Weather: Cloudy, a few sunny spells, looking icky. +5.

I'm still down with a cold, so no travel. It's hit the annoying stage, where I could do work for a couple of hours, but a full day is beyond me. Maybe tomorrow.

Who are these people? New identities of the killers of toddler James Bulger must remain a secret for the rest of their lives to protect them from revenge attacks. Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss imposed a blanket gag on the media because of the "almost unique circumstances" of the murder. The news blackout will extend to photographs or information about their appearances and their new addresses when they are released, possibly as soon as the spring.
"The sense of moral outrage has not diminished and there remains among some members of the public a serious desire for revenge if the two young men are living in the community. In my judgment if any section of the media decided to give information leading to the identification of either young man, such publication would put his life at risk."
I can't condone the supression of information, but neither can I condone the violence and suffering that *will* be visited on these youngsters. It's a tough call, but the judge has it right. The populist press is already whipping up the public into a frenzy of anger, continuously recalling "little James' anguish" and claiming the killers are "evil incarnate," even though they're palpably not.

Balls-up continues Sir Richard Branson says he's set to challenge the National Lottery Commission. The NLC turned down his proposal to run the lottery in favour of incumbents Camelot. The Virgin businessman also announced plans to set up an independent rival to the National Lottery. Simon Burridge, chief executive of the not-for-profit People's Lottery, said the group was looking at the feasibility of running a nationwide lottery outside the auspices of the National Lottery Act, set up to cover the Government-endorsed operation. "We've been bombarded with angry letters from around the country demanding Sir Richard do something," he said.
The lottery will remain a tax on the innumerate, and we're all best off without it.

Weather: Frosty, almost clear skies means it's sunny, but cools quickly. The hoar never quite leaves the ground on a +3 day.

Travel: Well, the 635 goes *totally* AWOL - the bus links with the 719, which links with the 964 express and work on time. Coming back, get the Midland Red 143 to just outside New St, and the 1638 from Euston leaves at 1721 with me on it. 11 minutes to Sandwell, 8 to Coseley, then 16 minutes to cover the last two miles. "Station congestion" claims the guard, clearly wanting to be seen to say something without giving a flying feck to the truth. Wolverhampton is clear when we arrive, without even a stopper to be seen, and the 1742 running *the wrong way* up the side track. Something is badly, badly wrong, Mr Branson. Please explain.

The British government will test armed forces personnel for possible health problems caused by depleted uranium ammunition. Armed forces minister John Spellar misled the Commons when he said there was no evidence of a link and depleted uranium would remain part of British forces' arsenal for the foreseeable future, or at least until The Party thinks it's in danger of losing votes in marginals. The decision marks another abrupt u-turn on testing and follows other EU countries which have begun screening veterans.

A tomato was today hit by Tony Blair (right) when protesters against sanctions on Iraq got into the pelting business. Three people have been widely praised for the fruity attack, which occurred as the rotten, over-plump, squidgy red thing arrived at City of Bristol College. In a speech to business leaders, Mr Blair promised the largest ever investment in dry cleaning in the unlikely event he wins a second term. The Blues tried to unveil their new poster, "We Won't Win," on the wall of the Millooneyum Doom. Security guards at the converted gasworks in Greenwich had been warned, and moved on the small, insignificant group of protesters and their hand-painted signs.

Kate Winsomemore, the British star who for years has (metaphorically - she's *far* too much the lady) stuck up two fingers at Hollywood demands for waif-like actors, is dieting for the first time to enable her to find work. The gorgeous star said of her decision to diet: "It's so insane and bloody boring. I despise myself for it and feel I'm letting a lot of people down. I constantly wave the flag of 'don't go on diets because they are rubbish' but I'd like to get a bit of the baby weight off or I won't work. What annoys me most is that the more terribly thin and fit actresses we have, the less real films become."
Kate's decision is likely to disappoint eating-disorder organisations, which pointed to the star as one who had achieved success without dieting. Bar Hewlett, a director at The Obesity and Awareness Solutions Trust said: "Ms Winsomemore is responding to the dreadful treatment she received from the press when she put on some weight. Society will tell you that if you are not thin you are not good at what you do which is manifest bollocks. As a professional her skills are superb whatever her body size."
Kate Winsomemore - and her ample cleavage - appear in the movie Quills at a cinema near you soon.

