BITS AND PIECES 06/10
PUSSSYKATT
--Joan Rivers is back on NYC's WOR (710 AM) - but only for a day. Rivers, who
lost her long-running gig on WOR earlier this year, will be one of the guest
hosts filling in for Joan Hamburg on the 10 a.m.-noon shift. Hamburg is off
cruising in the Mediterranean with a boatload of WOR listeners. Kicking off the
week is "Inside Edition" host Deborah Norville, who sits in today, followed by
man-tan actor George Hamilton tomorrow, Claudia Cohen on Wednesday and Rivers
on Thursday. WOR is expected to announce today who will be filling in on
Friday.
--Each of the musical guests on this week's "Early Show" (7-9 a.m./CBS) will
help raise money for VH1's "Save the Music" foundation. VH1, like CBS, is part
of Viacom. The artists, including Darius Rucker (Hootie & The Blowfish) and
Sheryl Crow will discuss the importance of music education and explain how
viewers can make cash donations or bid on celebrity items on eBay, including
signed guitars and a chance to do the weather with "Early Show" weather guy
Mark McEwen.
--Speaking of music, last Thursday's "MTV Movie Awards" averaged over 7 million
viewers - the highest ratings in the show's history. The telecast was also the
highest-rated cable show for 2002 among MTV's key demo (persons 12-34 years
old).
--Fox News Channel averaged a whopping 2.2 million viewers for President Bush's
address to the nation last Thursday (8-8:30 p.m.).
--A&E, all over the Michael Skakel guilty verdict, will re-air an "American
Justice" special on the Martha Moxley murder tonight (9 p.m.), followed by
"Greenwich: Who Killed Martha Moxley."
--Lucie Arnaz, eating lunch at Stella del Mare (39th-40th and Lexington), told
proprietor Joseph Lucin that her mom, Lucille Ball, was a huge "M*A*S*H" fan
who never missed an episode.
NY POST/PAGE SIX...
--JENNIFER Love Hewitt is the new muse of hunky young singer John Mayer.
Sources tell PAGE SIX that J-Love has been hanging out at Mayer’s L.A.
rehearsal studio and sent him a balloon and cake arrangement to congratulate
him on his recent sales spike. Mayer, who had a hit with "No Such Thing," may
have been inspired by Hewitt’s bodacious bod to make "Your Body Is a
Wonderland" his next single. The smitten crooner says the tune "is about loving
someone so much that every little part of them, all this minutia, becomes this
wonderland."
--R&B Romeo Usher knows how to appease his jealous galpal Chilli, of the pop
group TLC. Chilli lived up to her molten moniker a few weeks ago when she
screamed at Usher backstage after a show in Sacramento because he'd bumped and
and grinded with one of his female dancers. But at his June 2 show in Virginia
Beach, he surprised Chilli by pulling her out of her front-row seat and making
out with her onstage during a number. "It was very intense," clucked one
audience member.
--SNITCHES on the location of "Sorority Life" - an MTV reality show that's been
shooting for three months at Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi on the Cal-Davis campus in
Sacramento - say the steamiest scenes are happening off-camera. A producer is
said to be having an affair with one of the sexy young sorority sisters. "And
she's getting preferential treatment," said one insider. "We would be deeply
troubled if that were true," university spokesperson Maril Stratton told PAGE
SIX. "MTV's presence in this community is predicated on reflecting the reality
of these women's lives - not interfering or influencing their lives. It would
be most unprofessional and exploitive." An MTV spokeswoman said flatly: "It's
not true." Less serious is the allegation that the show's creator, Sergio
Meyers, was able to sneak some ringers into the Greek letter society. "MTV
picked pretty girls and packed the sorority," said our source. "This isn't
reality TV, it's enhanced reality. It's almost fantasy."
