Happy Birthday, Jana! Some people think I am crazy. What they don't know is how crazy I am about you. BTW, you don't mind if I pick you up on my bus tonight?

Psst, Karen--I think Jana would enjoy a visit from Ross on her birthday. I hear he's picked up some more flowers (and he already has enough tomatoes). ;-D

Ei, you mean on those rocky cliffs? Ooops, that was Michael. ;-D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY , Jana

Jana, for your birthday, I've bought you a lovely string of pearls

Gadzooks! I checked my list and did not have Jana *lashes with noodles* Hauoli Na Hanau, Jana! Dendrobium Orchids and Rosebuds

*giggles* *grins* *dancing arund the monitor* Thanks for your best wishes. More later. I had hoped to sneak it in during a lapse in festivities. Oooh, whouldja look at all those poils?!

Jana, darling they were out of SPAM will this do? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy birthday Jana! Have a little of your own to take you around the world and back to us (and give me a lift once in a while so I'm not late for birthday parties anymore) Heide, only now did I see the pics of your presents for me... Thank you! That massage will be very pleasant ;-)

*giggle* Wait'll he sees what "shower" pix mean here. Wooooo! Hey, he KNEW who CF is and P&P2. The man is amazing! Back to Jana... Happy Birthdat again and again!

Birthdates which occurred on your SELECTED date of October 26: 1466 Desiderius Erasmus Holland, scholar/author (In Praise of Folly) 1685 Domenico Scarlatti Naples Italy, composer/harpsichordist 1759 Georges Danton France, revolutionary leader 1791 Charles Sprague Boston, banker/poet (Curiosity) 1855 Charles Post who had a way with breakfast cereals 1861 Richard D Sears Boston, 1st to win US amateur national tennis match 1873 Thorvald Stauning Denmark, PM (1924-26, 1929-42) 1879 Leon Trotsky Russian revolutionary (pres of 1st Soviet) 1894 John S Knight WV, publisher (Knight-Rider) 19-- Jana, Drooleur and Firthian extraordinaire 19-- James Pickens Jr actor (Another World) 1910 John Cardinal Krol former archbishop of Philadelphia 1911 Mahalia Jackson New Orleans, gospel singer (Whole World in his Hands) 1911 Sid Gillman NFL coach (LA, San Diego, Houston) 1914 Jackie Coogan LA Calif, actor (Uncle Fester-Addams Family) 1916 Fran�ois Mitterand Jarnac France, President of France (1981-1995) 1917 Felix the Cat cartoon character 1919 Edward W Brooke 1st black senator in over 80 yrs (Sen-R-Mass) 1919 Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Aryamehr Shah of Iran (1941-79) 1931 Hank Garrett Monticello NY, actor (Car 54 Where Are You) 1932 Chinadorai Deshmutu India, field hockey player (1952) 1933 Suzy Parker San Antonio Tx, model/actress (Chamber of Horrors) 1936 Bruce Belland Chicago, singer (Tim Conway Hour) 1939 John Arden England, novelist/playwright (Left Handed Liberty) 1940 Mario Orosco 1st victim of NYC's Zodiac killer (survives) 1941 Harald Nielsen Denmark, soccer player (Olympic-silver-1960) 1942 Bob Hoskins Suffolk England, actor (Brazil, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) 1945 Pat Conroy American writer (Great Santini, Prince of Tides) 1946 Pat Sajak Chicago, TV host (Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak Show) 1947 Jaclyn Smith Houston Tx, actress (Charlie's Angel, Nightkill) 1947 Hilary Rodham Clinton First Lady (1993-) 1948 Marshall Colt New Orleans La, actor (Eric-Lottery) 1950 Chuck Foreman NFL running back (Minnesota Vikings) 1951 Bootsy Collins Cin, rocker (Parliaments-We Got the Funk) 1953 Julian Keith Strickland drummer/guitarist (B-52's-Rock Lobster) 1954 Lauren Tewes Braddock PA, actress (Love Boat, Eyes of a Stranger) 1962 Cary Elwes actor (Glory, Princess Bride) 1963 Kerri Lynne Rosenberg Burlington Ia, Miss Iowa-America (1991-top 10) 1966 Olga Bicherova gymnastics (won title at 15yrs 33 days) Deaths which occurred on October 26: 901 King Alfred the Great, die 1868 B F Randolph SC state senator, assassinated 1909 Prince Ito of Japan is assassinated by a Korean 1962 Louise Beavers actress (Beulah-Beulah), die at 64 1979 Park Chung-hee South Korean President is assassinated 1984 Sue Randall actress (Miss Landers-Leave it to Beaver), dies at 49 1990 William Paley CEO (CBS), dies at 89 from a heart attack 1991 Lori Rae Matthews crushed to death by an artist's 485 lb umbrella On this day... 1774 1st Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia 1825 Erie Canal between Hudson River & Lake Erie opened 1863 Worldwide Red Cross organized in Geneva 1863 Football Association forms in England, standardizing soccer 1868 White terrorists kill several blacks in St Bernard Parish La 1869 1st American steeplechase horserace (Westchester, NY) 1876 President sends federal troops to SC 1881 Shootout at the OK corral, in Tombstone, Az 1887 