Short Cuts

Nationally recognized, local writer Spike Gillespie, who graces our pages frequently with thoughtful essays on topics from pain to Playboy centerfolds, was recently hired by Prodigy to be the new Madonna of the Infobahn. She is authoring a weekly online column about women's issues, bringing her opinionated (and humorous) slant on femininity and motherhood to the virtual masses.

Like a secret initiation, you can't find Spike by just browsing the Web, but if you are already a member of Prodigy you can subscribe to: Avenue W by e-mail to: [email protected]. Just leave the subject space blank and type "subscribe avenuew" in the message space. Another Internet provider? Go to http://pages.prodigy.com/Lists on the Web. Spike's due to interview Dorothy Shamonsky, who is currently producing an interactive TV prototype for MTV.

---

Fifty Feet of Love

Avid local film group in*situ is assembling a compilation of short films about "love" for a public screening on Valentine's Day. Each film is required to carry love as its theme (love of all types -- however loosely based) on a single 50-foot roll of Super-8 film with no editing -- what you shoot is what you get. Entrants must include an entry fee of $5 with their processed film submission and an audiocassette containing the film's soundtrack. Entry deadline is January 21, 1995. Contact Tiana Hux, 477-1249 or Heyd Fontenot, 320-0442 for more information.

---

Too Young
to Sling Guns

Better late than never, the Chronicle would like to welcome Rocket Rodriguez Avellán into the world. He was born September 14 to filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and wife Elizabeth Avellán. Coming from such creative parentage and with his high-powered name, he should be destined for the stars.