The moon is going dark for an hour, following a crime that has rocked the Celestial Spheres. The Man In The Moon has had his shorts stolen.

The Man was practicing his entry in the sky's Groucho Marx Lookalike competition when the crime took place. Police have no leads to go on at this moment, though serial criminal Sirius O'Ryan and his dog, Belt, must head any list of suspects.

Anne Dromeda has given The Man her Fruits Of The Lune catalogue - she bought it for the great globes on page three, you know. The Man has chosen his new shorts - black, with small white and blue spots - and expects to take delivery this evening. It all depends when David Archer of Saggy Tarius Deliveries drives the White Arrow to The Man's door.

In order to give The Man some privacy while he changes, the Queen of the Dark Side has agreed to black out the Moon for an hour tonight, between 20 and 21h UTC. Viewers in Europe, Africa and West Asia might still be able to see The Man's blushes.

Weather: Again, frost early and late, sunshine between. +3 in a raw NE wind.

Travel: Unlike yesterday, the trains run on time. Both ways. Shome mishtake shurely.

Sir Richard Branson has thrown in the towel and abandoned plans to run a train on time. In a bitter and emotional announcement, the tycoon - who has also given up running the lottery - said he believed he had grounds to take Fate Herself to a judicial review, but would not do so because he feared it would further damage the standing of his trains.
The news does not mean the end of the farce which has dogged Britain's railways for the last four years. An angry Sir Richard is now considering a fresh battle with Failtrack to try to recoup some of the �40 zillion he spent on his train set. "I think the interests of the traveller are pointless," said Sir Dick. "That's why we are withdrawing from this sorry farce. I will not be making another bid and I am sure no one else will so long as current procedures prevail. This was a cowardly decision made in a cowardly way on a cowardly basis," added the bearded millionaire, who clearly needs more adverbs.

Campaigner Vincent Bethell (not pictured, right) was today cleared of causing a public nuisance by demonstrating naked in the streets. The 28-year-old artist's battle for the right to go naked has already cost him a four-month stay in a segregation wing at Brixton jail. He has refused to wear clothes since 13 August and during a five-day Southwark Crown Court trial he remained naked - his private parts hidden by the wooden frame of the dock.
When the jury decided that Bethell, of Coventry, had not caused a moral outrage, he shouted in triumph: "Being a human being is not a crime. People have the right to go fully clothed. I should have the right to walk around naked." He hadn't caused outrage - people were interested in his point of view, or they smiled.

Mark Frost:
How's this for weird! The day I decide to look for a quality online listings magazine is the day they start airing Felicity on ITV2.
If you find one, let me know. I find it hard to beat Radio Times + TV Polychannel + ON guide (for those SLY programmes that reach the crannies only DTTV reaches.)

I don't get ITV2 so I can't see it - it stinks, I'm not happy.
Hey, it's not *that* bad a channel, he said, fibbing totally. Yes, ITV2 *does* stink, its programming is sub-lowest-common-denominator tat and rubbish, and quite how it has managed to show the quality of "Felicity" is beyond me. Even the Test Card is better than "Bad Neighbour's Animals From Sunset Beach Hell III."

Luckily we have contacts in the US who have been taping it for me.. still it's kinda crappy that I can't see it. Damn ITV!
No, damn the ITC, who insist that ITV carries all 24 sub-regions should it ever go to satellite, and postcode-protect the other 23 from out-of- range viewing. That makes ITV2 a pointless exercise.

By the way Iain, what the hell was up with the "mystery contestant" on 15-1 a few weeks back?!? Any info?
Yep.

Oh, you want me to *tell*? Turns out that the mystery winner, whom I shall call Q, was convicted of some nasty offence between his heat taping in November and its airdate of December 18. You may recall that that episode was pulled and replaced with a repeat of Bill McKaig's 433 from a year or so ago. (Or did you miss it *again*?) Observant viewers might have noticed that the finals board was never shown after that date. That was because Q had done well enough to make the grand final, taped the same day, where he lined up at #4, only to get both opening questions wrong, and save William and his team from a lot of hasty editing. Q is now serving a prison sentence of some years, and will not be invited back ever.

