Entertainment

One of Republican Dino Rossi's biggest supporters in his battle to unseat Gov. Christine Gregoire has stepped so far over the line of ethical politics he might make even White House schemer Karl Rove blush. Tom McCabe, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, recently directed his group to mail a bogus "Home Ownership Survey" to more than 400 West Siders, the Seattle Times reports. The targets were voters who signed affidavits confirming they cast absentee ballots after their initial signatures were flagged by elections workers.

It's amazing the range of emotions you can feel when you find out that you're going to have a baby. It can be the best news or the scariest, depending on where you are in your life. I can still remember my reaction four years ago when the nurse called me at work to say my test was positive. Somewhere between dropping the phone and telling my boss, who said I looked green, it hit me – oh my God, it finally worked! After years of fertility treatments and agonizing monthly tests to see if the stick turned blue, my miracle had happened.

If antiterrorism point man Jack Bauer was really hunting down Osama bin Laden and his treacherous ilk for the U.S. government, we all could sleep easier at night. As portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland on the Fox drama "24," agent Bauer is now pulling his fourth round-the-clock shift at the FBI's Counter Terrorist Unit to save the nation from yet another dire threat. This time out, Bauer's racing to prevent the meltdown of several nuclear power plants. On past missions, he has thwarted attempts to assassinate the president, unleash a plague and detonate a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. In essence, this is the first TV series to evolve from role-playing video games like "Syphon Filter" and "Max Payne." If you've ever spent an adrenaline-drenched night in front of a computer blasting your way to the next cliffhanger, consider tuning in Monday nights at 9.

Q: I have been dating this guy for almost three years, and we are now engaged. He sent me flowers every week when we lived in different states. Recently he told me about a woman he had been sleeping with while we were dating. I found out later that he was engaged to her at the same time we were engaged. He now has promised to be true. Behind his back I picked his unopened mail out of the garbage, read it and called someone who sent him something. I learned that he had a business deal fall apart because they found out he was deceiving two women at the same time. Is this relationship worth continuing or should I move back home to Pennsylvania? I moved to another state to live with him and his mother. Steve: I'll go out on a limb and suggest that a relationship that features lies, betrayal and garbage- picking does not project as a long-lasting happy marriage. I say cut your losses.

Playing 190 shows in 2004 wasn't enough to keep Flowmotion out of prison. The Seattle-based band was behind bars just long enough to perform a set to inmates of Sacramento, Calif.'s Folsom State Prison, a venue made famous by a performance and live album from the late Johnny Cash. Seeing "guys literally in a cage" was intimidating, but surprisingly rewarding.

Oh the power and freedom of a good set of wheels – where would we have been at different stages of our lives without them? Riding in a stroller was our first taste of speed. I am guessing it felt good to go for a ride without someone holding on to us. We were free to kick our legs and stare at the interesting objects and people we passed on the street. It was likely a bit frustrating, though, catching a glimpse of something really colorful and intriguing for the first time, only to quickly lose sight of it because we weren't controlling the reigns. It was probably then that we unconsciously thought to ourselves, "Can't wait until I can drive."

What: "An Impressionist's Eye: Painting and Sculpture from the Philip and Janice Lavin Foundation." Where: The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), 2316 W. First Ave.

John Maybury's "The Jacket" is a dark and twisted gothic tale about a man's struggle to make sense of a senseless world. Whether you make much sense of this film is an entirely different story. Adrien Brody stars as Jack Starks, a Desert Storm soldier who gets part of his head blown off during combat in Iraq.

For more than 25 years, following John Travolta's career has been like sitting at the beach, watching the tides. He crests with "Saturday Night Fever," "Grease" and "Urban Cowboy," then sinks with "Moment by Moment" and "Staying Alive." He comes back on the high of "Pulp Fiction" and then collapses into the lows of "The General's Daughter," "Battlefield Earth" and "Basic."

