Media-Whore D'Oeuvres

"The annual parade of boldface names at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is always striking. This year’s attendees at the meeting, which begins Wednesday, will include Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe; the billionaire Bill Gates; JPMorgan Chase’s chief executive, Jamie Dimon; and the movie star-philanthropist Matt Damon. But just as notable are the luminaries who consistently avoid Davos, despite repeated invitations. The billionaire Warren E. Buffett has never attended. Neither has Timothy D. Cook, chief executive of Apple, the world’s largest company by market value. (His predecessor, Steve Jobs, never went, either.) The founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, stopped going a couple of years ago, as did Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chairman. Both companies do send other executives, though. The leaders of General Electric and IBM, Jeffrey R. Immelt and Virginia M. Rometty, are not attendees either. 'I don’t go to Davos and places like that,' Mr. Immelt once said dismissively." (NYT)


 


"As business and political leaders gather in Davos this week, those weary of the palaver on trade alliances, mergers and charity initiatives can stop by the Congress Centre on Thursday morning. There, Goldie Hawn will expound on the benefits of meditation. The 'mindfulness' panel with Hawn, star of the 1975 hit film “Shampoo,” is among 25 sessions at the 2014 World Economic Forum discussing wellness, mental health, and the potentially pernicious effects of technology on the brain. That’s at least 50 percent more wellness-related presentations than in 2008. The theme shows how anxiety over stress and its impact on business is mounting among the Davos set, who’ve spent the last five years dealing with crises from the collapse of Lehman Brothers to the Syrian civil war -- all connected 24/7 to their beeping, buzzing smartphones. Mental health-related illnesses may cost $16 trillion in lost output over the next 20 years, according to figures from Harvard University and the WEF." (Bloomberg)





"Sasheer Zamata was the toast of an 'SNL' after-party at La Cenita. The comic — the first African-American female cast member to join the NBC show since Maya Rudolph left in 2007 — was given congratulatory hugs and kisses by 'SNL' creator Lorne Michaels, as well as cast members Jay Pharoah, Kenan Thompson, Nasim Pedrad, Taran Killam, Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong, a spy said. 'From the ­moment Sasheer arrived, the entire ‘SNL’ family erupted in cheers and applause for a job well done,' the ­insider told us.  Rapper and 'SNL' host Drake, who received high marks for his comedic chops on ­Saturday’s show, joined the party later with his mother, Sandi Graham." (NYP)