People talk 11/3/03

Marathoning rapper:'Diddy Runs the City'

NEW YORK -- Running on a bum right knee and just two months of training, hip-hop entrepreneur Sean "P. Diddy" Combs finished the grueling New York City Marathon on Sunday in 4 hours, 14 minutes.

The producer-rapper decided in September he would run his first marathon in a bid to raise $1 million for children. Dubbing the effort "Diddy Runs the City," he planned to divide the money raised among two children's advocate groups and the city public school system.

Known on the course simply as No. 30972, Combs kept a respectable pace for much of the 26.2-mile race.

Combs shed about 15 pounds in training, and developed tendinitis in his right knee.

"It's going to be painful," Combs said before the race. "It's going to be rough. But if we get through it, it's telling those kids and everybody else to finish what you start, and you can do anything you put your mind to."

Barbara's humor doesn't beat around the Bushes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Barbara Bush introduced her new book at a fund raiser for the Florida Center for the Literary Arts.

Gov. Jeb Bush introduced his mother Saturday, joking about her outspoken nature.

"With every passing year, we have no clue what she's going to say in public," he told the crowd waiting to get copies of her best-selling book, "Reflections: Life After the White House."

Bush said she was able to remain grounded by never taking herself too seriously. She also wished she had kept all the photos of supposed Barbara Bush look-alikes over the years.

"You cannot survive without a sense of humor, especially in politics," she said.

Laura Innes gets award for gay role on 'E.R.'

LOS ANGELES -- Actress Laura Innes received this year's Artistry Award from the gay rights organization Power Up for her portrayal of a gay character on the hit medical drama "ER."

Innes plays Dr. Kerry Weaver on the NBC show.

The Power Up organization promotes the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment.

'American Idol' Aiken memorabilia selling well

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Clay Aiken is passing into another realm of celebrity, thanks to those who knew -- or just videotaped -- him before he became a household name.

Aiken was the runner-up on "American Idol" this season, but his album "Measure of a Man" debuted at No. 1, selling nearly 613,000 copies during its first week in stores.

And now, Aiken memorabilia is showing up online -- from old yearbooks to videos of Clay dressed as Santa and singing Christmas tunes.

Marc Cram's stash of Aiken memorabilia has netted him enough to make a mortgage payment.

Cram, a certified financial planner in Durham, found videotapes he made in the late '90s of variety shows where Aiken performed. He made copies and put them up for auction on eBay.

The first one sold for $180.

Putin wants to boost Russia's film industry

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited one of Russia's best-known film studios Saturday, saying the country must protect its film industry, which he called similar to "guarding one's cultural identity."

Russia's film industry has struggled since the collapse of the Soviet Union, hurt by money shortages, competition from Hollywood and a disorganized export policy.

But Russian movies are increasingly receiving attention at home and abroad -- the Russian father-and-son drama "The Return" won this year's prestigious Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion for best picture. -- From wire reports

A handful of the country's top directors met Putin at the studio on Saturday to make a pitch for more governmental support and money.

Putin discussed methods to fight the flood of illegally produced movies.

He even had advice for directors: "the less violence, the better."

-- From wire reports