CLUBLOCATION/PHONETONIGHTSATURDAYNEXT WEEK*The B-Side (S)230 W. Riverside Ave., 624-763810 Minutes Down, Scatterbox, RuckusHeiruspecs, DJ Parafyn, Cursive Adonis, Freetime Synthetic (original)Bob with Liquid Ambition, Shiver, White Knuckle, Halfracks (original) on Wednesday*Blue Spark (S)15 S. Howard St., 838-5787Open mike with Flyreal on Monday; Eighth Element oxygen bar on Thursday*The Blvd.333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.The Longnecks (original)*Capone's (S)751 N. Fourth, Coeur d'Alene, (208) 667-4843Smokin Joe Kubek & B'Nois King (original)*Dempsey's Brass Rail (S)909 W. First Ave., 747-5362DJ Scott (top 40); drag shows; Eighth Element oxygen barDJ Scott (top 40); drag shows; Eighth Element oxygen barDancing on Sunday; Monday and Wednesday (karaoke); '80s night on Thursday*Europa Pizzaria (N)125 S. Wall, 455-4051Sidhe on Sunday and Monday*Mootsy's (S)406 W. Sprague Ave., 838-1570Flowmotion (original)Woke Up Falling, Triple X Audio (original)*Spike Coffee House (N)122 S. Monroe St., 838-1614Open mike on Tuesday*The Wine Cellar (N)313 Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene, (208) 664-WINELaffin Bones Unplugged (blues)Laffin Bones Unplugged (blues)Darin Hildebrand (original) on Tuesday; Riverboat Dave (original) on Wednesday; Ray Roberson (blues) on ThursdayAki's (N)523 W. First Ave., 747-4266DJ Messiah, Elevation (electronic)Ankeny'sRidpath Hotel, 515 W. Sprague Ave., 838-6311Soul Proprietor (variety)Soul Proprietor (variety)Pamela Benton (variety) on Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayAuntie's Bookstore (N)402 W. Main, 838-0206Andrea Goddard (piano)Bear Creek Lodge24817 N. Mt. Spokane Park Drive, 238-9114Occasional String Band (variety)Beverly's (N)Coeur d'Alene Resort, Coeur d'Alene, (208) 765-4000Robert Vaughn (listening)Robert Vaughn (listening)Big Al's (S)6152 Seltice Way, Stateline, (208) 777-8312Tuesday and Wednesday (karaoke)Big Easy Concert House (S)921 W. Sprague Ave., 244-3279Club Mardi GrasClub FusionThursday (karaoke)Bigfoot Pub and Eatery (S)9115 N. Division St., 467-9638Sammy Eubanks (blues) on Sunday; Bourbon Brothers on Monday; Exit 7 on Thursday (both country)Blue Dolphin (S)16 S. Robie Road, 924-7168Demise, Botched, Riff 8 (original)Undhun, Kevin, Billy's Machine, Last Chance (original)DJ Stiles on Sunday; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (karaoke); open mike on WednesdayBluz at the Bend (S)2721 N. Market St., 483-7300Papa Glenn and the Border Run Blues Band (blues)Papa Glenn and the Border Run Blues Band (blues)Riverside Talent Showcase on SundayBolo's Bar & Grill (S)116 S. Best Road, 891-8995Blynd Spot (variety)Monday-Thursday (karaoke)Bottom's Up13921 E. Trent Ave., 892-1778DJ Jeremy DDJ Jeremy DBourbon Street (S)921 W. Sprague Ave.Total Request Live on WednesdaysBrickwall Comedy Club (S)Budget Inn, 110 E. Fourth Ave., 484-2431Open mike on Sunday; Monday-Tuesday (karaoke); Tony Castle, LA Hardy (comedy) on ThursdayBrotherhood of Friends (B.O.F.)933 W. Third Ave., 624-5159The Variety Pack (ballroom)The Variety Pack (ballroom)Bucer's Coffeehouse201 S. Main St., MoscowMarcel St. Jazz QuartetCJ's (S)112 N. Main St., Moscow, (208) 883-3147Club Night (top 40)Club Night (top 40)Wednesday and Thursday (karaoke)Café MoroPullman, (509) 338-3892Leslie Sena (original)Irish Jam on ThursdayCatacombs (N)110 S. Monroe St., 838-4610Live music on MondaysCrazy 8 Sports Club (S)20 E. Lincoln St., 467-1363DJ Brian BeatDJ RyndogDJ Brian Beat on Sunday and Thursday; Monday (karaoke); DJ Ryndog on TuesdayDavenport Hotel (S)10 S. Post St., 455-8888Jay Stapleton (guitar)Jay Stapleton (guitar)Di Luna's Café (N)Sandpoint, (208) 263-0846Skweez the Weezle (Celtic)Eastside Marketplace1420 S. Blaine St., Moscow, (208) 882-1533Josh Kinglsey (original)Moscow Mardi GrasElla's Supper Club (N)CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave., third floor, 747-7078Joe Kloess (piano); The Ty Bailie Trio (jazz)Joe Kloess (piano); The Ty Bailie Trio (jazz)Nick Herman, Intercollegiate Jazz Jam on Tuesday; Jonathan Nicholson (guitar) and Jim Templeton (jazz piano) on Wednesday; Darrin Schaffer, The Danny McCollim Trio with Annie O'Neal on ThursdayFat Tuesday's (S)109 W. Pacific Ave., 489-3969Bands for Brandon Fund-raiser (original)Lucid CD Release Party (original)Fizzie Mulligan's (S)331 W. Hastings Road, 466-5354Perones (variety)Perones (variety)Wednesday (karaoke); Sammy Eubanks (blues) on ThursdayThe Flame (S)2401 E. Sprague, 534-9121Sneaks (top 40)Sneaks (top 40)Tuesday-Thursday (karaoke)Goodtymes Bar & Grill (S)9214 E. Mission Ave., 928-1070Just Dirt (variety)Just Dirt (variety)DJ and comedy on Sundays; Tuesdays and Wednesdays (karaoke)Hedge House (S)2606 N. Monroe St., 326-2297Holly Holmes (variety)Holly Holmes (variety)Holly Holmes (variety) on Wednesday and ThursdayJohn's Alley (S)114 E. Sixth, Moscow, (208) 883-7662Moscow Mardi Gras with Flowmotion (original)Jazz Night on SundayLinnie's Thai (N)1301 W. Third Ave., 835-5800PF Flyer (variety)Lone Cactus (S)415 W. Hastings, 468-2672Bob Juhlin (listening)Bob Juhlin (listening) on ThursdayMedley's (S)14415 E. Sprague Ave., 927-4555Open jam and karaoke on Sunday; Riverside Rhythm & Bluez Jam (blues) on Tuesday; Wednesday-Thursday (karaoke)Merq Café & Liquid Lounge (S)706 N. Monroe St., 325-3871DJ musicDJ music Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday (karaoke)Mizuna (N)214 N. Howard St., 747-2004DJ Nealie Neal (funk/jazz)O'Shay's Irish PubCoeur d'AleneOpen mike on ThursdayPepperdine (S)2911 E. 57th Ave., 448-8111Rock Bottom (variety)Rock Bottom (variety)Percy's Café (N)U-City, 924-6022All City Jazz QuartetKaraokeSunday-Thursday (karaoke)Picnic Pines ResortMedical Lake, 299-3223Sammy Eubanks (blues)Sammy Eubanks (blues)Remington's (S)Ramada Inn, 838-5211Gabe Lapano (variety)Gabe Lapano (variety)Gabe Lapano (variety) on ThursdayRock Coffee (N)920 W. First Ave., 838-1864Element Tribe DJKC Wilsey (original)Rock Inn (S)8122 E. Sprague Ave., 922-4649Big Phat (variety)Big Phat (variety)Sunday-Tuesday, Thursday (karaoke); Cary Fly Evolution Jam on WednesdaySaddle Inn (S)10211 S. Electric Ave., Cheney, 455-8324Karaoke2 Late with Don Smet (country) on SundaySatellite (S)425 W. Sprague Ave., 624-3952Cary Fly Evolution Jam (rock, R&B) on SundayShore Lounge (S)Coeur d'Alene Resort, (208) 765-2300, ext. 7118Don Larsen & The Cynics (variety)Don Larsen & The Cynics (variety)Sunday (karaoke); Don Larsen & The Cynics (variety) on ThursdayThe Slab Inn (S)800 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls, (208) 773-5440Thunder Road (country)Thunder Road (country)Sunday-Thursday (karaoke)Snoops Saloon (S)805 E. Rosewood Ave., 487-6013Digital streaming jukeboxDigital streaming jukeboxDigital streaming jukebox dailySpokane Eagles315 E. Francis Ave., 489-3030Mingo & the Desperados (country)Mingo & the Desperados (country)Spokane House (S)4301 W. Sunset Highway, 838-1471Diane Copeland (variety)Diane Copeland (variety)Diane Copeland (variety) on Wednesday and ThursdaySpokane Valley Eagles (S)16801 E. Sprague Ave., 928-2063Mingo & The Desperados (country)Mingo & The Desperados (country)The Star (S)1329 N. Hamilton St., 487-1530Ray Vasquez Band (variety)Ray Vasquez Band (variety)Thumper's718 E. Francis Ave., 484-8489Chris Rieser Acoustic Trio on ThursdayTrick Shot Dixie (S) 321 W. Sprague Ave., 624-4549Native Son (variety)Native Son (variety)Wednesday (karaoke)Twilight Room (N)112 S. Monroe St., 456-5654DJ Ovey (hard house) on Tuesdays VFW #1474 (S)3004 E. Queen Ave., 487-3784Mavericks (country)Mavericks (country)Mavericks (country) on SundayVFW #3386Airway Heights, 244-5219Cow Jazz (country) Volcanoes Bar (S)20 N. Raymond, 893-3667Mang, Neutral Boy, FederalesDJ Tune Man Dance PartySunday-Tuesday (karaoke)The Wine BarPullmanMarcel St. Jazz QuartetYardley Bar & Grill (S)1302 N. Stanley Road, 533-0011KaraokeBen & Sherry (variety)

