Van Tango

Charlotte Church will be returning to her opera roots this Christmas, by singing at Midnight Mass on Xmas eve. She will retreat to her soprano past to sing in her local Cardiff, Wales, church. Church enthuses, "I usually sing at Midnight Mass at the parish where I grew up. I wouldn't want to get drunk on Christmas Eve anyway. I love being all awake and sparky on Christmas Day." This year, Church is planning to spend the day with her family and Gavin. She says, "We'll both go to our family houses for Christmas dinner. I'll go to my nana's, he'll go to his mum's, then we'll just meet up afterwards and have a nice cosy night in." Time to dress like a well-mannered country girl again...and then change into something more crazychicky, right?

Courtney Love is reportedly considering selling her rights to the back catalogue of her late husband Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. The former Hole frontwoman is having financial problems following a string of legal wrangles and has valued the Nirvana rights at $100m. The news is expected to upset Cobain's former bandmates Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Chad Channing, who have sued Love for control over Nirvana rights and for their entitlement to royalties. Can't do much if the widow wants to gain control over this matter.

Keira Knightley wrapped up warm as she continued her Christmas shopping in central London. But this time, the lovely actress wasn't just buying last-minute Christmas gifts - she was also on the prowl for a new home with a good looking mystery guy. The brunette babe is hoping to buy herself a property on America's sunny Californian coast. "Keira has spent a lot of time working in Los Angeles," said an insider. She has made inquiries about a couple of very nice condos in West Hollywood, although she wouldn't want to move there full time. It really would make sense for her to buy a property in the States because that's where a lot of her acting work is."

Oh no! 50 Cent is planning an American Idol-style TV show to find a new member for his hip-hop crew G-Unit. He is convinced he can spot genuine talent and is the best person to find new rap recruits. Fiddy said: "I should actually do a show like that 'cos I have a really good eye for talent. I could find a new member, and record the whole process." So who's gonna be the other judges? Snoop, Dre, SlimShady & Eve? And the host would be...Tony Yayo. The audience must then wear sunglasses to avoid getting blinded by the bling2 decorations.

Jennifer Aniston has shrugged off suggestions the past 12 month have been worst of her life, insisting she wouldn't have changed events "for anything". Borrowing the famous Charles Dickens adage she says: "It's been the best of times, and... it's been the worst of times. It's been difficult, but in many ways it's been great, too. I feel I've grown a lot as a human being throughout the course of it. It's been a year to remember, alright... but I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't trade it in for anything." Good for her.

Too much of touring has taken a shakermaker toll on Noel. He can't wait for the end of Oasis's nine-month tour, as he has had enough of his brother and the band. "We finish touring in Mexico City, in March," says the Mancunian. "By that time, I'll be f***ing sick of it and everybody in it. I'll be f***ing sick of Liam and Gem and Andy and everyone. Sick of the songs, sick of singing The Importance Of Being Idle every night and it'll be like: 'Right. I'm off on holiday for six months!'" The mucky fingers are in a gas panic mode, eh? Noel is also concerned that Sony is planning to release a greatest hits album of the band's work, something he doesn't want to do until Oasis is finished for good. (It's S-O-N-Y...they will do anything to get more mool..) The band's deal end in 2006 and Gallagher fears Sony may try and cash in. "I'm worried they'll cash in and release a best-of," said Noel. "I've always said we'd never do one until we'd split. I think they're going to force our hand. I really wouldn't want to do one, but if they put one out we'll have to get involved otherwise it'll be shit. It's all a scam. You should put one out only when you're finished - in chronological order. But I have a feeling they'll do the dirty on us." He better be there to oversee the production if the plan is actually being carried out. A best-of album is never to be done unless they've ended their timeline as rock and roll stars.

I've got the fookin' Oasis free standing concert tic!!!!!! In this region, we don't get to see the greats but more of those in the veins of limp biscuits, linkin fark, sum41435656, blink1828450234, etc.. Since 1994, the Stand-by-me gang has not set foot in this country for any sort of gig. So the feeling is absolutely up in the sky to say the least...in exactly two months time, the good ol' supersonic heads along with the newbie Acquiesce-s will join forces to witness a Supernova in action.

