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So in order to make it in today's rap world you have to have been ''shot nine times,'' sell crack, be stabbed as payback by a fellow rapper's crew, and ''wear a bulletproof vest'' (''The 50¢ Piece'')? Now I know where the phrase ''rap sheet'' comes from. GRANT LEAVINS lewis_grant@yahoo.com Los Angeles

Hairy Reasoner

Cheers to Brian Raftery for bringing to light the shameless waxing of the males on reality television (News & Notes). Evan Marriott has taught us hirsute, stubbly men to be proud of our hairy selves. Remember the '70s? Those were the good old days of men being proud of what they had. Thank you Burt Reynolds and Sam Elliott! SCOTTLAND JACOBSON kellyandscott@isomedia.com Auburn, Wash.

CORRECTION: A Monitor obituary of actor Stacy Keach Sr. was mistakenly accompanied by a photo of his son Stacy Keach, who is still very much alive (News and Notes).

EW.COM AOL KEYWORD: EW

GOLDEN RULE Let EW.com be your one-stop guide to the Oscars. Before Sunday's ceremony, get odds on who'll win the major races (including Catherine Zeta-Jones, above), print a ballot to watch along, and read the latest news about the nominees. Then after the show, go backstage with the stars, check out the best and worst moments, and see photos from the hottest after-parties -- where everyone is guaranteed to look smashing, smashed, or, most likely, both.

ORIGINAL VIN Wonder what's going on with Vin Diesel? Read our Q&A, in which he talks about the two XXX sequels, why he wants to sing in Guys and Dolls, and what it's like to earn -- get this -- $20 million per film.

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