John Wayne memorabilia on auction

ENTERTAINMENT - The family of the legendary Western actor John Wayne is offering a huge collection of memorabilia on the auction block.

The items include a black eye-patch worn by John Wayne in his 1969 Academy Award-winning role in True Grit, and the cowboy hat he wore in the film's 1975 sequel, Rooster Cogburn.

There will also be more than 400 other costumes, scripts, personal documents and awards available to fans for the first time. Heritage Auctions, the world's third largest auction house, will conduct the sale at a hotel in Los Angeles.

Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions, says the collection is a time capsule of classic Hollywood that has remained carefully preserved since John Wayne died 32 years ago in 1979. "We anticipate attracting a wide range of people to the auction, from serious collectors and loyal fans to movie fans and the simply curious."

The family hopes some of the items will end up in museums about American film history.

Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) is better known by his stage name John Wayne. A film actor, director and producer John Wayne epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. John Wayne is famous for his distinctive voice, walk and height. He was also known for his conservative political views and anti-communist positions during the height of the Cold War.

Among the items in the auction are John Wayne's Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his role in True Grit, costumes from movies such as 'Sands of Iwo Jima' and 'The Green Berets', and more than 50 movie scripts from such celebrated Wayne films as 'True Grit', 'Stagecoach', 'Rio Lobo', 'Hellfighters' and 'The Sons of Katie Elder'. Many of the scripts include John Wayne's handwritten notes.

There is also a selection of John Wayne's cowboy boots and hats, a saddle, personal correspondence with U.S. Presidents and letters from Hollywood's biggest stars of the era.

Heck, they're even auctioning John Wayne's driver's license, passport and his American Express card. (A tad ridiculous we think...)

See Also
Cowboy Hats are back in fashion
Mens Hats

Holy Moly its 2011!

2010 was a year of many things, as most years are. There is never a year that is dull and nothing happens. True, some years are more interesting (2001 for example).

Lets go down the list of important things that happened in 2010...

AUTOMOTIVE - Gas prices soared in 2010 and the first mass production electric car was introduced. Other car manufacturers are coming out with more electric cars in 2011. Oil prices went down at the start of the year, but gas prices overall kept going up.

CANADA - The Canadian minority government continues teeter on the brink of an election... sometime... eventually. Whenever Canadians get bored of having a Conservative government which doesn't actually do anything (and is too afraid to show Canadians what they would really do if they got a majority government).

ENTERTAINMENT - YouTube is outpacing television in popularity. More people now watch YouTube on a daily basis than they watch TV. TV still pulls in more hours per viewer, but YouTube is more popular (at least in North America).

ENVIRONMENT - The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the big story of 2010. Blame for the environmental disaster has been handed squarely on BP and contracting companies. Meanwhile global warming and climate change are getting worse and countries world wide still can't come up with an agreement that would halt the process. (Scientists now say its too late to stop the effects of global warming, the best we can do is to try and fix what we can so it doesn't get even worse.)

FASHION - Men wearing hamburgs and Swisses (and mistakenly calling them fedoras). The 1920s fashion culture is suddenly in. What's next, zoot suits?

FEMINIST - Precious, the story of an overweight, illiterate teenager in 80s ­Harlem, won two Oscars. Except we didn't go see it... and we can't think of anyone who did. Honestly, we're not sure if anything significant happened in the world of feminism in 2010... and that is rather sad.

GOTHIC - Gothic culture is practically dead at this point. Even Emo is becoming lame (although we'd argue Emo was ALWAYS lame). The new thing is STEAMPUNK... which we argue could also be interpreted as STEAMGOTH! Anything that is retrofuturistic is now kewl.

HEALTH - Several major breakthroughs that may lead to cures for AIDS and cancer. The problem however is that they won't be available for another 5 to 10 years while they are thoroughly tested. One of them cures 60% of AIDS strains, and holds promise for curing the other 40% of AIDS strains. Cancer meanwhile is the result of toxins and malformed cell tissue. New medications that get rid of the toxins and helps cancerous cell tissue to regenerate are in the works.

POLITICS - 2010 was really more about economics than politics... true, the USA is on the verge of war with North Korea... and maybe Iran too... but American's primary worry is economics on the home front. The US economy is still sour because of their trade imbalance with China, despite efforts to boost the American economy too many people are buying products from China. President Obama meanwhile is too scared to face down China because most of the national debt is owed to, you guessed it, China. In 2011 we predict the US economy will get WORSE and it will likely do so suddenly, like a sudden stock market drop in Spring or Summer. And then the USA will have no choice but to demand that China stop pegging their currency to the US dollar, and China will have to agree when their economy starts hurting too.

