Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 42

TODAY'S EIMDAYS Actor Robert Duvall, 73. Talk-show host Charlie Rose, 62. Actress Diane Keaton, 58. Kool and the Gang drummer George "Funky" Brown, 55. Blondie guitarist Chris Stein, 54.

Luscious Jackson drummer Kate Schellenbach, 38. Shock rocker Marilyn Man-son, 35. Associated Press fcr America isn't passionate. America is sentimental. I keep trying to abandon Hollywood, but they, still have the suitcases full of money that I need to produce my films.

I'm very corrupt. Terry Gilliam, director and Monty Python alum Wirelmage Diane Keaton The Arizona Republic Monday January 5, 2004 E2 iSVP: AROUND TOWN PEOPLE 1 heard I I iF-iiiifi a i I iir-m Compiled by Suzanne Condie LambertThe Arizona Republic Pam's epiphany: Acting may not be her strength PvN -it, -v 0 Among those attending the Fiesta Bowl Ball at the Phoenician on New Year's Eve were (from left) Leon Levitt, this year's Fiesta Bowl board chairman, and his wife, Libby, and Michael Ziegler and his wife, Ellie, secretary of the board. 1 31 'L. fever, part new year fervor Pamela Anderson has admitted what we've known all along: She has never been a serious actress. "A lot of the things I did were sending myself up, making fun of my sex-kitten image," the Baywatch babe says, according to the London Mirror.

Now she is working on a cooking show and promoting vegetarianism and awareness of her own illness, hepatitis "I want to be known as something other than a not-so-great actress," she says. Who's in, who's so '03 Watch out, Clay Aiken and Spike Jonze. The Washington Post says you're out and Barry Manilow and Sofia Coppola are in. The Post's traditional New Year's Day "In and Out" list also says Donatella Versace has been supplanted by Dutch designers Viktor and Rolf; the Segway scooter by the Honda Ruckus; Bachelor by Average Joe; the White Stripes by Whitening Strips; and "flash mobs" by Howard Dean mobs. Other outs: overscheduled kids, tiny dogs and saying something is ne plus ultra.

Other ins: unrestricted playtime, hairless cats and saying something is sui generis. (In case you're on the outside looking in, those are two fancy ways of saying something's the ultimate.) 'Rings' again king Hollywood made way for a third Straight week of box-office dominance by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which was No. 1 with $30.8 million, according to studio estimates released Sunday. Cheaper by the Dozen was second with $21.9 million, and Something's Gotta Give was third with $12.5 million. Psst, they're hitched Singer Natalie Imbruglia -j'V 1 Photos by MHW I II1UU1UI1IIIII Identical twins Jan Farrar and Joan Smith are sisters of Kansas State Athletic Director Tim Weiser.

eclectic repertoire from rock and roll to the classic Irish song Danny Boy. Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg stopped by, and Big 12 Associate Commissioner Dan Beebe was singing along to Waltzing Matilda. Playing the right keys The New Year's Eve ball at the Westin Kierland Resort for the Phoenix Symphony could become a classic. Jeanne Herberger inspired the idea for the first-time fund-raiser. She and husband Gary, honorary chairs Marguerite and Jack Clifford and 13 other co-chair couples planned the high notes.

Si "Vii 1 katiiy shayna shocket fcssrepublicaol.com back," Win explained. "We just hooked that baby up so she could shake her booty to the non-stop music." There were two women at the ball wearing the same dress, but it wasn't a fashion oops. Jan Farrar and Joan Smith, identical twins (and sisters of Kansas State Athletic Director Tim Weiser) bought their dresses Tuesday while attending the Fiesta Bowl luncheon at Nordstrom in Scottsdale. Wednesday night's dessert menu included brandy and cigars in the lounge next to the ballroom. An intimate crowd, including the Levitts, who had been going non-stop since the early morning with Fiesta Bowl activities, celebrated the new year and the ball's success until 2 a.m.

"Leon is the human version of the energizer bunny," John Junker said with a laugh. Junker is president of the Fiesta Bowl. Junker energized the ivories as guests gathered around the piano. He entertained the group with an Con Takemoto WilliamsThe Arizona Republic After the orchestras sold-out performance at Symphony Hall, Doc Severinsen and his Tonight Show Band and the 75-piece Phoenix Symphony rang in the new year at the ball. Entertainer Glen Campbell and wife Kim joined the 500 guests.

This high-rolling celebration (tickets started at $500 per person) netted $500,000 for the symphony's coffers. "It was the largest slumber party in the Valley," Herberger said, referring to the many guests who took advantage of the resort's special $99 overnight rate. The next morning a gourmet brunch was set up in two ballrooms, one with a big screen TV to watch football. Celebrity celebration Charles Barkley and wife Maureen threw a last-minute celebration for friends at a local restaurant. Although it was an intimate group of friends, the Barkleys rented the entire place for privacy.

On the guest list were former Cardinals player Roy Green, former Suns player Mark West, former Suns conditioning coach Robin Pound and former Suns coach Frank Johnson and wife Amy. If you have a social item to share, contact Kathy Shayna Shocket at tathy.shockfttarizonarepublic.com. Jeanne Herberger and her husband, Gary, attend the Phoenix Symphony New Year's Eve Ball at the Westin Kierland Resort in Phoenix. Part bowl The score at the Viad Fiesta Bowl Ball at the Phoenician was unprecedented. The New Year's Eve gala had 1,350 revelers scrambling for the $300-per-person tickets and ISO people on the waiting list.

