How Cool is Scott Pelley?



(image via newsbusters)

Scott Pelley is, like, our journalism "Daddy." Excellent reporter. he is the only thing that keeps me coming back to "60 Minutes," which is thisclose to jumping the shark. From Drudgie-Poo:

"Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, claims he converted from Islam to Christianity, Scott Pelley reports in a story that brings viewers inside the secretive "Supermax" prison where he is being held. Pelley also reports that some 900 force feedings were performed on other al-Qaeda terrorists who went on repeated hunger strikes to protest conditions at the Colorado top-security federal prison. The 60 MINUTES segment will be broadcast Sunday Oct. 14 (7:30-9:00 PM, ET/7:00-9:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network."

we're so there.

Penelope and Javier



(image via popsugar)

Finally, after some very strange courtships -- P Diddy and her "relationship" with Tom Cruise (That one gave new meaning to the term "Cruise Conrol-freak," no?), what a combo -- Penelope seems to have settled down for someone that seems stable and earth-bound. From Defamer:

"Penelope has been pretty much MIA since she was busy in Europe filming Woody Allen's latest project, but while she was abroad she went on a very romantic vacation in the Maldives with costar Javier Bardem. In the past Penelope has claimed that she and Javier are just good friends, but check out these hot photos of them on vacation - we're lovin' it!" (Popsugar via defamer)

George Bush Grows Up on Foreign Policy



(image via world-maps)

What a long, strange learning curve it has been. That The President is an extraordinarily hard-headed man who learns at his own molasses-slow circadian biorhythm is obvious to any keen -- or even not-so-keen observer of the political psychology.

It is not inconceiveable, by the way, that those moribund traits either led to or are the ancillary result of his past alcoholism. Whatever the case, his position on Turkey is exactly right for a President of the United States to take (The Corsair cannot believe that we said that either). Whether or not this heralds a new life as a Morganthauish Realist -- Doubtful! -- he has at least proven capable of undertaking the great compromises one must make at the International Levels of Power to maintain stability in volatile regions at a precarious historical moment.

This is not to knock the curious actions of Nancy Pelosi, by the way. Both the President and the Speaker of the House are correct (And it makes us "politically happy" to say that for the first time in 6 years). Pelosi is not the President, but represents the sentiment of the American majority. The Constitutional role of the Speaker is in natural opposition to Tyranny. It is GOOD and NATURAL that The Speaker of the House of Representatives wants to cast opprobrium on the Armenian holocaust, one of the most filthy and craven acts committed in an already baleful 20th Centuury.

But what Pelosi has the Freedom to say and what the President of the United States ought to say ... are ...a different kettle of fish altogther. Understand?

International politics is profoundly complicated. Pelosi speaks from the position of American soft power -- maintaining the Principles and Ideals of our American civilization. The President, however, as leader of the nation, protector of the commonwealth, has a different role altogether, different responsibilities and limitations on his speech, namely: maintaining regional stability. Cultivating Turkey as an ally in the War on Terror -- an unfortunate term, yes -- is of infinite importance to the United States of America.

If Turkey were to fall to the Fundamentalists -- a nightmare scenario, to be sure -- then the Saudi Arabia and Egyptian governments (and the word's oil supply) would be profoundly vulnerable to overthrow by Fundamentalist regimes. As much as we detest the disgustingly misogynistic royal family of Saudi Arabia and the thugocracy of Egypt, the alternative, dear readers, is a hundred-thousandfold worse. These are the Great Compromises -- for the time being -- that Statesmen must suffer to maintain stability and, most important, to limit the number of lives lost that will live to fight for the improvement of their Motherlands another day (And with, in the fullness of time, U.S. aid and backing).

And so, both Speaker and President are essentially correct. Turkey thus has now enough maneuvering room to rattle their sabres -- not scimitars -- proudly, to show the planet and the region what the Japanese call in their infinite masculine wisdom "Face"; America, also, keeps its crisp and shining Ideals intact. The Corsair would counsel The President to schedule an impromptu visit (a goodwill gesture) to Turkey to extol its history, its people and its ancient culture and confirm our mutual friendship in order to placate the internal situation there. And, The Corsair suspects, The President understands exactly what just happened. Turkey is our friend. Bush gets it.

Finally.

After 6 years. A light is going off in his head as we speak. Everything on the planet is not a Manichean/Born-Again black-and-white. Nuance, for lack of a better word, is good.

Just Because

Reason #7,522 to love Iman




(And if you ever get tired of David Bowie .. call me?)

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via hollywoodtoday)

"On Intrade, where bettors are giving (Vice President Al Gore) a 13.8 percent chance of winning the Democratic nomination, to Obama's 11.5 percent. The market is usually a pretty good measure, sometimes a leading indicator, of conventional wisdom. But that's a pretty dramatic bet." (Politico)

"Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills met in court today as their lawyers tried to hammer out potentially the most costly divorce deal in British legal history." (Thisislondon)

"Warner Bros. is developing a screen version of Beau Willimon's play 'Farragut North,' with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star and George Clooney eyeing the project as director. DiCaprio's Appian Way will produce with Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smoke House shingle taking an onscreen role ... Protag is a young communications director for a fast-rising presidential candidate. During the course of the campaign, the idealistic young man falls prey to the backstabbing and other dirty trickery of seasoned rivals. The play is headed for Broadway next year, with Mike Nichols reportedly in line to direct Jake Gyllenhaal in the thesp's Broadway debut." (Variety)

"Tilda Swinton (in a white coat and Louboutins) was spotted at the PJ Harvey concert last night at the Beacon Theater ... Chris Rock was seen lunching at Bryant Park Café on Sunday." (Fashionweekdaily)

"And about 10 days ago, about 50 Christian conservative leaders met behind closed doors in Salt Lake City to discuss what they would do if Giuliani gets the Republican nod. Their decision? They would bolt the party." (Politico)

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via thedailyhasselhoff)

"TMZ has learned David Hasselhoff was admitted to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Sources tell us David checked himself into Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. after a binge." (TMZ)