If anything China has the most to lose if the economy goes sour. Their real estate market is in a bubble and will burst if there is an extended period of economic uncertainty. Anyone who invested in real estate in China is going to lose their shirts. That or we will have a currency war.

As proof that the economy is still on shaky ground gold prices soared in 2010 to a record $1405 USD per ounce. Experts think it might go as high as $2000 USD in 2011 if the US economy stays weak or gets worse.

RELIGION - Pope Benedict helped cover up a pedophile priest who molested hundreds of boys. Complaints to the Catholic Church are falling on deaf ears. Yada yada yada, don't send your children to a religious school where they will likely be molested.

SEX - California dropped its ban on gay marriages, but meanwhile NASA announced that sex in space is a big no-no. (Although the James Bond movie Moonraker begs to differ...)

TECHNOLOGY - Tablets and SmartPhones debuted in 2010 and we will see a slew of better made versions in 2011. They're getting a lot cheaper too, which will be nice.

Lucian Freud portrait to be auctioned

ART HISTORY/FASHION - Model Jerry Hall and Sotheby's has announced plans to auction off her art collection on October 15th and 16th, including a portrait by Lucian Freud from when Jerry Hall was eight months pregnant with her son Gabriel.

Jerry Hall is the ex-wife of Rolling Stone legend Mick Jagger and the London UK auction will also include works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, David Bailey and other contemporary artists. Jerry Hall separated from Jagger in 1999 and has worked in the theatre ever since. Several of her daughters have gone into modelling.

The Lucian Freud portrait, "Eight Months Gone", is estimated to fetch more than £300,000 (about $480,000 CDN). Her collection includes two other works by Freud, known for his often grotesque realism.

Peter Nygard deletes Facebook group boycotting him

By Ai Lung Nguyen - May 2010.

FASHION - Until recently there was a Facebook group called "Boycotting Peter Nygard" which was steadily growing. It had 202 members the last time I checked and it was less than a month old.

Unfortunately Peter Nygard's lawyers got wind of this and had the group shut down, claiming the boycott group was infringing on intellectual property rights.

So what does that say when a billionaire fashion guru can just come along and shut down popular boycotting groups on websites they don't even own?

Basically what it means is that we, the people, are having our democracy and free speech squashed by anyone who is rich enough. And in Peter Nygard's case he has whole teams of lawyers and people working for him trying to maintain his good name and keep his illegal dealings under wraps.

Gothic Culture is Practically Dead

GOTHIC - Goths aren't in the news much these days. There is so little happening in gothic culture these days that gothic culture might as well be dead.

Let me elaborate...

Circa 1999 there were about 20 or so different gothic clothing shops in Toronto, which for a period of time was basically the goth capitol of North America... now there's only 2.

#1. Hell's Belles (formerly known as Siren) at 463 Queen Street West.

#2. Borderline at 425 Queen Street West.

Its so pathetic its sad.

Its the same online too. Once there was plethora of online websites selling gothic clothing. There is still a plethora... but the list has been culled over the years so that now only the strong survive.

Part of the reason I'd argue is the Bush era and the resulting wars and recession. Gothic culture by its very nature is a form of protest against social norms. The Bush Administration gave young people something else to protest against so instead of goths we have a whole era of anti-Bush protestors.

When the recession hit in 2007 Bush was winding down out of office... and young people are quickly parted with their cash. With fewer jobs available, less cash, people having to act frugally spending money on gothic clothing is less important. Its expensive to be a goth... the clothes, the music concerts, the partying with gothic friends.

Plus there's been a resurgence in punk and heavy metal (which both preach nihilism instead of existentialism)... and then there's competition in the form of emo. There's so many more options now it makes goths even lonelier people than before.

There's also the matter that for some people gothic culture really is just a phase. Some people don't grow out of it, but quite a few do. They get older, they get married, they have kids, they might still go out and party once in awhile but its not the same...

"Ewww... they dance like people in their 30s!"

I tried really hard to make that sound like Valley Girl talk... and it was totally deliberate. Gothic culture has changed in recent years. The concepts of existentialism, social rebellion and even religious aspects like Wicca are still there... but they've been sidelined by the obsession with fashion, music and partying... in other words goth isn't so much the existential rebellion it was during the 1990s... In 2010 its become little more than a fashion statement... its all fluff and little substance, hence the Valley Girl comparison.