Detroit (NL) beats St Louis (AA) 10 games to 5 in the World Series 1903 Yerba Buena is 1st Key System ferry to cross SF Bay 1905 1st Soviet (workers' council) formed, St Petersburg, Russia 1905 Union of Sweden & Norway ends 1911 Phila A's beat NY Giants, 4 games to 2 in 8th World Series 1916 Margaret Sanger arrested for obscenity (advocating birth control) 1921 Solomon Porter Hood named minister to Liberia 1941 US savings bonds go on sale 1942 US ship Hornet sunk in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands during WW II 1947 Maharajah of Jammu & Kashmir accedes to India 1949 Pres Truman increases minimum wage from 40� to 75� 1950 Branch Rickey resigns as Brooklyn Dodger president 1951 Rocky Marciano defeats Joe Louis at Madison Square Garden 1955 Ngo Dinh Diem proclaims Vietnam a republic with himself as pres 1956 UN's International Atomic Energy Agency statute approved 1956 Vietnam promulgates its constitution 1957 USSR fires defense minister, Marshal Georgi Zhukov 1957 Vatican Radio begins broadcasting 1958 PanAm flies the 1st transatlantic jet trip-NY to Paris 1960 AL announces Minneapolis & LA to get teams in 1961 1960 AL's Washington Senators move to become Minnesota Twins 1962 Beatles tape "Please Please Me" & "Ask Me Why" 1964 Rolling Stones appear on the Ed Sullivan Show 1965 Beatles receive MBEs at Buckingham Palace 1965 Sylvia Likens tortured by teen girl gang 1966 1st Pacific communications satellite launched, Intelsat 2 1967 Shah of Iran crowns himself after 26 years on Peacock Throne 1968 Soyuz 3 launched 1970 "Doonesbury" comic strip debuts in 28 newspapers 1971 UN votes to replace Taiwan with China 1972 Guided tours of Alcatraz (by Park Service) begin 1972 Henry Kissinger declares "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam 1973 Wings release "Helen Wheels" 1974 Cleveland Coliseum opens for NBA's Cavaliers & MISL's Crunch 1975 Anwar Sadat became 1st Egyptian president to officially visit the US 1976 Transkei gains independence, not recognized outside of South Africa 1976 Trinidad & Tobago becomes a republic 1977 5th & final test of space shuttle Enterprise 1977 Dr Clifford R Wharton Jr named chancellor of State University of NY 1980 St Louis Cards sack Balt Colt QBs an NFL record tying 12 times 1981 LA Dodgers beat NY Yankees, 4 games to 2 in 78th World Series 1982 Steve Carlton became 1st pitcher to win 4 Cy Young awards 1984 "Baby Fae" gets baboon heart transplant, lives 21 days 1985 On a poor call in 6th game, umpire Don Deckinger starts a string of events costing Cardinals the 82nd World Series 1987 Dow Jones down 156.83 points 1987 Head of Salvadoran Human Rights Comm assassinated by death squads 1988 Donald Trump bills Mike Tyson $2,000,000 for 4 month advisory service 1988 US-Soviet effort free 2 grey whales from frozen Arctic, Barrow, AK Holidays Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week" Austria : National Day Benin, Rwanda : Armed Forces Day Iran : Birthday of HIM the Shahanshah South Vietnam : Constitution & Republic Day (1955, 1956) Switzerland : Flag Day US : Mother-in-Law's Day - - - - - ( Sunday ) New Zealand : Labour Day-last Monday in October - - - - - ( Monday ) US some states : Veterans Day - - - - - ( Monday ) US : Francis E Willard Day-temperance day - - - - - ( Friday ) Religious Observances Ang : Commemoration of Alfred the Great Luth : Commem of P Nicolai, J Heermann, P Gerhardt, hymnwriters Orthodox : Feast of Demetrios the Martyr RC : Commem of St Evaristus, 5th pope (c 97-c 107), martyr Religious History 1779 Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'The Lord is so rich that He easily can -- so good that He certainly will -- give His children more than He will ever take away. 1813 Birth of Henry T. Smart, English sacred organist. Though largely self-taught, Smart published many compositions, two of which are still popular as hymn tunes: LANCASHIRE ("Lead On, O King Eternal") and REGENT SQUARE ("Angels From the Realms of Glory"). 1889 Birth of Millar Burrows, American archaeologist. Director of the American School of Oriental Research at Jerusalem 1931-32, 1947-48), Burrows' most popular published work was "What Mean These Stones?" (1941). 1948 The Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was organized at Des Moines, Iowa. The association is comprised of 24 Pentecostal groups and meets annually to promote unity among Pentecostal Christians. 1963 One month before his death at age 65, English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter addressed to a child: 'If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you may always do so.'

Another October celebration, Happy Birthday Jana

Happy Birthday Jana! We're having a party. Looked everywhere for a gift and finally found something in my own basement - Which one do you want?

