Side show

TODAY'S VOCABULARY LESSON: Trend tracker-predictor Faith Popcorn says in her book EVEolution that these will be among the new buzzwords of the early 21st century:

SITCOM: single income, two children, oppressive mortgage.

BABOONS: baby boomers with no savings.

shake-up call: a wake-up call to the 10th power.

HEAT-SEEKERS: people who can identify and seek out the powerful and influential.

GOOD DISH: someone who is clued in, like a satellite dish that pulls signals in from every direction.

YOGURT CITIES: places where culture is very active (it's up to us to classify each city by flavor and fat content).

WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO LET HIM HAVE A JOB? Prince Edward is quickly becoming Britain's most irritating royal. At least to his family.

You'll remember he was in hot water a few months ago when a film crew from his production company was caught following -- and trying to dig up dirt on -- nephew Prince William, a.k.a. the future king, during his first few days of college.

Among those particularly irked was William's dad, Prince Charles, the older of Edward's two brothers and also a.k.a. the future king.

Edward apparently learned nothing from this. British newspapers say he recently cemented his position on his brother's bad side by asking Charles to participate in a TV documentary about his love life (Diana, Camilla, the whole mess).

Reuters says an outraged Charles told friends: "I cannot believe the audacity of the man." Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles' longtime companion, was said to be equally unamused.

Charles' spokesman said it was a production company matter. Company chairman Malcolm Cockren said he thought the scenario was "utter rubbish" -- but Edward could have talked to Charles without telling him.

SOMETIMES, A MODEL'S JUST A MODEL: This is what one gets for yearning for a little more substance in women's magazine covers -- overintelluctualization trying to pass for substance.

The first issue of the redesigned, 134-year-old Harper's Bazaar goes on sale Jan. 29. The cover will feature model Gisele Bunchen, and the back, usually a coveted position for advertisers, will show a matching view from behind.

"I wanted to explain to everybody that when you come to Bazaar, you receive the very front of the fashion industry to behind-the-scenes," new editor in chief Glenda Bailey tells Mediaweek. "Every angle is covered by Bazaar, and Bazaar alone."

IT'S ALL AN ACT, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER: "I thought he'd be tough, but he's really a disciplined workaholic. A sweet guy."

-- Brian Grazer, producer of Eminem's first movie, Eight Mile, on his star, to the New York Post. (Grazer proves himself to be an all-around interesting quote by adding that Eminem and Kim Basinger, who plays his mother, are not having an affair: "If they were really together and I were asked about it, I'd say, "I don't know.' But I know. They're not.")

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