---Richard Ashcroft's 'Break the Night with Colour' piano intro is very similar to Thirteen Senses 'Into The Fire'---

Richard Ashcroft is offering fans an exclusive sneak preview of a track taken from his upcoming album, Keys To The World. The album isn't out until 23rd January 2006, but a new single Break The Night With Colour precedes the release. Here's a sneak preview of album track 'Cry Til The Morning'. [ Win / Real ]

The Paddingtons album is amazing!! This london outfit plays high adrenaline brit rock&roll with the punk attitude from the ramones, sexpistols. A good discovery. [ Some Old Girl / Panic Attack ]

Franz Ferdinand are out with the video to their new single 'The Fallen'.

Emerald Wizard Radio - 10 bands to watch for in 2006. Besides the usual suspects, there's a few of them like Milburn, Yeti, Komakino, Kubichek which I've heard about and they are very impressive. Will slowly venture into the rest of them. That is, if FirstImpressions & WhateverPeopleSayIam can stop me from repetition mode.

Who would have thought that the world's greatest lady-killer secret agent would have so much trouble getting beautiful women interested in him. While Sean Connery had Ursula Andress, Roger Moore wooed Britt Ekland and Pierce Brosnan seduced Teri Hartcher, the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, is dateless and now the producers are desperate. Filmmakers are having a tough time casting Bond girl Vesper Lynd in the next 007 installment, Casino Royale. Charlize Theron, Uglylina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson has turned down the role.
Will Jessy Simpson be that girl?? It has been rumoured that the newly single Simpson may get the nod. An insider revealed: "She is sexy, blonde and seductive, so she could be perfect. With filming only a month away lets hope she says yes!" Maybe Daniel Craig can help her forget about her divorce...The female lead will have to be cast soon as Casino Royale is slated begin shooting in late January.

Pete Doherty has conceded he will have to beat his drug addiction if he stands any chance of winning back ex-girlfriend Kate Moss. Doherty tells Kirsty Wark in an interview on BBC's Newsnight: "Whilst my life (revolves around drugs) I can't have her in my life. It's as simple as that. She says it's like having an affair with another girl and that won't be acceptable. So it's an ultimatum." Kate-y is out of the picture at the moment. So he'll probably have some peaceful time writing more inspirational songs in that 'place' next year.

Doherty has vowed to become "George Best in reverse" by beating his addictions. He now plans to become known for his musical talents rather than his drug habit. Doherty revealed Moss had dumped him when he walked out of rehab after just nine days - and hurled back the ring he had bought her. The singer still carries it around with him in the hope they will be reunited. "I was nearly blinded when she threw that ring back at me. But I kept it in its little box," he said. "If I bump into her again and there isn't a crack pipe in my jacket..."

Doherty also told the programme he had destroyed all of the model's love letters because he was terrified they would fall into the wrong hands. Doherty said: "The only danger is that I've got journals which I had to destroy. In horror I find myself destroying them just in case they do fall into the wrong hands. They're meant to be private journals with writings to myself and with writings from Kate back and forth - letters to each other in the same book. I've had to let them go. They were things being written at the time and they're the only reliable things - I can't really remember myself. That's one good thing, I suppose, I can't tell a story if I can't really remember what happened." What ever happened?

Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy has launched a new side project - with his wife Manuela. The duo go under the name of Box Codax and are hoping to release their debut single, 'Naked Smile' next month. A full album is expected in the autumn. Nick said: "Naked Smile will be out at the beginning of next year on the label of a friend of mine, Thin Man Records. The album hasn't got a title yet so you'll have to watch out for that. The singer is my lovely wife Manuela." Art rock duo? All for you, Manuela.

Girls Aloud wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

Rachel Stevens has recorded a video Christmas message for her fans.

The Libertines: Bound Together book release countdown timer.

Mel C visited the Italian version of 'Total Request Live' at MTV Studios in Milan, Italy. Check out pictures from FilmMagic.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin avoided serious injury when his BMW X5 hit another car in London yesterday. The Fix You hitmaker had a minor shunt on a busy road near Belsize Park. Nobody was hurt. The singer was driving through London's Belsize Park when he slammed into the back of an unnamed woman's Honda. But the rocker refused to leave his BMW X5, staying put in the driver's seat as the other motorist talked to him through the window. Martin's car suffered no damage while the other vehicle now sports a large dent in its rear bumper. He better stop listening to 'speed of sound' while driving in order to avoid a rush of blood to the head.. Martin is also a Monkey fan. He has revealed his admiration for Arctic Monkeys especially Alex Turner. He's amazed at the quality of Turner's lyrics and he loved their debut single. Martin said : "Anyone who can write a line like, 'You're not from New York/You're from Rotherham,' is a genius in my book. That guy (Turner) is immensely talented." Hope his words aren't some Fake Tales of East Sussex...

