MONDAY, JULY 29, 201 3 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA A&E 15 Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) battles ninjas in a scene from The Wolverine. To watch a trailer, scan with page with your smartphone using the Layar app. Wolverine cuts down competition Sandy COHEN The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The Wolverine slashed monsters and minions to debut atop the weekend box office. The Fox film featuring Hugh Jackman’s sixth turn as the claw-wielding superhero opened with $55 million in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday. Last weekend’s top movie, Warner Bros.’ low-budget horror The Conjuring, slipped to second place, adding another $22.1 million to its take, while Despicable Me 2 was in third with $16 million. The Universal animated sequel, with its cast of cute, yellow minions, has made more than $600 million worldwide since it came out four weeks ago. The Wolverine, which is set in Japan and features an international cast, earned another $86.1 million overseas. The film’s opening-week take surpassed the $120 million it cost to make, said Chris Aronson, Fox’s head of domestic distribution. “It’s a huge opening for the clawed one,” he said. “It played equally well from Maine to Maui.” Another Fox film, the animated snail-racing tale Turbo, was in fourth place with $13.3 million. Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups 2 followed with $11.5 million. Woody Allen’s latest, Blue Jasmine, enjoyed a stellar opening of its own, though on a much smaller scale. Starring Cate Blanchett, the film opened in just six theatres but still collected $612,767. “It’s one of the biggest opening per-theatre averages ever for a non-animated film,” said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com. Ticket sales this weekend were up almost 30 per cent over the same weekend last summer, he said. “It was a good weekend to be a moviegoer because the choices just got a lot more interesting,” Derga-rabedian said, noting a mix that includes animated, independent and big-budget action offerings. Fruitvale Station, the Sundance festival winner already generating Oscar buzz, opened across the country and edged its way into the top 10, contributing to a summer box office that is up more than 10 per cent over last year. Estimated ticket sales for Friday to Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com: 1. The Wolverine, $55 million. 2. The Conjuring, $22.1 million. 3. Despicable Me 2, $16 million. 4. Turbo, $13.3 million. 5. Grown Ups 2, $11.5 million. 6. Red 2, $9.4 million. 7. Pacific Rim, $7.5 million. 8. The Heat, $6.85 million. 9. R.I.P.D., $5.85 million. 10. Fruitvale Station, $4.65 million. DJ dies at charity golf tournament The Associated Press David “Kidd” Kraddick, the high-octane radio and TV host of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show heard on dozens of U.S. radio stations, has died at a charity golf event near New Orleans, a publicist said. Kraddick was 53. The Texas-based radio and television personality, whose program is syndicated by YEA Networks, died at his Kidd’s Kids charity function in the New Orleans suburb of Gretna on Saturday, said publicist Ladd Biro in releasing a network statement. “He died doing what he loved,” said Biro, of the public relations firm Champion Management, speaking with AP by phone early Sunday. He said he had no further details on the death. The Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show is heard on more than 75 Top 40 and Hot AC radio stations and is a leader among most-listened-to contemporary morning programs, Biro said. The radio program also is transmitted globally on American Forces Radio Network while the show’s cast is also seen weeknights on the nationally syndicated TV show Dish Nation, he added. “All of us with YEA Networks and the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning crew are heartbroken over the loss of our dear friend and leader,” the network statement said. “Kidd devoted his life to making people smile every morning, and for 21 years his foundation has been dedicated to bringing joy to thousands of chronically and terminally ill children.” “He died doing what he loved, and his final day was spent selflessly focused on those special children that meant the world to David "Kidd" Kraddick, a Texas-based radio and television personality, is seen in an undated handout photo. him,” it added. The Dallas Morning News reported Kraddick had been a staple in the Dallas market since 1984, starting in a late-night debut. The newspaper said he moved into morning show work by the early 1990s in that market and his show began to gain wider acclaim and entered into syndication by 2001 as he gained a following in cities nationwide. Kraddick would have turned 54 on Aug. 22, according to Biro. The network statement said the cause of death would be released “at the appropriate time.” Many fans, celebrities included, tweeted condolences and talked about the death on social media sites. One Texas radio station where he was a mainstay ran photographs on its website of Kraddick at the microphone. Word of Kraddick’s passing spread quickly via social media. “RIP Kidd Kraddick. You were an amazing man and a friend. You are already missed,” Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted. “Oh Man, I just heard Kidd Krad-dick died! He’s my childhood dj. What a sad day. His poor family. He was always nice 2 me from the beginning,” singer Kelly Clarkson tweeted. Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, only recently announced as the headline act of a planned first-ever Kidd’s Kids charity concert in Dallas next month, wrote: “The sad sad news about Kidd Krad-dick is shocking. He will be missed greatly.” Richie Tomblin, described as the head golf professional at the Tim-berlane Country Club in Gretna on its website, said Kraddick wasn’t looking well when he saw him getting ready for the charity event. “It’s kind of a freaky situation. He hit the ball at the first tee and wasn’t feeling good and after that I didn’t see him,” Tomblin said. Hollywood Hillbillies set to compete with Honey Boo Boo The Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Honey Boo Boo is getting some competition. Another family from rural Georgia is coming to reality television, with Hollywood Hillbillies set to debut in January on ReelzChannel. The show follows Michael Kittrell and his grandmother Delores Hughes, known as “Mema,” as the family moves from Grayson, Ga., to Hollywood. Along for the ride are Kittrell’s aunt, Dee Dee Peters, her boyfriend Paul Conlon, and Kittrell’s uncle John Cox. Kittrell is known as The Angry Ginger on YouTube, where a video he made to protest a South Park episode that claimed redheads have no soul gained attention. Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, her mother and their rural Georgia family are the subjects of a hit TLC show that focuses on their lives in a small town. Wife’s flirting hurtful Annie’s Mailbox KATHY MITCHELL & MARCY SUGAR Dear Annie: I’ve been with Betty for 20 years. Last week, a repairman came to fix the phone line. On his way out, Betty followed him and said in a sexy voice, “I like bald-headed men. You come back.” Betty didn’t know I overheard what she said until I walked in after she had picked up the phone to call her girlfriend. She then told the woman that it probably hurt my feelings. She’s right. It hurt my feelings and made me realize she really didn’t care one whit about me. When I called her out on it, she claimed she was just being friendly. I told her that was a little too friendly - it was a blatant invitation for the repairman to come back to see her. Of course, she denies that’s what she intended. Betty refuses to discuss this with me and blows up if I say anything. She has always been a real flirt, although to my knowledge, she’s never actually done anything. But I feel she should not have spoken to the repairman like that. She said she did nothing wrong. Who’s right? — Fuming in Florida Dear Fuming: It is disrespectful for Betty to flirt with other men. However, you know she is a flirt and doesn’t follow through. We don’t think it has anything to do with her feelings for you. Flirtatious people behave this way without thought, and either minimize or don’t realize how hurtful it can be for their partners. We know it will be difficult, but instead of turning this into an argument, we suggest you quietly and sincerely tell Betty that you love her and are committed to her, and that you know she wouldn’t behave this way if she understood how much it hurts you. (She also could get into some big trouble if she flirts with the wrong guy.) Then let it go. She will be defensive, but we hope she pays more attention in the future. Dear Annie: A friend used Facebook to set up a raffle as a fundraiser to help a cousin who lost his wife. I donated several things and also attended the dinner held at a church facility and bought many raffle tickets. We were excited to see who the winners were, but toward the end of the event, we were informed that the drawing would be held later at someone’s home. The next day, I sent an email through Facebook to the coordinator asking whether the winning names would be shared, and she told me all winners would be notified. I have not heard another word, and a list of the winners was never posted. Several months have passed, and I’m beginning to get suspicious. A few of the donated jewelry items were not visible the night of the raffle, and a gift certificate donated by another relative was missing. My cousin asked for a list of the winners and never received it. What do you think of this? — Frustrated Donor Dear Frustrated: Either the coordinator is poorly organized and hasn’t managed to do the necessary work, or she has no intention of doing so. There may be a legitimate reason why no one has been informed who the winners are, but even so, participants deserve an explanation. And there could be legal repercussions if she has kept the donated items for herself. Decide how deeply you wish to pursue this. Dear Annie: I felt compelled to respond to Not as Pretty as a Penny, who needed emergency care and worried that her mother cared more about the cost. I do medical billing and hear daily from people who did not realize that emergency room visits are so expensive. If there are acute care facilities in the area, those charges would be much less costly. Of course, an office visit to the family doctor would be the least expensive option. — DK from SD Monday, July 29. 2013 R001159355 GOREN BRIDGE WITH TANNAH HIRSCH C'2013 Tribun* Mvdm Services, Inc. WEEKLY BRIDGE QUIZ ANSWERS Q 1 - Vulnerable, you hold: 4kl0V754nd? A - If you play transfer responses, life is simple. Transfer into spades and then make a forcing bid of three diamonds. If transfers are not in your arsenal, you have to crowd the auction, cither by jumping to three spades immediately, or oy trying two cluhs (Slayman), then jumping in spades should partner bid anything other than two spades. Q4- Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: AQ859AJ9 820 AK647 2 Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one club. What action do you take? A - Obviously, the choice lies between a takeout double and an ovcrcall of one heart. There is too great a chance that a takeout double will land you in a 4-3 spade fit rather than a 5-3 heart fit. wc prefer one heart even though there is a slight danger that partner might not show a five-card spade suit with a bad hand and heart shortness. Q S - East West vulnerable, as South, you hold: *QJ^97AJO AKQV54A6 The bidding has proceeded: SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST lO Pass 1*9 Pass What do you bid now? A - You have tremendous trick taking potential opposite the right responding hand. However, if the hands do not fit well there might be no entry to your hand outside of diamonds. With no high card in partner's suit, a raise to two hearts looks ample. Q 6 - As South, vulnerable, you hold: 4k.I 10 4 3 2 9 8 4 3 O AQJ 10 9 ♦ Void The bidding has proceeded: NORTH EAST SOUTH INT Pass 2* 24k Pass ? What do you bid now? WEST Pass A - Yes. partner could easily have a magic hand that would produce slam. Hut how are you going to investigate? Wc suggest that, before you get into trouble, you simply raise to four spades. Even that could go hailly if partner has too much wastage in clubs. ( Ihum ih Hirsch welcomes rentiers' resfxmses to gorenbridge(&>aol jcorn.) UNIVERSAL Sudoku Puzzle Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. 8 3 1 3 2 4 8 9 1 8 7 3 6 5 5 1 3 8 6 2 9 7 2 7 6 1 4 8 3 7 1 3 9 DIFFICULTY RATING: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Sudoku Puzzle Solution in Today’s Prince George Citizen Classified Pages AP PHOTO AP PHOIO