paulo:
in the scene where Graham is going to the restaurant for the dinner with the investors, we see Danielle going out with him carrying something, and we hear Graham mentioning something about dropping Angela at Katimski's house. However, Danielle is nowhere to be seen in the rest of the episode. Where did she go?
I thought this was *so* known. She fed the cat in the basement, then took Angela's jumper to her grandmother's to be washed. While en route, she met up with Cory and Kyle, and caught them on tape.

Henna:
President Bush recently announced
I've done this before, I'll do it again. President Bush left office in 1993. The use of "President" to denote a former holder of this office, while common in the US, is not standard English, and is best avoided.

Of course, former Texas Governor George Bush, son of President Bush, is not the current US President. Following the inconclusive election last year, the Commonwealth has taken appropriate steps to aid a return to democratic rule (with a small d,) and imposed Responsible Governance. Bryan Gould (New Zealand) is Acting Prez until 1.i.03. Brian Mulrooney (Canada) will take over until 20.i.05.

that the United States Government will not honour its commitments under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases.
The opposition to the protocol by the leader of the Republican bloc carries no legal weight. Even if the group were in power in some alternate universe, it remains a fact that their predecessors signed the treaty, and they would remain honour-bound to ensure its implementation.

Show you disagree with the Bush Administration's decision to withdraw from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming. Urge President Bush to review his policy in this matter and devise a comprehensive plan to reduce US emissions of so-called greenhouse gases.
PLEASE Sign your name, town and country of residence
[instructions snipped]

Remember, by doing this, you are endorsing the fiction that Bush's team is trying to propagate, and approving his spurious claims to legitimacy.

send this e-mail to the White House at [email protected] to show Mr. Bush the world is watching.
He won't see it. Mail to the whitehouse.gov domain goes to Bryan.

For the record. The Oregon state legislature calls to impeach the Unjust Five. These members of the US's Supreme Court wilfully broke their oath to uphold the US constitution, by failing to void the entire election in Florida, thus fulfilling the standard for impeachment - "egregiously bad behaviour, high crimes and misdemeanours."

Victoria C:
Her concept is to cover songs originally sang by men and put a girlie twist on it
If you're interested by the idea, check out Shawn Colvin's album "Cover Girl." In which Shawn takes songs sung by men, and sings them in her own inimitable new-country style. Released 1994.

Venus was basically a live greatest hits album with some rushed new songs.
Rushed? If you must...

'Strange Little Girl' is probably the most pop song I've heard from Tori, with the exception of Y Kant Tori Read, but then that doesn't count.
Neither does Armand Van Helden's remake of "Professional Widow," credited to Tori for contractual reasons.

'Heart of Gold' is a bit redundant, but very upbeat for Tori. Paula, Sam, and I were trying to come up with happy Tori songs, only thinking of Happy Phantom, which is still about being dead. Of course Sam says cover songs don't count, so oh well!
Happy songs... is that happy in content, or ones that leave a warm inner glow? Coz China, Hey Jupiter, and Cornflake Girl certainly fall into the latter category.

Speaking of which... this from John Sakamoto's Anti-Hit List: TAPPING THE VEIN "Cornflake Girl" An intense, surprisingly effective goth remake of the Tori Amos song, from a promising Philadelphia-based four-piece. (From "Beauty In Darkness Vol. 5", www.nuclearblastusa.com)

Her cover of Eminem's song 'Bonnie and Clyde 97' is certainly interesting and somewhat chilling considering this is the wife murder song that was so controversial.
I can hear the growls coming from our Dallas correspondent already (:

I wonder why she did such band-ish songs for this album when she plans to tour with just her piano.
Make the show *really* different from the album? Convince the doubters to go?

Other tracks on the album include:
Raining Blood - Slayer What? There are *words* to this?

I'm Not in Love - 10cc
Can't be any more boring than the original.

Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
Rattlesnakes - Llyod Cole
These I have to hear. Minor classics in a novel interpretation.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy this information as much as I am.:)
Looking forward to Sept 17 already. Hey, releasing your album on a new moon...

Victoria C:
If straight men can enjoy lesbian entertainment, straight women can enjoy gay movies as well. As I told Chelle, I find the whole world sexy.
OK, fine. But I kinda thought straight men only enjoy lesbian entertainment so long as they can imagine themselves intervening in the scenes. When it gets too scary for that, they're not interested any more.

I'm an odd chick. So is/was my best friend Grasshopper. To me, a chick flick is a movie that chicks enjoy watching and can relate to.
Well, yes.

We really enjoyed watching Interview With the Vampire cos of all the eye candy. And I can relate to it cos I'm undead.
OK, that's three good reasons. Four if you count the acting talent in the flick.

the sappy goth
And this is bad because...? Sappiness has its place, one can't spot the unemotional otherwise.

