Girl next door to tearful junkie, the fall of a pop princess

Paris' posh pooches are killing off our classic dog breeds

It could hardly be a more British sight. A spaniel, or perhaps a setter, trotting next to its owner, carrying the newspaper.


Or at least, it was.

For these days it seems that the pedigree pooch is as likely to fit in your handbag as walk by your side.

As dog owners copy celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Geri Halliwell by opting for a small dog, our traditional breeds suffer the consequences.

According to The Kennel Club, some of the most well-known types are facing extinction.

They have fewer than 300 puppies a year registered - and numbers are so low, that experts believe there is a real danger of extinction in the UK.

On the club's 2007 endangered list is the bloodhound, of which only 100 puppies were registered, and the Irish red and white setter - 93 were registered.

The field spaniel, greyhound and the Cardigan corgis, closely related to the Pembrokeshire corgis favoured by the Queen, are also at risk.

But it's a different story for the little dog. Chihuahuas have become so popular that a puppy can cost up to £2,000 - about five times the average for a pedigree.

The pug, shitzu, pomeranian and other so-called teacup breeds are also thriving.

"The Kennel Club is well aware of the popular trend that has arisen for the smaller toy breeds, such as the chihuahua and the pug, both of which have seen registrations rise by around 1,000 in the past year," a spokesman said.

"Celebrities seem to have a huge impact on which breeds are deemed popular each year."

Caroline-Kisko, of the Kennel Club, said: "We are working hard alongside breed clubs to keep these great British breeds from extinction.

"It's essential that we do all we can to protect these breeds so that people can discover what great characters they are."

However, there is some hope for traditionalists.

The bulldog, perhaps the most British of all breeds, has 4,000 registrations a year and is considered a rather fashionable canine companion.

Lindsay Lohan's downward spiral hit rock bottom

Lindsay Lohan's downward spiral hit rock bottom Monday when her 2007 thriller, "I Know Who Killed Me," was nominated for nine Razzie Awards - the dishonors given to the worst movies and actors of the past year.

Lohan, who played dual roles in the film, actually received two nominations in the worst actress category - one for each of the characters she portrayed.

"'I Know Who Killed Me' is the most fabulously brainless movie since 'Showgirls,' which Razzie voters picked as the worst movie of the 1990s," said John Wilson, the founder of the Golden Raspberry Awards.

"For worst actress, Lohan polled more heavily than any actor since Sofia Coppola in 'The Godfather: Part III,'" he noted.

Lohan played a high school student who is abducted by a serial killer and somehow wakes up in a hospital with the identity of a one-legged stripper. Other nominations for "I Know Who Killed Me" included worst movie and director.

Personally outdoing Lohan was Eddie Murphy, whose comedy "Norbit" earned him an all-time-high five Razzie noms among the film's eight nods, including worst movie.

Murphy, nominated for an Oscar last year for playing a drug-addled soul singer in "Dreamgirls," was nominated for worst actor and actress - he also played the title character's overbearing, obese wife - plus worst screen couple and worst supporting actor for his additional role as an elderly Asian man.

"We decided that each of his characters was so offensive that he deserved individual nominations," Wilson said.

The other worst picture nominees were "Bratz," based on the edgy line of girls' dolls; "Daddy Day Camp," a comedy with Cuba Gooding Jr., and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," which starred Adam Sandler and Kevin James as New York firemen pretending to be a gay couple. "Chuck & Larry" received eight nominations in all.

In addition to Murphy, Sandler and Gooding, other worst actor picks were Nicolas Cage for "Ghost Rider" and Jim Carrey for "The Number 23." Hottie Jessica Alba, who starred in three stinkers last year - "Awake," "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "Good Luck Chuck" - and Diane Keaton ("Because I Said So") were among the worst actress nominees.

The Razzies, now in their 28th year, will announce the winners Feb. 23, the day before the Academy Awards ceremony.

Britney's suicide note and Naked Shopping

Reports of Britney's recent bizarre behavior now include a suicide note written before her January 3 meltdown and stepping out of a changing room in a upscale clothing store stark.

Whatever is happening in Britney's life, the presence of boyfriend Adnan Ghalib in it is of no help.

Alli Sims, Britney's cousin and good friend who has stood besides her through a lot of her travails, sounded a warning note on Adnan while speaking with Us weekly.

"I don't know him. I only know who he is through him following us for the last eight months. I do not think Adnan is a good person; I think he only has bad intentions. He has always given me a weird feeling and creeped me out. I wish he would just go away."

Not all that is being reported about Britney is true. For example, the In-Touch story that Britney left a suicide note has been trashed by Britney's manager Sam Lutfi, reports x17online.

The original In Touch story claimed that Britney's "very sad" note was "filled with reasons why she shouldn't live, including lines from poems about death" was found by Sam.

As to Britney walking around naked this is what has been reported.

While shopping at the Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, California , Britney came out of the changing room stark naked, a sales clerk at the store told Life & Style magazine.

As she walked into the upscale clothing store, Britney grabbed a couple of dresses and went into the changing room with Adnan. A little later she stepped out completely naked to the utter astonishment of every one present.

When the sales clerk tried to cover her up she went ballistic 'Get away from me! Don't you f------ come near me!'

"Then she disappeared in the dressing room with Adnan for 45 minutes. They were making weird noises. It was disgusting," the sales clerk adds.

After the two emerged Britney was mumbling something unintelligible.

"I couldn't understand a word she was saying. She was slurring and spitting, and talking with a British accent," says the employee. "Her face was covered with cold sores and acne, and her scalp was patchy. I wanted to help her, but she was so mean that I left her alone.

"Then she muttered, 'F--- you!' and left the store."

Woman of the Year

Socialite Paris Hilton is off to Harvard University, and no, it is not for studies, but because she is being named as the University’s Woman of the Year.

According to the New York Post’s Page Six, the Simple Life star will be stopping by the Cambridge, Massachusetts institution on 6 February (08) during a promotional tour for her new movie The Hottie and the Nottie.

She will be picking up her award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club the very next day.

Ladies who have won the Women of the Year award in the past include Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry and Sarah Jessica Parker.