A slow news night. (making your own cosmetics) (Column)

Only three crimes of violence, two politicians convicted of corruption, a civil war in some country I never heard of, and a rock star who had been born a man but who had changed into a woman now wanted a unisex fragrance that would give new meaning to the concept. I dread these "slow-news-nights," which mean that there is time to be filled on the evening news, and that means some boring topic is going to be expounded on ad infinitum to fill the space between the world crises and the 5-day-weather guesses.

The networks try hard to give you the impression that this filler is important by using words like expose and cover-up, but inevitably it turns out to be some story about the growers of rose Bulgar encroaching on the habitats of the tufted grouse or a fringe group protesting the use of protozoa in cruel lab experimentation, or (the one I dread the most) another revelation that the cosmetics you buy are overpriced! (Hey, I'm beginning to sound like Amelia!)

It was a dark and stormy night as I sat riveted by the intricate analysis to which a renowned eye make-up was being …