Humorous speeches popular at Clinton’s library

Little Rock, Ark. – One of the most popular attractions at the Clinton Presidential Library is available to anyone who wants to see the former president poke fun at himself.

Excerpts from President Clinton’s appearances at the White House Correspondents Assn. dinners and other lighter speeches are part of the 22-minute video “A Time to Laugh” that has played at the library since it opened last year. The video is now available on DVD.

“It causes what we call a traffic jam upstairs,” library foundation chairman Skip Rutherford said. “We’ve had thousands of requests for copies.”

The library’s video attracts the most visitors after the replica of Clinton’s oval office and the Cabinet room, Rutherford said.

The DVD now available in the museum store and online includes “The Final Days,” a short video produced for Clinton’s appearance at the 2000 White House Correspondents dinner.

The segment shows Clinton mowing the White House lawn, washing the presidential limousine, and watching his clothes dry – activities to keep busy while his wife campaigned for the Senate and the vice president campaigned for president.

Elton John, David Furnish honeymooning in Venice

Venice, Italy – Sir Elton John and David Furnish are honeymooning in Venice after tying the knot in a civil union ceremony in Britain last week, Italian news reports said.

The couple took a water taxi to St. Mark’s Square, lunched at Harry’s Bar and shopped in the romantic canal city, the ANSA news agency and the Venice daily “The New Venice and Mestre” reported Saturday.

ANSA said John and Furnish arrived Thursday and were staying at John’s home on Giudecca.

The English pop star and Canadian filmmaker, together for 12 years, exchanged vows and diamond wedding bands Wednesday during the first week of legalized civil unions in the United Kingdom.

Composer’s birthplace to become bed and breakfast

Peru, Ind. – The birthplace of composer Cole Porter is getting a winter makeover.

The 1860s-era house, which has about 21 rooms, had fallen into disrepair over the years. It had been split into several apartments, and police found a methamphetamine lab in one of the apartments two years ago.

The renovations will include repairing the foundation, rebuilding four porches, replacing wiring and plumbing and installing heat and air conditioning.

The new owners, the Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre group, plan to open the home as a museum and bed and breakfast when the work is done. Nearly $52,000 has been donated toward the renovations, which organizers say will cost about $105,000.

The museum plans to sell fudge made with recipes from the now-closed Arnold’s Candies of Peru. At his shows, Porter gave away boxes of the candy as presents.

“It’s really important this historical landmark be saved,” said Mildred Kopis, curator of the Miami County Museum where much of Porter’s memorabilia is displayed. “It’s an honor to have his birthplace (here) and we should promote it.”

Porter was born in 1891 and lived in the house until he was 10. The town of Peru is about midway between South Bend and Indianapolis.

Porter, who died in 1964, wrote more than 1,500 songs for stage, movies and television.

Laura Dern, Ben Harper wed

Los Angeles – Laura Dern and her longtime musician boyfriend Ben Harper were married Friday in a sunset ceremony filled with Christmas decorations, the magazine US Weekly reported on its Web site.

Dern, 38, and Harper, 36, tied the knot in front of more than 150 friends and family, according to the magazine.

The couple began dating in 2000 and became engaged in September 2004. They have two children together, son Ellery, 4, and daughter Jaya, 1.

It is the first marriage for Dern, whose film credits include “Rambling Rose,” “Jurassic Park” and “Wild at Heart,” and the second marriage for Harper, who won a Grammy for pop instrumental performance earlier this year for “11th Commandment.”

The ceremony took place at a mansion formerly owned by actor Gregory Peck.

Mike Myers, wife announce end of 12-year marriage

Los Angeles – “Austin Powers” star Mike Myers and his wife, Robin Ruzan, are ending their 12-year marriage, a spokeswoman said Friday.

“They remain committed and caring friends,” publicist Ina Treciokas said in a statement.

The 42-year-old actor-comedian and Ruzan, a writer and actress, were married in May 1993. They have no children.

Myers, an alum of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” starred in the “Austin Powers” and “Wayne’s World” films, 2003’s “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat,” and voiced the giant green ogre in the “Shrek” movies.

Carey chalks up 17th No. 1 hit

New York – Mariah Carey’s “Don’t Forget About Us” rose to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, putting her in a tie with Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most No. 1 singles in the rock era.

Carey and Presley have 17 No. 1 hits, second only to the Beatles, who had 20.

It has taken Carey just over 15 years to accumulate the 17 hit singles. Her first was “Vision of Love” in 1990.