SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE AtAT PRODUCTION TEAM: Seeing as it's sort of a slow news day today, we thought this would be a good time to clear the air about some troubling things we've been hearing through the grapevine recently. Basically, it all comes down to this: we swear we're not actually turning this show into an all-UK affair. Yes, we know there's been an improbably high ratio of UK-related plotlines in recent weeks, but we go where the drama is, and for a while now, a lot the drama's been over in Old Blighty. That's just how it happens sometimes.

That does not mean, however, that any of these bizarre rumors we've heard are in any way true. For one thing, we are most certainly not planning to start spelling things strangely (or, to you Queen's English types out there, stop spelling things strangely). Likewise, there are no plans to dramatically increase the show's number of references to Hob-Nobs, Ribena, or Bovril, no matter how close to lunchtime we're working. And finally, rumors that the AtAT staff has been meeting with higher-ups at BBC America to negotiate a sale of the show are off the mark; truth be told, yes, we have been meeting with some Beeb bigwigs, but only to haggle over a volume price on Mr. Creosote figurines for a project utterly unrelated to AtAT. (Don't ask; if it works, you'll hear about it on the evening news.)

So that's that; AtAT will remain entirely a U.S.-based show with no particular nationalistic leaning or flavor. So let's hear no more about it, all right?

Now, on to business. Did you hear that Apple's opening a second UK retail store?

No, really! The London flagship boutique won't open for another month or two yet, but Apple is already making plans for a second store in the non-Londony UK metropolis of Birmingham. Says who, you ask? Says Apple, say we. The company isn't exactly being what you'd call subtle about the news, since it's already posted a page recruiting store staff. And as if simply being located in the UK doesn't earn the store enough cool points, get this: it's to be called "the Apple Store Bullring." According to MacMinute, the Bullring Shopping Area is a freshly-opened mall-type thingy that cost half a billion pounds (half a U.S. billion, mind you) and boasts "1.2 million square feet of retail space with over 140 shops and kiosks." We believe the word you're looking for is "blimey."

So-- three stores slated for Japan, possibly three coming to England (ifo Apple Store reports that Apple is scouting locations in Manchester, which might be a sore spot for the locals, what with Becks having an iPod and all; then again, these days, who doesn't?): any bets on the next country to be blessed with Apple retaily goodness? 'Cause we've got a good feeling about Equatorial Guinea.