Obligatory namedrop: most of the info provided by Daphne "Two top of the finals boards and one Going For Gold" Fowler. Daphne scored a mightily impressive 432 on May 1, in what is widely regarded as the greatest FTO performance ever.

Weather: Cold, windy, sunny, +3. Not nice.

Travel: The 0635 goes AWOL again, "problems with the train" claims the infoline. Bollocks, says I, as I saw a stock movement go past at 0632. Just catch the 0741 to Longbridge, so back on time. Heading back, get the 1649, then shoot to the 1710. Which is held for 6 minutes, behind the 1657 to Glasgow (leaves 1714.) Plonkers.

Scientists have created the first genetically modified primate in the world, a male rhesus monkey named ANDi. The monkey carries an extra piece of DNA in a gene that acts a marker, allowing the researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University to study how human disease develops. They hope to introduce other genes in monkeys to trigger conditions such as Alzheimer's and develop ways to block them.

Peter Hain, the foreign office minister failing to convince anyone that there is a point to the US-UK bombing of Iraq, once earned the surveillance of Her Majesty's spooks for his energetic activities as a left-wing anti-apartheid campaigner. Accused of being untrue to his old self and perpetuating the kind of imperialism he would have abhorred in those heady "quasi-marxist" days, Hain replies that the same instinct that once moved him to oppose apartheid now leads him to support the bombing of Iraq. Anyone who opposes the strategy, he adds pugnanciously, is guilty of "propping up" the Iraqi regime.
This is such blatant balderdash that it's hardly worth responding to. It's perfectly possible to advocate the removal of a brutal dictator without bombing the country into oblivion, and directly festering the conditions that keep Hussein in power.

A plan put forward by the Independent Schools Council for a subsidy of �3,000 per child to increase access to independent schools has been turned down by ministers. That will be the end of that for the next five years, in terms of opening up private education, apart from the odd minor Government initiative to encourage co-operation between the state and independent sectors.
The Government was not attracted by a plan which has echoes of the Assisted Places Scheme, a system of public subsidies aimed at the deserving poor which was widely abused by the middle classes to get their children into private schools without paying fees.
Whatever ministers say in public, the truth is that the Government, the Opposition and the independent schools have every reason to be contented with the status quo. Any move to reduce the privilege bought by private education would bring the Government up against the most powerful minority in the land - the seven per cent who educate their children privately.
Neither party shows signs of recognising the damage done by our segregated system, or of seeking realistic ways to open up some of the best schools in the country to the pupils best placed to profit from them. The great divide in education is safe in Labour and Tory hands.

Ulrike:
You're joking, right?! Zlatko Trpkowski (Yep, that's his name. )is going to sing for Germany???
He's going to try. To sing, as well as enter Eurosong proper. Though, as Sascha pointed out, he is somewhere near the height of his fame. Brits might like to imagine Billie Piper entering... or Billy Gilman for the US.

Now, this country goes into ruins, I swear.
It's only a game show! It's only a game show! Er, song contest.

Where is Stefan Raab?!
Good question. Whatever happened to Surpriz? Did Guildo Horn's career snag on his Orthopaedic Stockings? Does anyone else have the faintest what we're going on about?

Sascha:
Or as german BB fans would say: "Doh krieen' isch Plack'!" (sorry to all non-german listees. There's no way to put this in english ;-)
"This war sticks to your teeth"? "The whole game makes my teeth feel funny"? "The geese fly backwards over my house"? Who knows... it sounds daft.

looking at the german charts with BigBrother-Christian at no.1 for almost six weeks now with his song "Es ist geil ein Arschloch zu sein" ("It's cool to be an asshole")
This would explain why I don't hear it on the AM radio stations (: For strict info, I understand he's been knocked off by Dido and Eminem's "Stan" number.

the Zlatko-movie is expected to be released in March in cinemas, so there will be yet another Zlatko-hype.)
In Britain, 6th-placed Nichola Holt released a single in October, reaching the dizzy height of #73 on about 1500 sales. Winner Craig Phillips hit #14 with his release just before Christmas. 9th-placed Andy has been dropped by Channel 5 (which must be the ultimate low in any media tart's career). 4th-placed Melanie will be hosting "Chained" on E4, while disqualified Nick Bateman has already had a short series of psychological shows "Trust Me" on 4 proper, and might be the one to turn his time with Big Brother into the launchpad for a successful B-list celeb career.