"Israel is preparing for a Syrian response to the 6 September raid in northeast Syria, after both countries confirmed that the attack took place. Israeli intelligence agencies are mostly concerned that the Syrian response will be in the form of a terror attack on an Israeli target around the world. Israeli official delegations worldwide and airlines were ordered to increase precautions, recalling the Syrian attempt to bomb an El-Al flight from London to Tel Aviv in 1986." (JanesDefense)

"At the release party for Kid Rock’s new album, Rock N Roll Jesus, last night, Tuesday, October 10, most guests mingled in Nikki Midtown’s front bar and in the center of its massive main room ... Sitting on a banquette in one of Nikki’s fortified sections was Sopranos star and New York nightlife maven Drea de Matteo, 35, whose very visible pregnancy kept her sipping a steady stream water instead of Stoli ... Asked what Ms. De Matteo likes about her friend Kid Rock (who, over an hour into his own party had not yet arrived), she had only one thing to say: 'He’s a cocky mother fucker, and that’s cool!'" (Observer)

"BOOK RACE: GREENSPAN STAYS TOP WITH 37,073 SOLD [230,887 SINCE RELEASE], PUBLISHING SOURCES TELL DRUDGE... JUSTICE THOMAS DEBUT AT #2 WITH 30,185... ANN COULTER IN SHOW WITH 27,627... TOOBIN IN 4TH PLACE WITH 16,615 [57,607 TOTAL] DEVELOPING..." (Drudgie-Poo)

"FishbowlNY: Much has been made about how fun your job is. How fun is your job? Do you wake up in the morning and just say: 'Yes!'
Rick Tetzeli: The whole 'my job is really fun' thing is a myth perpetuated by my boss, for obvious reasons. Actually, going to screenings and parties, shooting the breeze all day about Heroes, and hanging with Judd Apatow is hellish work, and I defy anyone to enjoy it." (Ron Mwangaguhunga interviews EW Editor Rick Tetzeli/ FishbowlNy)

Does Anyone Care About JLo (Or, For That Matter, Marc Anthony?)



If JLo croons but there is no one buying the CD then did she really sing at all? And how can you be sure? Shall we conversate on that semantic?

El Cantante -- and these words must be pronounced with muy gusto --the "musical biopic" that earned a 22 % Rotten Tomato rating, Tanked. Good. Cause that's real High School of the Performing Arts type shit right there, yo (Averted Gaze). The Corsair wouldn't touch that movie with Steve O's leathery and calloused wenis.

And now, it seems, so is this new album. JLo is certainly jinxy sort of chap with regards to her "projects (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment)." She's released more stinkers than William Shatner after burritos. Gigli (Pronounced: "Djee-glee")? Monster-in-Law (Pronounced: Oh, whatevs)? From Fox 411:

"Jennifer Lopez is pregnant, even though she hasn't admitted it yet. She also has a new album, called 'Brave.' Coincidence? Probably not. The only problem is, despite performing on 'Good Morning America' this week, Lopez is not selling music. The appearance should have given her a big bounce. Alas, not much as happened. 'Brave' moved from No. 110 to 56 on Amazon.com, a poor showing."

And don't even get us started on her husband, who is all Melancholy without any of the penetrating psychological observation or aestetic taste that usually attends people afflicted with that bittersweet mood.

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via papermag)

"Last night was the premiere of the Janet Jackson vehicle Why Did I Get Married at the Bryant Park Hotel. The photographer next to me was pretty worldly and blasé about most things, but when Janet walked in he said, 'How does she do it? One minute she’s heavy, the next… wow, look at that body, she’s sexy!' And one by one, the other male photographers voiced approval and genuine awe. Trust me, this is rare. You cannot imagine the horrible things I usually hear on the red carpet! On an interesting note, Jermaine Dupri tried to leave his wife's side to let her pose alone and speak to the interviewers on her own, and she pulled him back to her side -- firmly -- more than once!" (Papermag)

"This David-versus-Goliath staffing mismatch is yet another sign of trouble for Republicans in the general election, said a veteran Republican strategist in Iowa, as it reflects sagging spirits among hard-core GOP activists. 'That’s a function of several things — their race is more interesting, their field is perhaps stronger, they have far more resources, and yes, the number of staff and HQs also adds to their turnout,' said the strategist, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about his party. 'Plus, Republicans are in a funk, a general bad mood. It’s a harbinger of tough things to come in 2008 for our down-ballot races.[Democrats] will have more volunteers, more passion.' Representatives for Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) are cagey about the precise number of boots on the ground they have in the early states — but it’s widely thought to be at least five times what the Republicans have." (Politico)

Separated at Birth?



The Federlesque and leonine Nick Nolte? (image via reuters via yahoo)



The cowardly lion (image via therazor)

Media-Whore D'oevres



(image via rogerlsimon)

"Ambassador Joe Wilson said he objected to columnist Robert Novak naming his wife as a CIA operative even before Novak wrote a 2003 column that later launched a federal investigation. He added that Novak is lying or being disingenuous by saying that he, Wilson, did not forcefully object to the naming of his wife as a CIA operative. 'I hope he’s going to confession, because otherwise he’s going to hell,' Wilson said." (TheHill)

"Last night, several hundred of New York’s most fashionably eco-aware gathered at the Museum of Natural History for a screening of CNN’s 'Planet In Peril,' a two-part documentary reported by Anderson Cooper , Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Jeff Corwin, set to air on October 23rd and October 24th. The guest list read like the seating chart at Michael's, and of them at least Larry King, Arianna Huffington (sans crutches) and CNN president Jonathan Klein were visible in the well-dressed crowd."