I'll get him cleaned up for you - Wrap him all up - and soon you'll find him on your doorstep - Celebrate! I'm sure your DH won't mind for just one special day.

Heide, what a great tour de force! **Applause** 8-D KJ

Indeed! Heide's posts are getting better and better :-) May I just touch on another subject for a moment? Have just watched Sunshine. Didn't like it much, I'm afraid - sorry, Evelyn. Rosemary Harris was probably the best thing in it. It was shown in theaters here in January and had poor reviews. I don't see Oscar material there, but what do I know?

Heide, what a great tour de force! **Applause** 8-D KJ

Hmmm. Wha happened? Well, this was a bolt out of the blue! ... Did somebody say something about it's being Jana's Natal Day? Oh, Joy and celebration! Sweets for the sweet ... have a nut!1 ...    :-)    ...and have..... A Very Happy Birthday, Jana! Love, KJ

What a surprise, Marcia! ...to the happy couple. I think this calls for a toast... No, no -- I mean a REAL toast.... To celebrate the two hearts that beat as one... A wish for health, beauty and joy to you both.. Love, KJ

(Gi) Have just watched Sunshine. Didn't like it much, I'm afraid - sorry, Evelyn. LOL. That's OK....didn't think you would.It's not for everyone.An important film IMO..If "Life is Beautiful" was Holocaust-lite, this one really tells it as it is. (Gi)It was shown in theaters here in January and had poor reviews. Got mixed reviews in UK ...Europe has a problem with the Holocaust IMO. Got excellent reviews here esp. from the mainline media...it's a film with a message that not everyone wants to hear. ~~~~~~~~~~~~` Hey, Heide, I'll take the one with the brown teeth.:-))

Oh, I love the birthdays around here. You ladies have such great photo selections! Heide, Jess at the screen door is *almost* enough to make me watch ATA again.;-) But I want to know why Ross has flowers growing out of his . . .hmmm . . . April showers?;-) Happy Birthday, Jana, and have a great year with lots of Firth fun! Marcia, congratulations and my best wishes for your health and happiness!

Whee!! How much we have learned through our need to celebrate. I'd take one of each of the above CFs but suddenly my heart lies elsewhere. Thanks, ladies. More to come. I will never be a stranger! (will tell all asap...promise!)

Jana, Darling! Happy Birthday. Come sit next to me by the fire. No more silly songs about bananas, I promise.

Yippeee, I did it! :) My first image!

(Gi) Have just watched Sunshine. Didn't like it much. Can you explain why? I'm interested, just as I'm interested in why you didn't particularly care for Possession. (Gi) I don't see Oscar material there, but what do I know? Really, as much as any of us. However, I have to disagree about Oscars. (Hold your breath, blink twice and read this over three times) Ralph deserves an Oscar nom. Coming from me, you know what that means! ;-D Too early to tell about whether he should win, as I don't know who the others will be in that category and won't until the "big" films open in December. (Evelyn) If "Life is Beautiful" was Holocaust-lite, this one really tells it as it is. That was only a small portion of this film - not it's main message. However, that one brief scene dealt with it most effectively. From the Express: Scriptwriter puts in �10m claim for Notting Hill ideas A BRITISH scriptwriter is suing makers of the smash hit movie Notting Hill for �10million claiming they stole his idea. Nick Villiers alleges he was duped by a former friend and colleague who excluded him from the film deal. Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, became Britain's biggest-ever moneyspinner at American box offices and helped re-establish Roberts as a top actress. Villiers, who co-wrote the film Blood and Wine starring Jennifer Lopez, Michael Caine and Jack Nicholson, claims many of the ideas in Notting Hill came from him but were taken without his permission by his ex-friend Eric Fellner, who runs Working Title Films. He is also suing Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Studios, Notting Hill Pictures, The Seagram Co. and others in Los Angeles Superior Court. Villiers says concepts he shared with Fellner when he adapted the novel, Cheek, into a screenplay were those that turned up in Notting Hill, written by Blackadder scriptwriter Richard Curtis. But a spokesman for Fellner said: "It sounds totally ridiculous. There was no novel it was based on. Richard Curtis wrote that script entirely from scratch."Fellner, with partner Tim Bevan, has had a string of screen hits including Elizabeth and Bean. They have turned Working Title from a minor British production company into genuine Hollywood players.

Marcia, congratulations on your engagement. He sounds like a very special man. (We already know he is a lucky one.)

Thank you! The man is not only perfect for me in every way, he knows who Colin Firth is and knows exactly what I meant by A&E's P&P2. Other than MarkG, I know of no other man who cares to make that claim. That, and they love cricket. I am the fortunate one, I believe! *blissful smile* (Yes, I'll go back to Geo before I nauseate everyone or give us mass diabetes...)

