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CARTER TO BUSH AT NOBEL EVENT: 'COOL IT'

Former President Jimmy Carter has used the stage of the Nobel Prizes in Oslo as a pulpit to call for world peace. In accepting this year's Nobel Peace Prize, the 78-year-old humanitarian warned the White House that it should not ignore the consequences of war ... bloodshed and suffering. Carter suggested that the major countries of the world should launch an all-out effort to find ways to aggressively prevent future wars and widespread violence. He warned of "catastrophic consequences." The Nobel committee in Norway awarded the prize to Carter because of his "decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts ... " Few thought when he ran for president with that "Pepsodent smile" that Carter would emerge as the chief executive who would best be remembered for what he did after leaving the White House, not while serving in the Oval Office.

FLOYD CRAMER TO GET NICHE IN ROCK HALL

When Floyd Cramer's arrangements started appearing in country music, the true "Nashville Sound" was born. Best known for what Country Music Television calls his "slip note" style of piano playing, Cramer's unique touch helped define the future of country music in the '60s. It's easy to hear his classic "Last Date" in our minds. Now, even though he's best known as a country artist, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says it will induct the late musician into its roster in the "sideman" category. He's already a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Though best known for his solo work -- including the chart-busting "Last Date" -- his unmistakable piano stylings appear on thousands of recordings, including some by Elvis, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers. Cramer died in 1997. He was only 64 at the time.

ARLEDGE REMEMBERED BY COLLEAGUES

Former ABC executive Roone Arledge has been remembered by his broadcast colleagues as a man who had an interesting, quirky personality and a great love of life, who changed the face of American television. The Hollywood Reporter has a great photo of much-loved anchorman Walter Cronkite emerging from a car prior to Arledge's funeral. But Cronkite was not the only broadcast biggie there. Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings were there to, along with Roone's son, Roone Arledge Jr., Frank Gifford and former head of CBS news Richard Wald. The present head of ABC's news operations, David Westin, talked about Arledge's accomplishments and his penchant for showing up late for lunch. "He was not a saint," Peter Jennings quipped in his remarks. He may not have been a saint, but Roone Arledge had a vision. The fast-paced nature of television today is his legacy.

'MAD MAX' MEL TO RIDE AGAIN

Look for another big-screen incarnation of the highly successful "Mad Max" movie franchise. Mel Gibson has been tapped to return in another installment in the series. Mad Max mania all started in 1979 with the original "Mad Max" movie, the film that catapulted Gibson into the international spotlight. Then followed "Mad Max: The Road Warrior" and finally, in 1985, "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome." The new movie, according to Variety, will be called "Fury Road." It's set to begin filming sometime next summer in Australia. No details of any plot or co-stars have been released.

WORLEY AND TROUPE HEADING FOR 'WAR ZONE'

Popular entertainer Darryl Worley and a troupe of entertainers will soon be leaving for a trip to Afghanistan. They will be entertaining American troops over the holidays. In the grand tradition of Bob Hope and his United Service Organization Gypsies, Worley and guitarist Jeff Jared will be leaving in a few days and will remain in the "war zone" until the first of the year. The Army is teaming up with the USO in providing transportation and facilities. The U.S. Army Band will also be away from home for Christmas. Its members will be serving as the backup group for the performances. The play list for the 90-minute show includes Worley's standards and a lot of holiday music. When asked by country.com what he thought about missing Christmas at home, Worley commented that he knew he'd be rewarded 10-fold by going to bring cheer to the troops.

CLERGY CALLING FOR LAW'S RESIGNATION

A lot of Roman Catholics are having a hard time coming to grips with the extent of the problems within a segment of their clergy. Major dioceses have been rocked by scandal. Among them ... the Boston archdiocese. The man who has been at the helm during all of this is Cardinal Bernard Law. He's now in Rome to try to sort things out. Now, according to United Press International's David Haskell in Boston, a group of his priests is demanding that he resign. They charge that Law did little to remove wayward priests from posts where they could come into contact with children; he simply re-assigned them to other parishes, never reporting their misdeeds. Haskell says it's unclear if the letter from the priests was forwarded to Law. It was received Monday at the cardinal's home in Boston during his absence. Amid all of this are the hundreds of thousands of good priests whose are being caught up in the "bad apple" syndrome. Those of us who have fond memories of a trouble-free childhood in Catholic schools still like to think of the tradition as being best represented by Bing Crosby and movies such as "Going my Way" or "The Bells of St. Mary's" and not by some kind of horror film.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 477

Here's another holiday-time question: "Have you ever had your holiday travel plans so thwarted that you never got to your destination on time to celebrate?" Put TRAVEL in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 472 (PRESENT)

Last week we asked what Christmas or holiday-time gift you might end up giving yourself. Here, from a random dip into the e-mail inbox, is a sampling of replies: A full 20 percent said a new car would be the self-giving gift. Speaking of cars, JonC says that he'll probably end up installing a better speaker system in his car because "mom's not thrilled about (the idea)." Well, Jon, maybe she treasures her sleep! (Just don't turn them up all the way. Take it from a baby boomer who didn't follow that advice and now has mid-range hearing loss.) TAPF says she'll get some snow-scented aromatherapy products. Pam represents a group saying they will get a special "next year's" calendar. Finally, PJWR says "nothing." She seems to have everything. Good for her. TOMORROW: To tow or not to tow.

WE'RE STILL TAKING APPLICATIONS ...

The responses continue to arrive in our "let's honor someone over the holidays" idea. Just think of an unsung hero in your area. Tell us about him or her. Include a contact number if you want the person's name mentioned. Send your stories to [email protected] with HONOR in the subject line. GBA