The Post-Crescent from Appleton, Wisconsin • 17

The Post-Crescent 0fl YOUR CONTACT Ed Berthiaume features editor 920-993-1 000, ext 21 3 e-mail: pcfeaturespostcrescent.com www.postcrescent.com THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2002 GIRL spin From Post-Crescent staff and wire services A newQ ty rfn rfn rfn yAuuuuuuuug At A -4 Liz Behm and Traci Glass For The Post-Crescent Year celebrates culture, customs and starting anew Vf i Hmong New MAICHEE LEE (center right), 'it 's Tr krv il ir 1 8, of Appleton performs a Chai Hmong dance with others By Heather LaRoi and Kathy Walsh Nufer Post-Crescent staff writers Like many of her friends and relatives, Appleton's Kaobe Thao has a new outfit all set for Saturday's celebration of the Hmong New Year. Now, she says with a laugh, she just has to figure out how to put everything on correctly. "This is the first year I actually took part," said the 16- place elsewhere around the state on the same day. "Traditionally, New Year is the biggest, brightest, most beautiful holiday," said Tong Yang, a Hmong student cultural support specialist working out of Appleton North High School. It is a time of cleansing and renewal, a time of calling out to departed souls and guiding spirits and a time to celebrate life in all its promise.

Pathong Xiong, community liaison specialist with the during a rehearsal for the Hmong ,3 A HUE VANG, 16, of Appleton hearsal for the Hmong New A weekly spin on dating and relationships Aheavy pre-nuptial Surfing radio stations while driving to work, I came across a call-in advice program. A woman called to say she was about to be married to a very wealthy man. He wants her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement, spelling out terms of financial settlement should they get divorced. Pre-nups seem pretty standard these days, except this one added a twist: The amount of money she would receive dramatically will be reduced by every pound she gains after the wedding. For example, if she gains, say, 25 pounds, her settlement could be reduced by fifty percent.

She is to be weighed officially on their wedding day. Well, as single women, this certainly got our attention. The whole thing smacked of a business contract for something like modeling or entertaining and less like a "I promise to love you for better or worse until death do we part" marriage. The arrangement seemed pretty shallow, but, hey, what do we know? Here is what some local residents said: M.M. of Appleton: "(He) is obviously after a trophy wife and if she even considers this, has no problem that this is not a marriage based on love, but what they can get out of each other.

Agreeing to this is demeaning to marriage and destroys what is supposed to be sacred and holy, the joining of two souls." P.Y. of Appleton: "I wouldn't sign it. My self worth isn't defined by his wealth or my weight." D.B. of Appleton: "She should counter with what happens if he loses hair or becomes impotent." H.G. of Appleton: "She shouldn't go through with it.

He's showing he has no love for her." Every woman we asked said the caller should not go through with the wedding. Every man said the fiance was a "scumbag" (the most polite term we heard to describe him) and she an "idiot" if she actually consented to the terms. If she does sign, all the men wanted her to include conditions if he were to gain weight, go bald or lose his virility. I guess it cuts both ways. Weigh in Fox Valley and tell us what you think.

Liz Behm and Traci Glass write each Thursday from the front lines of the Fox Valley singles scene. Write to them at thegirlstalkhotmail.com. a change The station had broadcast light jazz and blues. Return to Providence? I have had several readers ask me about the fate of "Providence," the popular NBC show that airs on Friday nights. The show's final episode was scheduled to air Dec.

20. However, NBC entertainment president Jeff Zucker recently said there is a chance the show might not be taken off the air. "I'm not afraid to admit that I may have made a mistake, and we'll see," he said. Eric Wistef can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 423, or by e-mail at eklisterpostcrescentcom.

Carter's going to do his best for fans Even though Nick Carter has sold more than 36 million records as one of the Backstreet Boys, he thinks of himself as just another new artist with the debut of his "Now or Never" album. "I'm really like somebody who hasn't sold a record," said Carter, the youngest member of the group and the first to release a solo album. But he's got one advantage over other aspiring singers: an instant fan base. "Whether I have two fans or 5 million, there are people out there, and I'm going to do my best to entertain those people who want to be entertained." The Backstreet Boys ignited the recent teen pop craze when they stormed the U.S. charts in 1998 with their self-titled debut, a smash album that was followed by other multiplat-inum discs.

But Carter's road to solo stardom hasn't been smooth. His first single, "Help Me," wasn't a radio hit, and his debut alburn, released last month, hasn't garnered as much attention or sales as that of 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake. For more celebrity sightings, see B-2. Jp.wc ouse Help with holiday baking The Land O'Lakes Holiday Bakeline is going digital. The 800 number has been replaced with a Web site, www.landolakes.com, dedicated to answering questions from bakers.