Weather: Cloudy, less windy than the last couple of days. +5.

Travel: Hey, it goes well. Fine in the morning - the 0718 is a little late off, so I grabs it. Then back in time to catch the 1657 to Glasgow, off 16 late. It's gone before the stopper, so into Wolverhampton at 1731, and in time to catch the next bus. Home for moments after 6, just as the signal for the 1742 goes up.

A lot of time on the phones today, mainly talking to one lady who yaks and yaks and yaks. She's wonderfully pleasant to talk to, but she does go on. Three calls from her occupy the best part of two hours in total.

Courtney:
I actually liked Britney's second disc a lot better. I liked how she held a theme in her songs, theme being "i've moved away from all the bubble gummy i want my boy crap and now i wanna believe in myself". Song like "stronger", i think, are GREAT songs to put on her album.
This is what I was thinking. There's a track written in the third person ("Lucky"), an ironic apologia for the last album ("Oops I...") and another dodgy cover ("And The Beat Goes On" last time, "Satisfaction" this.)

Most of the album is about female empowerment (with a couple exceptions) and I really like that.
To raise the spectre of Ginger Spice (RIP)... girl power, anyone?

Sorry, I had to give my Britney rant. I just love the little lass, as much as I wanted to hate her, she just grew on me.
Don't apologise. If she grew, she grew. And how she grew. Well, that's what the publicist said.

Weather: Sunny, +4.

The monthly ticket-buying trip into Wolverhampton. I'll have to get used to calling it the City Centre.
First stop is the station, to purchase said tickets. Not helped by a machine that won't print the credit card slips, so the clerk has to do it by hand, with the clunky manual machine.
Clothes retailer C&A is pulling out of the UK at the end of the month, and discounting all their remaining stock. I get a shirt, a jumper, and a fleece, for a total just over �25. Which is reasonable value for high-quality clobber.
HMV has some singles in - I relieve them of a copy of Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" and Moby / Gwen Stefani's "South Side." Creed is the US #1 from November, one I've been raving about for six months; four versions of the track, running just over 16 minutes, �3. Moby is a US import of the most wonderful track from "Play" - Mute in the UK have decided not to promote anything more from that album, which I find totally criminal. Five versions of the track, plus two other tracks, 41 minutes running, all for �5. And people are wondering why UK singles sales are so low - that Moby single represents better value than many *albums*, never mind singles.
Our Price is having a de-stocking sale, I take Tracey Bonham's "The Burdens Of Being Upright" - it got a great review in Q magazine on its 1996 release, and at �1 one can hardly go wrong. Also "Eleven To Fly", Tintinout's 1999 album - even if the title track were the only decent thing there, at �3 it's still cheaper than the single was. Madness.

Football: Manchester United, after being held scoreless for much of the match, exploded for three goals in the final 18 minutes to win 3-0 at Bradford on Saturday and maintain its 11-point lead atop the English Premier League.
The big winner was Sunderland, which won 2-0 at West Ham to jump over Arsenal into second place. Arsenal slipped into third, 13 points behind the runaway leaders, after a 1-1 home draw against London rival Chelsea. Robert Pires scored after only three minutes for the Gunners with John Terry equalizing in the 62nd.
Liverpool may have had the most impressive day, winning 3-0 at Aston Villa to improve to 39 points, one behind Arsenal. Liverpool got two goals from Danny Murphy and one from Steven Gerrard.
Ipswich beat Leicester 2-0 on Sunday, Marcus Stewart scored on a header in the 80th minute and James Scowcroft made another header nine minutes later.
Newcastle moved into seventh place, winning 3-1 at home over Coventry.
In other games: Everton 0, Tottenham 0; Manchester City 0, Leeds 4; Middlesbrough 4, Derby 0; and Southampton 0, Charlton 0.