Perhaps more importantly, this is the first week where I've had more left on my in-tray at the end of the week than at the beginning. Things are stacking up, and it's not pleasant.

Tom Panarese:
This is actually way too much fun
You're too right. It's as easy as taking candy from a baby, or predicting what you'll see on Sky News.

Now, I seem to recall making this airhead we're discussing go out of existence. Fortunately, I destroyed him, I can bring him back into reality just like that.

Ewan Kerr
See? I didn't know I'm heterosexual, Oops, must be more careful with my scissors. Almost made him sound coherent there.

and every relationship I have ever been in
With your right *and* left hands?

either a wonderful sexual one or it didn't last very long.
Well, whichever hand brings you more pleasure, I suppose.

I see nothing erotic in two women going at it.
I'm sorry, this really doesn't quite square off. "Nothing erotic" ... "going at it." Nope, does not compute.

You took my letter all the wrong way.
Yes, we should have made it into a round ball and sent it to the bit bucket.

I actually *was* wanting to know what a lesbian relationship revolved around: The sun. Like all good relationships.

That's quite enough of that. I'm going to make Ewan wink out of existence. Right now. At least, I *think* he's winking out...

Back to Tom.
My question, of course, is, what did he think a lesbian relationship revolved around? I mean, honestly, did I miss the boat or is a lesbian relationship just like any other relationship except it involves two women? Well, there's a topic and a half.

I have a great mental picture of this guy: a shaved (or nearly shaved) head, cargo pants, wife-beater shirt, gold chains, and fitted Yankees cap.
No, he's too stoopid to be a Yankees fan. Probably follows the Somewhere In The Dallas Area Cowpersons.

Maybe even some facial hair. Quite the oily bohunk, no?
Yes. Almost as attractive as Jeffrey Archer.

he's definitely one of those guys who gets the most desired girls.
Don't bank on it. Ewan does; well, I *think* he banks on it.

you know a really good looking or really nice girl who you know would be a really good date, but she's on the arm of some total asshole who doesn't appreciate her one bit? Yeah, that asshole is Joe.
And that girl is probably a lesbian looking for the right woman. And taking what she can get in the interim. Even if it's male.

looking for the animal lust that us guys spend every waking moment craving ... you know, to the point where it's so debilitating that we have to excuse ourselves from meetings when there's a woman in the room.
Nope, sorry, don't know to what you refer.

Chatters
wondering about this "pretty woman:monkey" syndrome and it was pointed out that apparently the girl goes for a (ahem) non-attractive man as he will offer her the love and attention that she needs as well as putting her on the pedestool that she wants
Interesting theory.

however the conundrum of why a bastard is attractive to a woman still remains - why set yourself up for heartbreak and misery in the name of excitement?
I have a feeling the Darwinian need to breed rears its head somewhere in the analysis.

what makes you convinced that someone is the love of your life when they are obviously tearing you to bits? (that's a bit more general. if not a bit rhetorical...)
Madness? Lust? Genomes? Another discussion topic, I think.

Move round the garden, cutting off the overhanging branches from next door's hedges. These are the ones above head height, and are a pain to remove.

The Charts

#1 (20) Bootylicious - Destiny's Child (wk 5, #1)

#2 (#4) Eternity / The Road To Mandalay - Robbie Williams (wk 3, #2)

#3 (#2) D12 - Purple Pills (wk 3, #2)

#4 (#1) Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera / Mya / Lil' Kim / Pink (wk 12, #1 for 5 wks)

#5 (#6) Perfect Gentlemen - Wyclef Jean (wk 3, #5)

#6 (10) Castles In The Sky - Ian Van Dahl (wk 3, #6)

#7 (#3) U2 - Elevation (wk 4, #3, SOTM)

#8 (#7) Heaven Is A Halfpipe - OPM (wk 4, #7, SS)

#9 (#5) Angel - Shaggy / Rayvon (wk 21, #1 for 3 weeks, SS)

10 *new Eternal Flame - Atomic Kitten (wk 1, 10)

12 *new All Or Nothing - O-Town (wk 1, 12, SS)

16 (19) Someone To Call My Lover - Janet Jackson (wk 4, 16)

22 *new Firewire - Cosmic Gate (wk 1, 22)

23 (30) Drops Of Jupiter - Train (wk 13, 23, SS)

26 (27) Sing - Travis (wk 10, #6)

29 (32) Loverboy - Mariah Carey (wk 2, 29)

32 (35) Hanging By A Moment - Lifehouse (wk 20, 25, SS)

33 (39) When It's Over - Sugar Ray (wk 3, 33, SS)

34 *new Stone By Stone - Catatonia (wk 1, 34)

42 *new All The Way To Reno - REM (wk 1, 42, SS)

45 *new Do The Lollipop - Tweenies (wk 1, 45)

Survivor: The Last Week

The first challenge: Big Trousers asks the contestants to go orienteering round islands. Checkpoints - in the form of questions - lead them to the mud pool and a personal plaque. Shortest time from start to finish wins - the contestants are staggered at five minute intervals, and Jackie staggers up the beach. Richard races to an early lead. The contestants face some very, very easy questions, and proceed to mess them up totally. This *is* the new Crystal Maze. Charlotte is beaten by her lack of knowledge, Mick feels he's too far behind to win. Jackie scores 35'22"; Richard 32'07", and he's safe for one more night.

