At least something good came out of "You, Me and Dupree."

Although the engagement has not been confirmed by anyone official, it's the talk of the British tabs. Both News of the World and the London Sun yesterday said Kate was seen Thursday in Boston wearing a big diamond ring.

Owen, whose past break-up with Kate led to a breakdown, allegedly proposed in Miami.

The all-important anonymous source told News of the World, "Kate supported Owen during his low patch, and that proved to him she's the woman he wants to be with forever.

"He picked out the ring and went for the biggest one he could find. He was nervous about proposing, but Kate was thrilled and the whole thing was really emotional."

* On the downside of marriage, the

London Sun says it's over for Liv Tyler (soon in "The Incredible Hulk") and her British rocker husband, Royston Langdon.

It ends after five years with a 4-year-old son, Milo.

"They remain good friends and devoted parents," said her rep.

Tattbits

* Winning that Nobel Prize for Lit-

erature has been a real downer for 88-year-old Doris Lessing.

In fact, she tells the BBC, it's been "a bloody disaster."

Perhaps not as bad as the cyclone in Myanmar, but . . .

"All I do is give interviews and spend time being photographed," said Lessing, who no longer has the energy to write a novel.

"This is why I keep telling anyone younger than me, 'Don't imagine

you'll have it forever,' " she said.

" 'Use it while you've got it because it'll go. It's sliding away like water down a plughole.' "

* On a cheerier note, Vanessa Will-

iams has received her degree from Syracuse, nearly 25 years after she dropped out to become the first black Miss America.

She attended Syracuse's drama department from 1981-1983. She earned the remaining credits for her degree through industry experience and performances onstage and on screen.

She didn't go to class and it still took 25 years? The 'Cuse is tough. But after 4 million albums sold, a Tony, two NAACP Image Awards and nine Grammy nominations, it's nice that "Ugly Betty" finally put Vanessa over the top.

* Dennis Farina often plays a tough

guy, but he's not tough enough to take a gun on a plane.

He was arrested yesterday at LAX after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on.

Police say Farina told them he had forgotten that the .22 was in his luggage. Bail was set at $25,000.

* East Carolina U. biologist Jason

Bond has discovered a new species of spider and named the itsy-bitsy creature after Neil Young.

So, arachnophobes, when you feel Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi crawling up your leg, try not to squoosh him with your shoe.

Earlier this year, by the way, a beetle, Orectochilus orbisonorum, was named for the late Roy Orbison and his widow, Barbara. Shouldn't a beetle have been named after John Lennon? *

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

E-mail gensleh@phillynews.com