Artie Lange Returns To The Stern Show

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Lovable mess Artie Lange returned to The Howard Stern show this morning from a holiday stint in rehab. Oddly, one of the reasons Lange returned early -- besides to be on the air -- is because he thinks Rolling Stone magazine is still relevant. From Newsday:

"Lange said he returned to the area on Monday, but needed 'a day' before coming back on the show. He immediately on the defense about skepticism about his latest tale of rehabilitation.

"Lange said it was far from a spa treatment, that it was a process he did not want to go through. The comedian said it began with an intervention with his sister --whom he's very close with -- and colleague and friend Colin Quinn. He soon admitted it was not a traditional rehab, but placed a heavy emphasis on detoxing through the experience.

"He then went on to describe the treatment for his organs that were damaged by his drug and alcohol use. He later admitted his sister isn't speaking to him because she wanted him to stay for three weeks, but Lange returned to complete a profile for Rolling Stone magazine, which includes shows in Manhattan this weekend.

"... Stern agreed to random drug tests, and Lange said he would leave the show upon failing the first test -- a claim that conjured an 'Uh oh!' from Robin Quivers. She changed the terms to a failed test means Lange must go to "real rehab" for 30 days, something Stern signed off on."

While we wish Lange the best of luck in his sobriety we wonder, in the quiet of our souls, how far out must one be to need Colin Quinn to engineer your rescue from ruin?

$5 Billion Porn Bailout?



Ever since the $700 billion TARP bailout, every industry in distress it sometimes seems have sharp-elbowed their way into a choice position at the government teat. So, why not porn? From CBS LA:

"Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt and 'Girls Gone Wild' founder Joe Francis announced Wednesday that they have asked Congress for a $5 billion federal bailout to help the adult entertainment industry during the economic downturn.

"'People are too depressed to be sexually active,' Flynt said. 'This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex.'

"'Congress seems willing to help shore up our nation's most important businesses,' he said. 'We feel we deserve the same consideration. In difficult economic times, Americans turn to entertainment for relief. More and more, the kind of entertainment they turn to is adult entertainment.'

"According to Flynt and Francis, adult DVD sales and rentals have decreased by 22 percent in the past year.

"Francis said the money for the $13 billion industry would be 'just to see us through hard times.'"

Who knew that two men as porcine and oily as Flynt and Francis are were capable of such clever satire?

Ex-CIA Agent's Reaction To Panetta "Overwhelmingly Negative"



(image via charlotteobserver)

The nomination of Leon Panetta, a respected executive, to become Director of the CIA took many -- this blogger included -- by surprise. The labyrinthine spy agency with the byzantine structure is notoriously difficult to navigate. Many, even ex-agents and former members of the House Intelligence Committee, have failed. Panetta, in contrast, has no intelligence or even counterterrorism experience. Such a break with the past from a President-elect who ran on change could augur either well for the respected manager-nominee, or for ill. Thus far Senator Dianne Feinstein as well as Senator Jay Rockefeller, ranking members of the Committee have both expressed vague reservations about the pick. That public frost may have more to do with the lack of a heads up courtesy call by the Obama team than any move to oppose the nomination (That rift is presently being massaged). As petty as it sounds, nominations in Washington have =died quiet, solitary deaths for lack of deference shown to Senate committee chairs.

CQPolitics' Spy Talk heard from an agent who doesn't regard the nomination at all well:

"A retired senior CIA operations officer who quit last summer after 20 years tracking terrorists says the rank-and-file reaction to President-elect Obama's choice of Leon E.Panetta to run the spy agency has been "overwhelmingly negative."

"Charles 'Sam' Faddis, who led a CIA team into northern Iraq before the 2003 invasion, says he had 'already heard from a large number of rank and file within CIA on this choice, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.'"

George H.W. Bush, who later became the 40th President, had virtually no experience and also took the helm of the CIA at a time of crisis in the agency's history and is generally regarded as having been successful. More here.

Media Whore D'Oeuvres



(image via madnews)

"Celebrity big brother favourite Verne Troyer today confided that he wants to leave the house. The Mini-Me actor told rapper Coolio he'd had enough as they stayed up talking until the early hours. But Coolio tried to dissuade him, saying if he leaves he won't get paid. The pair tried to keep their conversation quiet by covering up their microphones but it was still audible. Troyer said: 'I don't give a s**t right now. I've found a route. I just need your help.' Coolio replied: 'You can't go man, if you walk out you don't get paid. I know why I came in, I came for the money.' troyer then admitted: 'Me too.' Coolio reminded him that he was getting paid 'in pounds,' which are worth more than dollars." (Thisislondon)

"'While they blame the government and Wall Street directly for the situation, many millionaires are not happy with their advisers’ performance,' Catherine McBreen, a managing director for Spectrum, said in the statement. U.S. millionaires lost an average 30 percent of their assets last year, with 17 percent of respondents saying their assets declined by 40 percent or more, Spectrem said. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 38 percent last year, its worst since 1937, and global stock markets surrendered $28.7 trillion of their value, or 47 percent. Those polled believe the crisis will last another 22 months, and 55 percent said they worry they won’t have enough assets to maintain their lifestyles, Spectrem said." (Bloomberg)