--THE weather during the London premiere of "Spider-man" last week put a damper
on Tobey Maguire's mood. The star arrived at the party at the In & Out club
soaked from the rain, and proceeded to growl at anyone who congratulated him on
his sublime performance. Maguire even made the mistake of snarling at London's
premiere gossipeuse, Nicole Lampert - who dubbed him a "conceited Superzero" in
the Sun. Spidey's pal Leonardo DiCaprio was in no better mood after he was
snubbed by a dancer at the party. "He left quickly after she told him to get
lost," our spy reports.
--BRITNEY Spears spent millions for a sprawling home in the Hollywood Hills,
but she doesn't spend much time there because the house, on a well-protected
cul-de-sac, is located below several homes higher up on the hill with views of
her backyard. "It creeps her out," said our source. To cope with her
peeping-tom paranoia, Spears has consulted landscape designers about planting a
row of trees for the privacy she craves.
NY POST/NEAL TRAVIS...
--MOST times, mixing pleasure with business is a sure-fire way of losing money.
But in the case of Donald Trump and the Miss Universe contest, it's been a
bonanza. The Donald's oft-proclaimed love of beautiful women led many to
suspect than when he bought the rights to the pageant five years ago he was
just looking for an easy was to meet the world's best-looking girls. "Not-so,"
Trump tells me with a straight face. "It was always a business proposition and
now it's paying off in spades." Indeed, Trump's initial five-year deal with CBS
to air the pageant has ended and now the networks are now bidding for the
rights. "It's no secret why my pageant rates when things like the Miss America
quest don't," Trump says. "You can put all the cello-playing rocket scientists
you want on the runway, but men - and women - like seeing drop-dead gorgeous
girls. That's what I give 'em - beauty beats brains any time." That's all very
non-PC, but he's probably right. Pretty girls in skimpy bathing suits can beat
even the basketball playoffs. This year's Miss Universe was up against the
final Nets-Celtic game and scored a slam dunk, outrating it 9.1 to 7.3.
"They're nice figures, which is why the other networks are making bids," Trump
adds. "But I've had a good relationship with CBS so we'll see how things work
out." (He paid $12 million for the rights to the then-moribund beauty contest
and figures it's now worth at least five times that amount. "I wish all
business was so easy," he adds. "with the Miss Universe, it doesn't even matter
who you get as the host. It's all about great, sexy-looking girls." Just how
sexy can it get? Trump isn't planning to go topless any time soon. The year
after next, Miss Universe will be televised from Shanghai and I don't think
he'll risk upsetting the conservative Chinese by letting some contestant's boob
"accidentally" pop out while she sashays down the catwalk. But you never know -
which is what keeps the viewers tuned in.
--IT'S a bit unfair to single out Martha Stewart in the mini-scandal about
insider trading in the stock of Dr. Sam Waksal's dodgy ImClone company. The way
I hear it, all of Dr. Sam's society chums got the tip to sell before the shares
tanked late last December. "Waksal's like some star-struck kid," says an SEC
source. "He loves mixing with celebrities and he looked after a whole bunch of
them by letting them in on ImClone's IPO. But he couldn't afford to have them
actually lose money on the stock - that would have lost him face and
friendship." This source says the various investigations going on now will
likely turn up at least a half dozen big names who sold out just as
fortuitously as did Martha. So was it insider trading? "Maybe not," says my SEC
source. "Waksal, or someone acting for him, called his special friends and said
they should sell because a matter that was public knowledge would impact on the
stock. The only trouble was, the public didn't yet know about what Waksal said
was public knowledge."
--VIP guests in Memphis for the Tyson-Lewis bout got a preview screening of the
Miramax film, "Undisputed," an appropriate choice given that its stars, Wesley
Snipes and Ving Rhames, have close ties to the pugilists. Snipes was
conditioned for the film by Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, and Rhames worked
out alongside Tyson before director Walter Hill's cameras rolled.