Its not just the fashion industry either. The lack of gothic oriented movies (the latest vampire flicks (Daybreakers, Twilight and New Moon) are good, but they're not really gothic. Neither is the plethora of recent zombie films and other traditionally thought of gothic films.



So is goth dead? No. But its definitely hit the bottom of the barrel.

Gothic culture has this horrible habit of coming back, more brutal and existential than ever. The trick I think is to recapture that brutality of life/death.

Why does this matter to me? I think of gothic culture as more of an art movement, one that spans religion, films, paintings, music, fashion and even philosophy. At its core is a valuable life lesson:

"Life is harsh, brutal and then you die. Try to make the best of it."

The Politics of Leather

ENVIRONMENT/FASHION - What is the most environmentally friendly garment you can wear?

The answer is uncoloured natural leather. And fur too.

Its not obvious at first, but let me explain how this is.

Leather is made by curing and drying animal rawhide and skin, it is an all natural process and the leftovers go into the meat and food industry. There are modern ways to cure leather, using different chemicals but the most commonly used method is Tannin, a natural chemical found in wine, beer, tea, fruits, berries, chocolate, etc.

So if you buy products made from leather, which is either not coloured or coloured using natural dyes, there really is no environmental damage done in the making of leather products.

The biggest complaint about leather (and fur) is from animal rights groups like PETA, which chiefly complain about the mistreatment of animals, the consumption of meat and the wearing of animal skin.

However I would like to point out these people are frequently self-righteous hypocrites.

#1. They frequently forget about the shoes, boots or jacket they are wearing. (Oh look, they're made from leather!)

#2. If they are vegetarians or vegans they have to take vitamin pills and supplements in order to stay healthy (pills made from mammals or fish).

#3. They're only concerned about the killing of "cute fuzzy animals" like cats, dogs, pigs, horses, cattle, bears, etc. They have little or no concern whatsoever for reptiles, snakes, fish or insects.

Humans are omnivores. We are meant to be nomadic tribesmen, living off the land and hunting for food. Likewise the clothes we wear is meant to be suitable to the climate, and thus leather and fur, byproducts of our hunting, come in awfully handy. Leather requires very little effort to dry and cure and it provides us with durable clothing which is warm, doubles as protection against the elements and injury, is resistant to ripping, long lasting and lets face it, damn sexy to look at.

If you buy a good quality leather jacket you could wear it for 10 years or more, depending on how well you take care of it and minor repairs like resewing buttons back on.

In contrast you could go out and buy a jacket made out of synthetic materials and it will last you 3 - 4 years before it rips and becomes unwearable.

The PETA people would argue you could buy synthetic leather, but I must point out the chemical process used for making synthetic leather is both environmentally damaging and hazardous to the health of the people making it. There is also "vegan leather", but that is both expensive and difficult to find (and it uses a lot of plant material, which means it isn't environmentally friendly).

Its an ironic thing actually. Eating animals is environmentally friendly because it means there is less animals producing CO2 (a greenhouse gas). Wearing leather is likewise environmentally friendly because the process of making clothing using oil polymers pollutes. (Acrylic, plastic and all synthetic polymers are made from crude oil.)

Eating vegetables is certainly healthy, but it has to be balanced. Certain necessary vitamins and proteins (like creatine) can only be gained from eating meat. Humans are omnivorous for a reason and you can't fight evolution.

In conclusion: Leather is not as bad as some people think. Its natural, its longlasting and its so hot and sexy you will sometimes need to take it off. *wink*

NOTE: I do not recommend leather upholstery for your car or truck. It slides too much and you will end up regretting how hot and sticky it gets.

TIPS WHEN BUYING LEATHER

#1. Buy something that is both well-made and functional, so you can wear it again and again.

#2. Go for something classic. Don't buy anything complicated that might go out of fashion really quickly. You want to be wearing the same jacket 10 years from now and it will still looking freaking awesome.

#3. When in doubt, go for black or brown. They're easy to match with and look really good.

#4. If you're worried about animal cruelty, don't buy suede or lamb leather. Look for sheep, deer or cow.

#5. Check the lining to get an idea of the quality of craftsmanship. The smaller the stitching / thicker the thread the more robust it is. Avoid cotton linings. Check the thread to see if its polyester or cotton (polyester is stronger).

#6. Buy local if you can. The quality will be better than mass-produced imported.

