Media-Whore D'Oevres



"William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in Stamford, Conn. Mr Buckley, 82, suffered from diabetes and emphysema, his son Christopher said, although the exact cause of death was not immediately known. He was found at his desk in the study of his home, his son said. 'He might have been working on a column,' Mr. Buckley said.'' (NYTimes)

"Pamela Anderson has filed papers, asking a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to annul her marriage to former Paris Hilton sex-tape co-star, Rick Salomon. In the filing, obtained by Access Hollywood, Anderson is seeking the annulment after only two months of marriage, citing 'fraud' as the reason for the split." (MSNBC)

"It was a lovely moment on the Oscars—a/k/a the Gay Super Bowl—when No Country for Old Men producer Scott Rudin thanked his lover John Barlow (from the Broadway p.r. company Barlow Hartman) and referred to him as 'honey.' Well, honey, in the official transcript of the speech, that part was mysteriously left out! They didn't even make Rudin straight—they turned him into some kind of bizarre neuter without any human feeling (which they'd already tried to do by not cutting to a reaction shot of a beaming Barlow)! Well, thanks to some prodding by goodasyou.org, the axed comments were restored to the transcript, and we can all sleep much easier now. Of course we'll never know if the omission was done out of ignorance, hatred, ineptitude, or (let's be generous) a broken keyboard." (Musto)

"Stefano Pilati and YSL chief executive Valérie Hermann welcomed the re-birth of a new baby Monday night: the historic YSL Saint-Sulpice boutique on the Left Bank ... The crowd, which also included Kate Betts, Cathy Horyn, Suzy Menkes, Ken Downing, and Stefano Tonchi, enjoyed chocolate and raspberry macaroons with gold YSL imprints on top that complemented the warm interior hues. Pilati collaborated with architects Alain Moatti and Henri-Rivière of Moatti et Rivière to translate the essence of the brand into a modern vision. 'Opium prevailed,' Pilati whispered." (Fashionweekdaily)

"From upscale, Republican-leaning Northern suburbs to rural, culturally conservative Southern districts, Obama’s primary election performances are giving hope to Democratic pols that, for once, the party nominee might be an asset if Obama defeats Hillary Rodham Clinton in their nomination battle." (Politico.)

"Spiralling oil prices have forced the Indonesian government to reduce all ministerial budgets - including defence - by 15 per cent, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani announced on 26 February." (Janes)

"Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pledged arms upgrades and other Pentagon support for Indonesia on Monday, as the Bush administration forged closer ties to the military of a country still viewed skeptically by some in Congress for past human rights abuses. During a series of meetings in Jakarta, Mr. Gates tried to broaden the focus of American relations with Indonesia beyond the fight against terrorist networks, giving only passing mention to the threats they represent, in a speech before a group of foreign policy experts ... In 1992, Congress restricted arms sales and most American training for Indonesia, citing human rights abuses by the Indonesian military under Indonesia’s longtime dictator, Gen. Suharto. Internal dissent forced Mr. Suharto to resign in 1998, but Congress enacted new curbs the next year, after a rampage by an army-backed militia in what was then East Timor Province, and again in 2003, after the killings of two American teachers in Papua Province in 2002." (NyTimes)