--YOU wouldn't expect to find the Lakers hanging around in some New Jersey
motel while waiting to finish off the Nets. No, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant
and some teammates were on the town Saturday night, watching the Tyson-Lewis
fight in a back room at Mickey Mantle's on Central Park South. Restaurant owner
Bill Liederman says they were a great bunch of customers who whooped it up
throughout the bout. The 7-foot-tall Shaq, who said he's already had dinner
elsewhere, snacked on a Philadelphia cheese steak, some Buffalo wings and a
hamburger. Kobe was sitting next to him and just had a coke.
--COLORFUL lawyer Marvin Mitchelson thinks that Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salman
(owner of beaten Belmont Stakes favorite War Emblem) stayed away from the track
Saturday because he read my item about Marvin planning to hit him with a writ
in a legal case he has going against the oil-rich country's royal family.
Mitchelson sent ace process server Jay Salpeter (he's the guy who hit Lily
Safra with a writ outside Swifty's restaurant - remember the great picture of
it on this page?) to Belmont and was bitterly disappointed that the prince was
a no-show. "I guess we'll just have to dress up Jay as an Arab and send him to
Saudi Arabia to serve the papers," Marvin says.
--JUST days after New York's Finest slapped the plastic cuffs on him for being
too demonstrative at the City Hall protest over school budget cuts, hip-hop
star Wyclef Jean is going to be mixing with some very exalted company Wednesday
night. Jean, along with Lionel Ritchie, is performing at the invitation of Bill
Roedy, MTV honcho and outgoing chairman of the Global Business Council on
HIV/AIDS, Those expected at the GBC dinner include Bill Clinton, U.N. Secretary
General Kofi Annan and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke.
Maybe Wyclef will sing them a new song about being busted.
NY POST/CINDY ADAMS....
--The Paul McCartney wedding. Guests from the New York area include the
Eastmans, the family of Sir Beatle's late wife Linda. Also, the cook who'll
cook the Indian veggie menu for the 300 who'll eat their curried lentils off
white and gold plates is the in-house rented castle's cook, Noel.
--Al Pacino's tango teacher for "Scent of A Woman" and Sigourney Weaver and
Anthony La Paglia's ditto for "The Guys," just published "Paul Pellicoro on
Tango." Barricade Books . . .
--The L.A. Lakers, how Shaquille preps for a game or how Phil Jackson addresses
Shaq's terminal partying, tough-broad author Elizabeth Kaye, who spent a year
with the team, is out with "Ain't No Tomorrow" . . .
--For how Kelly Preston keeps hubby John Travolta warm, read Redbook for her
"Naked Stewardess" game. Don't ask . . .
--India.Arie shared this with CosmoGirl: "We all bleed red and if we don't
figure that out, it's going to be over." . . .
--Robin Tunney waxing rhapsodic about her role in "Cherish": "My character
kicks ass."
--JACLYN Smith moving to NYC while her beautiful daughter is associated with
Alvin Ailey . . .
--Martin Scorsese's signed oil portrait done by 17-year-old Julianne Michelle
gets auctioned tonight at Pier Sixty for Steven Spielberg's "Children at Heart"
fund-raiser . . .
--Sandra Bullock getting the hairs tinted at Frederic Fekkai . . .
--Reese Witherspoon shopping at Barneys whilst working her cell phone . . .
--Danny DeVito buying at The Gym Source . . .
--Jerry Seinfeld wanted a satellite dish on his CPW building roof. For his
exclusive use. He didn't get it and he isn't thrilled . . .
--Bridget Moynihan, of the CIA-inspired film "The Sum of All Fears," follows
with "The Farm," another movie about the CIA . .
NY POST/LIZ SMITH....
--Eartha Kitt, believes there is a conspiracy against her. The actress has
grandkids, dogs and costumes to cart around. Her Range Rover was stolen three
years ago and later found on a ship bound for Ethiopia. "One of my favorite
countries, mind you," as Eartha opines. So Eartha, who finds the 2003 RR's too
big, tried to find a 2002 RR and got the last one in Larchmont. While it was
being fitted for a roof rack, somebody stole it off the lot. Eartha says she
may opt for a horse and buggy.
