
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993                   TAG: 9310230053
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: from wire reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PEOPLE COLUMN

Actor James Coburn married American Paula Murad in a small ceremony Friday at the city hall of Versailles, serenaded with waltzes by an accordionist.

\ U.S. News & World Report, in its 60th anniversary issue, asked a variety of notables for their thoughts, deep and otherwise, on what the future will hold in 2053. Among the collected musings:

Author David Halberstam: "As the literacy rate declines in this country, more and more people are writing books. Are we approaching the moment where more people will write books than will be able to read them?"

"Miss Manners" Judith Martin: "Will people finally start behaving and stop asking questions like: `Surely, in 2053 nobody expects thank-you notes or answers to invitations anymore?"'

Diane English, "Murphy Brown" creator: "Classic comedy shows of the past will still be running, but with a twist. Virtual reality will give rise, for example, to `Virtual Stooge,' where you can call up any episode of `The Three Stooges' and become the Fourth Stooge - actually experiencing the sensation of being whacked on the head with a plank by Curly. (This will be a hit primarily with men.)"

Humorist Dave Barry: "By the year 2050, will all traces of the song `Achy Breaky Heart' have been eliminated worldwide? Why not?"

by CNB