Weather: Cold, foggy. 4.

Travel: A whole week off work. So no travel reports (:

One of the hidden lights of British music passed away Monday. Though Kirsty MacColl never scaled the heights of commercial success, her unique voice and witty songwriting have made a mark on almost all singer-songwriters of the past twenty years.

I first heard Kirsty with her 1985 hit, "A New England," co-written with "voice of the people" Billy Bragg. Even at the age of 25, she had a maturity that surpassed many contemporaries. In later years, she helped to popularise Latin music many years before Ricky Martin turned it commercial, recording an album in Cuba last year.

Best known for her collaberation on the only Christmas single that still pricks the soul, "Fairytale Of New York", Kirsty remained active as a writer and social commentator until her untimely demise in a boating accident Monday.

Recommended albums:
"Tropical Brainstorm" (2000)
"Galore - the best of" (1995)
"Electric Landlady" (1991)
"Best of the Pogues" (1991)

Weather: Cloudy, rain through much of the day. 9.

Jeff
Tell educated people around the world that the US is a "model for democracy" and they'll laugh in your face.
Unless they are British, in which case they'll reckon laughing in someone's face is a tad rude, and snigger up their sleeve behind your back.

In the US, the corporations funding the election, the campaign financing and the debates really won either way with Bush or Gore. That's why most big companies gave equal money to both and the newly created "electoral commission" barred Ralph Nader from the debates this year (even as an audience member when he had a ticket!)
There was a challenge laid down to the more publicity-hungry news channels, such as F*X Nooz and MSNBC, to insert Nader, Buchanan, and other national candidates into the "official" debates by means of tape delay, much as the then-fledgling CNN did for a third candidate in 1980. They declined to pick up the offer.

Weather: Damp, doesn't quite rain, but pretty icky out. 11.

Moves to ban fox-hunting progress in the Commons. MPs faced a free vote on three options. They must choose between an almost total ban on hunting with dogs, self-regulation or compulsory licensing of hunts. Protesters gathered outside parliament as MPs prepared to vote.
It's the question of just how liberal The Party (or her members) is prepared to be. True liberals may well not like people hunting foxes for sport, but as it doesn't actually do anyone any harm, they would tolerate it. Instead, because fox hunters tend to be upper-class, and The Party likes to pretend it's a friend to lower-class people, it has become the number one shibboleth over the past 20 years or so. Chalk this down as a poor day for British democracy.

Chile's supreme court again rules against the indictment of ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet on murder and kidnapping charges. The court rejects an appeal to last week's judgment blocking the Senator's arrest for organizing the 1973 "Caravan of Death," a military operation that executed 73 political prisoners. Pinochet may ultimately avoid trial if tests show he is mentally ill.
This is Chile's case to pursue, and it's gratifying that she's been given the chance to slay her own demons, rather than allow prejudiced Spaniards and British to impose their alien standards.

The Taliban is shutting down a UN special mission to Afghanistan and will boycott American goods in retaliation for new UN sanctions under a US-Russian initiative. The faux-Islamic movement's ambassador to Pakistan claimed the UN was no longer neutral and it would reject UN mediation in peace talks against its opponents. Humanitarian agencies say sanctions will worsen the plight of ordinary Afghans.
This is a clearly unstable regime, in an unstable part of the world. The US should know that economic sanctions don't work; they failed against South Africa, they didn't bring Lybia to her knees, they weren't responsible for toppling Milosevic in Yugoslavia, and they've done naff-all against Iraq. Sanctions against Cuba, meanwhile, celebrated their 40th birthday this year with no effect. This has really shown that the US doesn't understand the UN. Quelle surprise!

Dunja:
I think this is great. We in Croatia (which was communist country) till 1990 think that US is a promise land and that our country stinks
Next year marks the tenth anniversary of Slovenian independence, followed by ten years of Croat independence, then ten years of Macedonia and Bosnia follow in early 2002.

What do these countries have to show for it? Slovenia and Croatia have quality football sides, Croatia a great showing in Eurovision, Bosnia a permanent UN presence, while Macedonia doesn't even have its own name yet, being "officially" known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A mouthful for anyone.

You are such a patriots, but I think is so hypocriticall because when someone in my country said that he is Croat and that love his country, we that that statement is nationalistic and bad and ...
This could be a cultural difference. It seems the European culture, in its broadest sense, is trying to reduce the importance of historic ethnic differences in favour of "one Europe." The US has historically emphasised its unity, going in for big shows of national togetherness, perhaps without taking care of the thoughts on the ground.

But you (People from US) elected it.
This is a large part of the problem. Citizens of the US did *not* elect this shrub to be their president. They didn't according to who got the most votes nationally, they didn't according to the rules as laid down before the vote. It's only manipulation, intimidation and widespread ballot fraud that have brought about the sham paraded last week.

I think my president is idiot,(I didn't vote for him)
At least you get a chance to vote for your head of state. Some of us have to put up with a bunch of out-of-touch inbreeds, without any means of disposing of them.

