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LOS ANGELES - Four years after a stroke, Dick Clark is relishing the prospect of another New Year's Eve, determined to help host his 36th celebration from Times Square. And he's hardly surprised by the current state of the music industry he helped build - he predicted this, after all.

Clark, who turned 79 last month and has been in front of the cameras for 61 years, said in a recent interview by e-mail that his appearance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009," diminished though it may be, is a labour of love and "not really a job."

"Obviously, I'm not able to be as actively involved as I used to be out on the street, up on a platform and interacting with the crowds in Times Square" in New York, Clark wrote. "Thank goodness my friend Ryan Seacrest is able to handle that end of the activity on the show these days.

ABC-TV's 3 1/2-hour live extravaganza will include performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke. Fergie hosts the Hollywood segments.

Clark woke up with right-side paralysis on Dec. 6, 2004 - "Your life changes overnight," he said. (Regis Philbin filled in for Clark on the New Year's Eve show that year.) Clark still uses a walker or wheelchair, and speaking is difficult.

"I am one of the fortunate ones who survived and have been minimally impaired, so I'm just thankful I'm still able to enjoy this once-a-year treat of bringing in the New Year."

The "American Bandstand" icon and longtime producer of the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Golden Globes has long considered them "my television kids."

He's also watched their ratings plummet in recent years.

"There was a time when they attracted a huge audience," Clark wrote. "The audiences have dropped off as the years have gone by because of increasing television competition.

"What we are seeing is more and more talent and less emphasis on people getting awards. Television's award shows have now become gigantic showcases for variety."

Clark was there at the birth of rock 'n' roll ("American Bandstand" kicked off in 1957), and he's watched dramatic changes in the music industry. Not that those changes would come as much of a surprise.

"I can remember writing an article several years ago where I let my imagination run wild," Clark wrote. "I said we'd see the day when music is delivered directly to our homes, and delivered to us in some form of wireless communication.

"The fun of actually holding a record in our hands will disappear and we'll all have our own individual library of our favourite songs that we'll listen to at home, at work, in the car wherever we happen to go."

These days, Clark divides his time between his Malibu home and Burbank office. There's an hourlong therapy session each morning, then he answers mail and phone calls, attends meetings and reads.

The day ends with his devoted wife Kari.

"My wife and I may join friends for dinner at a restaurant, attend a movie or just grab a bite to eat by ourselves away from home," Clark wrote. "Occasionally, we'll attend a music concert. Recently we've seen Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Frankie Valli and Cher."

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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

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On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/specials/newyearsrockineve/index

http://dickclarkproductions.com/

Even though a stroke took him down 4 years ago, Dick Clark still plans to appear for his 36th year in Times Square.

New York City, New York (CaymanMama.com) — Even stroke can’t keep Dick Clark from stepping down from his throne during the nation’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. Four years following that stroke, Clark still plans to appear for his 36th year in Times Square.

Clark, 79, has been in the limelight of the cameras for 61 years and stated during a recent e-mail interview that his involvement in “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009,” diminished though it may be, is a labor of love and “not really a job.”

“Obviously, I’m not able to be as actively involved as I used to be out on the street, up on a platform and interacting with the crowds in Times Square” in New York, Clark wrote. “Thank goodness my friend Ryan Seacrest is able to handle that end of the activity on the show these days.

The line-up for ABC-TV’s 3 1/2-hour live New Year’s celebration will include performances by such big names as Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke. Fergie will host the Hollywood segments.

On December 6, 2004, Clark woke up with right-side paralysis and stated about the stroke, “Your life changes overnight.” That year, television personality Regis Philbin filled in for Clark on the New Year’s Eve show. Having survived that serious condition, Clark uses a walker or wheelchair, and still has difficulty speaking.

Clark said, “I am one of the fortunate ones who survived and have been minimally impaired, so I’m just thankful I’m still able to enjoy this once-a-year treat of bringing in the New Year.”

Source 2008-12-31 17:08:16 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Entertainment News)

On December 27th, Israeli air strikes targeted police stations in Gaza killing over 200 people and injuring hundreds more.

Egypt has opened the Rafah crossing at its border with Gaza to receive wounded Palestinians. The Egyptian government's cooperation with Israel's blockade of Gaza has been very unpopular among Egyptians and Hamas has suggested that ending such cooperation could be a main focus of its response. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday: "The simplest response to the massacre today is to reopen Rafah crossing once and for all. I tell our Arab brothers that the simplest response to the massacre is to end the siege." Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called on Saturday for Palestinians to wage a new intifada against Israel, including a return to suicide missions.

Protests against the Israeli bombing and invasion are taking place across the Middle-East and Palestine. In Tel-Aviv Hundreds of Arabs and Jews took to the streets to protest the massacre in Gaza yelling “no one can tell us that this massacre is suppose to protect us.” The Israeli police attacked the protesters and six people were detained. The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, an umbrella group of Arab organizations, declared a national strike and a mourning day in the Arab sector beginning Sunday morning.

On Sunday December 28th, a San Francisco protest will take place at Powell and Market at 12pm and on Monday December 29th there will be a protest at Feinstein's Office (Montgomery and Market) at 5pm. On Tuesday December 30th there will be a protest at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco at 5pm, as part of a National Day of Action against the attacks on Gaza.

Source http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/12/27/18556550.php