Angela asked Is the hallmark of the Goth the dress, hair, and make up? Or is there an internal Goth agenda?
More often than not, it's self-expression through a certain style of dress, encouraging a semi-stereotypical first response from non-members; a wish to be considered at arm's length from "other" members of society. But if you ask five Goths, you'll probably get a dozen or more answers.

as you will with economists, theologists, or punks. if you ask five politicians, you'll get either fifty or one answers

It's clear that at least in some people who are into Goth there is definitely an unhealthy (and possibly dangerous) fascination with blood, death, cutting, torture, etc.
As there is in society as a whole.

I'm also sure the percentage of adults (those quiet mild mannered ones) who are into S&M is much, much higher.
Hey, you're the resident Porn Princess. This is your territory. (:

Tanvir enquired
Why do I suddenly like ABBA now?
Let me hand this over to our resident Swedish correspondent, Maark Frosstsonn. He's a good cook, dontcha know.

While he's readying a reply, Paulo
I still remember Abba from their first time, that is, late 70s/early 80s, before their current comeback.
Goodness. Do you have any of their original wax cylinders, played by a bird with a large sharp beak a la the Flintstones (:

Actually, I recall Abba appearing for a few weeks running on Noel Edmonds' Late Late Breakfast Show, promoting their '82 greatest hits album. It shows a lot of things:
1) Gee whizz, I'm old.
2) Noel's been doing Saturday evening tv for almost twenty years. No wonder the format's worn thin.
3) The songs haven't aged in 25 years.

I also remember the first revival, about seven years ago, when gay popsters Erasure covered four of Abba's greatest songs. Still the definitive version of "Lay All Your Love On Me", IMO.

And, as it's been a quiet week on the music front, Five ABBA Songs That Really Stand The Test.
+ Waterloo (1974)
+ Dancing Queen (1976)
+ Take A Chance On Me (1978)
+ Super Trouper (1980; all four on "ABBA Gold")
+ Lay All Your Love On Me (1981; on "More ABBA Gold", both in all good record stores (and Woolworths) now.)

I really have no desire to write for a newspaper, especially local ones.
They don't pay, but it's the best place to learn. Honing your craft with someone who understands and cares a little.

The people that buy newspapers around here are not ready for my weird sense of humor.
Maybe they are. Newspapers are dying. They need an influx of young people itching to write about young people's issues. For instance, for a few months in late 95, The Sunday Times became a must-read solely because of columns by Forrest, Burchill and Heller. All adopting an attitude that wouldn't have gotten space five years before.

And going by what I see in the paper, I know I wouldn't fit in there.
Let me play editor for a moment. Do you have talent? (Yes) Is it worth my while running some of your pieces to test the water? (Innovation is the only way to change) Am I going to get my ass sued off? (No) Are the pieces ready to run the way they are (No, but they might be if...)

if I could somehow get a collection of my poems printed that maybe I could talk to people at my favorite local bookstore, which has a huge section devoted to local writers, and ask if they'd display it.
If-If-Maybe-If. That's no way to run a ship, never mind your career.

Angela, a professional writer, adds:
Best way to start out professionally is with your local paper.
This is true. Regular viewers will know there are a few writers I really admire. Without exception, all of them started on their local newspapers. Peter Rhodes (Express & Star) is still there as their feature writer and slice of life columnist. Zoe Heller, Emma Forrest, Andrew Marr, Decca Aitkinhead, even the odious Libby Purves, all started on their local rags.

Maybe it's me being too quick to praise, maybe it's based in fact, but there's a certain similarity between some of Victoria's rambles and Zoe Heller's early work. Rambling to some purpose, as the editor of the Independent on Sunday described her column. A blinkin' good read, says I.

Next Week's TV is dominated by the total solar eclipse that takes place over Cornwall and Devon next Wednesday. Here's the day-by-day guide.