Mick is certain he's off, and spends the best part of ten minutes on screen discussing this. When it comes to the voting, it's a surprise. Not. Mick 3, Jackie 1. He pays tribute to his colleagues.

There's a quiz going on about details from the island. Charlotte and Jackie move to the tiebreak, eventually to Charlotte. She's safe, and she will ditch ... Richard. He's the strongest competitor.

John Leslie, host of the studio interviews, welcomes us LIVE to the Wednesday night studio, where someone will win ONE MILLION POUNDS, CASH! These will be recurring themes throughout the night.

Only 86 minutes to fill. Confessions of people on the island, a Pointless Phone Poll. At premium rates. With no bearing on the outcome. 0% going to charity. You could call, influence the result, *and* donate 20% to homele ss charities, but that's on Another Reality Show.

Questioning from the jury. Zoe is particularly vicious, grilling both about rumours she's a thief. Eve is also nasty, on the subject of their honesty. Or otherwise. Andy calls them leeches and limpets; Richard tells a fable of how an eagle carried a sparrow. Then he pulls the fact he's a psychiatrist out of the hat, and challenges both on their use of language demeaning to those with mental illnesses. Richard and Andy both deny they're suggesting the finalists freeloaded their way to the final. Both deny it, this is live television and not pay-to-view boxing, but it's clear both are fibbing.

Charlotte finds it incredible, thrilling, incredible to win 7-0. Jackie would have hoped to have at least one friend on the island.

Big Brother: The Final Week

Dean reckons Brian, or Helen's "shiny, uncomplicated goodness" will win. He's a little ambivalent about winning himself, and is clearly uneasy. Brian is reckoning Helen or Dean. He wouldn't like to take the publicity that would surround winning. Helen doesn't think she can win, and would be dangerous with all the money. Spending spree. She puts her hands literally in her mouth. Liz bites her lip, and moves in a defensive position. No one has given a straight answer to the question. Have I tuned into Newsnight by mistake?

The team teaches each other their jobs and skills. So, Liz becomes an airline steward. Not a good career move - she's far too young to be cabin staff with the airlines I fly. Brian learns flamenco dancing, which could well be a good life skill. Dean teaches Helen the guitar, she trains him in hairdressing. Braiding a doll's hair while wearing the tightest t-shirt. And neon pink trousers. This is a site for sore eyes. Or a cause of them. Dean protests loudly, reckoning that he didn't want to be dressed as a homosexual. "You don't have friends like me," says Dean. Yes, but at this rate you won't have *votes* come Thursday.

Brian cleans the mirror behind the sink. He looks hard for cameras. BB viewers don't get to see his bizarre stepping across the room, as if he's aware of being filmed for the first time. It's almost like dancing.

"The person with the least number of votes will be evicted. The eighth person to be evicted will be .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Liz." Helen squeals. Liz remains quiet, hugs Dean forever, then squeals as she hugs Helen.

Mine was one of just 73,482 votes for Liz. That's just 2% of the total poll... but fully 1/4 of the poll on Survivor last night. In other words, over 3.5 million votes have been cast *already*.

Friday, 1100 people outside the house, plus Davina in her black t-shirt with sparkly "Big Mutha" message. The person who has come third is announced at 2054. Coming out... Dean. He's smiling, clapping, hugs Brian, and kisses Helen. Drains his glass of wine and he's out in just one minute. To the strains of "I'd like to teach the world to sing." A slow walk down the catwalk, fianc�e Vanessa meets him part way down. They're all over each other. The long shots remind me that this is the only person to leave the house in daylight.

Further chatter with the families of the remaining contestants, and someone called Paul. He looks familiar from somewhere. Helen's mother is wearing a "porridge princess" shirt, Paul is dressed like a pop star. Not a well-dressed one, mind.

In walks Penny and Stuart, he's sorry for his purple suit, as he should be, she's in a spangly frock. Then Amma and Bubble, she's wearing a dressless evening strap, he's in smart jeans and a hat. Liz, Dean, and Josh enter, in one arty dress, one pair of leather pants, and one hasn't changed since he left the house. And Narinder and Paul, she's in a dress with the pound symbol, he's wearing exactly the same shirt as he was five minutes ago. Call now, during the commercials.

