Think Y2K Is Way Too Much? They Agree

The millennium countdown seems to spawn news stories exponentially. This media hype has inspired a Palm Springs company, nuvo designs, to spoof our fascination with the big “M” in clever greeting cards.

The company’s bestselling card simply states: “Millennium Schmillennium!” with the words “blah, blah, blah” inside. Hovering above the words is “2000” with a slash through it. Another card features an old black-and-white photo of tornado victims in front of their collapsed barn, and asks “Has the Y2K bug hit you?”

The company is the brainchild of artist Stephen C. Wagner and photographer Scott Van Dyke.

“When we first started looking at the concept, everyone thought the millennium was going to bring the end of the world, so we figured, why don’t we spoof that?” Wagner said. “We’ve had a built-in ad department between Peter Jennings and the newspapers.”

And, Alanis, in case you’re collecting new examples: Isn’t it ironic that a business that started out as a reaction to millennial media hype is now generating it?

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Those of us who grew up on a steady diet of junk food TV (“H.R. Pufnstuf,” anyone?) may be relieved to know that the next generation may be worse off.

A nationwide survey of 9-12 year-olds found that high computer users (read: tech heads who go online three to seven times a week) spend half as much time reading books as those who are high TV watchers (read: couch tater tots who stay glued to the screen 16 or more hours a week).

High computer users also have fewer friends--on average, two close pals compared to kids who are high TV watchers, who average five close buds.

“Like every new stimulus a kid comes across, at first it’s very exciting. But achieving balance is essential in a child’s life. . . . The Internet is one thing but it can’t be the only thing,” said Bill Berenter, chairman of Berenter Greenhouse & Webster, the New York advertising agency that conducted the research.

The survey of 157 children also found high TV watchers played sports twice as often as high computer users. But, confusingly, high computer users were twice as likely as high TV watchers to play outside. Hmm. Perhaps they use their laptops on the Jungle Gym?

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Kate Spade perfume? Please--say it’s so! Estee Lauder Companies Inc. announced yesterday a licensing agreement with the handbag designer. Under the agreement, Prescriptives Inc. (an Estee Lauder company) has obtained exclusive rights to the Kate Spade trademark for beauty and related products, including fragrances, cosmetics and skin care products. Yummy!

Since Spade, a former Mademoiselle accessories editor, started her business in New York in 1993, her name has become synonymous with simple, chic handbags. Spade, who opened a boutique on Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills in May 1998, has also added stationery and shoes to her line.

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More of “The Body” to be revealed: Those who didn’t get enough of Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in the November Playboy are in luck, according to the Associated Press. Lawrence Grobel is working on a follow-up to his controversial interview, using 10,000 words that went unpublished. The story could run within two months, Grobel told Fargo radio station KFGO.

Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.