Saturday: TWO 2:25 "Mutiny On The Bounty" Frank Lloyd's 1935 masterpiece, starring Charles Laughton and Clark Gable as Bligh and Christian.
itv2 2:30 "Football First" The best way to watch the day's action, and all without any footage from the grounds.
[4] 10 "Sounds of 69" As part of the channel's 60s revival, the year is relived through the Number One records of the year. But what were the lyrics to "The Israelites"?

why find my kids , they f***ed up and-a leave me. oh, oh, me ears are alight.

Sunday: ONE 7:10 "Teletubbies". Note the new time for the weekly Tubbybuss. "Match of the Day" follows at 7:50, and "Breakfast With Frost" doesn't start till 9.
[4] 8 "The Trap Door" A creature from Below eats Berk's food.
ONE 11 "Terry And June" The classic sitcom of middle-aged surburbia. They'd never make it nowadays. Radio 4 3 "Swallows and Amazons" An adaptation of the classic children's tale. Repeated next Saturday 9.

Monday (5) 9 "The Tribe" When the channel started, some wags said the Apocalypse would come before (5) made a kids' drama. Well, the end of civilization in Australia has happened, and this 5000-part serial follows a bunch of kids stuck in a mall. Daily.
Radio 3 12 "Composer of the Week" - Bernstein. Today, his Broadway musicals. More from him all week.
Radio 4 1:30 "Brain of Britain" The return of radio's toughest quiz.
[4] 4:30 "Countdown Classic" Depends on the Test match finishing before about 3pm.
(5) 8:30 "Kennedy - Flight Of Death" They clear their schedules quickly when they want to!

Tuesday: [4] 9 "Secret History" - The Great Train Robbery. 36 years after Buster and co stole three million in Hertfordshire, the myth conceals incompetence, betrayal, injustice, corruption and a dodgy Phil Collins album.
Radio 4 6:30 "Man Of Soup" Two tourists are stranded in the former Soviet republic of Stomzovakia. David Stafford writes, Morwenna Banks, Josie Lawrence and Andrew Sachs act.
KNOWLEDGE 10 "Heavenly" - The Solar System.
CHOICE ENGLAND 11 "Wicked Women" What went on in Hyde Park after your correspondent left. Not a pretty sight.

Wednesday: ONE [4] (5) Eclipse coverage - Three programmes, one event. They will be so stuffed if it's cloudy! ONE kicks off with Michael Buerk, Phlippa Forrester, Jamie Theakston and Patrick Moore at 9:45; (5) features newscaster Kirsty Young and astronomer Russell Grant at 9:55. [4] is hosted by ex-BP man Richard Bacon, ex-BBC girl Josie D'Arby and ex-Queen guitarist Brian May. Expect DOGs on the picture. Further advice on viewing the eclipse will come out by Tuesday.
[4] 6 "Dawson's Creek" - Reunited. First of the three episodes shown last weekend, now shorn of its DOG.
TWO 6:45 "Athletics" The meeting of the season, from Zurich.

Thursday: [4] 10:45 "Pop up Video" The MMM filler becomes a T4 filler.
Radio 4 8:30 "Beautiful, Clever, Rich and Free" - Beautiful. Anna Ford tells the story of 20th century womyn; today, how womyn use their bodies.

Friday: [4] 10:30 "Alex Mack" Any excuse will do.
Radio 2 7 "Tin Pan Alley" The greatest writers and music.
[4] 10:30 "The Armstrong and Miller Show" The return of the surreal comics.

Tanvir reminds us
Wallmart only stock cds that they consider appropriate.
So does Woolies. And Smiths. And HMV, Our Price, Tower, Andys, Fopp and Sanjay on Wolverhampton Market. If they don't reckon they'll be able to shift the disc, they won't buy it. It's called basic economics.

the supply and demand fundamental.

Walmart, though, figure that they can increase their profits by basing their purchasing policy on content. It's not going to give them profit from that disc, it's going to drive shoppers away, and it's an obviously counter-productive policy.

lower sales, and hence lower profit for them.

Consider the marginal costs of shopping at another store - they're not zero.

handling the money, or processing the debit card, all takes labour - which could be eliminated by a more enlightened stocking policy.

