THE LEFT LANE
A comic proposal
 |
Todd McDevitt, 33, who owns New Dimension Comics in Pittsburgh, persuaded DC Comics to work his proposal of marriage into Wonder Woman issue No. 179. So artist Phil Jimenez drew a likeness of McDevitt on one knee, asking girlfriend Maribeth Castelli to marry him. Before she can answer ... "CRAASH ... UNNH!" Troia, Wonder Woman's younger sister, bursts through the wall, thrown by the dastardly Fury. Even as she's leaping back into battle, Troia suggests that Castelli say yes.
McDevitt presented a copy of the comic to Castelli. When she saw page 20, Castelli shouted, "Oh my God!" Oh, and "Yes!," too.
— Associated Press
Women still get less
American women working full time, year-round, earned a median income of $27,355 in 2000, only 73 percent of what men with similar work experience made, the Census Bureau reports.
The income is a percentage point lower than the record high in 1996, when women earned 74 percent of what their male counterparts made, the bureau says. But women are starting to get a leg up in some households: 15 percent of wives in 2000 said they earned at least $5,000 more than their husbands.
— Tanya Bricking, Advertiser staff writer
Vegas calls Oscars
It's illegal to bet on the Oscars in Las Vegas, but that hasn't stopped John Avello from setting odds, just for fun.
"It's hard to get a gauge on them, but I just kind of go by what I read and what the hype is out there," said Avello, the director of race and sports book operations for the Bally's and Paris hotels in Las Vegas.
The safest bets on his list are "A Beautiful Mind" for best picture (2-1), best director (Ron Howard, 2-1), best actor (Russell Crowe, 1-1) and best actress in a supporting role (Jennifer Connelly, 2-1). Jim Broadbent in "Iris" is a sure thing for best actor in a supporting role (1-1). Nicole Kidman in "Moulin Rouge" has a 2-1 shot at best actress.
The long shots are "Gosford Park" for best picture (12-1), David Lynch for best director in "Mulholland Drive" (10-1), Will Smith in "Ali" for best actor (10-1), Renee Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary" for best actress (10-1) and Ethan Hawke in "Training Day" for best supporting actor (15-1).
— Advertiser news services
Chomp on color
Eat the rainbow. That's the message from the National Cancer Institute, which is encouraging Americans to eat at least five colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
Red, white/yellow, blue, orange and green fruits and vegetables provide a mix of phytochemicals, substances found only in plants that help protect against cancer, heart disease, cataracts, macular degeneration and other diseases.
Find out more at the institute's 5 a Day for Better Health Program at 5aday.gov.
— Alice Keesing, Advertiser staff writer
