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Forward thinking
An entirely subjective look at the week ahead
By COLETTE BANCROFT
Published December 19, 2005
PREPARE FOR PATDOWN
Brilliantly scheduled to take effect at the height of the holiday travel season, new airport security measures kick in on Thursday. Pocket knives and box cutters are still banned, but passengers will be allowed to carry small scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers and other formerly banned items. The Transportation Security Administration says that will allow its screeners to devote more time to searching for guns and explosives and performing those ever-popular random secondary searches. Find the details at www.tsa.gov/public
WHAT WILL HE WEAR?
Starting Wednesday, a new law permitting civil partnerships for same-sex couples goes into effect in England and Wales (it begins today in Northern Ireland and Tuesday in Scotland). Among the first in line to tie the knot Wednesday will be Sir Elton John and his partner of 11 years, David Furnish. At first, they planned a simple ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor (the same spot Prince Charles and his bride Camilla chose). But they recently hired the wedding planner who staged David and Victoria Beckham's half-million-dollar extravaganza in 1999, so this could be Elton's biggest show ever.
NEVERLAND ON THE BLOCK
This is not such a happy week for Michael Jackson. On Tuesday, he faces foreclosure on a $270-million loan he defaulted on in October. Jackson could lose Neverland, his infamous California home, as well as his stake in the Beatles song catalog if he doesn't come up with the cash. Jackson, who has been living in Bahrain and denying rumors of drug binges, is not expected to show up for the court proceedings.
THAT GOES DOUBLE FOR YOU, BILL
Whatever you celebrate - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Winter Solstice, the postseason sales or the departure of your in-laws - Forward Thinking wishes you a very happy holiday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM
In this week when we're all thinking about family, three famous TV mothers celebrate birthdays. Jane Kaczmarek, the beleaguered mom of Malcolm in the Middle, turns 50 on Wednesday. Barbara Billingsley, the always-perfect mom on Leave It to Beaver, will be 83 on Thursday. And Susan Lucci, who plays psycho mom Erica Kane on All My Children, will be 58 Friday.
- COLETTE BANCROFT, Times staff writer, 727 893-8435 or bancroft@sptimes.com
[Last modified December 16, 2005, 11:41:04]
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