This Is Damaging Your Bottom Line. Stop It, Otherwise You'll Go Bust.

and may well take the rest of the economy with you, after perpetuating these excess charges.

Here's a few things to think about, courtesy of Gambo's show yesterday.

1) It's twenty-one years since "Grease", the movie soundtrack, was released. Twenty-one years since Olivia Neutron-Bomb and John Revolting launched themselves to fame in the greatest nostalgia highschool movie of all time. I was still in short trousers at the time, but still was aware that this was a sizy cultural event.

2) Fifteen years since Ray Parker Jr was #1 with the title tune from "Ghostbusters". How often does Mr Jr say, sing, or rap the song's title during this number? Head to Fred's Trivia Quiz at billboard.com and you could win a CD. Unless they've all gone by now.

3) Seven years since Madonna's "This Used To Be My Playground" spent its time at the top. At the time, I reckoned that this wasn't a patch on her previous numbers. But it's not been played to death - in fact, I can't recall the last time I heard it. And it remains a ballad of significant emotion that shows Madge's class. Yes, Cory, you were right.

Songs for now:
+ Donna Summer "I Will Go With You", a disco track loosely based on the Sarah Brightman / Andrea Broccoli duet "Time To Say Goodbye". Guess who sings better. (US import single)
+ Divine Comedy "The Pop Star's Fear Of Hay Fever", for its title. Still no sign of "My Lovely Horse", though. (Single, now)
+ Chemical Brothers "Let Forever Be". You've seen the video? No? It's a goodie. (Single, now)

Radio sweeper for now:

"Hello. I'm the voice of Atlantic 252, and you don't know my name. But just because I'm on tape doesn't mean I'm not a real person. Real Radio Atlantic 252."

Carol Vorderman Series Flops! "Tested To Destruction" is pulled from itv schedules, following a distinct lack of viewers. It's the first time any of the 374 Vorderman series has failed to run its course.

The reason for the show's demise is simple. Ratings for episode 2 (last week) fell below the itv Yardstick for the 9pm slot, the figures for the BBC News. Following its title instructions to the letter, "Tested to Destruction" did, indeed, destroy itself, leaving no room for further testing.

We expect it to crop up as schedule filler on itv2 in a few weeks.

Instead, it re-appeared one week later, in the 7pm Slot Of Death. Main opposition there: "Win Beadle's Money"

Don't forget, you can go behind the scenes in 'EastEnders Revealed' on BBC Choice at .. aah, who gives a damn. According to the latest viewing figures, absolutely no-one. 0. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Where's Carol when we need her?

OK, how's this for an odd thing. Letter from my website, from an Emma Forrest fan in the far north of Norway. Can I help bring the two together (No). Do I know what she's doing? (Breathing, eating and writing, I hope). She's got a sister? (But of course. The world would be a poorer place without Lisa). It's all very ooky, writing to what - for all I know - is one of maybe a dozen Forrest fans.

On the other hand, if she is looking for a website developer, just say the word.

Weekend [4]: Cricket Trophy semifinals dominate the schedules.

Sat ONE 605 "Bugs" - Twin Geeks. Only two more after this.
ONE 940 "Ab Fab - the Collection" - Patsy's best moments.
R5 606 "606" Richard Littlejohn boots David Mellor out. Yes!

Su [4] 9 "Mr Holland's Opus" Richard Dreyfuss is a cool music teacher.
TWO 1055 "The Larry Sanders Show" - Flip. The finale.
TWO 1155 "Mallrats" Shaneen Doherty and Jeremy London plot to sabotage a tv show. Hope it's Blind Date.
R3 955 "Cancer Ward" Solzhenitsyn's play is a metaphor for corruption in Stalinist Russia.

Mo itv 7 "Tested To Destruction" Can't better the BBC News? Try beating Beadle's money, or "Due South".
itv2 1030 "Days Like These" Can Eric justify killing his grandmother? Is Gran a metaphor for this flop show?
[4] 1040 "Underground" Useless ecowarrior meets experienced, charismatic stranger. You can guess the rest.
TWO 1115 "Trial By Jury" A fictional crime is given a real trial over three consecutive nights. A bold experiment, but surely deserves better than this slot.
R2 3am Mo Dutta sits in for Alex Lester (5pm), sitting in for Richard Allinson (vacation) in for Johnny Walker (suspended). Lynn Parsons continues at 10:30pm.

