Lawrence.com

Channeling receptions

When Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton took to the stage at a VH1 benefit concert for victims of the World Trade Center on Saturday night, she was booed by the rowdy crowd, many of them New York City firefighters and police officers.

But at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards broadcast Tuesday night, she received a standing ovation from the music and Hollywood heavyweights in the audience.

The music and entertainment industries are among Clinton's strongest supporters. The New York City firefighters' and police unions endorsed Clinton's Senate race rival, Republican Rick Lazio, last year.

The former first lady wasn't the only one to receive a less than enthusiastic reception at the six-hour benefit concert. New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, who has long had differences with his department's rank-and-file, also was booed. So was actor Richard Gere.

Dylan to chronicle life



Bob Dylan is writing a multi-volume autobiography, titled "Chronicles," the first installment of which is due out next year.

Simon & Schuster spokesman Adam Rothberg declined to give details of the deal on Wednesday, or say how many volumes Dylan will write.

"This is the big one," Rothberg said. "It's covering his life and career. You'll have to read the rest of it to find out."

Politician plays one in movie

Sen. Phil Gramm is trading the political stage for the acting stage.

Director Ron Maxwell cast the retiring Texas Republican as � surprise � a politician in his upcoming film "Gods and Generals," a prequel to his 1993 Civil War epic "Gettysburg."

In a nonspeaking role, Gramm plays a Virginia delegate at an 1861 gathering to vote on secession. He wears a period costume and sports mutton-chop sideburns.

Gramm was to have played a different role, a private in the Texas Hood Brigade at the Battle of Antietam, the Civil War's bloodiest battle.

But that scene was shot Sept. 12, the day after the terrorist attacks. Gramm was unable to participate so he was recast as a delegate in a scene shot last week at a courthouse in Charlestown, W. Va.

Degree of honor

Bestowing an honorary doctorate in business administration on Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger, Imadec University in Vienna lauded his "life achievements" and the work he's done to promote Austria's economy.

Schwarzenegger was thankful but unable to accept the degree in person, Austrian radio reported Tuesday. It referred to an e-mail from the star, who was concerned about security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.