"Breaking with her main rivals, Hillary Clinton won't file papers today to withdraw her name from the primary ballot in Michigan January 15. 'We will honor the pledge and not campaign or spend money in any state that is not in compliance with the DNC calendar, but it is not necessary to take the steps necessary to remove Senator Clinton's name from the ballot,' said her communications director, Howard Wolfson. The move means she's virtually certain to win the primary, but that her victory will mean even less. The Democratic National Committee has already announced plans not to seat Michigan's delegates at next year's Democratic National Convention, to punish the state for moving its primary forward in violation of party rules." (Politico)

"Cable centerfolds Anderson Cooper and Jeff Corwin came together last night at the Museum of Natural History to celebrate their joint project, Planet in Peril. Of course we made a beeline straight for Anderson and introduced ourselves. 'I'm working on my biceps,' he assured us, without our even asking." (NewYork)

Lunch at Michaels



The Corsair's other gig at FishbowlNY chronicles the talent in the room at Michaels, the ultimate New York City Chattering Class boite. From the lovely Diane Clehane of FishbowlNY:

"(Table) 4. Charlie Rose (who worked the room like nobody's business on his way out) with his lovely young producer whose name we didn't catch ... 5. All in The Family: Norman Lear, Rob Reiner (Loved the sneakers!) and two fellows who looked like they'd flown in from the west coast ... 20. Lloyd Grove."

The full monte here.

Tom Ford's Sex-Musk



There is something profoundly creepy and criminally disturbing about the concept of "a Tom Ford scent." Is the stink redolent of Dakota Fanning's lost innocence? Imagine the terroir -- that disgusting-voodoo funk, if you will -- of an earthy Tom Ford Sex-Musk (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). That thatch of exposed chest *The Corsair shudders*. hairFrom Asocialiteslife:

"Fashion designer/sweaty Lothario Tom Ford likes to show it off. Show his off, show what's on the models off. He drips with sex all over the place. Everybody's always naked up in his urea (yeah, I spelled it with a "u"). His new fragrance's ad campaign features the bottle barely obscuring a model's hey nanny nanny."

Prince Harry Snorts Vodka



Boy Howdee! (image via newsoftheworld)

Everyone has heard the smouldering rumor about Prince Harry -- the fucked up British royal who dressed like a Nazi -- being the illigitimate son of Captian James "The Cad" Hewitt. There is -- how does one say this nicely? -- no genetic history of flaming red hair in the House of Windsor.

It's all good, though. It's not his fault his Dad-is-a-Cad; there is no need to publicly abolish oneself for the sins of the Father. Still, Harry persists. With Vodka. From the extremely downmarket Newsoftheworld:

'THESE are the shocking pictures that show Prince Harry inhaling vodka through his nose in a drinking game medical experts warn could KILL.

"Our exclusive shots—taken from a video of Harry's holiday in Namibia—will bring fresh shame on the boozed-up royal.

"In the video, pals cheer loudly as Harry slugs a bottle cap of vodka, swills it around his mouth, spits it back into the cap and then snorts it up his nose.

"Seconds later, Harry—a 2nd Lieutenant in the Blue and Royals —closes his eyes and shakes his head as the alcohol, shooting straight into his bloodstream, takes effect.

"Experts on drink abuse have warned that the game is potentially deadly."

Prince Harry is like the Britney Spears of The Continent. Intervention, anyone? Why doesn't he just get a DNA test and find out once and for all if the rumors are true, rather than publicly annihiliate onceself out of shame and uncertainty.

VH1 Hip Hop Honors TRIBE Called Quest Reunion

Corsair Classic

The Clarence Thomas Book Party

link via thehill via bloomberg:

Corsair Classic

Media-Whore D'Oevres

"There has been movement in the polls, a well-received debate performance, energy in his crowds, a spate of 'Resurgent McCain' stories in the news. 'I’m enjoying it more these days,' he said, compared with his front-runner days. 'For whatever reason, it took me a while to hit my stride.' It also cost him a lot of money. 'I just have to be who I am,' he said. 'It seems to me, if you’re not going to enjoy it, it can be difficult. So I want to enjoy it.'" (NYTimes)

"The smile on her face tells one story, but her legs tell a much different story. First of all, Jessica (Simpson) could have opted to wear pants to avoid this whole debacle--and by debacle, I'm referring to this blog post, of course--which, quite frankly, it looks to me like she should be wearing, mysterious bruises or not. Barring the fact that she looks so ridiculous in such a short blouse, it almost as if she's decided to showcase her strange bruises that are either the result of being beaten for refusing to wipe that ridiculous and inexplicable smile off her face, or if it's simply the result of some uneven tanning."(Socialitelife)

"In an interview with tomorrow's Andrew Marr programme, clips from which were released tonight by the BBC, (UK Prime Minister Gordon) Brown insisted that he would press ahead with governing the country and ruled out an election before 2009. 'Yes, we could have had an election on competence,' he said. 'But I want to show people our vision for this country. I want the chance to develop and show the policies that will make the difference.'The Observer can reveal that he decided to act after Labour's private polls showed a severe drop in the party's support in key marginal constituencies after the Tories pledged to exempt properties worth less than £1m from inheritance tax. The findings are confirmed in a News of the World opinion poll today, which found that the pledge by the shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, is so popular that Labour is on course to lose its parliamentary majority." (Guardian)

"NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom was brimming with celebrities last night for VH1's 2007 Hip Hop Honors. Tracy Morgan (who was so the highlight of last night's 30 Rock — "You can be a freaky deaky and do data entry.") hosted the event, which probably is a good reason for it not to air live. He's a tad unpredictable. The ladies shined on the red carpet, especially Kerry Washington in her strapless blue number." (Fetchbyspa)

"The new policy advocated by seventy-five senators is decentralized federalism or soft partition, depending on who’s describing it. The non-binding resolution was introduced by Joe Biden, of Delaware, the longtime senator and long-shot Presidential candidate, who has consistently been the most thoughtful elected official in Washington on the subject of Iraq. (I wrote about him back in 2004.) Biden’s proposal originated with Leslie Gelb, of the Council on Foreign Relations, almost four years ago, in a Times Op-Ed that called for a 'three-state solution' to Iraq’s political problems. Biden joined Gelb on the Op-Ed page last year; by then, Gelb’s three states had become “three largely autonomous regions with a viable central government in Baghdad,” an arrangement permitted by Iraq’s new constitution. Baghdad, a “federal zone,” would be responsible for national defense, foreign relations, and the equal distribution of oil money; the regions would handle just about everything else. The model would be Bosnia after the Dayton accords." (TheNewYorker)

Corsair Classic

Sharon: "If Anything Happens to Affect our Brains, We have Decided we'll Just Put Ourselves out of our Misery"



(image via ew)

Sharon Osbourne knows how to court controversy (NSFW). She also, ironically, knows how to "Court Love." From Thisislondon:

"Indeed, she was keen to confide a trifle morbidly in her fellow partygoers, who included Sir Elton John and actress Uma Thurman, that she has already laid plans for her own final days.

