Week of January 15, 2004

A young Palestinian mother of two makes her way to the front of a line of workers

waiting to pass through the main crossing between Israel and the Gaza strip,

feigns a medical problem and then detonates a bomb strapped to her body. Four

Israelis died. She is believed to be the first female suicide attacker used by

Hamas.

Shiite Muslim clerics in Iraq call on their followers to stage mass demonstrations,

throwing the Bush Administration a left curve.

State of the Union - President Bush declares that the use of force abroad and

deep tax cuts had allowed America to turn back its two largest threats - terrorism

and recession - and that the nation had emerged from its challengers ‘confident

and strong.”

Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts wins in Iowa as John Edwards comes in

second and Howard Dean third.

Martha Stewart proclaims her

innocence as her fraud and obstruction-

of-justice trial begins in Manhattan.

The estate of Joan Kroc gives the

Salvation Army 41.5 billion to build 25 to

30 community centers in struggling

neighborhoods around the country.

KB Toys Inc files for Chapter 11

bankruptcy protection. KB operates

1,200 stores - but as many s 500 of

them could close.

Sports - NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series

gests a season with two parts as the 36-race season will be divided. The first 26

races will determine the top 10 derivers. They will then take part in a Chase for

the Championship” over the last 10 races.

Technology -

Apple Computer posts a strong fiscal first quarter profit, thanks to sales of its

iPod player, reversing a year-earlier net loss.

Entertainment news -

Passing - Ray Stark (88) - Hollywood agent and dealmaker.

Week of January 15, 2004

Passing - Olivia Goldsmith (54) - author of “The First Wives Club.’

Passing - Philip Crosby (69) - last of the four sons from crooner Bing Crosby. He

was 69.

Music news - Source Magazine - a leading

hip-hop source - seems to be out to get white

rapper Eminem, with an article saying he’s

really racist. The magazine says it has acquired

decade-old recordings by Eminem with a white

rap group called Bassmint Productions that include several denigrating terms for

blacks. This follows another so-called Eminem racist expose last November an

early Eminem tape that condemned black women.

Television news -

The third “American Idol” debuts this week.

NBC’s two biggest comedies - “Frasier” and “Friends” are readying their finale’s

and many wonder what will happen to the network.

“On Air” with Ryan Seacrest is the first

TV show from Ryan Seacrest

productions and hopefully more will

follow. Seacrest says - “Just to be a

presenter for hire is a lot of fun, but if you

want to maintain longevity, the success is

in equity. I wanted to have ownership.”

Of course, you can also see Ryan

Seacrest on the third season of

“American Idol.”

On “Saturday Night Live” - Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Saturday night television -

CBS - Star search, Hack, The district

NBC - Movie, Saturday Night Live

ABC - Movie, Monk,

Fox - Cops, America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back

Comedy Central - Chappelle’s Show, The Man Show

HGTV - Decorating Cents, Designing for the Sexes, Designer’s Challenge,

Design on a Dime, Divine Design, Smart Design

At the movies -

Along Came Polly