People

MAURICE GIBB DIES IN FLORIDA HOSPITAL

With the death of Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees it's suddenly apparent that the group's music is still everywhere. Just minutes after hearing of the death of Gibb, in the wake of an emergency operation to remove an intestinal blockage, this reporter found himself in a fast food restaurant. There, on the piped-in music, were the Bee Gees, with the strident voice of Gibb shining through. The irony is that the programming was not the instant decision of a "disk jockey" somewhere who had just heard the news, but part of a long ago thought up sequence of songs. All these years after the world thought it had said goodbye to the "disco" sound of the Bee Gees, the brothers were still there; in the world of music they had never left. It's sad that published reports show that Maurice always thought he was the "black sheep" of the group, not the handsomest, not the best. He apparently lived with that perception until his death over the weekend in Florida. Funny, for many of us he was our favorite. Published reports noted that Gibb's surviving twin, Robin, thought that his brother's attack was survivable and had told reporters that Maurice was on the mend. Then things suddenly changed. For years the three remaining brothers -- Maurice, Robin and older brother Barry -- had lived in south Florida. Another highly successful brother, Andy, died in his 30s of heart failure. Maurice Gibb was only 53.

DIVERSE GROUP TOPS 'PEOPLE'S CHOICE'

The nation has shown it has truly eclectic tastes in voting for this year's People's Choice Awards. Just look at the top music kudos handed out on the CBS broadcast: Favorite female musical performer, Faith Hill; male performer, Eminem; group or band (a tie between) the Dixie Chicks and Creed. In another tied division, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and "Spider-Man" won in the favorite movie category. America's king and queen of the silver screen in the People's Choice voting were Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. The royalty of TV are Ray Romano (who had his twin, grade school-age sons deliver his acceptance speech) and Jennifer Aniston. The broadcast was the 29th annual for the event. Some winners sent in videotaped acceptance speeches.

COLTER PLANS SOLO ALBUM

It would appear that singer-songwriter Jessi Colter is picking up her life just months after the death of her husband ... Waylon Jennings. According to country.com, Colter is putting together a solo album with producer Don Was. Additionally, a report in the New Times newspaper of Phoenix noted that the effort would be in the rock vein. It wasn't that long ago that Jessi and the couple's son, Shooter, hosted what can best be called a jam session. At that session were several music stars from a variety of genres, including Metallica's James Hetfield and Tom Morello, former Rage Against the Machine guitarist. Morello is working with Shooter on an album with the younger Jennings' group Stargunn. Hetfield contributed to the recent tribute album to Waylon, "I've Always Been Crazy: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings." That compilation has yet to be released.

TOM SELLECK TO BE SUBJECT OF 'BIOGRAPHY'

The A&E Biography Channel is about to devote an hour to the life and career of Tom Selleck. The "pretty boy model" who became one of the top stars of television, rode a meteor to the top with his long-running lead in "Magnum, P.I." and went on to appear in several successful major movies. One of the interesting bits of trivia unearthed by the biographers is that Selleck had been offered the lead in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," but turned it down to take the "Magnum" assignment. Selleck allowed the A&E crew to use never-before-seen home movies in putting together the tribute. Among those interviewed for the show are members of the actor's family, and fellow personalities Bess Armstrong, Ted Danson and Sam Elliott. By the way, "Magnun P.I." ran for eight successful seasons and won an Emmy for Selleck.

SEPARATED TWINS ARE GOING HOME

Guatemalan twins, conjoined at the head, are going home ... after 377 days in a Los Angeles Hospital. The two, Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Quiej Alvarez are two of a very few number of twins joined at the head to be successfully separated. CNN is reporting that the two were separated in a marathon 23-hour operation in August. The toddlers are now 17-months-old. The doctor in charge of the separation noted that what was learned during that operation will be of incredible benefit in future procedures. The children were born in rural Guatemala, the daughters of a poor laborer. Their mother struggled in labor for more than a week before the delivery. One of the girls will need more operations to correct bleeding on the brain and will likely need a hearing aid. Federal Express is flying the family home. The parents, struggling to hold back the tears, thanked everyone involved in "their miracle," through an interpreter.

TOWNSHEND QUESTIONED ABOUT PORN SITE

The Who's Peter Townshend is answering questions about why he purchased access to what is being called a "kiddie porn" site. The singer-songwriter, now 57, apparently told police that he had gone to the site to "do research" for an upcoming book about his own childhood and his personal dealing with sexual abuse. Townshend's name showed up on a list relayed by the FBI to its British counterpart in a sweep of the credit card information obtained during an investigation of a porn operation. So far more than 1,300 arrests have been made in England as a result of the investigation. Townshend says he never downloaded anything from the site involved in the police sweep.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 501

Today's question is suggested by Scott from Buffalo: "How long as it been since you and your family regularly sat down to the evening meal together?" Put SUPPER in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 496 (PLACE)

Last week we asked where in the world you would like to live, were that possible. Here, most popular first, are your replies from our very random survey of the e-mail inbox: The No. 1 answer was San Francisco. Then, Montreal (a surprising but great answer), London, The Florida Keys, Big Sky Country (in Montana), several sun-swept islands of the Mediterranean and the Bahamas. TOMORROW: What's on your desk? GBA