"She and her husband Ozzy Osbourne have, she told them, drafted a 'living will' which states that, should they be struck down by dementia, they will travel to Switzerland, where they have made arrangements for their assisted suicide.

"'If anything happens to affect our brains, we have decided we'll just put ourselves out of our misery,' she has been gloomily telling friends of late.

"Given her rock star husband's rambling and incoherent attempts at conversation at the same glitzy event, it is, perhaps, hardly surprising that those same friends have taken to joking - somewhat unkindly - that Sharon has already bought him a one-way ticket."

Harsh!

Amy Winehouse, Olympic Hurdler For Love



(image via scotsman)

Love can really kick us in the pants sometimes. Yes it can. Parents have been known to budge massive vehicles to retrieve their fallen children underneath. Masters of the Universe have been reduced into whimpering mice under the threat of a broken heart. And, evidently, Love -- "For who so in Love's snare is caught beware/ ere round your wings its cunning meshes close" -- has turned the decidedly non-athletic Amy Winehouse into something of an Olympian.

Winehouse, on a gig, decided she really didn't want to go; she wanted to be back with her husband. The very cute is about to veer into the very funny. From the 3 AM Girls:

''She was with a man, thought to be her tour manager, and they were met by a policeman and a Eurostar official.

''But after going down the stairs she had a sudden change of heart about leaving Blake behind.

''One passenger tells us: 'Amy was crying, gesticulating wildly and shouting while the man with her was trying to calm her and get her through the gate. She mentioned Blake's name more than once.

''Eventually they went through security, but then Amy came running back. She hurdled the security gate then ran up the escalator, shouting and screaming, into Waterloo station concourse."

Always the Drama with Amy Winehouse. Do you suppose "Flight of the Valkyries" was playing on her internal iPod?

"'It was quite a sight -- this tiny girl with a massive beehive leaping over a barrier. It was pretty clear she was not keen on getting on that train to Paris.'

''A policeman spotted Amy and ran after her, urging her to stop. She was eventually persuaded to get on the train.''

Obama's Maneuvering Room



(image via politico)

Did you think Obama would make it all the way to the home stretch? Three months away from the Democratic Presidential primaries -- the conference playoffs, if you will -- we are now nestled deep in the "maneuvering" segment of the race. Carefully choreographed, the candidates are assuming their final postures (the quixotic Kucinich's final posture is, to be sure, "Bust of Dying Gladiator").

Edwards is staking it all on Iowa, where labor unions and student activists have to put him over. Edwards, fully cognizant of this political reality, has all but lived in the state for the last 4 years.

Romney, on the other hand, hangs or falls in New Hampshire, his next door neighbor. Expect him to get nasty and personal -- but delivered in a highly polished and vaguely synthetioc manner -- as Giuliani's english begins to rise in the maverick state. If he fails there then how can he hope to be a national candidate. Giuliani needs to break up a Romney sweep in the first 4 states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina. If Romney wins all 4, then all the political oxygen will have been exhausted before Rudy can do damage on Super Tuesday where his national status is an advantage in the big ad markets. And. of course, Obama must needs the heavy African-American voter concentrations in South Carolina, and, to a lesser degree, he needs to make a good showing in Iowa (where he is presently the front runner).

If Obama were to win in Iowa and South Carolina -- and that is not an inconceivable possibility -- he would throw Hillary Clinton's meticulously constructed aura of inevitability into chaos -- right on the cusp of "Super Tuesday," where Camp Clinton wants to clinch this damn thing. And that, for Camp Obama, would be a very good thing.

From the standpoint of trying to separate Hillary Clinton from more and more African-American voters -- as we must now view Senator Obama's maneuverings -- this new development is a smart, if cynical, political move. From Politico:

"Barack Obama’s move to block a controversial nominee to the Federal Election Commission could help the presidential candidate burnish his civil rights bona fides and woo black voters away from Hillary Clinton.

"Obama and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) this week put a hold on Senate confirmation proceedings for FEC nominee Hans von Spakovsky, who has been accused of diluting minority voting power during his time as a Justice Department lawyer."

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via dailymail)

"WHEN Jay-Z is away, his bootylicious babe Beyoncé will play. Spies at The Box Thursday night saw her and three girlfriends enjoying the club's risque show while flanked by a 'huge bodyguard' and protective curtains around their table. 'Beyoncé was really making the most of the burlesque strip show,' said the source. 'She was on the table in the VIP balcony cheering loudly as two girls got naked and licked each others' feet. She stayed until 3:30 in the morning.'" (PageSix)

"When meeting with reporters on Friday, the first, most important message from Bill Richardson, the Democratic presidential candidate and governor of New Mexico, was for voters back home: He has no interest in running for the U.S. Senate. Back home, the whole state is churning over Republican incumbent Pete Domenici’s announcement this week that he’ll be retiring next year — having been diagnosed with an incurable brain disease. It’s yet another U.S. Senate seat that Republicans will have to fight hard to keep. In Atlanta to speak to the Legislative Black Caucus and union leaders, Richardson said he had no interest in the Senate — even if he’s eventually forced out of the presidential contest. 'I’m a governor. Being a governor is better than being a senator,' Richardson said." (AtlantaJournalConstitution)

