Friday, July 30, 2004
Who will host awards?Choice was simple
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie have been the big stars of Fox's summer schedule, and now the network is trotting them out to attract interest in the Teen Choice Awards. The "Simple Life 2" stars will host the awards show, which airs Aug. 11.
The hosts, who are like totally best friends forever, join a star-studded list of guests including Teen Choice nominees Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Mischa Barton and Tyra Banks and musical guests Blink 182, Ashlee Simpson, Xzibit and "American Idol" runner-up Diana DeGarmo.
Voting for the 2004 Teen Choice Awards is open until Thursday at Teenpeople.com.
Share private thoughtswith the whole world
Diaries are often viewed as the pinnacle of privacy, a small, locked book containing the author's innermost thoughts and feelings. Livejournal.com plays on that idea with its free Web diary but with one small catch: Instead of existing for the author's eyes only, the journal is open to the whole world.
That seeming breach of privacy hasn't stopped the Web site from becoming a massive hit, however. More than 3.7 million people have LiveJournal accounts. Writers from 13 to 55 years old, in countries all across the world, share their thoughts with whoever wishes to read them.
Setting up your own LiveJournal is easy and free, though users who shell out for a paid account ($25 a year) gain access to a handful of members-only features. Once you fill out a short form with password and user name information, you're ready to begin posting. Profiles, available to all users, can display a person's name, e-mail, hometown, interests, hobbies and friends.
Of course, adding your own journal entry is only half of the fun. The site features a search engine to find other users in your area or with the same interests.
Cool new chess set:It's all in the packaging
Unlike most drab chess sets, The Book of Chess is cool enough to be considered a piece of pop art -- with the added bonus of packing up neatly like a book. It also features handy names written on the individual pieces. So even if you're not a chess master, you might be inclined to give this set a whirl -- and perhaps even improve your game.
The Book of Chess, designed by Italian architect Augusto Ghibelli, comes packaged like a book that actually unfolds into the board and -- thankfully -- includes a chess instruction sheet. Get it at www.thelibraryshop.org for $36.
'MLB Slugfest Loaded':This game is on fire
How great would baseball's TV ratings be if players hit homers with flaming bats, fights were common fare and base runners sucker-punched infielders in order to advance to the next base?
"MLB Slugfest Loaded" (Midway Sports; for PlayStation 2 and Xbox; rated Teen) packs this TV executive's dream into the follow-up of "MLB Slugfest." And it's a hit.
Like the "NBA Jam" series, Midway's hallmark sports game, "Loaded" thrives on cartoon chaos. Players catch on fire -- literally -- as they perform well at the plate, and the flames carry over defensively. Hurlers have an arsenal of special pitches that are nearly unhittable. And the backgrounds consist of the well-detailed parks of Major League Baseball.
This is a game you can play with friends who normally frown at baseball's slow pace.
"Loaded" stands out with its online play. With a broadband connection, gamers can play other seamheads in tournaments. But venture into this realm at your own risk, since we know how, um, friendly people can be online.