Address Book

A malicious program attached to seemingly innocuous e-mails was spreading quickly over the Internet, clogging network traffic and potentially leaving hackers an open door to infected personal computers. The worm, called "Mydoom" or "Novarg" by anti-virus companies, appears to be an e-mail error message. A small file is attached that, when launched on computers running Microsoft Corp.'

Loose-leaf notebook with pocket dividers. You'll need a divider for each major item in your project (tile, cabinets). Use the pockets to collect business cards, small samples and the inevitable scraps of paper. Attach estimates, purchase orders and contracts to loose-leaf pages organized by section. After completion, the notebook is your archive and repository for warranties. -- At-a-glance calendar and pen with eraser. Here's where you'll record and update your master schedule.

Q: Sometimes I want to forward an e-mail I've received to my family by using the single family group I created in my Address Book, which has 10 names. I haven't been able to do this. One function seems to cancel out the other. I called my server, and their tech person said Outlook Express 5 doesn't allow such a function. Is this true? A: Outlook Express does indeed allow users to set up simple distribution lists for outgoing mail. First, open your Address Book.

An "obsessed" fan who barricaded herself inside a Studio City house owned by actress Sharon Gless was armed with 500 rounds of ammunition and intended to sexually assault the actress before committing suicide, authorities said Tuesday. Additionally, authorities said that during a burglary of the same residence a week before the standoff, Joni Leigh Penn, 30, of Santa Ana, allegedly stole an address book in the hope of tracking down Gless at her Malibu home.

An initially fast-spreading e-mail worm nicknamed "HomePage," the cousin of February's "Anna Kournikova" virus, hit thousands of users of Microsoft Outlook address directories in Asia and Europe. Office workers in banks and telephone companies and government agencies who opened e-mail containing the virus--technically known as VBSWG.X--were suddenly redirected to one of four sexually explicit Web pages, experts said.

Yahoo Inc. plans to release free software in early January that lets users search the contents of their computer hard drives along with the Web, the company said. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo is trying to keep pace with rivals Google Inc., which released a desktop search tool in October; Ask Jeeves Inc., which will launch such a tool next week; and Microsoft Corp., which plans to introduce similar software before the end of the year.

Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable TV operator, agreed to buy online address book company Plaxo Inc. to expand into social networking and offer more services to its Internet-access and video customers. Terms weren't disclosed. The acquisition of closely held Plaxo will enable Comcast Internet customers to share online postings and information about viewing choices, said Sam Schwartz, a Comcast executive vice president. Plaxo, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., has 50 employees and plays host to address books for more than 40 million people, according to its website.

A San Bernardino woman who was hospitalized after a confrontation with Disneyland security officers gave birth Tuesday to a 7-pound, 2-ounce boy. Kimberly Richardson, 23, and her newborn son were reported in good health at St. Bernadine's Hospital. Richardson and her relatives claim that she was "body-slammed" to the ground by Disneyland officers as the group was leaving the amusement park shortly after midnight Monday. Richardson was about two days overdue to give birth.

An advertisement in a gay publication listing Hillcrest Park as "a trouble-free cruising area" may be responsible for a rash of illegal sexual activity there, police said Friday in announcing a crackdown at the park. Beginning today, uniformed officers will patrol the park daily to discourage solicitation and commission of sexual acts. The police and Community Services departments have received numerous complaints, said Vice Sgt. Ron Rowell.