The Web site also has more than 1,300 recipes and more than 300 specific to Christmas. Consumers are able to e-mail questions to the Land O'Lakes Test Kitchen experts if they do not find their answers to their questions online. Land O'Lakes is offering a free recipe booklet to consumers online or through a hotline at 800-837-7702. Hot Corner Today's topic: DVD Those who get all nostalgic for childhood Christmas shows will be happy to know that 1962's "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol," with Gerald McBoing Boing as Tiny Tim, is finally available nn DVD (Sony Wonder, Extras include a Mr.

Magoo history and a bonus cartoon. "The Farrelly Brothers Collection" (20th Century Fox, $49.98) documents the duo's downward slide from the hilarious "There's Something About Mary," to the mediocre "Me, Myself and Irene" to the mirthless "Shallow Hal." Terry Lawson Knight Ridder year-old, who will don traditional Hmong ceremonial dress for the fashion show and dance performances that are part of the planned festivities. "I didn't think I'd have this much fun doing Hmong-Amen-can Partnership, has celebrated the Hmong New Year ever since he was a child in Laos. In those days, the merrymaking often lasted for several weeks as revelers, most of is said to represent the souls of people who have died. At left, Elizabeth Xiong, 17, of Black Creek performs a traditional Hmong dance.

Til if I fcMl NewYearcelebration The 2003 Fox Valley Hmong New Year Celebration takes place Saturday at Appleton East High School. Scheduled events include ball tossing, a fashion show, dancing, singing, cultural entertainment and speeches by Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna, other dignitaries and members of the Hmong community. The event is open to the public. Admission is free 9 am to 4 p.m., and $7 per person from 6 p.m. to midnight New Year's is the most anticipated holiday of the Hmong calendar.

something like this, but it's really fun. "It's like, wow, I never thought I'd see myself in this. The clothes are really bright, shiny. It hurts my eyes because of the reflections from all the silver coins (that decorate the outfits)." As many as 1,500 Hmong from the Fox Valley and beyond are expected to gather at Appleton East High School Saturday for the daylong annual New Year celebrations. Similar Hmong festivities will take them farmers, moved from house to house and village to village feasting on their favorite food and drink and spending time with relatives and friends.

The New Year's period, providing a rare respite from work, also was the traditional time for courtship. As with everything else since they fled their war-torn homeland to find a home in the United States, the Hmong See CELEBRATION, B-5 Post-Crescent photos by Tim Gteenway New Year celebration. 9 plays the qeej during re Year celebration Saturday. It ness that would keep him in the area. Staying put: The "Bob Brian Show," heard mornings on WAPL-FM 105.7, will continue to originate from WLZR-FM 102.9 in Milwaukee.

The show's hosts. Bob Madden and Brian Nelson, recently signed a five-year contract with the station. Their show is a perennial front-runner in the Milwaukee area whenever the Arbi-tron ratings are released. New format: WBJZ-FM 104.7 in Ripon has changed formats and now is a country station. It's now known as 104.7." WGBA cuts anchor Mark Leland as it prepares for Association and Edward R.

Murrow awards in 2001. "I have always received positive feedback from management on my job performance and news judgment, so it is difficult to make sense out of their decision," he said. Though Leland is frustrated that his contract will not be renewed and that "the decision has turned my life upside down, 1 understand that good or bad it's a business decision." As for the future, Leland said he and his family would like to stay in northeast Wisconsin, so he is looking for opportunities in and out of the news busi "We're a startup station and that is expected," Leland said. "Even the consultants will tell you, it takes time to build an audience, and you need to remain consistent with your anchor team and your approach to news, and NBC26 has done neither." He pointed out that during his time at Channel 26, he has worked with four chief weather anchors, four sports directors and three female co-anchors. Leland has about 20 years of broadcasting experience.

He has won numerous awards for his work, including honors from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Mark Leland is baffled by WGBA-TV Channel 26's decision not to renew his contract at the beginning of the year. Leland, who anchors the NBC affiliate's 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, was told in early October that his contract would be allowed to expire. He has been with the station for six years. "I am disappointed in their decision not to renew my contract after six years as anchor at the station," Leland said.

"Six years makes me the longest-running evening anchor at NBC26, and in a business where longevity and com- ERIC KUSTER tuning in P-C Staff Writer mitment to news are important, it's sad to see NBC26 go in what they told me would be a 'different direction." News director Joel Bernell said the decision was based on market research and ratings. WGBA's news traditionally lags behind the other Green Bay stations in the Nielsen ratings..