(image via hyscience)
In: The Northwest Territories of Pakistan. We do not envy the enormous task before Richard Holbrooke, special envoy to the region. Northwest Pakistan is the site of Winston Churchill's first campaign. It is where, as the old saw goes, overextended Empires go to die. The success or failure of the war in Afghanistan -- which may turn out to be more Obama's war than George Bush's after the two promised combat brigades arrive -- is through the "sanctuary regions" of Pakistan. And it is on everyone lips in the foreign policy Establishment and at the forefront -- next to the economy -- on President Obama's radar. This frontier region is where the worst nightmare scenario of Al Quaeda bringing down the fragile, schizoid government and getting their hands on nuclear weapons keeps national security experts awake at night with cold sweats. The region also occupies prime real estate on the front pages of the nation's newspapers above-the-fold. The locus of the war on terror, we are now told, is front and center this lawless region of Pakistan where SecDef Robert Gates has reserved the option of continuing American missile strikes as long as intelligence tells us that Al Quaeda operates beyond the Afghai border.
Out: Davos. That the particularly incompetent Governor of New York cancelled his appearance for fear of lowering his political capital suggests more than a hint of jumped shark (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). In 2005 "Davos," the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, according to the Wall Street Journal, "resembled a Hollywood movie opening or a rock concert." Former Serbian Finance Ministers accosted Angelina Jolie for autographs and Bono rubbed shoulders with Bill Clinton and Bill Gates. Recently, Peter Gabriel has been just as likely to be on the stage as Tony Blair, and Sharon Stone, using sex appeal and star wattage, got some 35 executives to pledge an estimated $1 million to buy mosquito nets to help prevent malaria in Tanzania. No longer.
In these economic tough times, it is not cool for Masters of the Universe or even celebrities to flaunt their power in the Swiss high life when so many are losing their homes. Christiane Amanpour's issue-oriented executive panel discussion on Friday will probably serve as the most star-studded event of the conference. Now embattled heads of state (a record 41 are attending) wrestling with the economic crisis and the Green tech motivators trying to get a foothold are the stars of the show. As perhaps, they should always have been?
In: Broadway. The always behind-the-curve Jeremy Piven notwithstanding (Does anyone still watch Entourage?), Broadway is lousy with celebrities with names like Mary Louise Parker (yum), Will Farrell, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Broderick. From PageSix:
"COULD Jennifer Lopez be trying to restart her acting career by hitting Broadway? Insiders say Lopez is interested in starring in 'In the Heights,' the musical about Washington Heights. She went to the show twice last week and accompanied the producer, Meryl Poster, to dinner Friday evening at Nobu 57, where they discussed roles."
Actors often say they prefer the stage to the screen because of the immediacy of the audience reaction and the character exploration that comes from doing several performances a day. They go in for the screen time to pay the mortgage and live an unimaginable quality of life. For some reason though at present there is an astonishing amount of top drawer talent headed for where the neon lights are bright. We won't entertain the possibility that emulation in High Hollywood (or is it Hollywood High) is the sincerest form of advancery.
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