Gi, I'm horribly late but I hope you had a really great birthday. If the party here is any indication, it looks like you did! And Marcia, congratulations on your engagement. I'm very happy for you. Oh my goodness, what a birthday! You guys are the best. Thanks for making it such a special day. Eileen, I loved the FP montage - especially the last bit. I never thought I'd get to see CF doing The Look just for me ;-). I'm glad you sent Allen Portland my way too. I feel a bit proprietary towards him since I saw his debut :-). Karen, what can I say? I thought the Darcy pics were a treat (waiting for me to come home from Singapore - LOL!) but that picture of Ross hiding behind the flowers..... I am still ROTFLMAO. Heide, you outdid yourself dear. I loved the segue from poor, hygenically challenged John through to bandbox fresh Jess. He looks good enough to eat. Too bad his looks weren't enough to save that awful movie :-). Moon, thanks for the offer of that bus ride. Luckily it's a big bus and I'm feeling so generous I'd like to invite all of you to come along. No fighting over Donovan, though ;-). Evelyn, I appreciate the beautiful CF and the rose probably even more than I would have a delicious case of Spam. Lisa, thanks for sending Geoffrey my way. So many Colins!! How is a girl to choose :-)? Marcia, Lucie, Tracy, Gi, Mari and KJ thanks for the lovely gifts and good wishes. You all really made this a great day.

(Evelyn) If "Life is Beautiful" was Holocaust-lite, this one really tells it as it is. (Karen)That was only a small portion of this film - not it's main message But for me it was...painful and haunting. Every reviewer mentioned it.

(Marcia) Hey, he KNEW who CF is and P&P2. Minimum criteria when choosing a mate. ;-) All the best, dear! Good one of Ross, Karen! Don't flowers come in handy on a public board? ;-D

Oh dear missed the party, just got back from Buttermere, what an expedition along single track roads, high up in the Lake District, winding and very steep roads, but spectacular scenery, can see why this Director would want to film here. Anyway I digress, Belated Happy Birthday to Gi and Jana and Best Wishes to Marcia.

Lisa, congratulations on your first image. You'll soon become a picture osting fool like the rest of us. Though few of us have mastered the posy-bearing Colins Karen posts for us. That's bloody brilliant. Ann, welcome back from the Lakes. You've missed a load of birthdays (and more to come) but don't worry, not much else.

Thanks Heide, yes I was hoping for confirmation that Colin IS to be in Armadillo.

Gi and Jana, may you have had wonderful birthdays. May you have lovely years ahead.

Thank you for the birthday wishes, Jana, Ann and Cheryl. (Evelyn)Europe has a problem with the Holocaust IMO. I do not really want to start a political argument in these boards, Evelyn, but I think we may have been overloaded with Holocaust stories. Of course we are still touched - but they do not justify a film all by themselves, unless it's a powerful film like Schindler's List. Still, the questions raised (of how 3000 people won't stand up against 13, of how persecuted people can turn into prosecuters, and other bitter probes into human nature) are very poignant. The third part was probably the more interesting anyway. The first two were pretty boring for me, perhaps because Ralph was boring as his two first characters, and creepy as all three of them (someone should cast him as a vampire someday - he is so used to playing Hungarians by now). This, Karen, is mainly why I didn't care much for the film - not that I disliked it - only I didn't love it, like I did SiL, for example. As for Possession: long, verbose, I didn't like the poems. I love hystorical research stories and have read several that "possessed" me to read them through the night. Not this one, but "I didn't love it" does not mean "I disliked it". Sorry if I haven't been clear, but I must rush away now ...

(Gi) (someone should cast him (Fiennes) as a vampire someday - he is so used to playing Hungarians by now). LOL, Gi. Somehow it wouldn't surprise me. I read someone once describing Ralph as acting at his castmates rather than with them. Thought that was rather apt.

Trashing RF is a universal sport in lots of camps...he's not my heart-throb, for sure...but he is a serious actor...and oh how I wish ODB could latch on to one of those parts...Hungarian or otherwise...

Nothing against hungarians, mind you, very nice folks when I visited twenty years ago... But RF would be a very scary vampire. Not that I'd watch ;-)

But RF would be a very scary vampire. And would give it his best shot , even though he knew it would not be popular. He did a good job at being scary as Heathecliff in Wuthering Heights. BTW a Canadian Film Co (along with the Hungarians) produced Sunshine, it isn't a British film...and I think Canada is v. proud of it.

(Heide) Lisa, congratulations on your first image. You'll soon become a picture posting fool like the rest of us. Though few of us have mastered the posy-bearing Colins Karen posts for us. That's bloody brilliant. Thanks, Heide. Once I figured out how to post an image, I was embarrassed to find out just how easy it is to do. (Of course, I had to study my "HTML for Dummies" book.) I can hardly wait until the next birthday! ;-) Don't suppose I will ever reach Karen's level of expertise. *sigh*

The Hour of the Pig (updated for the 21st century). I wonder if the pig will be named in a lawsuit? ;-) From the Associated Press: PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Yes, a pig really flew -- first class. It flew US Airways, and the company, embarrassed, says it's never going to let it happen again. On October 17, the six-hour flight from Philadelphia to Seattle carried 201 passengers -- 200 people and one hog, which sat on the floor in the first row of first class. "We can confirm that the pig traveled, and we can confirm that it will never happen again," US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said. "Let me stress that. It will never happen again." Sources familiar with the incident told the Philadelphia Daily News in Friday's editions that the hog's owners convinced the airline that the animal was a "therapeutic companion pet," like a guide dog for the blind. The pig was traveling with two unidentified women who claimed they had a doctor's note that allowed them to fly with the animal, according to an internal airline report. US Airways and Federal Aviation Administration rules allow passengers to fly with service animals. The animal became unruly as the plane taxied toward the Seattle terminal, the report said, running through the jet, squealing and trying to get into the cockpit. "Many people on board the aircraft were quite upset that there was a large uncontrollable pig on board, especially those in the first-class cabin," the incident report stated. The pig made it off the plane but continued squealing inside the Seattle airport. FAA officials in Seattle said they were unfamiliar with the incident but promised to investigate.

