The Left Lane
Give an old cell phone
Your old cell phone could save a life.
City officials are accepting donations of old wireless phones through Nov. 2 as part of a drive against domestic violence in Hawai'i.
The phones will be sent to a reconditioning center and later donated by Verizon Wireless, along with free air time, to possible abuse victims as a lifeline in times of crisis.
Phones of any make are being accepted, along with accessories and batteries, at all O'ahu fire stations and Verizon Wireless stores.
— Mike Leidemann, Advertiser staff writer
Charity glitter
A glittering T-shirt worn by pop star Madonna during her Drowned World Tour will be sold for charity today, along with other glamorous celebrity items, Christie's auction house says.
The auction will benefit the charity Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood. The goal is to provide free accommodations in London for families with a child undergoing treatment.
A black suit from Sir Elton John, sunglasses that U2 singer Bono wore in the "Elevation" video and a green embroidered gown that Donatella Versace designed and wore to the Oscars also will go on the block.
— Associated Press
Speaking of auctions ...
For those who'd like to own a hefty hunk of U.S. history — and who also have a $50,000 minimum offer lying around — the bidding has begun for Montgomery, Ala., city bus No. 2857.
Not your ordinary piece of mass transit, this is the actual 1936 GMC vehicle from which Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, launched the civil rights movement when she was arrested for refusing to surrender her seat to a white passenger on Dec. 1, 1955.
Bidders have until Wednesday to register at www.mastronet.com, the auction Web site of an online Americana memorabilia company in Oak Park, Ill.
Other items in the auction, which closes Thursday, include:
A 1934 fingerprint card signed by Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger, ($10,000 minimum); "Action Comics" No. 1, the first Superman comic ($10,000 minimum); a 1907 handwritten, signed letter by "Call of The Wild" author Jack London ($300 minimum).
— Will Hoover, Advertiser staff writer
'Dumbo' turns 60
To celebrate 60 years of "Dumbo," Disney is releasing a limited edition VHS tape and DVD tomorrow.
Based on the book by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, "Dumbo" boasts an Academy Award-winning score (1941) as well as an Oscar-nominated Best Song, "Baby Mine." For the commemorative release, the studio includes a video of the nominated song performed by Michael Crawford, Broadway's original "Phantom of the Opera," from his latest release, "Michael Crawford: The Disney Album."
— Wayne Harada, Advertiser entertainment editor
