Media-Whore D'Oeuvres

"A day after Kim Jong Un received mourners and military salutes at a mausoleum housing his father's body, there are signs that Kim Jong Il's son is taking additional steps to secure his leadership of North Korea. The younger Kim has reportedly put the North Korean military on high alert, ordered troops back to their barracks, and tightened security in cities across the country. The Korean Central News Agency is driving the message home, noting that North Koreans 'now pledge themselves" to Kim Jong Un, the 'eternally immovable mental mainstay of the Korean people.'
But Kim Jong Un, who is in his 20s, may not be leading the country alone. Reuters is reporting that North Korea will shift to collective rule, with Kim Jong Un at the head of a governing group that will include his uncle Jang Song Thaek and military leaders. Sources tell Reuters that Kim Jong Il established the coterie before he died and that a military coup is unlikely." (ForeignPolicy)

"Kim Jong-il’s funeral was nothing if not thematically consistent: the dearly departed Dear Leader was encased in a glass trapezoid surrounded by bouquets of Kimjongilia, the chubby fascist’s signature flower. It is sort of like a begonia but immortal, omnipotent, a great athlete, and not too shabby with the ladies either. Jong-il’s son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un, was also in attendance—his first outing since his father’s passing. Chinese president Hu Jintao tipped his hat to the new guard during a visit to Beijing’s North Korean Embassy. And the young Jong-un has already been praised by the North Korean press as 'the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope', a 'great person born of heaven,' and “another leader sent from the heaven.' His flower, when it finally arrives from heaven, sounds like it’s going to be great." (VanityFair)

"Now is the time for the Holiday cards. They started arriving a couple of weeks ago. Mood or mode, they are always fun to look at, to poke the memory, to serve as reminders of so many things new and old. Way back when JH and I started the NYSD, we accidentally began the tradition of publishing those cards that contained photographs of the senders, or their families, or their pets, simply because they are fun to look at. In some cases, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing children grow from babyhood into young people. All miracles to behold. For this reporter it’s interesting to see the children of friends and acquaintances whom I rarely if ever see ..." (NYSocialDiary)

"The Top 5 WTF Parties and Shows of 2011 ... 1. Barneys' Carine's World Party during September Fashion Week. The likes of Carine Roitfeld, Valentino, Margherita Missoni, Simon Doonan and Karolina Kurkova (to name a few) singing karaoke in a small, crowded room as people like Bruce Weber and the Brant boys cheer them on? ...(#2) 2. SSION's weekend at MoMA PS1 The wildly creative Cody Critcheloe crafted an extravaganza with crazy, colorful projections and costumes for his three-night stand at PS1. The live act featured a long list of musicians, dancers and special guests, including Casey Spooner, Sky Ferreira and Jamie Warren. It's hard to say which was more stimulating, the music or the visuals .." (Papermag)

"After quitting Twitter to 'lessen the distractions in his life,' author and “Bored to Death' creator Jonathan Ames rejoined it yesterday to ease the heartache of fans mourning HBO’s cancellation of the series. 'I went back on Twitter so that I could invite ‘Bored to Death’ fans for a drink at the Brooklyn Inn, my treat, to say goodbye to the show,' he explained to The Post’s Mandy Stadtmiller of tonight's impromptu final toast in Boerum Hill, adding, 'Maybe some people will show up. John Hodgman is going to be there. I plan to buy everyone a drink if they’re a fan.' Ames said of the series starring Zach Galifianakis, Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson, 'It’s been a loony and nutty three-year run, which I’m very grateful for. In the same way that ‘Casablanca’ ended with Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains walking off, I hope that people will think of these three characters still alive . . . These were three very unique friends.'" (PageSix)