--LET US be the first to tell you about Entertainment Weekly's coming "It List
Party" happening June 24 at NYC's Milk Studios. The magazine feels naturally
that when it publishes its "100 most creative people list" each year, they have
turned out to be uncanny, savvy and brilliant in their picks. (Since all
entertainment magazines try to be this way, why should E.W. be different? And
who can blame them for hoping to put together a gala that would equal Vanity
Fair's so-far superior Oscar party in L.A.) They put Kirsten Dunst and Tobey
Maguire on their cover 365 days before the record-breaking "Spider-Man"
appeared. A year before that, they had Hayden Christensen of "Star Wars." Cover
girls have ranged from Cameron Diaz to Heather Graham. (Did these actresses
become bombshell-leading ladies because of E.W. or was E.W. prescient?) It
hardly matters. The party holds spectacular promise with lounges representing
different fields - movies, music, TV, books, special cocktails, munchies and
surprise performances. Now try to be invited.
NY DAILY NEWS/RUSH AND MOLLOY...
--Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's youngest brother may have embarrassed her
again. Tony Rodham was in a Washington, D.C., court on Thursday battling his
ex-wife, Nicole Boxer, over child support. Boxer, daughter of Sen. Barbara
Boxer (D-Calif.), claimed that Rodham is way behind in payments for their son,
Zachary, who turns 7 this week. "He hasn't paid child support in over six
months," said our source. Rodham, who's representing himself in the
child-support case, was most recently in the business of importing hazelnuts
from the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Boxer, who works in film, divorced
Rodham in 2000. Since then, the 47-year-old Rodham has been criticized for
lobbying his brother-in-law, then-President Bill Clinton, to pardon embezzlers
Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory. Last Aug. 18, police were called to the Rodham
family cottage in the Berkshires after Daniel Coyne allegedly broke in and
kicked Rodham "in the head and body." According to police reports, Coyne saw
Rodham having sex with his girlfriend, Kelly Quick. Rodham admitted he "might
have" smoked marijuana with Coyne earlier, as Coyne claimed. Boxer's lawyer
Robert Liotta would say only, "This is a sealed case." Rodham did not return
messages left at his office and on his cell phone. Sen. Clinton's spokeswoman
did not return calls by deadline.
--Kiefer Sutherland and Kelly Winn have one of the friendlier divorces in
Hollywood. The actor, who's made an amazing comeback with his real-time TV
drama "24," has flown to Toronto three times in recent months to visit his ex.
Just last week, the 35-year-old actor visited the set of "Crime Spree" there,
where Winn is working as a production assistant. Sutherland was with Winn's two
kids — his stepsons — and afterward headed to Subway for sandwiches. Though
he and the ex-model separated in 1999, they only recently finalized their
divorce. Sutherland has been dating blond artist Catherine Bisson, an
apparently very secure 28-year-old. "Kiefer and Kelly are just friends," his
spokeswoman told us.
--Queen Latifah is making her pitch to play Wu-Tang Clan producer Cathy Jones
in "Gangsta Bitches," the movie based on Jones' life. Latifah has been calling
producers, trying to land the role, says Jones, which is also attracting the
interest of "Bring It On" cheerleader Gabrielle Union, Vivica A. Fox and rapper
Eve. The part is feisty, since it's based on Jones, the producing beauty who
worked with the Wu-Tang Clan and other artists, and owned an L.A. club where
mob gangsters met hip-hop gangstas. "It's a very dynamic role, because it's
about women's empowerment and women in high-level business," the 33-year-old
Jones told us. "Queen Latifah typifies that. And I'm sure she sees herself as a
gangsta bitch — a nonviolent, thought-provoking, dynamic woman and survivor."