League tables:
1 (1) Man Utd pl 23 - 53
2 (3) Sunderland 23 - 42
3 (2) Arsenal    23 - 40
4 (4) Ipswich    22 - 40
5 (5) Liverpool  22 - 39
6 (6) Leicester  21 - 35

15 (16) Middlesborough 23 - 23
16 (15) Everton        22 - 23
17 (17) Derby          23 - 23
18 (18) Coventry       23 - 21
19 (19) Man City       23 - 20
20 (20) Bradford       22 - 15

Tracker points:
1 (1) MUN 1188
2 (2) SUN 1119
3 (4) LIV 1082
4 (3) ARS 1076
5 (5) IPS 1066

16 (15) DER 938
17 (18) EVE 912
18 (17) COV 902
19 (19) MCY 873
20 (20) BRA 873

Weather: Another cold, frosty day. +4.

Chart News

Starting overseas, major yay!s to Dido, whose No Angel album goes Top 10 in the US. She joins Sade and the Beatles in the top 10, making this the best week for British talent since 1997. David Gray breaks into the top 50, and Coldplay breaks the 100.

LW	TW	wks		pk
1	1	10	Independent Woman I Destiny's Child	1
In a week when UK sales plumb their lowest depths, 20% below par, the overseas vote counts extra. That helps the Child cling on for a 6th week.
22	2	4	Love Don't Cost A Thing Jennifer Lopez	2
The make-or-break single has come good, taking #1 sales volume (though not value,) and #2 overall.
3	2	6	Stanta Dido / Eminem	2
Finally moving from its entry position.
7	4	2	Touch Me Rui da Silva	4
The Portugese single retains #1 sales value, and makes a significant leap at airplay.
5	5	7	Don't Tell Me Madonna	3
Another benificiary of the weak sales market.
12	6	2	Every Time You Need Me Fragma	6
Climbing in its second week out, and overtaking Steps.
11	8	2	The Way You Make Me Feel Steps	8
Still no idea what the track reminds me of, but it's a goodie.
5	10	15	Who Let The Dogs Out? Baha Men	1
The top ten run looks to end after 13 weeks (a full three months.)
New Entries
N	22	1	Demons Fatboy Slim & Macy Gray	22
Second single from Fatboy's album has a live vocal, from the woman voted #1 on the Marge Simpson soundalike charts. Neither of the two singles released from "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" has hit the peaks they deserve, which is a crying shame.
N	26	1	Camels Santos	26
N	29	1	Why? Mis-teeq	29
N	31	1	Buck Rogers Feeder	31
The band has been around on the indie rock circuit for around five years now, just after the US punk rock explosion led by Green Day. This is the biggest hit of their career by a long way, and brings back the heady days of the post-punk power of the early 80s.
N	94	1	Always Remember To Honour Your Mother Dusted	94
Dusted is Rollo from Faithless (Dido's sister) with a couple of friends.
N	126	1	Boy Is Crying St Ettienne	126
N	153	1	Black Jesus Everlast	153
This deserves a heck of a lot better.
Climbers
42	12	14	With Arms Wide Open Creed	12
The record has been almost nine months around in the US, and has been hovering around the Roaring Forty for half that time, peaking at #27 in October. With the twice-delayed UK single release occuring this week, the record storms to a new peak.
41	15	1	Inner Smile Texas	15
Gregg Alexander's latest writing track gets its commercial release (after being postponed from Christmas week). It goes #6 sales, and does well at airplay.

Personal Airplay Stats: 33 contemporary hit records passed my radar this week (51 last), on a total of 52 plays (88 last.)

Debuts:
"Chemistry" - Semisonic (tba)
"Roadtrippin" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Jan 1)
"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" - U2 (Jan 29)
"One Woman Man" - Dave Hollister (US release)

Adds:
"Every Time You Need Me" - Fragma
"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" - U2

Most Heard: 7 plays for "Inner Smile" - Texas