Pete's Hit and Run Notes

15 May.... I mean, so what if it is a little cool and damp on the weekend. It'll still be a good weekend to get some chore's done around house to get ready for the real Summer weather yet to come.

If you're travelling North to cottage country....BEWARE.....Blackflies, they be waitin' on ya !!

Here's what I know so far today.......

Angelina Jolie confirms she's having twins.  She didn't have much choice since her co-star in Kung Fu Panda, Jack Black, spilled the beans on the Today show.  He said once she had these two babies, she and Brad Pitt will have as many as the Brady Bunch. Angelina also confirmed she may have the babies in France as rumours have suggested she might.

Simon Cowell predicted April 8^th  on Larry King that the final of American Idol would come down to "David vs David", and it turns out he was right. David Archuleta and David Cook will duke it out next Tuesday night at 8PM after Syesha Mercado was voted off last night.

Amy Winehouse copped a break from prosecutors who won't press charges over the video footage that showed her smoking illegal drugs from a pipe. Her spokesperson said she's happy she can move on and concentrate on her music.  Let's hope she'll do that and not focus on substances that will suck the life out of her eventually.

Dog the Bounty Hunter is coming back to A&E on June 25^th, months after it was pulled off the air because of Duane Chapman's rude racial slur of his son's girlfriend in a taped phone call. The return will begin with reruns next month then new episodes a few weeks later.  The Dog deserves a second chance, especially now that he's been to obedience school.

CBS is hoping to laugh it's way to better ratings this Fall.  They've announced they will air 6 sitcoms this Autumn instead of just 4, and will expand their giggle days to Wednesdays from just Mondays in the past. Casualties of their new season include the shows "Shark" and the gothic thriller "Moonlight" which get cancelled due to bland ratings.

Breakthrough results at McMaster University as a research team has developed an early life diagnosis test for babies with Autism as young as nine months old.  The test involves social stimuli and a measurement computer, and helps doctors begin treatment earlier in life for children, which in turn greatly improves response levels.

Hamilton and Toronto are trying to press the Provincial government for increased percentages of the revenues from local slot winnings.  The city currently gets a maximum of 5%, Mayor Fred Eisenberger is lining up behind Toronto's request for a boost to 10%.  Current levels provide Hamilton with about 4 million dollars a year.

American Idol viewers continue to dwindle. The 21.8 million who watched last Tuesday's competition was the smallest Tuesday audience for the show in five years.  Another big event, the Survivor finale, was watched by 13 million and didn't crack the Neilsen top 10. And Donny and Marie's Favorite Mom show on Sunday flopped ranking 107^th for the week with just 2.4 million viewers.

OPP is conducting a road safety campaign this week leading into the long weekend. They're looking for aggressive drivers, drunk motorists, and those not wearing seatbelts.  Hiway 400 will be a primary focus and the new OPP plane will be circling all the major hiways. 

Avril Lavigne, Feist and Nelly Furtado are among the stars up for Much Music's people's choice awards. They're up for fave Canadian artist, the full list will be announced next week. The trophy hardware will be handed out 15 June.