Famed 'Love Boat' cruise ship headed to scrapyard

One of the most famous cruise ships of the modern era, the former Pacific Princess, is heading to the scrapyard, according to Italy's La Repubblica.

The news outlet says the 40-year-old vessel, recognizable to millions of Americans as the "Love Boat" of 1970s television, has been sold to a Turkish demolition company for just over 2.5 million euro -- about $3.3 million at current exchange rates.

The 19,903-ton, 600-passenger ship, tiny by today's standards, has been languishing at a dock in Genoa, Italy for more than a year. The vessel last sailed for Spanish-based Quail Cruises after changing hands a couple times since sailing for Princess Cruises from 1975 until 2002.

p://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/03/pacific-princess-love-boat-scrap/643520/1

Robert B. Sherman Dead: 'It's a Small World' Songwriter Dies at 86

LONDON (AP) - Songwriter Robert B. Sherman, who wrote the tongue-twisting "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and other enduring songs for Disney classics, has died. He was 86.

http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/06/robert-b-sherman-dead-dies/

And the Oscars go to 3 secret bidders

The largest collection of Oscar statuettes ever offered for public sale has been auctioned off for more than $3 million, a Brentwood auctioneer said Wednesday.


The 15 golden figures were sold to three individuals in a sale conducted online, said auctioneer Nate D. Sanders. The auctioneer would not disclose the identities of the bidders.


Thirteen of the statues were purchased by just one buyer.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-statues-sold-20120301,0,1575137.story