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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 7, 2009

Nothing ludicrous about this gift


Advertiser News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rapper Ludacris gave away 20 cars yesterday to struggling people who needed them to find or keep their jobs.

PAUL ABELL | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Michael Moore

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Dr. Mehmet Oz

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MORROW, Ga. — Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.

Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could help, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for yesterday's giveaway.

"People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs," Ludacris said. "To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there. That's why I wanted to give back to those who need it."

MOORE DEDICATES FILM TO GREED'S VICTIMS

VENICE, Italy — Michael Moore says his film "Capitalism: A Love Story" is dedicated to "good people ... who've had their lives ruined" by the quest for profit.

After much success at Cannes, Moore premiered the movie yesterday in his first appearance at the Venice Film Festival. It won favorable reviews at a press showing Saturday, and Variety called it one of Moore's "best pics."

"I am personally affected by good people who struggle, who work hard and who've had their lives ruined by decisions that are made by people who do not have their best interest at heart, but who have the best interest of the bottom line, of the company, at heart," Moore said yesterday.

The film features plenty of examples of lives shattered by corporate greed — but also some inspiring tales of workers who have rebelled.

THERE'LL BE NO JUNK FOOD IN OZ

NEW YORK — A young production staffer at "The Dr. Oz Show" wasn't buttering up her boss when she took a bite out of a carrot as he approached in an elevator lobby recently.

True to a mission of making Americans healthier one at a time, Dr. Mehmet Oz has banned all junk food backstage at his new talk show, which aims to make health information interesting and entertaining without trivializing it.

"The Dr. Oz Show," starring the heart surgeon and health evangelist, debuts Sept. 14. It's perhaps the most eagerly anticipated syndicated talk show since another Oprah Winfrey associate, Dr. Phil McGraw, went solo in 2002, said a Katz Television market expert.

FRIGHT FLICK NO. 1 FOR SECOND WEEKEND

LOS ANGELES — Fear has trumped romance at the box office over Labor Day weekend.

The fright flick "The Final Destination" remained the No. 1 movie for the second straight weekend with $12.4 million for the first three days of the long holiday weekend, raising its 10-day total to $47.6 million.

It came in ahead of Sandra Bullock's romantic comedy "All About Steve," which debuted in second place with $11.2 million from Friday to yesterday. Studios will release estimates for the four-day weekend today.