#7. Watch out for cheap buttons and zippers.

#8. Ignore big brand names. If its a big brand name its likely made in a sweatshop in Asia, which means its 99% advertising and 1% quality.

See Also:
Is Fur Dead? Fashion Vs. Anti-Fur
The Rise of Ecofashion
European Ecofashion
Canadian Fashion and Chic

Killing the Recession Blues

CANADA - There's a new Canadian website out there trying to boost consumer confidence and promoting recession friendly tips and advice. Its called "Screw You Recession" and in addition to money-saving tips, the site also boasts topics related to going green, fashion, entertainment, eating out and new technology.

Its a bit like the fashion recessionista craze going on right now, but is more like a general entertainment/shopping site for everything recession-ish.

Not a bad idea I think. Its a good site to help kill those recession blues.

The site also has the look and feel of a blog, so its easy to get around and includes some random celebrity shenanigans (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton et al), with updates/giggles on the Screw You Recession Twitter page.

(I admit, I was looking for an excuse to use the word Shenanigans in honour of St. Patrick's Day.)

Fourteen Tips to Kill the Recession Blues

1. Get a new job if yours was lost.
2. Learn a new skill so that you can get the job.
3. Help the homeless so that you can feel better that at least you have a house.
4. Don't sell your house cause it's a buyers market, not a sellers market.
5. Notice that things go in cycles and wait for signs of the upswing.
6. Listen to free music online so you don't have to buy more CDs.
7. Use your time on the internet to make money AND have fun at the same time.
8. Ignore the depressing news headlines, read the celebrity gossip and do the Soduku.
9. Don't gamble your money away, spend it all on exercise/sport equipment and buy a gym membership or join a sport-related club (Pillow Fighting maybe?).
10. Read the funnies.
11. Set aside some money to buy your favourite foods. You still have to eat, so why not make it something you really love.
12. Remember, all of your life's problems will seem small and insignificant after having sex. Unless of course you're impotent...
13. Whatever you do, don't commit a crime if you can't do the time.
14. If you do a crime, remember not to drop the soap.

CBC Vs the Conservative government

CANADA/ENTERTAINMENT - The Conservative Party of Canada is upset about American game shows such a Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on CBC and during the current economic climate the CBC has little choice but to boost ratings using American shows.

The CBC has received $30 billion CDN in taxpayers' money over the last 30 years, fulfilling their obligation to provide Canadian content in both English and French, but doing so is tricky as they're limited to using a majority of Canadian content and are facing a lot of competition from cable networks with 300+ channels.

Stephen Harper and his cronies have little they like on the CBC as it is, so its no wonder its facing cuts.

Hockey Night in Canada and Little Mosque on the Prairie are the most popular shows and therefore safe from the Tory axe, but other shows like metrosexuals 'Stephen and Chris' (a style show) is being put on hiatus, and Fashion File (a show about the fashion industry and supermodels that has been on the air since 1989) is being canceled completely.

And what is the CBC promoting? 'Canada's Next Great Prime Minister', a game show which has contestants compete and get judged by Canada's old prime ministers. The show underlies an overall dissatisfaction with Stephen Harper's leadership skills and his inability to win a majority government during elections.

Whats left? The Nature of Things, CBC News, Rick Mercer, 22 Minutes, Just For Laughs, documentaries, the occasional movie, CBC children's shows in the mornings, The Simpsons (also safe from being cut because its too damn popular, despite previous attempts to remove it from the CBC) and the aforementioned Jeopardy/Wheel of Fortune game shows. Many of these shows are either contrary to the Tories environmental or immigration policies or openly mock Stephen Harper (ie. 22 Minutes and Rick Mercer) so its really not a surprise they want to axe a lot of the CBC shows.

So therein lies the problem. The CBC is facing a budget crunch and they need more money, but the Tories don't want to give it because there's too many shows they dislike (including The Nature of Things, The Simpsons and Little Mosque).

So what is left to do? The CBC have already cut back on staff as much as they can, advertising spots have slumped, and there's a shortage of Canadian content they can show.

Maybe its time to bring back 'The Raccoons' in reruns? No wait, that's a kids show with an environmental message.

Or borrow The Reach for the Top (a game show which gives scholarships to high school graduates) from TVO? No wait, that supports higher education and educated people are less likely to vote Conservative.

Obviously the CBC is between a rock and a hard place.

Is it just me or is Cyril Sneer a lot like Stephen Harper?