Danny DeVito bought the rights to "Gangsta Bitches," which is being hailed as
the first black and white female buddy picture. In addition to having a movie
made about her, Jones is in negotiations with Randy Jackson — brother of
Michael and Janet — to start a record, television and film company.
--Lil' Bow Wow says he's ready to give up hip hop for hoops. The 15-year-old
rap star, who shows his dribbling skills in the movie "Like Mike," tells us,
"I'm going to Duke. I got a nice jumper on me, and I'm not just bragging."
--Toronto Raptor Vince Carter, who has a cameo in the flick, says: "Going to
Duke is a bad decision. I still have a few hours to work on him. After a while,
you'll be hearing him say 'North Carolina!'" …
--Tommy Tune nearly got his mouth washed out at last week's FiFi Awards. In a
masterful Freudian slip, the dancer called them the "Feces Awards" …
--Jennifer Lopez just split with husband Cris Judd but she has no trouble
finding some muscle when she needs it. A spy says that on a recent visit to
Miami's Delano Hotel, J.Lo recruited a bodyguard to carry her across a wet lawn
to her bungalow. She didn't want to get her shoes dirty …
--Sharon Stone is laughing off talk that she's had her bosom reupholstered for
her return to movies. "I've had the same breasts my entire adult life," she
tells us. "You're just jealous" …
--Eddie Griffin, whose "Undercover Brother" just hit theaters, is ready for his
dream role playing comic genius Richard Pryor. "We're putting together a script
right now," Griffin tells us, "but it has to be great. I could never disrespect
Richard. Pryor started it all" …
ASSOCIATED PRESS...
--Clint Eastwood was sworn in as a state parks commissioner at the beginning of
the 100-year birthday celebration for Big Basin Redwood State Park,
California's oldest state park. "You're all under arrest," he told the crowd as
he held up his new parks commissioner badge. At his swearing in Saturday, the
actor and Carmel businessman said his biggest priority was maintenance.
Eastwood also encouraged conservationists to "put your money where your mouth
is." "The thing we want to do is energize people to buy lands," he said. The
problem with the state parks for the past decade has been "non-maintenance,"
and the state parks system is frequently short of money and long-term planning,
said the commission's chairman, attorney Joseph Cotchett. Eastwood, 72, said
his grandmother used to bring him to Big Basin, a 20,000-acre park with
magnificent redwoods and 80 miles of hiking trails that draws about 1 million
visitors a year. There are now 265 parks in the state parks system, and
Eastwood urged people to use them. "You're paying for it. Your tax dollars are
paying for it," he said. "So I want you to come and enjoy it. They're the best
bargain you'll ever have."
--Actor Matt Damon came into town to promote his latest film and to try and
boost a local theater. A fleet of cameras outside the Fulton Street Theater
descended on Damon while the Hollywood star made an appearance to raise money
for the Boise Contemporary Theater. Damon talked with reporters, greeted fans
and charmed about 450 people at the benefit reception Saturday night. "It's
hard to believe he's really here," said Karee Granger, 24, who drove from
Ontario, Ore. Damon introduced an advanced screening of his latest movie, "The
Bourne Identity." He is on a whirlwind tour to promote the spy thriller, and
his fund-raiser also generated about $30,000 for the Idaho theater's operating
budget. "It's great to do something like this to support theater," Damon said.
"I think Boise is a great town. It's really beautiful."
--Some Eminem fans may soon be able to take a ride in the Detroit-area rapper's
old car. A purple Ford Mustang that once belonged to Eminem, whose real name is
Marshall Mathers, was traded in last week at Russ Milne Ford. Eminem's uncle
brought the car for a trade-in last week, while the rapper was outside, "kind
of acting incognito," Russ Milne general manager Keith Batko said. "One of our
workers recognized him." The car, custom-painted purple and featuring a tan
leather interior and convertible cover, can be viewed at the suburban Detroit
dealership while its future is decided. It has 13,000 miles, although a $7,000
stereo system and Cobra tires were removed from it before the trade, the
dealership said. Russ Milne said it is considering selling the car and donating
the proceeds to charity.
--THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Netherlands has a new member of its royal
family. Eloise, the daughter of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, was
born late Saturday in a Dutch hospital, weighing 8.1 pounds and 20.4 inches
tall. Both the mother and baby are doing well, the royal court said. Eloise is
Queen Beatrix's first grandchild. Princess Laurentien, 36, married the 32-year
old Constantijn, Beatrix's youngest son, in May last year. "This is great. We
feel intensely happy and grateful, undoubtedly like all parents who have
witnessed the miracle of a birth," the prince said. Eloise, whose full name is
Eloise Sophie Beatrix Laurence, countess of Orange-Nassau, Lady of Amsberg, is
fourth in line to the throne after Beatrix's three sons, Crown Prince Willem
Alexander, Prince Johan Friso and Constantijn.
--It's primetime for Hitler, as CBS has greenlit a four-hour miniseries based
on the early years of the man who would one day rise to Fuhrer. "Hitler," based
on historian Ian Kershaw's biography "Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris," will air
during one of next year's sweeps periods. "I'd be lying if I said we aren't a
bit nervous about attempting to examine one of history's most heinous
characters, but in this age of megalomaniacal terrorism, we feel it is all the
more important and relevant," said Ed Gernon, who will executive produce with
Peter Sussman. Indeed, past Hitler projects have dealt less with the man and
more with the world around him. But CBS is said to be high on the new
miniseries, which is being produced by Alliance Atlantis. The Canadian studio
previously optioned the rights to "Hubris" and Kershaw's sequel, "Hitler:
1936-1945 Nemesis." "Hubris" became the first Hitler biography to use
information gleaned from Nazi propaganda chief Josef Goebbels' diaries, found a
few years ago in Moscow. Kershaw's book also took a different approach than
most, examining the society around Hitler in addition to the man himself.
--The Brad Pitt sci-fi epic "The Fountain" (aka "The Last Man"), is back on
track after a change of co-financiers. Fox-based New Regency, which recently
released the Diane Lane hit "Unfaithful," has joined the Warner Bros.
production, replacing Australia's Village Roadshow Pictures. The companies are
currently trying to determine a start date for the production, budgeted north
of $70 million. Darren Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream," "Pi") will direct from
a script he co-wrote with Ari Handel. Plot details have been kept tightly under
wraps. Aronofsky's road toward production on this picture has been a rocky one.
Village Roadshow came aboard last year, when the film was targeted for a fall
2001 start and a fall 2002 release. The company then pushed its production
target to this summer, however, to accommodate Warners' budget concerns, as
well as co-star Cate Blanchett's pregnancy. While Warner Bros. executives were
fans of Aronofsky's past films, applying his sensibility to a studio film --
one with a budget that dwarfs the $4.5 million "Requiem" -- gave them a
moment's pause.
--The WB has picked up broadcast rights to "40 Days and 40 Nights," starring
Josh Hartnett, and the Britney Spears vehicle "Crossroads." The network will
pony up $4 million-$5 million to get three runs of "40 Days and 40 Nights" over
three years starting Dec. 1, 2004. Also getting multiple runs in the network
window of "40 Days" is Comedy Central, which is half-owned by WB parent AOL
Time Warner. The WB also gets the first play of "Crossroads," but the deal is
limited to one run within a three-month period covering the fourth quarter of
2004.
--The American Film Institute will honor one of its graduates, "In the Bedroom"
director Todd Field, with 12th annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. The
award -- established in 1991 by Schaffner's widow -- is presented to recognize
the work of graduates from the AFI Conservatory or its Directing Workshop for
Women. Field graduated from the conservatory in 1995. He will receive the medal
Wednesday when the AFI presents Tom Hanks with its Lifetime Achievement Award
at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Field previously won the AFI's Schaffner
Fellow Award for his thesis film, "Nonnie & Alex." Schaffner, who died in 1989,
was best known as the director of "Planet of the Apes," "Patton" and "The Boys
from Brazil."