Tu (5) 1 "Oprah" talks with Charles Spencer, famous through his sister.
ONE 435 "Microsoap" Repeat of comedy drama about parents splitting. Starring Jeff Rawle (George Dent off Dead Donkey)
TWO 830 "Two Fat Ladies" In Memoriam.
[4] 10 "In Excess: The Death of Michael Hutchence" So, who was it that killed him? And do we believe the evidence?
R4 8 "Land and Freedom" The dilemas and consequences from Zimbabwe's policy of land redistribution.

We ONE 435 "The Queen's Nose" Repeat of series two, when the coin does the rounds. More comedy than the serious message of the first series.
CHOICE 8 "Dogs on the Box" Essential viewing for Andi Peters.
R3 730 Mahler #7 at the Proms. Also BBC TWO.

Th [4] 830 "Hitler's Search for the Holy Grail" How to justify a master race.
ONE 1125 "The Birds" ObHitchcock.
R2 Student Choice. The annual post A-level shakedown.

Fr ONE 1020 "Teletubbies" Dipsy makes tubbytoast, and Bo Peep looks for her lost sheep. There's a show-stealer!
[4] 10 "Catdog"
[4] 9 "Friends" - Ross Moves In. What have Chandler and Joey done to deserve this?
TWO 10 "Room 101" - John Sergeant. Is he reporter or comic?
R1 130 "Round Britain Quiz" So difficult, even the questionmaster has trouble. Wales defend their title.

Sally
1) If you could invite just one of the MSCL characters to your birthday party, who would you bring and why?
Angela. She might hate it as much as I would.

2) What is the most stupid thing you have ever been called?
Funny.

3) What do you think Angela Chase would do as a job when she grew up?
Something literary, or creative - perhaps advertising copywriter.

4) What is your favourite vegetable?!?
Cauliflower. Or sweetcorn.

5) If the MSCL characters were vegetables, what would they be?!?!
Strange.

6) If there was a soundtrack to your life, what songs would be on it?
See my Wednesday posts for that week's installment.

7) Do you think MSCL would still be running if it hadn't been cancelled? Do you think it would still be as good?
Let me get this straight; the kids would have graduated at the end of season 3. That may have been a good place to call it quits before the quality really went down the pan. (Po5, anyone?) There would have had to be a couple of new characters, perhaps a friend for Danielle.

As for quality: it's a hard beast to maintain, and there were two or three dud episodes in the original 19. But if the creators can keep even a 66% strike rate, it'll be better than many other shows. So, yes, the three seasons could (just) have kept the quality.

8) What was the last thing that made you gasp in awe?
"Police Camera Action" on Thursday. These drivers are mad.

9) Who of the MSCL lot would look best with a beard?!?!?!
Patty. This is not a gag.

10) What do you sing in the shower? (if anything)
Whatever's running through my head, if anything.

Oh my gawd, Vic killed all the characters in MSCL. You bustard!
to be continued
How? Everyone's, like, dead.

Then this from Hawaii
my windows (ver 3.11) is DEAD!!!!
Oh my gawd, Keoni killed Windows. You star!!

Telly news. Those of you who watch the daily show, live, will find next week's Teletubbies come with subtitles for the hard of hearing. We learn exactly how to spell the Noo-Noo's slurp. Subtitles button on your remote, or 888.

Channel 4 plans to launch a digital terrestrial service, Channel 4 Gold. Or, as it'll become, Countdown 24. Wonder if they'll re-acquire rights for some of their other great shows: "The People's Court", "Nurses", "The Channel Four Daily", "MSCL"...

