The prepared pessimist

Ted Turner thinks we are not long for this world:

Even while his three foundations continue to spend millions of dollars on environmental and health initiatives, Ted Turner told a newspaper group Sunday night he does not have an optimistic outlook for the future of the world.

"If I had to predict, the way things are going, I'd say the chances are about 50-50 that humanity will be extinct or nearly extinct within 50 years," Turner said. "Weapons of mass destruction, disease, I mean this global warming is scaring the living daylights out of me."

But on the off chance that he's wrong,

Turner Broadcasting System acquires rights to 'Sex and the City'

NEW YORK - An edited version of HBO's "Sex and the City" will be moving to basic cable next year.

TBS announced Monday it had acquired syndication rights to the HBO series, which will end its run of original episodes early next year. Shortly after, in June 2004, old "Sex and the City" episodes will begin appearing on TBS.

Series creators have been preparing for a possible life after HBO, filming alternate scenes so a less racy "Sex" can appear outside of pay cable. The episodes will be also shortened from how they appeared on HBO to make room for commercials.

When the end is near, maybe we can finish things off with a Sex in the City marathon. I'll make the popcorn.

"I said 20 years ago newspapers wouldn't be around in 10 years, and I was wrong," Turner said.

Well, they're still around, Ted, they just aren't very good.