The voting: 2,680,000 to 4,230,000, which suggests Dean got something around 150,000, and he can't have been that far ahead of Liz when the axe fell.

Brian and Helen are standing toe to toe by the couch, holding hands. The winner is .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "Come on Davina," shouts Brian. .. .. .. .. Brian. Arms aloft, then bouncing around the house. "Calm down," shouts Davina. He's not calm! Helen's out in 30 seconds. Runs out, shouts "Oh my gawd!" screams at Paul, and enquires after Davina and her bump. She knows all Brian's sisters' names, fitted into her dress, and the hair's better than last night. Eventually to the studio and all her mates. Paul has something special, something he bought himself. Gucci handbag and shoes, the ones she turned down to have the birthday party way back when. Helen squeals and screams, and the gift makes Davina jealous.

Brian's singing "Lean On Me." Walking around the lounge counter-clockwise in his white shirt. Bit more deodorant. Getting really ratty. Brian opens the patio windows a crack, it's quite the hot night.

Finally, Davina ends the man's suffering. He leaves his bag in the house. A slow walk down the runway, sparklers going off behind him. Then a huge fireworks display from the house. "Don't even ask how I feel." He's shocked, in tears. Over the bridge, pausing to watch the fireworks. We can't hear a word Davina says. We don't really care.

Greenhouse gases bad
We're doing something 'bout it
A small step, so far

This isn't enough for Greenpeace activists, who invade an Esso oil refinery in Essex and close it for a day. The group, protesting against parent company Exxon, chains two members inside each shipping container, rendering them unusable.

Watching the previews to the World Athletics championships, we reckon we know why the event is attracting such low ratings in the US. It's that wretched national anthem they like to sing south of Edmonton. The current choice is utterly impossible to sing, and tuneless to boot. That it is also empty flag worship, and bellicose, does it no favours.

Berlin Teen Fails to Stop Flying Cow Spectacle.

In an episode eerily reminiscent of the Rodney King fiasco in early 90s LA, a Wakefield policeman was caught on tape beating a suspect outside his home. The suspect was knocked up at home, dragged outside, and beaten up. A neighbour caught the event on camera. The suspect - released without charge - is now suing the force for assault, false arrest, wrongful imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.

Grobbelgaate (copyright When Saturday Comes 1994) moves into an unexpected fourth replay. A tabloid accused former Liverpool and Zimbabwe goalie Bruce Grobbelaar of taking bungs for throwing matches in 1994. After two trials in 1997, he was acquitted of all charges. Grobb then sued the tabloid for libel and won, a decision overturned at appeal this January. Now the retired star has been given leave to challenge that appeal in the House of Lords.

From the "what in sodomy were they thinking of" files. A couple are convicted of the manslaughter through gross negligence of two children allowed to play on a railway line during a family picnic and killed by a train. The kids were struck by a train running at 60mph on tracks near their home in Tre'r-ddol, near Aberystwyth, West Wales, on a summer picnic last year. The couple allowed the children to play on the railway line unattended for up to 30 minutes before the tragedy happened. Outside court, solicitor May Li, representing a man whose daughter died in the incident, said his client would be claiming compensation against the couple. Miss Li said the verdict "did not ease the feelings of grief in [the] family following the tragic loss."

Foot and mouth rolls on
This time, in the heart of Wales
Sheep killed for money

Slaughter teams begin a mass cull of 4,000 sheep on the Brecon Beacons, trying to stop foot and mouth disease spreading across the mid-Wales national park. Blood tests on flocks showed that significant numbers of animals had been exposed to the virus that causes the disease. Welsh rural affairs minister Carwyn Jones announced the cull, sparking fears that large numbers of cases could still be undetected across the country. Tourism chiefs predict that the mass slaughter will devastate business in the mid-Wales area.

TOP 5: Sheriff's calls at Point Reyes Light:

1) Friday 1:34am Mailbox knocked over. Mailbox assailants fled scene.

2) A citizen called deputies at 12:15 a.m. Saturday to report a 25-year-old woman from Rohnert Park was supposed to meet the citizen in a restaurant but had never showed up. The citizen later notified deputies that the woman had called to say she had been drugged and had just awakened.

3) A man at 1:20 p.m. July 17 reported there was a loose cow in the middle of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard downtown. The cow was gone when a deputy arrived.

4) Deputies at 8:17 p.m. Wednesday received a complaint that a grey, two-door car with a raised vent on its hood was spinning tires and speeding downtown. A deputy found the car's juvenile occupants parked behind the bank and admonished them not to drive recklessly.

5) A deputy at 9:12 p.m. Monday escorted an intoxicated person from a bar. A friend gave the person a ride home.