A little of the Old In and Out



In: Mary Beth Cahill (pictured in image above looking astonished). The embattled Kerry campaign chairperson is starting to get the picture. Starting. It took 'em long enough. According to Geoff Earle of TheHill:

"Sen. John Kerry dispatched campaign chairwoman Mary Beth Cahill to Capitol Hill on yesterday to a meeting with Senate Democrats who expressed anxiety about a string of recent campaign developments.'We were worried after the convention,' said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). 'We�re doing fine. Naturally, I�m worried.' Durbin acknowledged that Democrats were anxious but said Cahill�s message to Democrats was upbeat. He noted that the campaign had succeeded in securing three presidential debates through negotiations with Bush campaign officials.

"Durbin said that after a difficult August, when the Kerry campaign stayed off the air to conserve money because of campaign spending limits, 'we do have the resources' to compete head to head with President Bush. And, Durbin said, 'polls in all the battleground states are all very close.' Retiring Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) said he was encouraged by the campaign�s tougher posture after some recent staff additions. 'I feel they�re getting it straight,' he said. 'Now they�re finally beginning to fight.'"

Out: Diva Drama. According to that significant cultural artifact, The National Enquirer, it's all good with Bennifer 2, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck:

"Concluded a source close to the actor: 'Ben recently told pals in Las Vegas, 'Jen's perfect for me.' He said there's no pressure, no expectations, no diva drama -- and she lets him play poker whenever he wants.'"

No diva drama? Hmm. I wonder to whom he is referring?

In: Slate. I thought I had effectively brought Dan Rather low. I had his neck under my mighty foot. No one, I figured, could do as much effective damage to Rather as I had. Surgical precision were my watchwords as I rendered Rather a new orifice without the kindness of local anesthesia. Now, I concede utter defeat. My loss is total. This Slate story (link via Gawker) inflicts heretofore unknown intellectual violence, to wit:

"What makes him bluster? Some say Rather, who attended Sam Houston State College, tries to compensate for his brittle education with hard-charging brio. He often tells a story from his days as a young CBS correspondent, when he bought a Great Books series and plowed through all the volumes. Rather didn't wear his newfound erudition lightly. Once, during a tense moment at the network, he lectured his colleagues, 'I only have one thing to say to all of you people. Syracuse, 413.' Producers were baffled. Only later did they realize that Rather kept a copy of Sir Edward Creasy's Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World on his desk, Syracuse, 413 B.C., was in Chapter 2."

If only I had been reading greasy Creasy instead of titanic Thucydides in college. Alas.

Out: The Gotti Heirs Hair. As Lloyd Grove writes, Victoria Gotti is not a fan of her own progeny's overgelled coifs; her offspring offendeth her:

"'Do I like their hairstyle? I hate their hairstyle. But we're not talking about kids walking in with Mohawks that are dyed bright blue. I don't see it as a major offense.

"'Show me a parent that can tell a child they can't be themselves.'"

What is that they say about stones and glass houses? And what of Victoria's overly aggressive "mane" -- that is the appropriate word, I am afraid -- no disrespect intended. What. Of. Victoria's. Mane?

The Corsair is busy thinking of whether or not the Gotti boys reimburse their girlfriends for ruining their pillows with the gel. How many young women's sheets have been laid waste after a night of aggressive Gotti love? Heaven forfend!

In: Incantato. Yesterday I attended a screening for this film, and it is as close to perfect as a film can get. Bawdy pagan-Italian humor is emboidered with soft, touching moments.

Apparently, Incantato received the longest ovation at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival of any film up to that point. It is about a romantic summer in the life of a sweet but painfully shy Classics professor (who, incidentally looks like a young, awkward Ingmar Bergman) who falls in love with a stunning jet setting heartbreaker that has just recently become blind. Dumped by her shallow boyfriend upon falling blind, the staggeringly beautiful woman takes up with this sweet fool (or leads him on?) until .. well, I don't want to ruin it for you.

Consider it an Amelie for a more mature and sophisticated set, and, of course, in Italian with frequent references to Lucretius and Ovid. I loved this bittersweet film of Summer, Love and the Classics (Three of my favorite subjects).

Out: The Save Mary Kate T-Shirt. According to TheSmokingGun:

"The Olsen twins empire is threatening legal action against a Los Angeles design company unless it ceases the production and sale of a popular t-shirt featuring a drawing of an emaciated Mary-Kate and a plea to 'save' the young actress. The t-shirt ... went on sale after Olsen, 18, entered a Utah facility in June for treatment of an eating disorder. In a letter sent yesterday to Randy and Moss, the L.A. firm, Dualstar Entertainment (Mary-Kate and sister Ashley's company) contended that the offending t-shirt violated the Olsens's publicity and privacy rights and trademark laws. If the item isn't shelved, Olsen lawyer Gregory Redlitz warned, Dualstar may file a lawsuit against the design outfit and its principals, Melissa Moss And Randy Bol."

Ah, they grow up so fast in the Industry -- only yesterday they were turning legal and now, already, they are becoming litigious. Baby's first lawsuit!

Send those poor guys at the t-shirt company a sympathy email at: savemarykate1@yahoo.com. or you can ask them what it's like to be sued by those girld -- off the record, of course.