In the world of STAR TREK news there are big stories and then there is everything else. Newsbits, as I've called them, have been the effort of TrekWeb to provide more complete coverage of stories that just don't call for top billing, up in the bright lights (or, whatever). These are, essentially, the Tribbles of the STAR TREK news world.

Although TrekWeb has been reporting Newsbits for over a year, but despite numerous attempts to call attention to their presence over here
<-----. (Yeah, that means the left-hand column), I find that they often go unnoticed.

I've resisted posting a round-up of Bits because many are time-sensitive and I didn't want to wait around a week for enough to accumulate before posting them. The end result is a lot of Bits probably go unread because, despite flawless design on my part (yeah, really), people tend to avoid the edges of the page.

So TrekWeb introduces Today's Tribblets, the usually-daily column that wraps up the day's tribble-sized news bites for those who just can't stand to refresh the page every 15 minutes. One pleasant side effect (depending on how you look at it) of this arrangement will be that--like their namesake--Tribblets will now be allowed to multiply. With this expanded space for minor news reporting, the worry of items sliding off the side-bar into web nothingness is greatly diminished and as you can see with this initial update, everything and anything related to STAR TREK is now the full mandate of TrekWeb Newsbits or Tribblets (whichever you want to call them).

But since I (and TrekWeb's trusty news assistants Gustavo and Bill) can't be everywhere all the time, this means if you come across a pint-sized story, we implore you to submit it (links at the bottom of this article). So whether you've spotted Shatner's toupee about town, Richard Arnold's latest book, or the guy who played the Klingon opera star in that one episode, lay it on us.

Although I've never considered this site a "weblog," I figure using this introductory space to announce relevant information could go a long way. Case in point: the convention listings on the front page have been updated through June 2003. (See, that wasn't so bad). Oh, if there's an event we don't have listed through June, let me know.

I'll also use this space to shed the cold journalistic voice of most TrekWeb stories (can you tell?). That is, when I have time and inclination. The attempt with this column will be to post it--with or without commentary--by 7 PM eastern time most week days. One will probably be enough for weekends and if there are no Tribblets for a day, surprise, there won't be a column. This means that if a tribblet appears after the column is posted, it may not appear in the day's round-up. That's why we have Yesterday's Tribblets (see below)!

We'll try it out for a couple weeks and see what people think. But that means you'll have to use the Talkback; after all, that's what it's for. Is this idea a waste of valuable News Headline space? Is this the first time you've ever heard of Newsbits? Does the free-wheeling Steve frighten you? Got an idea to make it better? If you don't complain, we can't fix it. So, uh, I guess that means, post something.

And now for something completely different.

Name That Van Halen Song of the Day: This article was brought to you by 51.50 FM, Van Halen radio. All Van Halen, all the time. It's time to separate the 80's wunnabees (and other people who've never touched a Rubik's Cube) from the true hair band devotees (although let's be clear, Van Halen is not a "hair band," predating the multitude of posers who would subsequently come to fall under that designation).

The first person to identify the Van Halen song to which the following lyric belongs and the lyric directly after it in the song, down in the Talkback, wins, well, nothing. But you'll get your name listed as the winner in tomorrow's column in shiny, white, bold lettering. Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it.

"Send the mayor down in his pickup truck..."

Today's Tribblets:

• Actor Anthony Caruso, who played 'Bela Oxmyx' in the TOS episode "A Piece of the Action," passed away Friday at age 86. Thanks to 'Shaun Lyon'.


• Robert Picardo and Ethan Phillips performed a play tying up loose ends from VOYAGER at a Kansas City Convention.


• Brent Spiner's Broadway play LIFE X 3 has been extended to July 6th at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City.


• TREK novelist Jospeha Sherman will attend the 11th Annual Young Author's Conference in Athens, TN May 3rd.


• Leonard Nimoy talks about his photography in a new interview at UGO.


• Paramount will provide content, including STAR TREK NEMESIS, to InDemand's video-on-demand service.


• Nashville City Paper calls ENTERPRISE "an aimless, often unwatchable mess" in its latest television column.


• London resident Tony Alleyne has converted his apartment into a replica of STAR TREK sets.


• Harlan Ellison ("The City on the Edge of Forever") will appear Wednesday night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the "Share a Book" program sponsored by the Cleveland Metro. Library System.

For a complete listing of past Newsbits or Today's Tribblets columns, visit TrekWeb's News Archive

If you have a News Tribblet to submit, use our form or email news@trekweb.com.