Media-Whore D'Oeuvres

"At the end of the G-20 summit, which limped to its dispiriting conclusion Friday in Seoul, where world leaders managed only to delay dealing with difficult challenges from global imbalances to trade protectionism, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak proclaimed a 'temporary end' to the so-called currency wars that have reached a fever pitch over the last two months as countries have manipulated their exchange rates to gain an edge in world markets. The currency wars are far from over ...Complaints from countries like Brazil, China, and Germany about the U.S. Federal Reserve's 'quantitative easing' moves, which by default devalue the dollar, attest to these interdependences. The U.S. economy is the only white knight in the world economy because consumer-led growth in emerging markets is still distant -- China and India are bound to produce some 500 million new middle-class consumers, but not until 2030 -- while it is unattainable in aging Europe and Japan. The grand paradox of the hour is that while other countries criticize the United States for its fiscal deficits or expansive monetary policies, they would doubtless also bark at American austerity. Berlin and Beijing have taken a convenient shortcut, preaching to Washington while doing precious little to spur global demand and address their own contributions to global imbalances. Washington is condemned if it does and if it doesn't. The best and most plausible way out for the United States is an ironclad plan for fiscal solvency, tax incentives, and passage of pending trade deals, all of which will instill confidence in American businesses to start investing and hiring. That will take time, however, and patience is in short supply. Another option to defuse the currency wars would be to address the symptom instead of the cause and change the global currency regime altogether. World Bank President Robert Zoellick backhandedly hinted at the possibility of reviving the gold standard in his recent Financial Times op-ed." (Foreignpolicy)

"'These awards really took flight this year,' Warren Beatty effusively said to 2nd annual Governors Awards producer and Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences 1st Vice President Sid Ganis right after the ceremony ended around 11 PM Saturday night. It took place at the Grand Ballroom in the Hollywood and Highland complex where the Academy’s Post–Oscars Governors Ball is held every February. This time, these awards honored indelible actor Eli Wallach, film historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, iconic director Jean-Luc Godard, and Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award receipient Francis Ford Coppola. 'Can I use the ‘F’ word?,' Beatty asked. 'I think the movie industry should tell the television industry to go F*** itself.' His likely meaning (at least in ‘Warren speak’) was that commercial interests should never compel the AMPAS to sell the Governors Awards as a TV special -- a possibility raised after last year's show -- and ruin the 'specialness' of the evening." (Deadline)

"Model Jessica White was flustered before the casting call for the Victoria's Secret fashion show when the story of her arrest showed up on the company's elevator TV. Sources said that when White took the elevator in the lingerie company's Midtown offices, a TV had the news story about her arrest after she allegedly hit Enterprise Parking employee Vanessa Kian in the face as both women tried hailing the same cab in Chelsea in October. White, who insists Kian hit her first, tried to cover her face in the elevator, said a witness. White didn't walk in this year's show, which will air on CBS Nov. 30. 'Jessica White has never been shy or embarrassed about revealing her face and body for Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret, but it's something different when she's being misportrayed in the news. Jessica's hopeful that the television will soon flash a news story that I favorably disposed of the criminal charges against her,' said White's lawyer Mark Jay Heller." (PageSix)




"Our Lady of New York, Ms. Liz Smith fell down (but did not break her crown) last Friday night when walking a friend’s dog at the midnight hour. This resulted in a hip socket fracture which did not require surgery but has put our girl off her feet for a bit. Liz is currently in rehab in New York Hospital learning how to walk again. Various charities are already a little nervous about what they do with her because as you may know, she keeps the show on the road for a lot of us. However, you can still read her column in http://www.wowowow.com/, and she told me she doesn’t need flowers or attention -- just time to get those feet back into her dancing shoes (I notice she likes those Stubbs and Wooton jobbies)." (NySocialDiary)

"Howard (Stern) said Tracy (Morgan) was out there so he had to get him in there. Howard said Tracy is out promoting his HBO special 'Black and Blue' ... Howard said he saw Tracy on Letterman the other night. He said he had to sit through 3 segments of the Chilean Miner before Tracy. He and Tracy talked about that miner for a couple of minutes. They were wondering what it was like living in the mine for that long.
Howard asked Tracy why he wasn't on Letterman first. Tracy said he was cool with it. That guy was stuck in a mine for 60 days. Howard said he's been on Letterman before so he knows that you have to plan out what to do. Tracy said he doesn't do that too much. He said he keeps his mind open until the last minute. Howard said he'll do that too but he does have a plan just in case something doesn't happen during the show to get him going. Howard said he feels that Letterman gives Tracy attitude. He said he makes faces while he's saying things and he's kind of looking down on him. Tracy said that the condescending thing is just an act. Howard said he used to do that with Dave too but he didn't like it. He said he had to call Dave and ask him to respect him a little bit. Tracy said that's like two huge monsters going oat it. He said it's like Godzilla and Mega Godzilla going at it. Howard asked Tracy why he lets Letterman do what he does. Tracy said he gets what Howard sees there but he's comfortable with it. He said Howard is looking at it like a reality TV show but it's not like that. Howard said he thinks that Tracy is brilliant and Dave should be saying that too." (Marksfriggin)