clients. Additionally, you’ll be able to receive video from others if you’re using an iPad or a third-generation iPod touch. The service is free and works over both WiFi and 3G. Who needs phone numbers? [engadget]

Period Of Grace For Cape Town Watering Holes – Cape Town clubs and bars are to be given several months grace to become “educated” on their reduced trading hours, the City said on Thursday. . In yet another confusing instalment in its crackdown on liquor sales, it said both that its new by-law would not be enforced at all until a later stage, and that it would not be “stringently” enforced until later.The by-law, which limits the trading hours of inner-city bars and clubs to 2am, comes into effect at midnight on December 31. [timeslive]

Boney M’s Bobby Farrell Dies – Bobby Farrell, singer and dancer with 1970’s disco group Boney M, died aged 61 in a hotel room on Thursday in Russia, where he had been performing, his agent in the Netherlands told AFP. John Seine says Farrell was found dead in his hotel room in St Petersburg on Thursday by hotel staff after he failed to respond to a wake-up call. [channel24]

Israel Ex-President Moshe Katsav Found Guilty Of Rape – Israel’s former President Moshe Katsav has been convicted of rape by a court in Tel Aviv and could go to jail. He was found guilty of raping an employee in the 1990s when he was tourism minister and of later sexual offences while he was president. The judges said they believed the evidence of the woman whose testimony had led to two charges of rape. [bbc]

Rand Keeps Its Strength – The rand remained strong in late afternoon trade on Thursday, just off its best levels of the day. On Thursday morning, the local unit hit a new three-year best level as it traded at R6.5975/$. In late afternoon trade, the rand was bid at R6.6098/$ from R6.6263/$ at its previous close. It was bid at R8.7965 to the euro from R8.7652 before and at R10.1995 against sterling from R10.2670 at its previous close. [fin24]

Former Playboy Playmates Tell Of Grubby World Within Mansion Walls – Unfortunately for Hefner, some of his former ‘girlfriends’ have become disenchanted with life in his harem over the years. According to them, it disguises a grubby world where some girls feel they are no better than prostitutes, paid pocket money by an octogenarian obsessive who funds plastic surgery to turn them into his physical ideal, and yet must still take huge amounts of Viagra. [dailymail]

Obama Bans Topless Photos – President Obama and his Hawaiian beach party — the first lady, Michelle Obama; their daughters, Malia and Sasha, and an assortment of friends — went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve here on Tuesday. Photographers were kept at a safe distance. The White House gave the press pool traveling with the president strict instructions that there would be no long lenses or other sneaky attempts to take pictures of a shirtless leader of the free world. [newyorktimes]

Queen Delighted With First Great-Grandchild – They sparked controversy when they sold the pictures of their wedding to Hello! magazine. But will Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn be appearing in a celebrity glossy again – with their new daughter? Autumn gave birth to the 8lbs 8oz baby on Wednesday with her husband – the son of Princess Anne – by her side. [dailymail]

New Year At HQ Special – I did it last year and will put my cock on a block and tell you it was awesome! That’s why we have managed to secure special pricing for the New Year’s Eve party at HQ this year – especially for you, the 2oceansvibers out there! Click to see the full flyer. [hqnyparty]

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