And film news. Impressed by the great success in low budget movies, film-makers have been rushing to make their works on the cheap. New features include:
"The Birds", hacked-together footage from a webcam at the Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre, Bristol.
"Brokedown Car", two girls find the adventure of a lifetime spoiled when their motor runs out of fuel. Will they be sentenced to a lifetime in the California desert?
"Wild Wild Notting Hill" Romantic cowboy movie set in west London.
"The Matrix" Complex arithmetic made simple.
"Shallow Blue Puddle" A romp in the park.
"Inspector Gadget" Hacked-together from the cartoon series. Oh, sorry, that's what they've done.

It's five years today since ABCuck first aired MSCL. They hadn't won the 8:30 - 9 slot since "Automan" aired in 1984; I may well be the only person around here who remembers the title, never mind the programme. "My So-Called Life" was clearly the quality show of the 94 season. But, shoved in a disaster of a timeslot, left for dead by the network, audiences didn't give it the numbers it deserved, and down it went after a mere 19 episodes.

But! That wasn't the end, merely the beginning. MSCL went to MTV, the show aired right round the world, attracted zillions of fans, and has now become as much of a cultural institution as "Roots", "Dallas" or "Twenty-One". Not just something that everyone of a certain age knows of, but an icon that has subtly changed and influenced Western culture. I leave it for the reader to determine how.

Incidentally, it took until last week, and the British import of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, for ABC to win that Thursday slot. There is a message in there, somewhere.

When the history of television in the 20th Century is written, August 25 will have a big page - possibly the biggest of the month. Not only did it mark the debut of MSCL, but five years later, Regis Philbin (yes, Maggie's dad:) beat Chris Tarrant to this line:
"For one million dollars..."
The answer, BTW, was D.

Paulo
I have the impression that it's such a stigmatized activity in the US right now that it would have been very politically incorrect to include anyone smoking, unless it was a Really Bad Character.
Yet surely MSCL pushed the boat out as far as it could; witness the first gay teen on a mainstream show (beating Creep by four years), honest talk on pregnancy and drinking; what would have turned into a discussion of divorce.... Some minor social habit like smoking would merely have been grist to the mill. Maybe Sharon would have been an appropriate foil: goody-goody on the surface, but we already know there's more beneath.

2) If you could actually be in MSCL for a day...what would you do while there?
Dine at Graham's restaurant, with Danielle, Angela and Brian. And join with the Chase sisters in playing pranks on Brian. (This is based on a real-life experience, except the other three were all siblings, and ice-cream was involved. On New Year, too)

3) If you had to go into deep space for 10 years, and could take 3 people with you (anyone at all, famous, whatever)..who would you take?
Three people I could live, converse, and get on with for ten years. Ouch! John Craven, the presenter of Newsround; Hayley Jordan, pig farmer from Borsetshire; and Amy Simcox, Grange Hill alumnus. Bit of a parochial British list, but there one goes.

4) Even now, after 5 years....do you still relate to any of the characters in MSCL? Do you do something/see something and think .."omigod, that was soooo Angela" or whatever?
More "so Rickie", or "so Brian", but yeah.

Betsy
there are a lot of things that i'm sure i'm going to forget to bring like...hangers, or aspirin, or...feminine products. Please if anyone can, can you write down things that i'm going to have to bring to Boston for the next year.
+ A good first aid kit. You always need sticking plasters and bandages at the most inopportune moments, and waiting for the resident nurse to come out of the shower when you've been stung by a wasp is not nice. (Trust me.) Throw in cold remedies, indigestion tablets (you'll be eating campus food at some point), and anything else you can think of.
+ You will not need as many books (not counting text books) as you think you will. If you run short, there is sure to be a good second-hand or remaindered book store around.
+ A small radio / cassette / CD player is an excellent idea.
+ There will not be enough electrical outlets where you want them. Extension leads may prove useful.
+ If you do put a whiteboard outside your room, make sure you tie the pen down, and expect to lose it at least once a week.
+ Get the 'rents to buy a big calling card, and don't be afraid to use it. If they offer a mobile, still get a $10 card.

Chelle adds
don't forget the importance and benefits of keeping active.
If you can schedule exercise into your daily routine (30 minutes walking to & from classes kept me going for three years), so much the better.