That pig story... LOL! How come they make Patas (and all other pets) travel in boxes and let the pig roam free?

From Teletext: "UK cash for Stone, Arnie sequels A British production company is stumping up the money for Sharon Stone's Basic Instinct 2 and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator 3. The UK's C-2 Pictures have entered into agreement with Intermedia to co-finance both productions. T3 alone could cost $100m but would be expected to gross at least $400m." ~~~~~~ So this is where the producing UKP go.....what patriotism! Work on T3 starts next spring for release in summer 2002. BI2 starts February with no release date.

The animal became unruly as the plane taxied toward the Seattle terminal, the report said, running through the jet, squealing and trying to get into the cockpit. Can't you just see the flight attendants running up the aisle screaming "SOOOOOEEEYYY"? Now there's a picture! :-D Thanks for the laugh, Lisa.

The pig story is becoming "curiouser and curiouser" (as Alice would say). Now the FAA wants to question the pig, but US Airlines won't release the pig's name. Here's the latest on the story: http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2000/10/30/local/PORK28.htm

Oops, forgot to include a tongue -- in -- cheek emoticon on my last post.

Lisa, I love the pig tale! :-) Gives new meaning to the term, "when pigs fly." Enjoyed the update on the first reported case of "swine flew." LOL! Never let it be said that my city of brotherly love discriminated on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, or status on the food chain.;-) Thoinks again for the laugh.;-)

