Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres


"The Egyptian presidential election was held last week. No candidate received 50 percent of the vote, so a runoff will be held between the two leading candidates, Mohammed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq.Morsi represented the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and received 25.3 percent of the vote, while Shafiq, a former Egyptian air force commander and the last prime minister to serve in Hosni Mubarak's administration, received 24.9 percent. There were, of course, charges of irregularities, but in general the results made sense. The Islamist faction had done extremely well in the parliamentary election, and fear of an Islamist president caused the substantial Coptic community, among others, to support the candidate of the old regime, which had provided them at least some security.Morsi and Shafiq effectively tied in the first round, and either can win the next round. Morsi's strength is that he has the support of both the Islamist elements and those who fear a Shafiq presidency and possible return to the old regime. Shafiq's strength is that he speaks for those who fear an Islamist regime. The question is who will win the non-Islamist secularists' support. They oppose both factions, but they are now going to have to live with a president from one of them. If their secularism is stronger than their hatred of the former regime, they will go with Shafiq. If not, they will go with Morsi." (STRATFOR)


"A new Associated Press report reveals that a C.E.O. of “a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011.” C.E.O.’s of atypical public companies made either more or less, depending on whether the word “atypical” is being used in a passive-aggressive way (“Huh! What an . . . atypical haircut!”) or in a superlative way (“Oh God. No, don’t worry! Your hair grows atypically quick!”). In addition, company heads are receiving more stock options and fewer cash bonuses.According to the A.P., the $9.6 million number is “up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the A.P. began tracking executive compensation in 2006.'" (VanityFair)


"With Mitt Romney and Donald Trump scheduled to appear together at a fund-raiser in Las Vegas today, the GOP candidate has opted not to ask the reality-TV billionaire to cut it out with the relentless birther stuff. "You know I don't agree with all the people who support me and my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in," Romney told reporters yesterday. "But I need to get 50.1 percent or more and I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people.' The Obama campaign, however, isn't going to let a blissfully ignorant shrug be the end of it.In a new video titled "Two Republican Nominees," the Obama team declares: "As Republican nominee, John McCain stood up to the voices of extremism in his party." McCain is seen correcting a woman who calls Obama "an Arab," telling her, "No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with." The video then asks, "Why won't Mitt Romney do the same?" before a barrage of clips that show Trump acting like a clown." (NYMag)


"On Sunday night, I dined out with JH and his wife Danielle Rossi Hirsch at one of her favorite East Side restaurants – Sette Mezzo, Lexington between 70th and 71st. No objection there. JH had his camera handy. Delicious ... I’ve had pets all my life. There was a dog around the house when I came into the world, a beautiful, loving mutt named Brownie. And there have been many cats too. (I took five cats with me -- and a dog, Rex -- when I moved to California back in the late 70s). I see now in retrospect that I am more thoughtful about my animal friends than I was when I was younger and often took their ability to adjust for granted. I am also more patient with myself too, which might have something to do with my attitude about my furry residents. Or it could be that their presence has taught me, conditioned me, to enjoy the patience and pleasure they surround us with ... They were celebrating that this weekend out East at the Animal Rescue Fund’s (ARF) preview cocktail party at the ARF Thirft and Treasure Shop at 17 Montauk Highway in Sagaponack. The shop was transformed into 11 rooms of Designer Showhouse, the work of some of the most talented interior designers in New York including Nancy Corzine, Gary Crain and James Alan Smith, Gigi Mahon, Jeff Pfeifle, Scott Salvator, Jeffery Howard Brodersen, Rob Southern, Tony Urrutia. " (NYSocialDiary)


"Kim Cattrall, best known for her role as sex-crazed Samantha on 'Sex and the City,' is dating wealthy artist Clifford Ross, sources tell Page Six. Ross is a visual artist whose landscape and wave photos are housed in several New York museums including the Metropolitan, the Whitney and the Guggenheim. Ross, 60, and Cattrall, 55, made a public outing earlier this month at the Frieze Art Fair and turned up together at last week’s Party in the Garden at MoMA. Ross is currently divorcing his wife, Betsy Finkle Ross. He is the son of the late Arthur Ross, an investment banker and philanthropist who donated heavily to the arts and is the namesake of the Arthur Ross Pinetum in Central Park. Ross, who is described as “extraordinarily wealthy,” grew up on East 72nd Street, and had a weekend house next door to Steven Spielberg on Georgica Pond. Friends say he is also 'very low-key,'and 'private.' 'He has no agenda with Kim, he’s not the type to date a celebrity; he likes her,'
 says one source." (PageSix)


"Glamour senior online fashion and beauty editor Danica Lo has been named executive editor of Stylebistro.com.Starting June 1, she will oversee daily operations of Stylebistro.com, a style blog from the same parent company as celebrity photo cache Zimbio.com. And it sounds like they’re expanding. According to a press release, Ms. Lo’s duties include 'building a Manhattan-based team of editors, honing the site’s voice and scope of coverage, creating new features, columns, and sections as well as representing the site on broadcast and special events.'" (Observer)



"Calvin Klein's event in Seoul, South Korea, last night was all about making connections—digital and analog. For realization of the concept, the destination had to be special. And, yes, the rooftop party zone above Seoul Station did surprise, kitted out as it was with a long gray carpet, bars, lounges, and media galleries, as well as a terrace overlooking a 23-story building across the street. Projected onto the structure's facade was an installation by New York-based digital artist Rafaël Rozendaal, MuchBetterThanThis.Com, featuring multicolored silhouettes of people kissing.Adding to the evening's glamour quotient were Kate Bosworth and Chloë Moretz, making rare appearances in Korea." (Style)

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