Shoe Throwing All the Rage

POLITICS - There's a new fashion statement in the world of politics. Throwing shoes at world leaders is apparently now in vogue, and getting detained by the police is a price many people would be willing to pay.

Last night someone hurled a shoe at the Israeli ambassador to Sweden during a discussion about Israel's upcoming elections. It was not immediately clear if Ambassador Benjamin Dagan was hit in the attack at Stockholm University. A second person threw a book at the ambassador and that both attackers were detained by police.

"The shoe only brushed his leg, and the books didn't hit him," says police spokeswoman Petra Sjolander. A dozen or so protesters in the crowd also shouted insults at the Israeli ambassador concerning the invasion of the Gaza Strip.

The incident echoed similar shoe-throwing attacks against former United States president George W. Bush in December and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday.

Would someone please throw some shoes at Stephen Harper?

See Also: Iraqi Man Throws Shoes at George W. Bush.

Too Many Supermodels

FASHION - Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, The Tyra Banks Show, Naomi Campbell's public temper tantrums, This Year's Model, etc... Do we have too many supermodels in the media?

Think about it, they're in advertising enough already, they're featured in movies frequently, now they're being featured in a tonne of TV shows... whats next? Supermodels doing the news and the weather forecasts? We're really over-saturated with supermodels enough as is.

Just take a look at how long the list of supermodels has become over the last 50 years:

Male Supermodels

Alex Lundqvist
Andrew Stetson
Arjun Rampal
Brent Chua
Chad White
David Witko
Eli Roth
Enrique Palacios
Evandro Soldati
Gabriel Aubry
Hoyt Richards
Kivanç Tatlitug
Lars Burmeister
Marcus Schenkenberg
Mark Vanderloo
Mario Lekkas
Rusty Joiner
Simon Yam
Steven Z. Schreiber
Sylvain Grenier
Travis Fimmel
Tyrone Edmond
Tyson Ballou
Tyson Beckford
Will Chalker

Female Supermodels

Adriana Lima
Ajuma Nasenyana
Alessandra Ambrosio
Aline Nakashima
Ana Beatriz Barros
Angelica Pamintuan
Anna Bayle
Atsuko Sakuraba
Ava Gardner
Ayumi Sakurai
Barbara Allen
Betty Brosmer
Betty Grable
Beverly Johnson
Bridget Hall
Camila Finn
Carla Bruni
Carol Alt
Caroline Trentini
Carolyn Murphy
Carré Otis
Cheryl Tiegs
Christie Brinkley
Christy Turlington
Cindy Crawford
Claudia Schiffer
Colleen Corby
Cori Nadine
Daria Werbowy
Doutzen Kroes
Elle Macpherson
Emi Andoh
Ève Salvail
Gemma Ward
Gia Carangi
Gisele Bündchen
Grace De La Rosa
Heather Marks
Helena Christensen
Heidi Klum
Hilary Rhoda
Ho Chia Shuan
Hzu Chi
Iman Abdulmajid
Inez Sastre
Inna Zobova
Irina Lazareanu
Iselin Steiro
Janice Dickinson
Jerry Hall
Jessica Stam
Jun Kusanagi
June Allyson
Kai Hosihiko
Karen Mulder
Kate Moss
Kira
Laetitia Casta
Lily Cole
Lin Chi-ling
Linda Evangelista
Lisa Fonssagrives
Liya Kebede
Lola Corwin
Marisa Miller
Melanie Marquez
Miho Saito
Milla Jovovich
Mimiko Shimada
Mizuki Kanno
Natalia Vodianova
Naomi Campbell
Ninja Sarasalo
Olivia DeHaviland
Paris Hilton
Patti Hansen
Paulina Porizkova
Pinsuda Tanphairoh
Pui Yii
Raica Oliveira
Raquel Zimmermann
Reiko Kaito
Rita Hayworth
Rose McGowan
Sasha Pivovarova
Selita Ebanks
Senna Matsuda
Shalom Harlow
Stephanie Seymour
Sung Hi Lee
Takako Uehara
Tasha Tilberg
Tatjana Patitz
Tiara
Tila Tequila Nguyen
Tyra Banks
Veronica Webb
Vlada Roslyakova
Yasmeen Ghauri
Yasmin Warsame
Yuka (or Yuuka)
Yuko Aoki

And the list is just getting longer. You probably don't even recognize some of the names on this list and thats because they're not household names anymore. It used to be the definition of supermodel was when they became a household name and started appearing in a lot of big name commercials like Coca-Cola/etc., but these days its started to become more like a title on their business card than something that is earned through years of working in the industry.

