If a general sense of music in the air at Vintage High School is not enough of an indication something special is in the works, perhaps the prevalence of "Les Misrable" T-shirts and sweatshirts on students is the giveaway.

Our consumer driven society places merit on items that are useful to us in our everyday lives, only as long as they serve our wants and needs. Once items deliver their potential value to us, i.e. candy wrappers, plastic sandwich bags, junk mail, empty soda cans -- they take on a patina of refuse, something dirty and vile. Our reaction -- to throw these items away and rid ourselves of their spent promises -- is learned as children and we carry it with us the rest of our lives. Indeed, ordinary objects are designed to become obsolete.

The art of

From Register Staff

Performer Andrea Marcovicci is an acquired taste.

In an unexpected visit to the Napa Valley the Bay Area Blues Society will present Mississippi's the Johnny Rawls Revue for a one-time performance at DG's Saturday. Honoring black history month, Ronnie Stewart, executive director of the society will present a short lecture on the history of blues followed by this special concert.

Norman Thayer Jr., approaching his 80th birthday, glumly recognizes that "me and my body are having a great race to see who can poop out first." Nonetheless he and his wife, Ethel, have arrived their summer home on Golden Pond in Maine, for their 48th, and what he is persuaded will be their last, visit.

LOS ANGELES -- Authorities were investigating an incident in which Britney Spears was photographed driving with her infant son on her lap but didn't intend to pursue charges against the pop diva, officials said.

The third time usually isn't the charm when it comes to movie franchises. Think "The Godfather: Part III," "Return of the Jedi," or the third films in series like "Spy Kids" or "Halloween." Not exactly the most glittering jewels in the crown.

Whoever was thinking pink should have realized it probably would stink.

LOS ANGELES -- Mariah Carey ended her 16-year Grammy drought on Wednesday night as the comeback queen captured three trophies, including best contemporary R&B album for "The Emancipation of Mimi."

LOS ANGELES -- "Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher decided to leave as little to the imagination as possible when she arrived at Wednesday night's Grammy Awards in a stunning, transparent blue John Paul Gaultier dress.

From The Associated Press