Chatterbox: And the Playstation 2 answer is ...

Here, finally, is the answer to the question that kids of all ages have been asking all year: November 30 and $899.95. That's when PlayStation 2 — sort of the Harry Potter of the home entertainment hardware world — will be available in New Zealand, and its price.

And here's the answer to the next burning question: 40. That's the number of games available before Christmas for the machine, which features a DVD player should anyone in the household feel like doing something non-interactive. Now go out and mow the lawns. And no, we're not raising your pocket money.

BIG QUESTION PART 2: And the answer to the question we don't know if anyone really wants the answer to: November 6 and it's untitled. Well, that's all we think you need to know right now about the forthcoming third album from the Spice Girls.

BIG QUESTION PART 3: Don't you just love lists? Here are the "most morose albums of all time" according to the Brit rock mag NME: 1. Sister Lovers — Big Star; 2. Closer — Joy Division; 3. Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space — Spiritualized; 4. In Utero — Nirvana; 5. Songs Of Love And Hate — Leonard Cohen; 6. Lady In Satin — Billie Holiday; 7. In The Wee Small Hours — Frank Sinatra; 8. Pink Moon — Nick Drake; 9. Bubble And Scrape — Sebadoh; 10. Unknown Pleasures — Joy Division. Sniff.

THE NEW HEATH? The next big Aussie in Hollywood — Heath Ledger is so last week, mate — is former Tap Dog Adam Garcia, presently gracing the screens in Coyote Ugly, a movie which looks from its trailer to be Showgirls meets Cocktail. But frankly we like his attitude. "I want the stardom," he says. "I'm not in this for art. I like the money, chicks and cars. That's what I'm aiming for." Mr Garcia is apparently from the Gold Coast.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK: "There's 3 million people in this country and 65 million sheep. So if ever a country needs Robbie Williams to tease out its collective, sexed-up grin, it's New Zealand." — How the never-predictable English music rag Melody Maker began a review of Mr Williams' recent private Auckland gig.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I can't believe I barfed in Harrison Ford's helicopter." — Climber Sarah George, 20, who having taken ill on Table Mountain, Idaho, was rescued by the Actor Formerly Known as Indiana Jones in his private chopper. It's okay — she used a hat. But not his.