The Center of the World (2001) director Wayne Wang graduated from film school, and went back to China to find work. His first offer was making soft-core for the Japanese/Chinese market. He got another offer, and didn't take the job, but felt that he may have missed out, so, after several films, he decided to try his hand at porn. While doing some research in Silicon Valley, he noticed that the strip clubs were frequented by a lot of rich dot com types, and the idea for the story was born. A computer nerd who has already made a lot of money and is waiting for an IPO strikes up a conversation with a woman he has seen every day in a coffee shop. He discovers she is a wannabe drummer who strips to support herself.

He goes to her club and pays for a lap dance, then decides to pay her $10,000.00 for a three day lap dance in Las Vegas. She agrees, but points out that there will be no kissing, and no penetration. She says, "You do realize this is just a show." In Vegas, she does her beast to entertain him, but it is clear he wants to reach her on some emotional level, although we do not learn enough about him to know what he really does want. While she decides that she kind of likes him, she has no interest in anything but doing a good job and earning her money. After the three days, they go home, he finds the IPO took off and he is worth $20 megabucks, and goes to the strip club and pays her for a lap dance.

Scoopy saw this as a pretty good social commentary, and commented on the cinema verite appearance of the footage, which was dark, grainy, and deliberately washed out and, in some cases, textured. The entire film was shot on Hi res digital video, and all of the effects were done in the camera. I didn't see any of the merit Scoop did. From my viewpoint, we started with the nerd paying for a lap dance and ended in exactly the same place. Neither character was developed enough to care about, neither progressed in the film, and the photographic style detracted from the nudity, which was the only worthwhile element for me. We have mostly breasts from star Molly Parker, breasts from an unknown stripper, and the infamous lolly in the love box scene with Alisha Klass.

I found nothing in this film to bring me back for a second look. Evidently, they convinced Wang to shoot additional footage for a porn Web site for the film as well. http://www.center-of-the-world.com/. I spent some time there, but never got passed the adult content warnings and initial splash files. I can't imagine why anyone would want to watch this film, and even if the terrible video was intentional, it was still terrible video. D+.

This chain letter was started in hopes of bringing relief to other tired and discouraged men. Unlike most chain letters, this one does not cost anything.

Just send a copy of this letter to five of your friends who are equally tired and discontented.

Then bundle up your wife and/or girlfriend and send her to the man whose name appears at the top of the following list, and add your name to the bottom of the list.

When your turn comes, you will receive 15,625 women. One of them is bound to be better than the one you already have.

At the writing of this letter, a friend of mine had already received 184 women, of whom 4 were worth keeping.

REMEMBER this chain brings luck.

One man's pit bull died, and the next day he received a Playboy swimsuit model.

An unmarried computer geek living with his widowed mother was able to choose between a Hooters waitress and a Hollywood super model.

You can be lucky too, but DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN!

One man broke the chain, and got his own wife back again.

Let's keep it going, men! Just add your name to the list below!

Bill Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

William Jefferson Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

W. J. Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

William Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

W Jefferson Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

William J Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

Slick W. Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

Mr. Hillary Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017

Troubled actress Winona Ryder was acting out a role when she was caught shoplifting in Los Angeles. The 30-year-old star was arrested last week after surveillance cameras allegedly caught her cramming clothes, hair accessories and a handbag worth an estimated total of $4,900 into a bag. But the millionairess, stopped by security staff in the Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Beverly Hills, snapped back, "I'm doing this for research for my job."

According to British tabloid the News Of The World a source close to the investigation told how Winona stunned guards by claiming a movie director had advised her to try shoplifting for a forthcoming screen role. He adds, "She told them the director had suggested she do this for research." Pals say Winona, who was released on $20,000 bail, will now seek treatment at the exclusive Promises clinic in Malibu, California. Fellow movie stars Ben Affleck, Robert Downey, Jr. and Charlie Sheen have all been treated at the $20,000-a-week clinic.

Scoop's comments: I suggested this alibi two days ago, but I thought I was kidding! The best thing about it is that it conflicts with the last story told by Winona's lawyer, who claimed that she has receipts. (If she has the receipts, she shouldn't get the role! Terrible shoplifting audition!)

So far, they have tried all three tactics:

1. The lawyer suggested that she was intending to pay.
2. Later, the lawyer suggested that she did pay, and had receipts.
3. Now, the story is that she didn't pay, but was researching a role.

There you have it - three completely contradictory alibis, all floated to see if anything would be bought by the press. It is, in fact, a perfect parallel to the Taliban spokesmen, who would float different lies every day, oblivious to the fact that they contradicted yesterday's lies.

And of course, the extra bonus is that she is getting treatment. So, tell me, if she was just researching a role and didn't do anything wrong - what is she getting treated for?