"Milk, Slumdog Millionaire and Happy-Go-Lucky swept the 2008 New York Film Critics Circle Awards last night at Strata, but it was the completely gorgeous star of Vicki Christina Barcelona, Penelope Cruz, that had everyone salivating. Even the presence of the semi-cordial actor's actor Sean Penn (his usual tolerance of press being zero) did little to diminish Ms. Cruz's strangle hold on the room! We did however get to ask Sean Penn if he was entertaining the thought of doing a mustachioed 'Got Milk?' commercial, to which he gave us the best ever eye contact. From him, that's major! It was such a fun evening for us, as we were blessed with a great spot on the red carpet, despite the fact that the E! videographer standing in back of us merrily swung his huge cam into our head about 11 times. At one point as we staggered a bit from a blow, Marica Gay Harden stopped her interview to ask if we were alright. 'Sure, it's all in fun,' we replied." (Papermag)

"If you were to give Nicolas Sarkozy the benefit of the doubt, you would say that one reason for his current diplomatic foray into the Middle East is his deeply held belief that the European Union needs strong, energetic, high-profile leadership to make its influence count in the world. If you were to take a more sceptical view, you would say that Sarkozy enjoyed running France’s six-month EU presidency so much that, when it came to an end on December 31, he simply couldn’t bring himself to move out of the spotlight. For the Czech Republic, which took over the EU presidency a week ago, the temptation to cough politely and say to Sarkozy, 'Excuse me, pal, it’s our turn now,' must be strong. After all, Sarkozy’s trip to the Middle East is likely to be interpreted in many parts of the world as a signal that the Czechs are not to be taken too seriously when it comes to negotiating and speaking on the EU’s behalf." (Blogs.FT.com)

Opening Day Of The 111th Congress

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"On the Senate side, newcomers include Western Democrats like the Udall cousins, Tom and Mark. Several younger senators are coming on board including newly appointed Michael Bennet of Denver, who is 44; Mark Warner, 54, of Virginia and Mark Begich, 46, of Alaska. They are filling seats vacated by such institutional titans as John Warner, 81, of Virginia (no relation) and Ted Stevens, 85, of Alaska. With their formal swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, the new members offer Democrats expanded majorities in both the House (257-178) and the Senate. If the contretemps over the Minnesota and Illinois Senate seats is resolved in the Democrats' favor, the Senate majority would be 59-41, which includes two independents. But with even at an overall size of 54 new House members, this freshman class falls far short of one of the largest – 118 new members in 1949 –or an average size of about 82 since 1913." (NYTimes)

"In the January/February issue of The Atlantic, columnist Michael Hirschorn looks at the future of The New York Times and wonders, '[W]hat if the old media dies much more quickly? ... [W]hat if The New York Times goes out of business—like, this May?' Mr. Hirschorn looks at the Times Company's difficult year—and its possibly even more difficult year ahead—before concluding that: 'Regardless of what happens over the next few months, The Times is destined for significant and traumatic change. At some point soon—sooner than most of us think—the print edition, and with it The Times as we know it, will no longer exist. What would that mean for readers?'" (Observer)

"'Daniel and I spent New Year's Eve in St. Barth's on our friend Ronald Perelman's amazing boat. Ronald is the most incredible and charming host and the boat is beyond chic with a guest list comprised of the most glittering mix of movie stars, moguls, musicians and the just-plain-fabulous. For all the famous faces though, the party is very intimate and super low-key. At midnight, fireworks are launched in the harbor, high above the terracotta rooftops of Gustavia. It's the only place we ever want to be on New Year's Eve.'--Andrew Saffir" (Fashionweekdaily)



"'I’ve never been more nervous about an opening,' said Kate Hudson at a little after-after-party at the Rose Bar. 'But that’s because I’ve never been more involved in a film. Five years of my life were spent on this bad boy. It wasn’t like they just gave me that producer credit. I earned it ...' Hudson’s famously plucky attitude came in handy for bathroom breaks, which required the help of two friends and lots of zipper-hunting. But she picked her statuesque Oscar de la Renta gown because it reminded her of the Chrysler Building—and goddamn it, she was going to dress up in it even if everyone else was in jeans." (Style)

click to enlarge.

Surgeon General Sanjay Gupta (Oh, Hell Yes!)?



How genius is this? And, no, it is not like appointing "Dr. House" to a major policy position. Surgeon General is above all a PR job advocating for the nation's health. Who else would be better than the man with the highest Q-ratings (And did we mention he is a neurosurgeon, a former White House Fellow who dealt with policy and a print and television journo?). From WashPo's Howie Kurtz:

"President-elect Barack Obama has offered the job of surgeon general to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and correspondent for CNN and CBS, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

"... Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

"The Michigan-born son of Indian and Pakistani parents, Gupta has always been drawn to health policy. He was a White House fellow in the late 1990s, writing speeches and crafting policy for Hillary Clinton. His appointment would give the administration a prominent official of Southwest Asian descent and a skilled television spokesman."

More here.