The Telegraph is running an interesting series on the state of the film industry. Here's today's: Why Hollywood rules the world In the second of our reports on modern movie-making, David Gritten says that the American film industry, despite a decade of profound change, is financially and creatively as strong as ever I'VE spent a fair bit of time over the years listening to (and sometimes eavesdropping on) British film and media types discuss American movies, often in terms of condescension laced with bitterness. The gist of their complaints? American cinema is too bland, too formulaic, too predictable, too dumb. Even more annoyingly, millions of people all over the globe lap it up, egged on by Hollywood's huge publicity campaigns which estrange them from their indigenous film cultures and lure them into the studios' seductive embrace. If only, the argument goes, we had such resources: our films - edgy, relevant, cool and British - would surely sweep the world. Hearing those conversations, I used to be disgusted, but now I'm just amused. For it's inescapable that America has the most diverse, intriguing and professional film culture of any country in the world. I'm not enamoured of its big, action-packed, special-effects-heavy summer movies; it's not for me to defend Armageddon, Gone in 60 Seconds, last year's wretched Star Wars prequel, Mission: Impossible 2, or indeed any film with a title ending in a number. But nor will I be snobbish about them: those millions who flock to them can't all be wrong. Yet the success of such big films is the yardstick by which Hollywood judges itself. (This past summer was deemed indifferent, with just one film, Mission: Impossible 2, grossing more than $200 million. Still, 12 films passed the $100 million mark.) In purely financial terms, one sees why blockbusters are Hollywood's index of health; their capacity to generate such huge revenue is what makes this a multi-billion-dollar global business. What the success or failure of such films does not take into account is the state of creative well-being in American cinema generally. I would argue that the films that have reached these shores from the US this year constitute the finest crop since the Seventies, universally regarded as Hollywood's last golden age. This year's strikingly original Oscar contenders (American Beauty, The Cider House Rules, The Talented Mr Ripley, The Insider) would have been judged lustrous examples of American cinema in whatever year they were released. Films such as Three Kings, Erin Brockovich and Any Given Sunday offered a bracing oppositional stance to American establishment values. And this year has also seen a pair of quirky masterpieces: Joel and Ethan Coen's O Brother, Where Art Thou? (their most satisfying film to date) and Paul Thomas Anderson's extraordinary Magnolia. Of course, these are obvious choices: films to win awards, end up on critics' year-end lists and linger in memories. But current American cinema has enormous strength in depth. Many of its minor films, which come and go without much fanfare, are well-crafted, beautifully directed and performed, and underpinned by a talented screenwriter's strong, individual voice. In this category I would place Liberty Heights, Barry Levinson's latest story about his Baltimore youth; Edward Norton's Keeping the Faith, about a rabbi and a Roman Catholic priest smitten with the same woman; Stir of Echoes and Frequency, two thrillers with a supernatural twist; and Wayne Wang's Anywhere But Here, with Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman as a mismatched Midwest mother and daughter relocating to Beverly Hills. These films, all shamefully under-marketed in Britain, may have passed you by, so look out for their arrival in video stores. Each is richer and more satisfying than almost all the over-hyped films emanating from our own ailing film industry. Week in and week out, it seems, America can churn out such small gems, as if in its sleep. At first glance there are good reasons why this halcyon era should not be happening. Hollywood has never been so amorphous. As recently as the late Seventies, the output of studios such as Warners, Paramount, Fox and Columbia reflected the taste of their bosses. Now each studio is part of a huge global conglomerate, each indistinguishable from the next. Few big-budget, mass-appeal films (except Disney's animated fare) now carry a signature studio style; they can look depressingly similar. Yet the last decade has also seen American independent films edging gradually into the mainstream. We can date the genesis of this movement to 1989, when Steven Soderbergh's low-budget sex, lies and videotape won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and became a hit movie in the States. In those days, the word "independent" applied to small films financed outside Hollywood. Calling a film independent now says as much about its attitude as the source of its budget. In the Nineties, it became clear that there was a substantial audience in America (most of them older than the core 18-25 group of cinema-goers) who longed for something more than formulaic studio fare; they wanted individualistic films with narrative flair, directed stylishly. Independent films met that need perfectly. Sensing a threat, Hollywood co-opted the independent movement. Studios signed up its leading film-makers, had the good sense to leave them broadly alone to make their movies, but on their release added marketing and distribution expertise to ensure that they were seen by the widest audience possible. Thus Miramax (Pulp Fiction, The English Patient), unquestionably the major independent company of the past decade, is now under the Disney umbrella. Then the studios started creating their own subsidiary companies (Sony Classics, Fox Searchlight, Paramount Classics) to develop or distribute small, thoughtful films for niche audiences. Universal is the latest contender; its subsidiary Universal Focus is currently moulding the splendid British film Billy Elliot into a sizeable hit in the US. All this has radically improved American film culture. Many films mentioned glowingly above come from Hollywood studios, but they share an independent spirit. And audiences have benefited. American films are being made for, and targeted effectively at, a far broader demographic spectrum than was the case 10 years ago. Their breadth and range shames our admittedly small film industry, which is obsessed by gangsters and clubbing. Reasons enough, you might think, for those of us on this side of the Atlantic to stop sniping at Hollywood. But there is another: it is simply the world's biggest conglomeration of talented film professionals. That's why British director Mike Figgis made his ground-breaking digital film, Timecode, there. That's why directors from other countries, from Germany's Wolfgang Petersen to Australia's Baz Luhrmann, flock to work there. It is a place where the heads of the few outstanding British production companies, such as Working Title and DNA, feel comfortable. And remember, it was the main source of finance for the delightful "British" film Chicken Run. It could just be that this year's crop of American films is atypically excellent, but that is doubtful. In the coming weeks and months we will be seeing Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, his memoir of working as a Rolling Stone journalist; Soderbergh's Traffic, based on a BBC television miniseries; Michael Almereyda's remarkable Hamlet, set in modern-day New York; and the wonderful You Can Count on Me, with Laura Linney as a God-fearing small-town single mother reunited with her ne'er-do-well brother. Each one alone has the potential to confirm that, in film terms, America is head and shoulders above anywhere else.

Happy Halloween! Just out of my bat cage to check out the latest movies. Did not find Billy, the ballerina tasty. I am off to search out my friend, the fastidious dresser, AKA, Armadillo. ;-)))))) Heeeee,Haaaaa......................................

Am getting my broomstick ready to fly home soon. *hee hee* (although someone is going to have to tear me away from the big bowlful of candy sitting by the front door)

in film terms, America is head and shoulders above anywhere else. Thanks Mari. This from British media, Wow..... LOL... the only ones who keep condemning the American film industry are some people on this board;-)

Oops! Almost missed it! Although most won't see it 'cause they're all out Trick'r'Treat'n and stuffing their faces with goodies. **Mumph! -- mumph!** Boo! KJ =<8-Q

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That's funny , I'm sure I put 2 end-tags in the original post. Oh, well ... In the completely OT Dept., I present this for your edification: This is the coat of arms from the British Firths. I found this at a geneology site which is mucho extensive ... Only had a short time to scan it, but couldn't find "David" (his Dad) anywhere. Must be a different branch of the family. If you want to try, it's here.

From yesterday's Variety: HBO WEDS 'MARRIED' CAST: HBO began production Monday on the pilot "The Mind of the Married Man." The show stars Jake Weber ("The Cell"), Taylor Nichols ("The Last Days of Disco") and Mike Binder, the latter of whom created the series with co-exec producer Stu Smiley. They play a trio of reporters at a Chicago newspaper who try in vain to remain faithful, while M. Emmet Walsh ("Blood Simple") plays their editor. "It's the male rebuttal to 'Sex and the City's' female point of view on relationships," said Smiley, who's exec producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and has been developing this show for several years with Binder. "It's about love, marriage and monogamy and how, in every day life, those values are undermined." [From the press notes: "Londinium is a romantic comedy about love, marriage and commitment." B seems to have a very limited vocabulary] Binder's exploration of such themes began with the indie pic "Sex Monster," which he wrote, directed and starred in with Mariel Hemingway. Smiley said traditional webs have tried to explore male relationships, but the uncensored HBO format exploited to such strong effect by other series makes this the perfect venue. "You couldn't do this justice anywhere else," said Smiley. "It's just much closer to reality and more cinematic."