--The bungled U.S. military mission in Mogadishu, Somalia that was the subject
of the hit movie "Black Hawk Down" is now being made into a video game, "Delta
Force -- Black Hawk Down." NovaLogic, based in Calabasas, Calif., insists the
game will have a patriotic tone intended to help educate the public about the
military disaster. But Mark Bowden, the journalist who wrote the best-selling
book upon which the movie was based, has said he does not want to be associated
with the game. The company said the game will depict the mission dramatized in
the movie, but will not replicate the true outcome of the mission -- and will
refrain from showing scenes of the bodies of U.S. servicemen being paraded
through the streets -- in the interest of not offending anyone. A game about
Mogadishu prompts the question whether there will ever be a game based on the
Sept. 11 terrorist attack. NovaLogic reportedly has a game in the works about
the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan.
--Mark Derwin ("One Life to Live," "The Guiding Light") has joined the cast of
the new ABC-TV comedy "Life With Bonnie," starring Bonnie Hunt ("Jumanji,"
"Jerry Maguire"). Derwin -- who will play the husband of Hunt's character --
replaces Brian Kerwin ("Beggars and Choosers," "The Young and the Restless") in
the cast. He has worked with Hunt before, on the actress' mid-'90s CBS comedy,
"The Bonnie Hunt Show."
* * *
WEIRD BUT TRUE....
NY POST/Bill Hoffmann
--LONDON - British police are used to dealing with cat burglars - but now
they're hunting a chimpanzee who has robbed two London homes. A shocked
Mustapha Riat awoke to find the cheeky monkey in his home in Hackney, east
London, stealing his mobile phone. "I saw this hairy black chimpanzee coming
through my window. It was broad and muscular and I was frightened of being
bitten," Riat, 43, told The Sun newspaper.
--A World War II flying ace got his high-school ring back - 57 years after he
was forced to leave it behind in a Nazi prison camp. Carlisle Louis Nottingham,
now 81, of Virginia, was contacted by German resident Mathias Franke, who was
curious to find the ring’s owner after he received it from his grandfather.
The ring is embossed with Cape Charles High School 1937 and bears the initials
CLN. Franke said a Russian soldier had taken the ring and sold it to his
grandfather. Using the Internet, Mathias found a contact for the school and
figured out only one person from the Class of ’37 had those initials.
--A special-education teacher taught disabled students by day and was a hooker
by night, cops in Florida say. Cops busted Lisa Darnell, 29, of Kissimmee, for
allegedly hiring herself out over the Internet. The arrest of the Poinciana HS
teacher stunned the community. School spokeswoman Dana Schafer said Darnell
provided students with "hands-on experience about how it is out in the work
force." But investigator Bill Lutz said Darnell "had an Internet site that was
advertising her services. They would make arrangements to meet over e-mail."
--A Missouri man won a brand new Volkswagen Beetle - by living in it for a full
week. Ryan Sevener, 20, of St. Louis, who outlasted three other contestants,
none of whom were allowed to bathe, said: "I could have stayed there for
another week. I'm pretty young, so I could do it." Nothing that entered the car
was allowed to leave, so seven days worth of fast-food containers and wrappers
piled up on the dashboard and on the car's floor.
--Five Wisconsin high-school seniors caused a stink when they sent out fake
letters on the principal's stationary saying free condoms would be passed out
at graduation. The jokers, from Fond du Lac HS, "had no idea of the
ramifications," said principal Mary Fran Merwin, whose signature was
electronically scanned-in. "Lots of parents did call, and none of them took it
as a joke." The five have since apologized and will be allowed to graduate.
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