A Little of the Old In and Out

In: David Patrick Columbia. The New York Social Diary has a thoughtful piece on the rise and fall of Lord and Lady Black of Crossharbour. The piece is interesting and fresh in that it is a critique of The Blacks that comes from within their same rarefied social set, which reads, in part:

"During his ascent, Mr. Lord Black made sure to surround himself with social relationships that could adorn his board of directors while he was adorning his wife and his halls of living and leisure using the dough provided by the company treasury and approved of by his 'distinguished' board of directors, who were often considered by their peers to be 'brilliant,' in case you?re wondering what passes for brilliant in this set. No one seemed to mind at least partly because we live in an age where the rich getting richer by helping themselves to the company larder has become commonplace, and even, to some people?s way of thinking, legitimate."

Out: Geoffrey Beene. The Corsair doesn't mean to suggest here that Beene is somehow outre, rather "Out" here means merely that he has shuffled off the mortal coil and designs now for a More Elire Clientele. An interesting note, though: Beene studied pre-med at Tulane:

"Beene's gowns have been worn by aristocrats, socialites, movie stars and other devoted fans. "Beene was born in Haynesville and credited the study of medicine as the greatest influence in his career. Anatomical studies, which prompted Beene to sketch gowns when he became bored, also contributed to his ability to create geometric cuts to embrace the body.

"'Clothing should glorify, not vulgarize, the body,' Beene said in a 1996 interview with The Times-Picayune."

RIP, Geoffrey Beene.

In: George Clooney's Hair. I know I spent sleepless nights worried about it. Can I be honest? I've been concerned about Clooney's hair since he played George on The Facts of Life. Is he getting enough conditioner? Are split ends a possibility? Does he need to protect his hair when he goes swimming at Lake Como in Italy? These are the sort of questions that dance through my fevered mind late at night.

But George Clooney -- mirabile dictu -- is feeling good about his hair, and, in the end, doesn't that, by the by, make us all feel a little bit safer about the overall geopolitical situation? No? I'm being shallow?

Clooney told the Mirror (link via ananova):

"I love my grey hair. I actually think my face has more of an edge and a lot more character than it did when I was in my early 30s. So I think I can have 20 more good years as an actor, if that's what I want and if the public aren't fed up with me."

But what about the hair, George Clooney, could you expand and amplify on the subject of your hair?

It's all about the Clooney hair.

Out: Kimora, Self proclaimed "Fly Bitch (Averted Gaze)."

Okay, you found us out (The Corsair offers up his wrists for hand cuffing) we are not the biggest fans in the world of Kimora Simmons. Your honor(The Corsair shouts, righteously), we plead guilty -- guilty! -- to playa hating in the first degree! Cuff 'em, and stuff 'em, sarg!

But, surely -- and don't call us Shirley -- there is nothing wrong with Kimora Simmons that a stiff right cross to the jaw couldn't amend.

In today's Rush and Molloy:

"They may be serving Meow Mix at Kimora Lee Simmons' talk show, 'Life and Style,' this morning. "Simmons' husband, Russell, who's made his fortune with Def Jam records and Phat Farm clothing, thinks the show - carried locally on WLNY/Ch. 55 - would be much better served if his wife was more prominently featured.

"In giving Kimora her props, the rap mogul mildly dissed her co-stars - comic Lynne Koplitz, E!'s Jules Asner and former NBC correspondent Cynthia Garrett.

"'The other girls, they're okay,' Simmons told us yesterday. 'but they need to make the show more about Kimora.

"'She's so funny. She's like Cameron Diaz. She's a clown. They need to show that or the show isn't going to work.'"

A clown like what, to amuse us? Is that what she's here for Russell, to amuse us? And: Cameron Diaz? WTF, Russell -- W-T-Fuck?! Russell (The Corsair pulls out an antique pipe, loads in top drawer tobacco, pours himself a glass of dry sherry matter-of-factly and says), Russell, you're fabled hustling skillz are in decline, old chap, better to get out of the game on top, what-what.

Cameron Motherfucking Diaz he compares Kimora to. Get a load of that freak. (The Corsair points to a hapless, manorexic Russell Simmons). Highly implausible comparison there, Big Russ: A better comparison for Kimora -- Pain-in-Diaz.

In: Registering to Vote! Please register to vote guys, I don't care if you vote Democrat or Republican -- just register. Be a part of this. You do not want to look back 4 years down the line and realize you were on the sidelines. And, finally, if you don't vote, if you don't register, you forfeit the right to criticize the political system.

Check out Kottke's site for the answers to all your questions(Link via my beautiful, socially conscious blog wife, Miu Von Furstenberg)

Out: Bill Mahar, Cock Blocker. According to strategist Frank Luntz, who told Washington Post Style (link via Wonkette), about his most embarrassing moment:

"That time at the Playboy Mansion when Bill Maher told me in front of a gaggle of journalists and a few Playmates that I asked stupid questions. I didn't get a date that night. Then again, most of the women were topless, so it wasn't a complete loss."

Why is Bill Mahar always at the Playboy Mansion. Oh, right, stupid question: they invite him. My bad. "