Mike is a Johnny-One-Note for themes....

One-note is right. His past 3 projects have all dealt with the same thing. Hope he's not married--would hate to think there's some poor woman out there whose hubby has only infidelity on the brain and who seems to feel a need to advertise it to the world. And the women in SITC are all (until very recently) unmarried. Big difference. Oh, I guess I just don't travel in the right circles.;-) I have to say, I did like Mikey in The Contender, and how about Mariel! One scene, but a difficult one and boy she nailed it beautifully. Amazing what a good script and good direction does.

Yes, Mike is married and has two daughters. I thought the acting in the Contender was very good. As you said Mari, even Mike and Mariel pulled it off. ;-)

(Mari)I did like Mikey in The Contender, and how about Mariel! One scene, but a difficult one and boy she nailed it beautifully. Amazing what a good script and good direction does. Absolutely. Mikey even looked handsome in the tux (all 4 ft. of him!) That whole film was soooo well done.It could have been a major yawner. We haven't heard the end of it, IMO.

Hauoli Na Hanau, Eileen Dresden Green Diamond From India, the 41-carat Dresden Green Diamond is the world's largest and finest natural green diamond, noted for its exceptional color and clarity. White diamonds (both large and small) in gold and silver settings surround the central gem and sweep up to a bow.

Puakenikeni Color change from White, Yellow to Orange, One of the most outstanding fragrant flower - but seasonal.

hmmm....they will not let me have the lei I wanted... on more time... Tuberose White tropical flowers accented with island ferns. Very fragrant.

there you go - got both - and the Dresden Green Diamond.... can you tell it past tiem for bed?! One for day and one for evening - or wear them intertwined and the diamond in your elegant hair... Fit for a Firth, for sure! Happy Birthday, Eileen!!!

Happy Birthday Eileen! Here's a cake which is happy to get eaten ;-)

...and some music to help it along :-)

Have a great day Eileen

A little memento from you fave... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EILEEN

GO FOR THE GOLD, EILEEN...

Happy Birthday Eileen, hope you have a wonderful year, (I know it is not original) and a firthfilled year with lots of Firthnews. All the Best, Ann

I don't think I will try Pink again, hope you can read it Eileen.

Pink is fine on my screen, Ann.

Happy Birthday, Eileen! How about another cake? What's a party without a little karaoke? Wot? No Bruce? Will the Beatles do? http://www.eatsleepmusic.com/karaokerooms/beatles/intro.cfm Sadly, CF cannot attend our party, so I contacted this Celebrity Look Alike Service: http://www.dimmicksdoubles.com/ Didn't see ODB listed, so I gave the service a ring.... Apparently some guy named Michael Condren is available..... Will he do in a pinch? :-)

Ohhhh my goodness. I didn't realize that link to the celebrity look alike site was x rated until I checked it out again just now. Am I ever embarrassed. Karen can you remove the link? Sorry about that!

Hey Paul, won't you pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease pass that bottle over here? *hic* Ooh, Evelyn, how'd you find my picture? ;-D Thanks for the diamonds (green--I get it, I get it ;-)) and the beeyewteeful leis, Marcia dear! It's not a Spring birthday unless one gets leid by Marcia. And thanks for your good wishes, Gi, Aishling and Ann (no problem with the pink)! Love the Beatles, Lisa. Just don't send a giant Willie Nelson to see me (like *someone* did to Karen)! heeheehee

Happy Birthday, Eileen! My gift will be arriving later.

In the meantime, have some fun here: http://www.auflauf.freeserve.co.uk/

Later that week... Yeah, Eileen, I got it. Ya want me to talk to Tony about gettin your friend over here. No problem. And good seats at da Meadowlands? Shouldn't be a problem. Later, hon.

Who? Some fancy pants English guy? Carm, you can watch that Darcy guy on da television, but we can't be seen wid him. OK, but... Me and da boys hope you like your seats. On the following Sunday...

The won't have any exthuses for not watching Relative Values *executing a small dip during the presentation*

Oh, oh! Am typing from floor, where I am rolling and LMAO! *clap clap* Thanks, Karen, what a gift. Paul in the tee shirt is hilarious! No problem, Paul. You'll feel right at home with the Jets. You can love them and hate them all at the same time. The Meadowlands even has a north bank (well, more like a 'north half'). You'll have the sun in your eyes, though. Will look for you this Sunday at 4:15. Get ready to sing with me: 'one Wayne Chrebet...there's only one Wayne Chrebet...' And lose the red and white scarf, willya? This isn't Kansas City! No prob with the jockey shorts, though. They can be our little secret *wink, wink* PS. Thanks to Carmen, Tony and da boys. Think Big Pussy's remains have been dredged from the waters off the Jersey shore and are now under the 50-yard line next to Jimmy Hoffa's.