Two old men can't stop looking at Scarlett. But then, she does look like some 50s icon so hence the admiration. Woody Allen and John Travolta are taking an unhealthy interest in Scarlett Johansson's love life, according to the actress. Scarlett, who stars in Allen's new movie Match Point, is dumbfounded by their obsession, and puts it down to their fatherly feelings towards her. She said, "You know what cracks me up? He (Allen) is fascinated with my love life. And John Travolta's even worse than Woody, he wants to know everything." Scarlett Johansson caused a stir when she arrived at the Rome premiere of 'Match Point' - and was met by hordes of excited Italian men. She was accosted by hundreds of male admirers calling her names and trying to get close to her as she stepped out of her car and walked up the red carpet. Security guards were reportedly forced to step in and control the throng of fans as the sexy star made her way into the theatre. An onlooker was quoted as saying: "People were shouting her name and there was a huge surge as everyone rushed forwards. It was quite something... and security had to step in and save the day." The italianos know bellezza reale (real beauty) when they see one.

We're tied to the 90s? I can't believe it but...East 17 and All Saints have decided to reform!! The two groups decided that it was time to reunite and embark on a joint tour following the positive response to Take That's planned tour for next year. Previously, East 17 songwriter Tony Mortimer had refused to meet up with the other band members after they parted on bad terms. Meanwhile, Shaznay Lewis has finally patched up her differences with fellow All Saints stars Melanie Blatt and Appleton sisters. "Tony has been stubborn about a comeback in the past and Shaznay was left with a very bitter taste in her mouth after an acrimonious split from All Saints," a source told. "But time is a great healer and they have all matured, started families and grown up since they were first in the limelight. They have all agreed that the time is right to cash in after watching Take That storm the album charts and sell out their stadium tour." Hold my body tight for some old fashioned bootie call?

On the first episode of next top model...there were many sorts of activities going on so it's hard to catch up. Some things that stood out were, after Corraine(?) finished her interview, the gay judge(without the blonde hair) placed two pens on his eyebrows to point out her 'prominent' feature wahaahahaha....Layla looks not bad as there is something special about her, Kim is the tom-boy who really can pass off as a guy, Nicole who is like a lil lost girl("you don't know me how come u say i'm naive?"), Diane the big mama detective, Kyle (happy go lucky), Cassandra (ex beauty queen...looked like the early posh spice when she was cool) and Regina (orange hair and having low-self esteem). During the final pick, when Tyra was about to say out the first name, I had 'Cassandra' in my mind. Wa-lah! Cassandra it was! Then it was Lisa, Kyle, Ashley, Bre, Kim, Sarah, Jayla, Corainne(spelling?), Nicole, Diane, Lisa and a potential 'Tiffany' of this season whose name I can't remember but she kept using this phrase "don't get it twisted" throughout the show.

A critical software bug has been discovered in several of the most widely used anti-virus programs. It could be exploited to take control of a computer or to steal information, according to an analysis produced by the independent security analyst who made the discovery. The glitch affects 39 different Symantec products - including both home and enterprise versions of its anti-virus software. It resides within the Symantec anti-virus library, which is used by all of the packages. The analyst, Alex Wheeler, discovered that a critical error occurs when the Symantec anti-virus library decompresses files from "RAR" format for analysis. An attacker could exploit the loophole to load unauthorised code onto a computer, and potentially to crack open its defences, he says. "During decompression of RAR files Symantec is vulnerable to multiple heap overflows allowing attackers complete control of the system(s) being protected," Wheeler writes in his analysis of the flaw. "These vulnerabilities can be exploited remotely without user interaction in default configurations through common protocols."
Symantec has confirmed the problem and produced an advisory of its own. It is currently working on a permanent fix but has released an update so that computers running its anti-virus software should automatically detect and block attempts to exploit the bug. So far, there is no evidence that the bug has been used to attack computers. However, a study released in November 2005 by the SANS Institute, a US-based computer security organisation, suggests that computer criminals are increasingly focusing on anti-virus software in order to compromise machines. This is partly because the software is widely used and runs constantly, but also because bugs in the most widely used operating system - Microsoft's Windows - are now repaired fairly rapidly.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!