susan dey

Honors for Ang Lee
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TOBY TALBOT / AP

A passer-by takes a photo of the S.T. Griswold & Co. concrete holiday truck in Montpelier, Vt. The cement mixer, covered in lights, makes stops all over Vermont during the holiday season. It takes about 60 hours to add the lights to the truck, and the cement drum still operates.




Ang Lee




Patti LaBelle
Taiwan showered native son Ang Lee with honors Saturday as his spy thriller "Lust, Caution" clinched seven prizes, including best film, director and actor at that nation's Golden Horse awards. The normally reserved director of "Hulk," "Brokeback Mountain" and other films wrapped up his acceptance speech by chanting "Go Taiwanese film!" The success of "Lust, Caution" at the awards came after the steamy film, an NC-17 movie in release in America, became a big hit in both Taiwan and China. It's about a World War II-era undercover activist.

Washington Christmas

The nation's capital rolled out the red carpet ― and holiday garlands ― Sunday for music stars like Alan Jackson and Katharine McPhee, who performed for President Bush and the first lady at the annual "Christmas in Washington" concert. TV host "Dr. Phil" McGraw and his wife, Robin, hosted the festivities for the fourth time. The event, which took place at the National Building Museum, benefited Children's National Medical Center. The concert will air Wednesday night on Turner Network Television.

Not a mean girl

Patti LaBelle says she was once offered Paula Abdul's job on "American Idol" but turned it down because she didn't want to be mean. "I didn't want to be someone giving bad news by saying 'You didn't make it,' " LaBelle tells Newsweek in the issue that hits stands Tuesday. Cutting singers was the hardest part of her new NBC reality show, "Clash of the Choirs." She does offer encouragement. "I did tell them, 'Because Patti LaBelle said no, it doesn't mean it's the end. Jennifer Hudson was told no, and she has an Oscar.' "

Gore calls for action

Nobel Peace Prize-winner Al Gore said on Sunday he was optimistic that a growing "people-power" movement would push the world's leaders to take action to stop global warming. The former vice president, who shared the 2007 peace prize with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for raising awareness and advancing climate science, will receive the honor in Oslo today with the U.N. panel's chairman Rajendra Pachauri.

Words of wisdom

Don't say what I say

Sister Kathy Avery won't put up with swearing on the playground at her school, and she's not above repeating the offending language to make sure everyone understands which words she won't tolerate. The principal of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School in Grosse Point Park, Mich., had students stay after a Mass last month and informed the fifth- through eighth-graders that she has a zero-tolerance policy for cursing. Just in case anyone wasn't sure what she was talking about, Avery read off a list of the very words and phrases that she was banning.

Today in History

SIGNS MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. today. After that, the moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): This is an exciting, jumpy way to start the week. Your mind is racing from topic to topic. People from different cultures and backgrounds are in your face. Unexpected ideas about religion and politics make you think. Surprise news in the media might raise your eyebrows. It ain't boring!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're not sure what to think about shared possessions or something to do with loans and mortgages and debt. Unexpected news could be positive or negative. Hard to say what's happening. It's interesting, but it's also beyond your control. Stay light on your feet.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You can't second-guess partners and close friends today. They could jump either way. Wear water wings and stay away from the deep end of the pool. Encounters with the public can be equally surprising. But people have interesting news to tell you. (Oh yeah.)

CANCER (June 21-July 22): This day will not go as planned. Interruptions in your workplace are highly likely. Computer crashes, power outages, fire drills, equipment breakdowns and staff shortages might throw a wrench into the works. Just be prepared for this. It's not a big deal. Or is it?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Surprise flirtations or unexpected situations with children, sports, the arts and romance can catch you off guard today. Leo parents or teachers and caregivers should be extra vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for children under your care.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Minor breakages plus unreliable computers or small appliances might hassle you at home today. People on the home front are highly excitable for different reasons. Family squabbles could break out. Your home routine will be interrupted, perhaps with surprise company. Could be anything

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): This is definitely an accident-prone day. This applies to physical accidents as well as verbal accidents. Therefore, think before you speak or act. Slow down. Take your time. Do whatever you need to do to calm down and be more mellow about everything, especially discussions with others. Don't jump to conclusions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Money and finances are unpredictable today. You might find money; you