Vin Diesel stretches to do his "Kindergarten Cop" turn in "The Pacifier," a feeble Disney comedy that presents the bullet-headed action star as a babysitter. Hear Vin bark out orders. See Vin kicking some South Korean and Serbian behinds.

Before last month's Grammys, much was made of Kanye West's hit single "Jesus Walks," which snared a Grammy as best rap song. Part of the buzz concerned the fact that Jesus was mentioned prominently, a rarity for non-gospel songs. A few J-tunes have cracked the charts – "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode and ZZ Top's version of "Jesus Just Left Chicago" come to mind – but most have never risen beyond obscurity. And although they might not qualify as background music for Easter dinner, here are a few noteworthy ones.

In the grand scheme of the music industry, Saliva is still a pup. Sure, the heavy-metal ambassadors got a leg up when frontman Josey Scott sang alongside Nickelback's Chad Kroeger in the Spider-Man single "Hero." But the recently successful band still feels the right to take a pass at the industry that supports its self-professed debauchery.

What it is: Comedy Central's new game show "Distraction" is your standard trivia competition with a twist ... a sick, painful and often belly-laugh-inducing twist. Think Jeopardy!, but with Ken Jennings getting zapped with a Taser as he tries to remember the ingredients in a Tom Collins. We know that shouldn't be funny. But it is. What it's all about: Each show begins with four contestants blessed with either an unusually high tolerance for pain and discomfort or an unusually high desire for cool prizes and 15 minutes of fame. Garden-variety quiz-show questions are doled out by droll British host Jimmy Carr (who was a writer for the pre-"Office" British TV show "Meet Ricky Gervais," which might tell you something about his sense of humor). But instead of being able to focus on these trivial pursuits, the competitors are, as the title suggests, distracted by a series of occurrences that range from the highly unusual (players must activate their buzzers by urinating) to the uncomfortable (playing leapfrog with a portly nudist) to the ouch-inducing (having bottles broken over their heads). Contestants are eliminated one by one, but the painful good times don't end when we're down to the last man or woman standing. Before our winner can make off with the hard-won bounty (usually a new car or a collection of goodies that may include an Apple iBook, a plasma TV and a Vespa scooter), a few more questions must be answered. And for every wrong answer, those shiny new prizes are beaten up, otherwise defaced or, occasionally, blown to smithereens.

It's finally happened: "EverQuest" players don't even have to leave the keyboard to get food. Well, until the doorbell rings, anyway. Players of Sony Online Entertainment's online world game "EverQuest II" can order pizza right from inside the game by typing the command "/pizza." The command pulls up a Web browser window with Pizza Hut's online ordering form inside.

There were only about 10 of us in the audience on Sunday to see Kevin Bacon star in "The Woodsman." And six of us had gone there together. Which tells you all you need to know about how the public at large is apt to approach a film about a pedophile, even one played by Mr. "Footloose."

Why won't BNSF Railway honcho Matt Rose honor his written personal pledge to "operate our [North Idaho refueling] facility in an exemplary manner, ever mindful of the importance of the ground water resources"? Maybe it's because Rose has raised so much dough for George W. Bush, who never met a corporate polluter he didn't like. During the 2004 campaign, Rose and his wife each contributed $2,000 to the president's reelection campaign, the maximum allowed under federal law. The Texas rail baron also became a veritable fund-raising locomotive as one of Dubya's Rangers. Every member of this fat-cat club – folks like Enron's Ken Lay – pledged to track down at least $200,000 for the Bush-Cheney juggernaut.

Collective Soul rode the mid-'90s post-grunge wave from indie status to major-label rock stardom alongside bands such as Live and Better Than Ezra. After the initial rush, the group kept its head above water by pumping out numerous adult- alternative rock radio hits.