Weather: Drizzle all day. 11, but feeling colder.

Here in the northern hemisphere, today was the shortest day, and marks the limit of darkness encroaching into the light. Slowly at first, then more and more quickly, twilight finds itself falling into the day, and soon life is returning everywhere.

It's all brighter from here on in.

Anne:
I'm just going to write about some random stuff.. and maybe a few of you will feel like replying to what I have to say!!! :)
Hey, random stuff is good. Randomness is cool. Whatever crosses your mind is good.

You know what else is making me mad right now about America, is that THAT IDIOT IS GOING TO BE OUR PRESIDENT!! Representing our county!!
Your idiot, your anti-president. Representing no-one but himself. He has no mandate to represent anyone else. Not even Mrs Shrub.

That, crack addict,
My crack team of legal advisors have advised me to insert the word "allegedly" here.

who flunked out of Yale,
Again, the legal beagles won't stop haruumphing until I scribble "allegedly" here. So I shall.

which by the way he didnt even get itno on his own merit!!
If the legal side don't shut up, I shall shoot them very dead. Allegedly.

The only reason people in America vote for him, his entire voting population, is the ignorant, or the extreme religious people.
It's worth noting that he secured the vote of less than 24% of those entitled to vote. Again, back to this mandate issue.

I can't believe this is the best we could come up with!
It's not. You could have elected Mike Piazza, Mike from the pizza store, anyone.

In fact, I think we should elect our own president right here, right now. May I nominate Angela Bigos as President, on the grounds that she is a fine, upstanding woman who will bring sense to a demanding position.

he's proud of the fact that he's killed more people in capital punishment then all the other 49 states combined!
As I've said before, there's a case against him to be made under anti-torture conventions. I look forward to seeing him squirm.

My best friend and I are going to travel Europe, just move from country to country.
You have the languages? Seriously, though, do let us know when you'll be dropping into the UK, and we'll try to gather a crowd to meet up. The more notice the merrier, but - like Dipsy - some of us can travel at the drop of a hat.

Henna
will the amount of death sentences rise during the Shrub precidency perioid? Dunno. (sorry, but I don't know who's actually deciding on these things in US, is it congress or what)
It's a state issue, stated for each state to decide on a state-by-state basis.

However, there is an argument that it's Cruel and Unusual Punishment, and hence barred by the Constitution. Though it briefly adopted a humane view during the 60s and 70s, the Constitutional Court currently declines to accept the validity of this view.

Weather: Cloudy, damp, 6.

Angela Bigos:
'Feud' host blackmailer gets time
How might this have turned out in court? Here's some edited lowlights.

Judge Leslie Dennis (right) presiding.
Judge Les: Hello, welcome to Clown Court. With us today are the Anderson Family, of daytime television. And the D'fence Family, cobbled together from a bunch of people we found at LA airport.

---

Judge Les: Anderson family, you have control of the game. We're looking for nasty pieces of work. Brad, you have two convictions for armed robbery, and one charge of being a poor plot device in a quiz show skit. Brad, name a nasty piece of work.
Brad: Me.
Judge Les: Our survey said -
[ping!]
Judge Les: 42! Top answer! Louie Anderson, what do you say?
Louie: Richard over there.
Judge Les: You say Richard over there. If it's there, you're a winner and you can either play for the car, or nominate the other team to play for the bird. If it's not, they get a chance to steal.
Louie: Wouldn't be the first time.
Judge Les: Richard over there. Our survey said -
[ping!]
Judge Les: 13! It's there. Question or nominate.
Louie: I'll nominate Richard to play for the bird.

---

Judge Les: You join us at a crucial time in Family Misfortunes, with Richard Gordon playing to avoid The Bird. He needs a partner in this endgame, and it's down to the other contestants on the D'Fence Family to choose. Contestants, it's time to vote on who you think is the strongest link.
Judy: William
Anne: Judy
William: Anne
Dale, the court bailiff: Didn't they do well! One vote each, a tie. How super!
Judge Les: William, why Anne?
William G Stewart (for it is he!): People only watch her tawdry quiz show to see her getting stroppy.
Judge Les: Anne, why Judy?
Anne Robinson (for it is she!): [looking aghast at William] People only watch my show to see me getting stroppy? Come outside and I'll ram those ancient trophies where the sun don't shine!
[Anne and William leave the court]
Judge Les: Well, it looks as if it's going to be you, Judy, playing to keep Richard from The Bird.

---

Judge Les: One answer remaining, Richard, you need 102 points to avoid The Bird. Name something you use to keep yourself clean. You said
Richard: It's soap, Les.
Judge Les: Yes, I know it's hopeless, but you've got to play anyway. Our survey said -
[ping!]
Judge Les: 53. Which still leaves you 49 short. So it's The Bird, I'm afraid.