Woof woof grr woof woof (Translation: I'm on my way to your party) Woof grrr woof snarl grrr grr....woof (Translation: I must be prepared for your parties because they tend to be a little wild) Woof Woof Slobber Translation: Happy Birthday, Eileen, from your favorite TV canine ;-D

Ooh, more! Thanks for the VCR. Have one that works but it is hopelessly lost in boxes, not to be found until we move to our new house in Jan. Paul, watta guy you are. You think of everything!

*guffaw* Am back on floor, LMAO! Ooh, have I got a job for my fave TV canine! Think he'll attack a fellow TV canine? ;-D

Just so's you don't lose touch wid yer friends in Joisey...

Happy Birthday Eileen (better late than never). Sorry I don't have the skills to pretty this up. I hope you had/are having a wonderful day.

YO, Eileen! Looks like dese people here think we tawk wit some kinda accent or somethin.' Go figger.:-) Tony 'n Christopher are finishin' up a job in East Orange, then they're on their way over. I told 'em, "Leave the gun, take the birthday cake to Eileen's house." Happy Birthday, Eileen, and have a great year filled with Firth fun!

What a perfect lead-in for the cake... ;-D

and no running with scissors or knives, please. ;-D

(One more try....) A FEW KEEPSAKES for THE BIRTHDAY GIRL....

(One outta three ain't bad....)

Thanks, Cathey and Mari! I *hope* it's a Firth-filled year. Mari, pour me a cup a cawfee, willya? Then we'll go to the mawl. Egads, Karen, did you go to Joisey to find that cake? Took that test, Moon. Hmmm...:-D

LOL, Evelyn! I'll take it!

As a special present for Eileen, I've obtained an advance copy of the Angel book and I know she'd want to share CF's story with you all: Life is rotten. We kids have to fight class prejudices and embrace the multi-cultural diversity of our society. No person should be forced to live under conditions of squalor and terror and be deprived of thousands of pounds of government vouchers and a comfortable habitat in underused council-funded housing! But I get ahead of myself... "Shhh, Fitzwilliam," I hear my nanny say, while I bang the outside of my cradle with my silver spoon. I don't really understand what she is saying, but there's a tone in her voice that probably doesn't mean that the nice lady who feeds me with that big soft thing is coming by anytime soon. Oooh, who is that approaching? Ick! Some lady with long white dangly round things on a string that hit my head. Ouch! I bet that if I pushed them down a hole, they'd be ground up into sparkly powder. Oooh, powder?! Yes, then I could put on my sister's face and she'd look like a clown. Fun! Wait, I don't have a sister yet. Wonder where you get them. Must ask my teacher, Mr Talbot. I wish they'd push my bed closer to the window. I love staring out the window cause a girl comes by to frolic with a dog. You can learn lots from dogs or so the maitre says. But maybe only dogs in France do special tricks. Gosh, I'd like to hide behind that curtain. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Many people come up here to the nursery to look at me and to pet me. I really like it when this one woman fondles me. She teases me a lot, but I think she really likes me. But I have noticed that she doesn't seem to like when I smile and coo at that sweet but pious girl who gets all red in the face when I bat my eyelashes at her. She keeps saying, "Master Fitzwilliam, you shouldn't do that. It is not proper." I don't know what proper is. Maybe I can crawl out of her and visit her later. I wish that pale one would stop coughing. It is so annoying. And those flowers she wears stink. Somebody should tell her. I don't think my father likes her very much. It's probably because of the coughing. The grownups are talking about where I will go to school one day. Father says I will go to the same school that he attended. I don't know what fagging is, but it sounds like fun. Maybe I won't like it. Then I'll have to rail against the archaic behavior and stifling aristo attitudes or maybe I'll just sit around in my robe and read. Gosh, I don't know how I knew all that. Amazing what you can absorb just lying in a cradle. Did you know my favorite color is red? Bet I can hit that ball with my rattle. One day I shall travel to far away places. That is, once I can walk. My nurse reads to me about exotic places in the Near East. I'd like to go there and spend some time. Or maybe I'll travel to the n-n-north and v-v-visit churches and then p-p-paint on the walls, if they let me. Oh goodie, lunch. Yuck, they've pureed apples for me. Where's that soft thing? Just lying here in my cradle, I dream of one day going to the Lake District. There I could wear a big hat and breeches and act like a horrible cad. Quien sabes? ********* You'll have to read the rest for yourselves... soon.

ROTF...again! *wiping tears* This is my favorite part: You can learn lots from dogs or so the maitre says. But maybe only dogs in France do special tricks. Do they sing, too? ;-D

ROTFLOL, Karen! As promised in a post way up there, here is your borthday present, Eileen. Your very own manor in *green* Ireland. If you look through the windows you will see that somebody is waiting for you. ;-) Have a fun day! BTW, did you take the color test?

So what did the color test say?

I think thay may be Peter Dahling waiting for you in there, Eileen. '-D Having a hoot, ladies, checking out the posts. I think it's time for me to join in. Hey, kitty, what do you say? Why it's Eileen's birthday!