News In Brief

DO YOU OWN ONE YET? If you missed it, a market-research firm is reporting that half of all US homes now are equipped with at least one personal computer. That compares with just 27 percent as recently as 1995, Data-quest of Palo Alto, Calif., says. Its summary of survey results attributes the growth to strong sales of lower-priced models, calling the PC "a standard household appliance."

SHARE THE EXPERIENCE File this one under cutting-edge innovation. According to reports from Hungary, a once-popular rock band that's trying to mount a comeback after not playing since 1987 has come up with a novel way to promote a concert scheduled for later this year. Omega - perhaps you remember its most successful hit, "Time Robber" - is listing itself on the Budapest Stock Exchange. Buying one share in the group gets the purchaser one ticket to the concert. Contact your broker for additional details.

10 movies are nominated for Writers Guild awards

Screenwriters for "Shakespeare in Love" and "Saving Private Ryan" are among nominees for the 51st annual awards of the Writers Guild of America. Winners are to be named Feb. 20 during ceremonies in New York and Beverly Hills, Calif. This year's nominees for best screenplay written directly for the screen and for best screenplay based on material previously produced or published (in alphabetical order of the screenplays):

Original screenplay

"Bulworth" Warren Beatty, Jeremy Pikser; story by Beatty

"The Opposite of Sex" Don Roos

"Saving Private Ryan" Robert Rodat

"Shakespeare in Love" Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard

"The Truman Show" Andrew Niccol

Adapted screenplay "A Civil Action" Steven Zaillian

"Gods and Monsters" Bill Condon

"Out of Sight" Scott Frank

"Primary Colors" Elaine May

"A Simple Plan" Scott B. Smith

- Associated Press