Did anyone within the sound of my keyboard watch the Golden Globes ceremony Sunday night? Nah, me neither.

For one thing, I've had . . . Let's call it “abdominal melodrama," off and on since Wednesday. Consequently, I simply wasn't in the mood for anything at all by Glenn Miller.

Moreover, this writer's strike has sucked the blood out of my beloved red-carpet season. Now, I'm not saying picketing on the part of Hollywood scribes isn't a smidgen necessary. But dangit to Denver, Alexis, I need my fix of what-was-she-thinkin' dresses and shut-up-already acceptance speeches.

I'm still holding out hope for the Academy Awards, for which nominations are announced a week from today at some unholy dawn-rush hour on the West Coast.

In preparation for the Oscars, considered the apex of the awards-show equinox (don't you just love a thesaurus?), I have a little to-do list to help make you, your wardrobe and/or someone who needs help a measure more ready for your own red-carpet moments this year.

TeleTech Holdings Q3 Revenues Up 11% - Quick Facts [TTEC]

11/8/2007 10:33:10 PM Thursday, TeleTech Holdings Inc. (TTEC) reported preliminary financial results for the third quarter 2007, due to self-initiated review of accounting and likely restatement of prior period financial statements.

TeleTech reported third quarter revenues of $335.8 million, up 10.5% from $303.80 million in the prior-year quarter. Revenues from services performed for clients in offshore locations grew about 33% to $136.5 million year-over-year.

Preliminary total operating expenses for the latest third quarter were $309.86 million, while income from operations were at $25.94 million.

The company noted that sale of business resulted in a pre-tax disposition charge of $7.0 million, including $2 million of cash related expenses, net of a software sale, during the third quarter.

Property market: Winning ways to negotiate your cut-price property ...

Three months of falling prices have persuaded many that they must take a slice off their asking price if they really want to sell their home. In its last bulletin on the housing market, published on December 17, the property website Rightmove announced that asking prices had fallen by an average of 3.2 per cent over the month. Of this, it said, 1.1 per cent was attributable to a rush of one- and two-bedroom properties coming on to the market before the requirement to commission a Home Information Pack was extended to all property.

HOUND DOG BILL IS BACK - AND HE'S BARKING LOUD

Despite reports, it's probably easier to pen in press than it is to subdue and shut up the testosterone-fueled bad boy as he travels from state to state stumping and pressing the flesh (OK, bad choice of words) with the thousands of adoring fans who crowd him unrestrained after his speeches.

But clearly Team Clinton was in damage-control mode during the week, trying to make up for his untoward, racially insensitive remarks. (The jury is still out about whether or not they were really off the cuff or not.) He was introduced at each of his last-minute-arranged, hectic venues by prominent African-Americans and Hispanics.

There was former Mayor Wellington Webb in Denver, Mayor Martin Chavez in Albuquerque, and Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks in Phoenix and Albuquerque.

It's clear that Hound Dog Bill wants to be in the White House again, even if that takes getting America to elect his wife.

Braves considering Kotsay or Patterson for CF?

They're talking to teams about trading highly sought-after starter Joe Blanton (only 27 years old), and yes, plenty of Braves fans would love for Atlanta to get involved in that discussion (sure can't blame you).

Schafer might even be ready by '08 opening day, if the Braves deem it necessary and suitable to thrust him into the starting CF role without any experience above Class A ball.