There's also the regional effect. Some supermodels are only popular in certain countries and promoted there. Supermodels in the United States Vs. Supermodels in Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia, the Middle East, Australia & South America.

So in theory this list should probably be a lot longer because of regional supermodels who ARE household names in their native country but aren't well-known in North America.

Its as if our sex obsessed culture has reached a point where we like seeing supermodels all the time now, and I question whether that will ever backlash? Think about it. The American obesity rate is 33% and the percentage of Americans that are just plain overweight is closer to 72% (2007 adult statistics).

By 2015, 75% of American Adults Will Be Overweight; 41% Will Be Obese.

So to put it bluntly the United States is FAT, and I can't for the life of me figure out why they would want to be surrounded by images of supermodels (many of whom are anorexic or have had past problems with anorexia/eating disorders) on television, movies, commercials, etc. seven days a week. The supermodels are marketing to the wrong crowd.

Or more specifically, the advertising/fashion industries are going about this backwards... if they really want people to buy their products or wear their clothes, shouldn't they be pushing the idea of regular healthy people or athletes instead?

There is a long history of athletes being used to promote health drinks like Gatorade/Nike/etc, so why not do the same thing with cars, clothes and otherwise?

Less supermodels, more athletes. Sounds like a plan.

Bikini Waxing for Kids?

FASHION - Imagine working in a spa as an aesthetician and having a mother phone to order a bikini wax... for her 10 year old daughter.

Not only would it hurt a lot, but it just sounds kind of stupid. But apparently "baby waxing" is the next big thing according to some mothers and spa workers.

Though not quite as popular as mani-pedi parties for toddlers, aestheticians are now scheduling more hair-removal appointments than ever for the under-12 set.

More mothers are pressuring the girls to look a certain way, and peer pressure doesn't help.

Insults from classmates about a students body hair can damage a child's psyche quite a bit (especially if they have a bit of a unibrow). The pain of waxing off the offending eyebrow hair is nothing compared to the torment children's teasing can do.

But its important that parents be realistic about these things. Going in for a bikini wax with your 12-year old and getting a boob job as well is not recommended.

It's critical that parents try to temper unrealistic beauty ideals instead of supporting them," says Alyson Shafer, a psychotherapist and parenting expert.

There's also a difference between a mother who's talking with her daughter about hair removal options and a mother who forces her child into it because they want a miniature version of themselves.

This is what some people are now referring to as the Chihuahuaization of Children. Like chihuahuas, children are now being seen as fashion accessories. Disturbing at that is, it is happening.

Thankfully most mothers are calling spas looking for alternatives to waxing. Since the hair is typically much too fine for a laser treatment the standard suggestion is a chemical depilatory like Nair, which recently introduced a fruity scented line for young girls called Nair Pretty.

Be very careful with Nair. Make sure the kids aren't leaving it on for too long because it can burn.

See Also: Fashion Salon

American Tourist murdered in Beijing China

While China is bursting with pride at the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing, one American tourist is dead while his wife and tour guide are in hospital today.

The attack happened yesterday afternoon at approx. 12:20 PM at Drum Tower, a popular tourist attraction in north Beijing. A 47-year-old attacker, Tang Yongming, killed the American man and injured both the American woman and the female tour guide. Tang then killed himself by jumping from the second storey of the Drum Tower.

The two women were rushed to hospital and Chinese police are still investigating the murder. Chinese citizens are not allowed to own guns, and Chinese police have not said whether the attacker used a knife or other weapon.

A Canadian fashion model was murdered last month in Shanghai, but police said that was because she stumbled onto a burglary.

Last March a screaming, bomb-strapped hostage-taker commandeered a bus with 10 Australians aboard in the popular tourist city of Xi'an and was later shot to death by a Chinese police sniper.

Statistically China has a very low murder rate. Shanghai and Beijing are still safer than most foreign cities of the same size.

Built in the 13th century, the Drum Tower is one of the few ancient architectural structures still in Beijing, and was used to tell time in imperial China for the city, using drummers who pounded their instruments to mark the hours. It is situated on the important central axis of the city, to the north of the Forbidden City.

The opening of the Olympic games included many Chinese symbols representing friendship, harmony and peace. But will the Olympics be a peaceful event, or will China's human rights record and political dissidents catch up with it?