"In the same era, Schlesinger reported Henry Kissinger's view of Vice President Dan Quayle. 'Henry . . . said he couldn't understand why Quayle had such a bad press; he found him well-informed and intelligent. (I take this to mean two things: that Quayle listens reverently to Henry and that Henry thinks Quayle may be President some day.)' ... Over lunch at the Century Association in 1977, Kissinger told Schlesinger that 'Donald Rumsfeld was the rottenest person he had known in government -- that it was Rumsfeld who, in pursuit of his own ambitions, had set Kissinger and [Secretary of Defense James R.] Schlesinger against each other, and had persuaded Ford to make George Bush head of the CIA so he would be extinguished as the vice presidential candidate in 1976 (and thereby, Henry added, probably lost Ford the election)." (WashPo)

Corsair Classic

Corsair Classic

Feist - Mushaboom
Uploaded by ListenToFeist

Media-Whore'Doevres



(image via rollingstone)

Earlier in the week Fox 411 reporter Roger Friedman called for a boycott of Rolling Stone magazine. In actuality, RS has been stumbling in the dark, clueless, without a whiff of street cred after they tactlessly sponsored their corporate ''Family Day (Averted Gaze)'' in Washington Square Park in 1998, effectively kicking out the annual pro-marijuana rally. Anyhoo: Friedman argues that since the death of the sainted Ahmet Ertegun, Jann has been acting like the temperamental and selfish Baby Boomer that he is. Handling rock stars and bratty boomers were, to be sure, Ertegun's specialty. (Ron Mwangaguhunga in FishbowlNY)

Another Britney Breaks Down in Public



(image via usmagazine)

Could someone please do an intervention? It's like we're in the final few minutes of a disaster movie where no one gets out alive. Britney needs some serious psychological help. From US Magazine:

"Britney Spears looked distressed while running errands in L.A. following a judge's decision allowing her only supervised visits with her sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

"During runs to Ralph's Supermarket in L.A. and a local Starbucks, the 25-year-old was seen clutching her Yorkie terrier, London, while crying in anguish.

"She appeared to be in better spirits later while enjoying a light dinner of quesadillas and a mango margarita with friend Sam Lutfi at Casa Escobar in Malibu .

'''Some women approached her and she was very sweet to them,' a witness tells Usmagazine.com."

Whew!

Brittney Snow Breaks



(image via exposay)

We have always known that Brittany Snow was -- how does one say it? -- emotionally fragile. Just not this much. From Fashionweekdaily:

"The lovely Brittany Snow arrived in New York to promote Breast Cancer Awareness in partnership with Reebok at The Rainbow Room and left the room in tears following a series of upsetting questions from a mysterious reporter. The event (that commenced at 11:00 a.m. this morning) was supposed to be a relaxed media lunch gathering, but suddenly turned into a dramatic debacle. One particularly insensitive journalist started grilling the John Tucker Must Die star on issues of bulimia, starvation, and self-mutilation. The actress broke down and stormed out of the event while wiping away tears, leaving shocked organizers and publicists scrambling."

Corsair Classic

Elton, Anderson and David (AKA, The "Mannedwich")

A Picture is worth a thosand words. We won't say anything more than that:

The Mystery of Iowa and New Hampshire



(image via cnn)

Has anyone ever accurately predicted the results in minute detail of the Iowa caucuses, or, for that matter, the New Hampshire primary? Cokie Roberts predicted that Pat Buchanan would win in New Hampshire in 1996 over Bob Dole, but she as much accounted it to luck and having all-but-lived in the state leading up to the election. There are not too many other sterling records of reliable predicting of who wins. Their processes, quite frankly, are far too mysterious.

It seems -- as if by magic -- that every four years we are stunned -- stunned! -- at who won what and just how wrong all the pundits who make six figure salaries were. Dean and Gephart were the front runners in Iowa in 2004 up until the last moment that their brutal scorched-earth attacks annihiliated one other, leaving only Kerry and Edwards standing (And Wesley Clark, stooped).

Why is that? From Dick Morris (Who is safe on neutral, non-Clintonian subjects like the political mechanics of polling the early primary states) in TheHill:

"To make things more complicated, both Iowa and New Hampshire permit independents to vote in either party primary, making the process three-dimensional. Voters in the Republican primary not only have to decide whether to back Rudy or Thompson or McCain or Romney (or, in Iowa, Huckabee) but must also figure out if they would rather vote for one of the Republicans or go into the Democratic primary to vote against Hillary."

Sienna Miller, Banned From Her Own Afterparty



(image via thisislondon)

Sienna Miller, notorious for her partying -- and sometimes she even "parties" horizontally with P Diddy -- was told by Producers of her new film (Who cares about the title, you know you are not fucking watching a Sienna Miller movie, yo)that she COULD attend the premiere, but she could NOT attend the after-party. So .. that's what a Producer actually does. We've always wondered: a Director, directs; an Actor acts; a Producer .... From Thisislondon:

"Sources say producers of her new movie Hippie Hippie Shake gave the her special permission to attend the premiere but instructed the notorious party girl not attend the bash afterwards.

"Vaughn and Schiffer greeted 250 guests - including Jonathon Ross, Jemima Khan and David Walliams - at the door and pulled out all the stops for the bash, decking out their home with posh candles and incense.

"The party kicked off at about 10pm and even without Sienna there, it lasted well into the early hours of this morning."

