THE LEFT LANE
New pill offers life with less PMS
This is the kind of news that has women running around giving high fives: There is a contraceptive pill in the works that results in just four periods a year. That's three months at a stretch without PMS. Researchers believe the new pill also could enhance other proven benefits of the pill such as preventing ovarian and endometrial cancer, decreasing the risk of benign breast disease and reducing the risk of anemia.
The pill, called Seasonale, uses the same hormones as other pills, but is taken for 84 days rather than 21. For years, women have skipped a period at inconvenient times by skipping the placebo pills — this makes the practice routine. But don't go rushing to your doctor yet for a prescription. This pill won't be available before next year; clinical trials are still figuring out how safe it is to delay periods for a long time.
— Alice Keesing, Advertiser staff writer
Peek at 'The Clones'
Advertiser library photo
Hooray! Only 15 seconds of Jar Jar! That's the lowdown from Harry Knowles, head movie geek at Ain't It Cool News, who writes at length on his web site about catching a stealth glimpse of this summer's "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones" in early March.
Word is "Star Wars: Episode II" only has 15 seconds of Jar Jar Binks.
Knowles said the invitation to view the full-length — though unfinished — print came from a couple of anonymous types who approached him at an Austin, Texas, book-signing and invited him to their hotel room for a look-see. Knowles gives the film a glowing review, calling it "relentlessly entertaining and thrilling ... the real deal."
A Lucasfilm representative told Entertainment Weekly, "We don't know how he could have seen it. But we like the review."
"Clones" opens in theatres on May 17.
— Derek Paiva, Advertiser staff writer
Warriors add a show
A troupe of Shaolin warriors is performing at the Hawai'i Theatre.
The Shaolin Warriors, the storied martial-arts masters from China, have added another performance — 2 p.m. April 6 — to their series of shows at the Hawai'i Theatre. The regular run is 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $18 to $43, with discounts for theater members, seniors, students, military and groups. Opening night is benefit for the Palolo Chinese Home. Call 528-0506.
— Advertiser staff