The winning game plan: Part Fiesta Bowl fever, part New Year's Eve fervor and a nationally recognized band. ETA Entertainment of New York City, which has played for major sporting venues, lived up to its reputation. Leon Levitt, executive vice president for online services at The Arizona Republic, was this year's chairman of the Fiesta Bowl board. He and wife Ubby were among those tearing up the dance floor until after midnight. So was Ellie Ziegler, secretary of the board.

"Once people got on the dance floor, they didn't want to get off and the band actually played until 12:30 without a break," she said. Ellie and husband Michael were the presenting sponsors of the lively soiree. At midnight partygoers like board member Win Hold-en and wife Carolyn locked hps and toasted the new year on the dance floor. Carolyn's gown originally had a long train on it, but she had it altered for dancing. "She had a hook and eye sewn on the Maryellen Gleason (left) and Glen Campbell and wife Kim attend the Phoenix Symphony New Year's Eve Ball at the Westin Kierland Resort in Phoenix.

CALEiil mi i iinwaiimiiiiTimMiiiBMMiiiiaiiiBT Jean-Paul AussenardWirelmage Pamela Anderson is putting cooking on her front burner. married Sil-verchalr front-man Daniel Johns in a secret New Year's Eve ceremony. The nups were held on a tropical island off northeastern Australia, the Natalie Imbruglia Aussie press reports. Mail's getting Goofy Mickey Mouse and Goofy, Bambl and Thumper will soon be on the mail. The Postal Service this week unveiled a set of stamp designs featuring Disney characters.

Included are Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Simba and Pinocchlo. The 37-cent self-adhesive stamps will be issued next summer. "The new postage stamps are a tremendous testament to the lasting popularity of Mickey Mouse and other beloved Disney characters," says Mary Beech of Disney Consumer Products. acmtralcom Get more celebrity stories and offbeat news updated throughout the day at thebuzz.azcentral.com. NASA groove back THE LIST How long they can stay underwater 1.

Beavers: 15 minutes. 2. Backswlmmers (water bugs): Six hours. 3. Muskrats: 15 minutes.

4. Sperm whales: Two hours. 5. Blue whales: 40 minutes. 6.

Bottlenose dolphins: Five minutes. World Features Syndicate. THE BUZZ i fnii Liiin w-i Lafci fcwtiiiiffmririiinTniiHMBidiirtiiiMiii Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 E. Second features the Kinsey Sicks. Reid discovered the self-proclaimed "America's favorite dragapella beauty shop quartet" while cruising in the Caribbean.

Tickets start at $50 per person for the 6:30 p.m. party and show. Details: (602) 307-5330. If you have an upcoming social event, contact Kathy Shayna Shocket at kathy.shockettarizonarepublic.com. bi's second bar mitzvah, and a few hundred of his friends are throwing quite a party.

The dinner dance begins at 6:30 p.m. Details: (480) 951-0353. Marc Reid, hairstylist to the local stars, has created a new 'do, so to speak, for the Phoenix Body Positive organization. Reid and his committee are putting the finishing touches on a first-time fund-raiser, called an Evening of Positive Energy. Saturday night's cocktail party and performance at the You're invited to a bar mitzvah celebration Saturday night at Temple Beth Israel, 10460 N.

56th Phoenix, but don't plan on buying a gift for a 13-year-old. The bar mitzvah boy, Rabbi Albert Plot-kin, is 83. And your gift will be your donation (tickets are $200 per person) to the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center and the Plotkin Judaica Museum. It's the rab Our home planet stopped slowing down five years ago. Earth gets its Associated Press BOULDER, Colo.

The Earth is spinning right on schedule for a fifth straight year and that has scientists scratching their heads. Experts generally agree that the rate at which the Earth spins on its axis has slowed ever so slightly for millennia. To make the world's official time agree with where the Earth actually is, scientists in 1972 started DID YOU KNOW TODAY Mon.15 Tues.16 Wed. 17 Thurs.18 Fri.19 Sat 110 Sun. 111 Twelfth Night.

National Smith Birthdays: Elvis Presley's National Static Anniversaries: Anniversary of Organize Your Da Charles Addams birthday (1935). Electricity Day. CommonSense Designated Hiner Home Day. Armenian (1912). Show and Tell Richard Nixon's (1776).

nuKni). Alvin Alley's Christmas" Millard Fillmore Da birthday (1913). Mas(erpiece Alexander birthday (1931). Eugene T. (1800).

Start of Letter Lee Van Cleef's Theatre TV hihZ, ri7w Maleska's Writing Week. birthday (1925). debut (1971). oinnaay birthday (1916). adding a "leap second." For 28 years, scientists repeated the procedure.

But in 1999, they discovered that the Earth was no longer lagging. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, spokesman Fred McGehan said scientists aren't sure why the Earth is suddenly on schedule. Possible explanations include the tides, weather and changes in the Earth's core, he said. Source: Chase's 2004 Calendar of Events..