Yeah, yeah, we can see now why Sienna's giving off The Stinkface (see above, right)

Introducing: Josef K



This isn't particularly The Corsair's type of music, but we thought you might like to give it a listen. From Hamptons:

"Proud parents Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone fame and actress Ellen Barkin were front row center at New York’s famed music spot, The Cutting Room, to catch the new band Josef K which features Jann’s son Gus and Jack Byrne, Ellen and former husband Gabriel Byrne’s son. The band played to a packed house owing more to the fact that they are really that good and not simply celeb offspring coasting on Dad’s or Mom’s marquee value"

Irina Lazareanu is Engaged to Pete Doherty



(image via thebosh)

Ugh! In lieu of wedding cake, will the bride feed the groom a robust whiff of "crack-smoke" (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned intoxication)? How ridiculous is The Idea of Pete Doherty, former man-whore, getting hitched when he doesn't even have the willpower to clean himself up? From Fashionweekdaily:

"'Yes, I’m engaged, but there’s nothing more to say right now,' confirmed Irina Lazareanu to Chic Report backstage at Sophia Kokosalaki. And then the whole world gasped. Just weeks ago, it seemed that Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty reportedly reconciled with his ex, Kate Moss. Irina was a longtime mutual friend of both and earlier this year she joked to us about her relationship with the notorious British rocker: 'Pete Doherty taught me how to drive. Therefore, I drive very badly! I’m always on the wrong side of the road. I’m a constant menace to society.'"

Have a nice life!

Media-Whore D'Oevres



"Tout le monde was out and about for last night's party at Pacha for Rita Cosby's controversial new book ''Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story of Anna Nicole Smith,'' hosted by 21 Magazine. For some odd reason, though, roughly one-third third of the guests looked -- and, worse, sounded -- like extras from ''The Sopranos.'' Could someone explain what that was about? Also, there were some media luminaries, like Dominick Dunne, Michael Musto, NY1's Gary Anthony Ramsey, and the ever game Robin Byrd, who appeared to be not entirely un into the whole bridge-and-tunnel gangster vibe from the way she was flirting with the talent." (Ron Mwangaguhunga via FishbowlNY)

"Billionheiress Anna Anisimova arrived at the Coterie trade show last week with a team of beefy bodyguards who almost created a riot while the young socialite previewed her good pal Jonathan Cheban’s Kritik collection." (Hamptons)

"(Jeffrey) Epstein got his start when Lesley Wexner, the Limited department store tycoon, took him under his wing and showed him the ropes, so to speak. Needless to say, there were a hell of a lot of rumours flying around about the tutelage, but what is certain is that Epstein ended up becoming a multi-billionaire financial adviser and close friend to Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein flew Clinton around Africa on his private jet, partied with Prince Andrew and became a business partner of Mort Zuckerman, the real estate shark who poses as a writer and columnist in the newspaper and magazine he owns ... Now, according to newspaper reports, Epstein has made a deal with the Feds, and will get a few months in a country club jail. What is known is that he had under age girls in his Florida mansion giving massages and oral sex. What I know is that these girls were not pros, but daughters of trailer park trash parents who were brought to him by the pimps he employed to do just that." (Takimag)

"'I had seven shows today,' said Irina Lazareanu (she of the Pete Doherty engagement rumors) at Nicolas Ghesquière's post-show bash at Le Baron. 'So I should probably be home getting some rest—but a Balenciaga party is a Balenciaga party!' Also staying up past their bedtime were Hidetoshi Nakata, Charlotte Casiraghi, Natasha Poly, Raquel Welch, makeup artist Pat McGrath, and Vanity Fair's Michael Roberts. Ensconced in a booth, surveying the sweaty revelry, was Mary-Kate Olsen. 'I feel like I’m at Beatrice,' she said, referring to the equally tightly packed West Village hot spot co-owned by Le Baron's André." (Style)

"Over at the Pierre Passebon gallery, David Lynch's photographs of shoe couturier Christian Louboutin's confections made their official debut with a party that was attended by friends and family. 'It's the ultimate woman's fantasy,' declared Lynch of the exhibitionistic, fetishistic images ... 'I'm really a flats kind of girl, Lanvin especially,' said a shy Sofia Coppola. 'To be honest, I'm a bit intimidated by how high the arches are in all these images.'" (Fashionweekdaily)

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via thisislondon)

"Britney Spears's custody battle will go back to court tonight after the troubled singer handed over her two children to her ex-husband. A day after handing over custody of her infant sons to father Kevin Federline, Britney Spears was issued an interim licence from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, an agency spokesman said. According to Britney's lawyer, the lack of a valid licence allowing her to drive in Los Angeles was a factor in the decision to award temporary custody of her sons Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, to their father." (Thisislondon)

Media-Whores D'Oevres



"ART connoisseurs, shocked at prices for contemporary works, figure the rising tide can only make the Old Masters more valuable. Dealer Larry Salander has put a $100 million price tag on a Caravaggio he's showing at the former Forstmann mansion on East 71st Street. He told writer Gregory Speck, 'If people can justify paying $90 million for a new work by Damien Hirst, they should consider that these 400-year-old paintings are worth far more from an aesthetic point of view than anything from the contemporary field of junk, in which I think the emperor wears no clothes.'"(PageSix)

"It’s the third-season finale of Bravo’s 'Top Chef,' airing live at 10 p.m., in which finalists Casey, Dale and Hung square off and celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito serves as a guest judge.While the judges will determine who wins the competition, Bravo continues its attempts to engage viewers with side contests like tonight’s 'Fan Favorite' vote. The network asked viewers to text or vote online for their favorite chef, and the winner will receive $10,000. Bravo has employed similar online elements with its popular 'Project Runway.' 'Chef' has averaged 1.58 million viewers 18-49 this season, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Turner Networks, down 6 percent from last season but still ranking a strong No. 7 among all basic cable shows this summer." (Medialifemagazine)

"At Fairfax Hospital, Senator Warner had a procedure to correct atrial fibrillation. A second, routine procedure will be performed tomorrow. His doctors fully anticipate that Senator Warner will be home this weekend and back to work next week." (Politico)

"Looking to soothe tensions, Paramount will start reporting box office receipts for DreamWorks titles under the newly created DreamWorks-Paramount banner. The arrangement will begin this weekend with the bow of Ben Stiller laffer 'The Heartbreak Kid,' but the accommodation was made several months ago when the overall DreamWorks deal was re-negotiated. 'It was important to (Geffen and Spielberg) that things be clear in term of the movies that are theirs,' a Par exec said. This could help to pave the way for a scenario in which DreamWorks becomes more of an autonomous production company, with the ability to raise outside money, in addition to its allotment from Paramount.Whatever the case, concession indicates that Par is trying to do what it can to save the DreamWorks marriage and keep Steven Spielberg and David Geffen from bolting at the end of 2008." (Variety)

"But let me shill for Page Six as I tell you they're craftily starting a TMZ-like website on which they'll run videos of stars in crisis. Run, Britney, run." (Musto)

Eva Longoria "Sex Tape"

So this was what people were buzzing about?