Judge Les: Louie, as captain of the winning team, which part of The Bird should Judy and Richard stand in front of?
Louie: The beak.
Judge Les: Louie, confer with your family if you need. How many months should the beak hold him for?
[Louie and the Andersons confer.]
Louie: We think 34.
Judge Les: Judy, Richard, do you think higher or lower than 34?
Audience: Higher! Higher!
Richard: We think lower.
Judge Les: You think lower than 34, our survey said - 21! Twenty-one months it is. Richard, you also win tonight's spot prize, the services of a probation officer for 36 months afterwards. Didn't they all do well! That's all we've got time for on Family Misfortunes tonight, goodnight!

[With apologies to Mark Goodson Productions, Regent Productions, the BBC and anyone else who read right through.]

Weather: Misty & cold. 4.

Football: Coventry and Southampton tied 1-1 on Friday.
Norway's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice as Manchester United increased its lead to eight points with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich at Old Trafford.
Liverpool was an even bigger winner Saturday as Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Nicky Barmby and Robbie Fowler scored in a 4-0 thumping of Arsenal at Anfield. The Gunners threatened to tie the match early in the second half before Owen scored much against the run of play and Liverpool pulled away with late strikes from Barmby and Fowler.
In other Premier League games Saturday, it was: Charlton 1, Everton 0; Chelsea 3, Bradford 0; Derby 2, Newcastle 0; Aston Villa 2, Leeds 1; Leicester 2, West Ham 1; Sunderland 1, Manchester City 0 and Tottenham 0, Middlesbrough 0.

The standings: MUN 43 ARS 35 LEI 35 (+1) LIV 33 (+1) IPS 33 (-2) ... BRA 12 MID 15 COV 16 MCY 18 (-1) DER 19 (+1)
The points: MUN 1159 ARS 1079 LIV 1073 (+2) SUN 1067 LEI 1065 ... BRA 861 COV 897 MCY 906 (-1) MID 914 (+1) EVE 949 (-2)

Cory!
The You-relating-to-the-Show Questions:
1. Which Character to you most identify with?
2. Why?
Way back when MSCL first aired, colour me Angela with a lot of Brian's hang ups. Someone had to be me projected onto a big screen.
Now? I might just be how Rickie turned out circa series 4. If the character was unlucky.

3. which character would you most want to bang?
4. Why?
Errrrr. I'll take a pass, as I don't think I'd *really* want to jump into the sheets with any of them right now. Though if someone slips two tablets of Viagra into my coffee, I'll join with Sharon and Kyle.

5. Favorite Episode?
"Why Jordan Can't Read." There's something about that episode that I still think I'm missing.

7. What would you have Corey Helfrick paint on your shoes if given the chance?
An abstract, in blocks of colour.

The How-much-do-you-remember Questions:
1. What did Jordan tell Angela her aversion to sex was?
2. What did Rickie tell Jordan he would do for him on Christmas Eve?
3. Why was Angela's dad at school talking to Sharon?
4. What did Sharon win in the Sophomore boys' survey?
5. And Rayanne?
6. What book did Angela talk to the police officer about in the Pilot?
In alphabetical order of answers:
Abnormal
Anne's Diary
Candle
Hooters
Hospitalised
Slut Potential

Readers are left to pair the answers (which may or may not be correct!) to the question as an exercise.

OK, the answers. A-1 B-6 C-2 (light a) D-4 E-3 (her father had been) F-5.

Weather:

Moira:
1. Have you ever cried watching MSCL? If yes, when was that?
No.

2. What's the best line you remember from the show?
The ones I've used in real life, without prompting:
"At least we'll be able to see you in a crowd"
"Can we stop talking about religion, it's Christmas."

3. What's the funniest line you remember from the show?
The Resolutions sequence.

4. What's the most romantic moment you remember?
The Happiness Dance, from WJCR.

5. Who of the characters would you have as your best friend?
Probably Brian.

6. Do you think Angela schould forgive Rayanne?
At what point?

7. Do you think Rayanne schould start to date Brian, or the just sleep with him?
Brian will want more than sex, but Rayanne would see it as a laugh. No strings attached banging from them both will go fine.

The Charts

#1 #1 Bob The Builder - can we fix it? [week 2]
#2 #2 Eminem - santa
#3 NE Westlife - what makes a man?
#4 #5 Baha Men - who let the dogs out?
#5 #3 Destiny's Child - independent women i

also new
18 Oxide & Neutrino - no good for me
28 Sugababes - next year
80 Roy Wood & Wombles - i wish it could be a
  wombling merry christmas everyday

back
67 Whitney Houston, Faith Evans, Kelly Price -
  heartbreak hotel
79 Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - fairytale of new york

upwards
16 20 U2 - beautiful day
20 32 Lenny Kravitz - again
21 28 Madonna - music
23 36 Modjo - lady hear me tonight
24 31 Ronan Keating - the way you make me feel
25 29 Toploader - dancing in the moonlight
36 48 Matchbox Twenty - if you're gone