People

CRITIC WHO ANGERED TRUMAN DIES

When "Give 'em Hell Harry" was in office, people often joked about first daughter Margaret's not-so-great musical abilities. At one point, Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote of one of her stage performances: " ... Miss Truman cannot sing very well." HST was livid, to say the least. The chief executive fired back in a letter to the critic that if he ever met Hume on the street -- and remember Truman was president when he said this -- Hume would need "a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!" That remark has become part of presidential and journalistic legend. Later Margaret would quip that Hume was "a fine critic ... (with) the right to write as he pleases." Now Hume has died, in Baltimore, after a long and successful career, carried out despite the official condemnation of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He spent 35 years as a critic and also became known as an expert on Catholic religious music and the works of Giuseppe Verdi. Critic Paul Hume was 85.

SPEAKING OF MARGARET TRUMAN

The name of Margaret Truman is perpetuated in, of all things, a laundromat in Key West, Fla. It seems that there is a Margaret St. in the southernmost city as well as a Truman St. Ironically, they intersect. On the southeast corner of the intersection is the Margaret-Truman Laundromat. Truman is now 77 and has authored a slew of books over the years. For more information on one of the most interesting of recent "White House children" go to trumanlibrary.org/mtd-bio.htm.

GEORGE MICHAEL INKS RARE ONE-RECORD DEAL

When singers and groups sign with a record label, traditionally they sign for a certain number of years or a designated number of recording sessions. But, according to published reports, angelic-voiced George Michael has signed an unprecedented deal with Universal that will allow him to record only one record and leave, if he so opts. Normally record companies will ink short-term contracts if they are not sure how good the artist is. This would appear to be the other way around, with Michael not sure how well the company can promote his wares. The album, a collection of dance music, was financed by millionaire Michael. It's due out sometime late next spring.

CRYSTAL'S CHRISTMAS PLANS ANNOUNCED

Singer Crystal Gayle has announced the 10-city itinerary for her upcoming Christmas tour. Her publicist says that Gayle will hold her first concert at the Dunn Center For Performing Arts at North Carolina Weselyan College in Rocky Mount on Dec 6. Other venues include: Pembroke, N.C.; Newberry, S.C.; Macon, Ga.; Morristown, N.J.; Staten Island, N.Y.; Harrisburg, Pa.; and Hampton, Va. The tour will end on Dec. 20. After a short holiday break, she will resume her regular concert series in mid January.

STEPHANOPOULOUS MUM ABOUT WEDDING DETAILS

To hear syndicated columnist Cindy Adams talk, political mover and shaker George Stephanopoulous has an ego not in tune with his short stature. She says that many people connected with Stephanopoulous's recent wedding have been sworn to secrecy about the details ... including the woman who baked the wedding cake. Adams says that designer-cake creator Sylvia Weinstock had to sign a six-page secrecy statement before she was allowed to lick the first spoon. If the recipe is that secret, one wonders about other aspects of the nuptials.

ANOTHER GARTH BROOKS UPDATE

Golly, it seems only yesterday that the country music world was set on its ear by the announcement that the enigmatic Garth Brooks was going to make the his first public appearance in what seemed like an eternity. Now, after emerging from his self-imposed "exile," it seems that Brooks is everywhere. First hawking the arrival of the long-awaited "Scarecrow" album, then making live radio appearances where he took calls and played songs from the CD, then participating in a pro-America fundraiser, finally appearing in a raft of soft drink ads. Now comes word that he will perform the song "The Dance" in tribute to the late NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt at Friday night's Winston Cup Awards. The news provider country.com says that the event will be held in, of all places, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the Big Apple. You can watch it on TNT at 8 p.m., Eastern Time. Photogenic racer Jeff Gordon will receive his fourth points championship during the ceremonies.

BOCELLI MARRIAGE HITS A SOUR NOTE

The marriage of international opera sensation Andrea Bocelli and his wife Enrica, could be headed for divorce court. The New York Post is quoting its sources as saying that the marriage "won't last much longer." Bocelli, who has had a meteoric rise in the international world of classical music, was tapped to appear on "Larry King Live" this week during his visit to Los Angeles. The singer is in L.A. to promote his latest CD, "Toscana." Bocelli and his wife have two children, Matteo and Amos. A representative of the tenor would not comment on the report.

UPI DAILY QUESTION NO. 213

It's still quite a few days until Christmas, but here's a question: "If you could surprise your family by having any well known person, from any part of the world, suddenly show up on Christmas Eve and sit around the tree with you and the family -- or just YOU, if you're alone -- who would it be?" Put VISITOR in the subject line and send to survey@upi.com via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 208 (YUCK)

Last week we asked about some of your more horrible personal experiences -- at least the ones that are printable. Some of the replies weren't. But, from the mailbag -- or should I say "mailgag?" -- here are few: Deb remembers a restroom in a South American gas station that she'd like to forget. Peggy remembers scooping up after her massive dog only to find the bag had broken in her hand and she had to walk all the way home carrying his "present." Andrea remembers a man who exited an airplane lavatory with blue stains all over his hands and arms. When it was inspected, the restroom look normal and nothing was disturbed. She still can't figure it out. Lleeegs remembers, as a child, seeing a very pregnant woman get too close to labor in the frozen foods aisle. We had lots of replies about the increasing number of soiled diapers found in parking lots, apparently dumped just where people walk. There were accounts of friends or loved ones losing their lunch ON themselves. One respondent took off an undergarment to lessen the heat in her car when the AC went off and, instead of tossing it into the back seat, accidentally tossed it onto the window of a passing man's car. Finally, AntiM did something once that I did several times back in southern Indiana, step on a slug at night in bare feet. OK, enough for the YUCKS. On to other things tomorrow. GBA.