Al Gore on 30 Rock?



(image via southofflorida)

WTF?! Are we lying doggo in Bizarro universe, or what, keemo sabe? US-Soviet relations are presently at a Cold War level of frost and Al Gore is doing guest starring cameos? W-to-theT-to-the-F?!

Granted, Tina Fey's project is absolute comedic genius, but we need someone to undo some of the cosmic slop in which this White House has ensorcelled us. Al Gore must needs to run for President (And we're not going to repeat this entreaty again), not make gazillions -- of which he already has more than enough -- from those corporate boards, peppered with guest-starring roles, just to show that he has Hollywood cool. Your nation has one last mission for you, soldier.

It is beginning to smack of the "Me-Generation" smugness -- especially that Hollywood-Silicon Valley angle -- that he slathered himself with during the 2000 election. From Radaronline:

"Sources close to the production of NBC's 30 Rock say former Vice President Al Gore has recently taped an appearance for an upcoming episode."

If Gore keeps up this selfish behavior, we may have to mount a campaign against him getting that Nobel Peace Prize -- the king of all knick-nacks. Gore's hard Tennesse head might explode if he gets it as well as that Oscar, and now, to be sure, this most intellectually super-heavyweight cameo on 30 Rock (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). What a way to cap of two terms as Vice President of the mightiest and most noble nation on the planet?

Come on, Gore (The Corsair expectorates loudly), snap out of it! We know it is fun to make tons of money and not be caught up in the DC spotlight working for peanuts, but America needs you (Or, increasingly, perhaps America needs Bill Richardson).

Tang Wei, Sexy Motherfucker



The Corsair's latest media crush is the smouldering Tang Wei. We want to make stunning mocha-colored children with her. Tang wei -- The Corsair makes a finger telephone -- Call me? From Indiewire:

"Ang Lee's 'Lust, Caution' (Se, Jie) introduces the striking performance of 27 year old newcomer Tang Wei, an aspiring writer/director herself who had a small TV role before securing the part in Lee's sexy political thriller. At Thursday's Bowery Hotel party celebrating the film's New York City opening, the actress held court as a line of journalists waited to chat with her for a few moments."

Fer realsies: We'd like to chat with her for a few moments too.

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via christiansciencemonitor)

"When the United Nations' Human Rights Council called a special session Tuesday to take up recent repressive actions by the government of Burma (Myanmar), it was evidence for some that the much-maligned forum still has a chance to become a relevant voice in the international community. For others, however, it did nothing to sway judgment that the council, created just last year amid widespread calls for UN reform, is little more than a club for some of the world's dictators to don a cloak of respectability. For this camp – which includes the US Congress, which recently voted to cut funding to the body – the council has turned out to be as bad or even worse than the discredited Human Rights Commission it replaced. The US has eschewed membership in the council and has accepted only observer status since its inception in 2006." (ChristianScienceMonitor)

"Talking tobacco, I was thrilled to hear that Bob Balaban, one of the hardest working artists on the East End, will have the world premiere of his much talked about film, 'Bernard and Doris,' as the opening event of the 15th Hamptons International Film Festival. Written by Hugh Costello, the film stars Susan Sarandon as tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and Ralph Fiennes as Bernard Rafferty her gay butler, to whom she left her fortune including her jewels. This has been, as the gals on 'The View' would say, one Hot Topic, with many of Duke’s relations ready to lace into the creators." (Hamptons)

"Speaking of HOT, Kanye West seems to be the star of fashion week, so far showing up at Westwood among others. He was even at Margiela!!! The most hysterical action were the Japanese kids from standing room fighting over the unclaimed gift bags for the front row guests!" (Papermag)

"The flame-haired designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, a lifelong Labour supporter, vowed to turn blue yesterday. 'I've never voted Conservative in my life,' said the 'godmother of punk' before her spring/summer 2008 collection at the Paris prêt-à-porter season. 'But I would do anything to get this bad lot out.'"(Telegraph)

Kimora: "It's Easy To Confuse Russell (Simmons)"



(image via smh)

Russell Simmons always looks to be in need of a robust multivitamin. Apparently, his existential weakness extends deep into the cosmos of the intellect. From New York Magazine:

"'I was at the Black Caucus sitting next to Hillary Clinton, and she said, ‘I can’t make your birthday party,’ says Russell. Kimora tells us that the senator was genuinely upset and that her staff had simply neglected to tell her the party was a surprise (which we’re sure bodes well for the next time she’s having tea with Ahmadinejad and blurts out, 'Oh, poop! I can’t make it to that sneak attack on Iran!'). Luckily, says Kimora, 'Russell got confused. It’s easy to confuse Russell.'"

Yeah, we thought so.

Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via thisislondon)

"It was business as usual for troubled Britney and the first stop on the singer's agenda - after surrendering her boys Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James to their father Kevin's bodyguard - was a visit to Epitome, her favourite Bel Air tanning salon." (Thisislondon)

"Sarah (Silverman) got back to her story about meeting Angelina Jolie. She said that they were in a meeting room writing when they saw her come out of a bathroom on the set there where they work. They all went outside to write after that and then her dog ran over to Angelina and then she came over to say hello to her. She said that she was rally nice and star struck which she rarely gets. She said her lips looked like a perfect vagina ..." (Marksfriggin)

"While once close, Bill Clinton privately belittled Gore during his 2000 presidential campaign, Smith claims. She also alleges that the Prez diverted time and money away from Gore 'in a big way' in order to support Hillary's bid for Senate. According to a member of Gore's team, 'The Clintons come first. That was their basic framework.'" (RushandMolloy)

"Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) presidential campaign raised about $27 million dollars over the past three months, with $22 million for the primary, the Huffington Post has confirmed. The campaign also reports that 100,000 new donors contributed to the campaign in Q3.Hillary's latest fundraising numbers roughly match her total from Q2, a unique feat -- all the other Democratic candidates reported a sharp drop in fundraising this quarter. Clinton's total was substantially greater than Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) $20 million take, giving her campaign its first quarterly fundraising victory in the race thus far." (Huffingtonpost)

"If you can believe the Drudge Report, it now looks like Clinton outraised Obama in the thrid quarter by a few million and added 100,000 donors. The sums are so huge and so much bigger than the Republicans that it makes you wonder when the GOP is ever going to catch up. Surely when the Democrats pick a nominee and the Republicans rally around one, the gap will close. But in the mean time, it's not even close." (Portfolio)

Media-Whore's D'Oevres



(image via washpost)

"Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama raised at least $20 million during the past three months, and has brought in nearly $75 million this year, an amount that positions him to mount a vigorous bid for his party's nomination when the primary season starts in January. Sen. Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are likely to end the quarter with comparable amounts of money on hand, though Clinton has not yet released her totals." (WashPost)

"The star of new parenting show Bringing Up Baby got some Satisfaction from the wrinkly Rolling Stone with his then wife Jerry Hall just YARDS away.
Claire, now 41, had been employed to take care of the superstar couple's son Gabriel, then seven months old. But while Jerry played with the tot in the next-door bedroom, (Mick) Jagger swaggered into the kitchen of his hotel suite ... She recalled: 'I was making coffee when Mick came in. The kitchen was so small we kept bumping into each other. 'I enjoyed the closeness. Suddenly, Mick was stroking my hair, then we were in each other's arms. He hitched me up on to the breakfast bar and pulled down my jogger bottoms. We kissed passionately and the next thing I remember he was making love to me.' She continued: "It was all over very quickly and Mick carried on as though nothing had happened. He kissed me on the nose and said, 'OK, babe.' A few minutes later he was laughing with Jerry and cuddling little Gabriel." (Newsoftheworld)

"When Gore Vidal took the stage at the Athenaeum on Sept. 17, the focus of his conversation with CMC Media Studies professor James Morrison often wandered. But Vidal, 81, exercised his characteristically acerbic wit and demonstrated why he is considered a 20th century luminary ... In the opening minutes, Vidal cleared up any confusion that might arise: 'America, for all its faults, is still the greatest nation in the world.' Moments later, when asked to appraise the state of the union, Vidal said, 'I don’t need to do that anymore, because the state is so obvious.' So began a 45-minute exchange that provoked both laughs and enthusiastic cheers." (TSLNews)

On The Clinton-Bush Dynasty, Part Dieux



(image via timeinc)

Ahead of the curve, beneath the radar, The Corsair thought aloud -- speaking from our hermetically-sealed blog vaccum -- that we were the only writer in the world who is entirely creeped out with the disturbing, anti-democratic concept of an emerging Bush-Clinton dynasty after the Julio-Claudian mold (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). Quite the contrary. From Maureen Dowd:

"The town is divided into two camps: those who think that, after 16 years of Hillary pushing herself forward, the public will get worn out and reject her, and those who think that, after 16 years of Hillary pushing herself forward, the public will get worn down and give in to her.

"In his new book, 'The Evangelical President,' Bill Sammon interviewed President Bush and his senior aides about the ’08 election. Mr. Bush told the author that Hillary Clinton would beat Barack Obama, because she is 'a formidable candidate' and better known — the better to raise money.

"Despite all he has done to help Democrats, W. maintains that Republicans can hold the White House. But just in case the Clinton dynasty once more succeeds the Bush one, the Texas president has been sending the New York senator messages to 'maintain some political wiggle room in your campaign rhetoric about Iraq,' as Mr. Sammon puts it."

Jesus. That "wiggle room" is making our skin crawl. Why can't both Bushes and Clinton's relinquish their Kung-Fu like grip over the reins of Power of the United States? Now, from our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak:

"EYEBROWS at the Treasury were raised last Tuesday when Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. named a major Democratic fundraiser to an important advisory role. On the next day, eyebrows were still elevated when Under Secretary Robert K. Steel participated in an event spearheaded by Bill Clinton's two Treasury secretaries.

"A GOP office holder now in the Bush administration noted these developments and e-mailed a fellow Republican outside the government: 'This leads some to wonder whether this Treasury has become the pre-placed Hillary Clinton team.' If she's elected president, it's presumed Clinton will want her own Treasury team. But she can't be too unhappy with President Bush's current lineup there."

Draw your own conclusions. We'd rather get beyond the whole Bush-Clinton vortex of disgusting selfishness (How fetidly apt that both belong to the "Me" Generation).

Question: How Sexy Was Mary Louise Parker in Weeds Last Night?



(image via askmen)

For whatever reasons The Corsair didn't really think much of Showtime's ability to do well-written adult television for smart grown-ups other than as a reflexive "reaction" to HBO's own edgy fare. We acknowledge now that that was an unfounded prejudice based on previous Showtime incarnations. Then, the amazing Erica Kennedy hipped me onto "Californication," which I now love (Thanks, Erica). Showtime On Demand was a part of The Corsair's TV viewing schedule.

So this weekend was the Showtime preview, and, with nothing to lose we checked out "Dexter (Sly)," "The Brotherhood (Fucking Absolutely Brilliant)," and, finally, "Weeds (Wonderful; Mary-Kate is fantastic)," and now am hooked. Showtime is the new FX.

Showtime's decision to heavily promote this preview was brilliant. We are subscribing.



Oh, and sexy MILF Mary Louise Parker was ridiculously hott on last night's "Weeds."