Journopalooza!



(Suspicious Package via Christina)

We emailed Christina Davidson of the National Press Club about "Journopalooza," a benefit. On Friday at the National Press Club (529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor Washington, DC 20045), "Four of D.C.'s best bands -- composed of journalists from the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, McClatchy Newspapers, the Washington Independent, Bloomberg News, among others -- will try to claim for themselves the title of Best Reporter-Based Washington Rock Group."

The Corsair: JOURNOPALOOZA's proceeds will benefit some worthy causes -- The Committee to Protect Journalists and the National Press Club's efforts to bring in the next generation -- who has the inside track to become Best Reporter-Based Washington Rock Group?

Christina Davidson: It's difficult to say who could be chosen as the best because they're all so different. Anchorage and The Surge write all their own music, so that could give them an edge. However, some people may abhor the hard rock of The Surge or the alt sounds of Anchorage, but love the funk and classic rock of Suspicious Package or the R&B of Nobody's Business.

The Corsair: I was looking at the web page (and of the bands), and someone is taking this rocking quite seriously. "Our profession," you write, "is in financial trouble. Trouble that can only be fixed by rock n' roll." Oh snap; what gives?

Christina: To be a successful journalist requires a certain personality and mindset driven by dogged perseverance, insatiable curiosity for new knowledge and experience, a dedication to perfecting their craft, and extraordinary self-discipline. Whether it is media or rock-and-roll, these people do nothing half-assed.

The Corsair: How does Best Reporter-Based Washington Rock Group compare to a Pulitzer?

Christina: ...Nothing can really compare to a Pulitzer.

Buy tickets to the DC event here. Doors open at 7:15.

Al Qaeda Is Trying To "Bushify" Obama



According to BreakingNewsOnline's Twitter feed, Al Qaeda's Deputy Commander al-Zawahiri delivered a statement on Gaza situation. The overwhelming military advantage of Israel in Gaza has presented Al Qaeda will cynical photo ops calculated to inflame the Muslim world.

"These attacks," al-Zawahiri is quoted as saying, "are Obama's present to you (Palestinians) before he takes office." Charmed, I'm sure. Did Al Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri happen to get the memo that Constitutionally we have one President at a time? Ayman al-Zawahiri, who previously called President-elect Obama a "house negro" is once again trying to rattle the incoming administration with gassy rhetoric. It is clearly in Al Qaeda's interest, recruitment-wise, to back Obama into the same tight corner of tacit support for all and every Israeli military action against the Palestinians. Ayman al-Zawahiri, in his fevered and fetid fundamentalism, cannot distinguish between Obama's Centrism and Bush's neoconservatism -- or, worse, al-Zawahiri sees the difference, but in the searing spirit of the noble lie, twists perceptions in an already overheated situation.

It must have been frightening indeed for al-Zawahiri and his cronies to have heard the nuanced tone of the President-elect's language on how to deal with the Muslim world.

The President-elect, who studied in Indonesia and will use his full name -- Barack Hussein Obama -- when he places his hand on Lincoln's bible and takes office later this month will have an unprecedented credibility at the outset for a United States President in the Muslim world. Of the previous use of the term "house negro," Newsweek's Gilles Kepel wrote:

"The shift in the U.S. military policy promised by Obama has already begun to be implemented by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will keep his job in the new administration. Strikes by Predator drones in the Afghan border region are becoming more efficient by the day, decimating the jihadists, who are already weakened by internecine conflicts.

"Defusing that lethal danger has become a question of life or death for Zawahiri and his friends (Osama bin Laden has vanished from public view). This desperation is probably what led the Qaeda ideologist to lash out at Obama in the audiotape. Al Qaeda certainly has plenty to be nervous about these days. Obama, of course, is to be the first black president of the United States, not to mention the first with a Muslim father and a middle name of Hussein. As such, he stands a good chance of restoring U.S. popularity internationally, especially in developing countries, where U.S. standing reached an all-time low under George W. Bush. Zawahiri has tried to ward off these dangers by launching a campaign of snigger and slander. On the tape, he quoted from Malcolm X's autobiography to label Obama a "house Negro"—that is, an Uncle Tom, whom Malcolm X contrasted to the 'field Negro,' the embodiment of colonial exploitation and the bearer of revolution.

"Playing the race card may well backfire on Zawahiri. In Arabic, the Qaeda leader disparaged Obama as abid, a very derogatory term meaning "slave." The use of this term by a white Egyptian aristocrat may play well in the Arab world, but it won't in Muslim countries south of Egypt, which are all too familiar with Arab racism."

Zawahiri also used the words "Crusader" -- as in American Crusader and Western Crusader -- throughout the videotape.

Josh Brolin: Sean Penn Is "Not An Asshole Like Russell Crowe."



Who says actresses are "the bitches"? From our perspective (and that's all that really matters), some of Hollywood's boldestfaced A-listers -- all male, btw -- are proving to be the positively bitchiest *two snaps, raised eyebrows and a neck roll*. We've already written about the contretemps between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke -- possible Best Actor nominees -- involved in tomfoolery with text messages and allegations of homophobia. Add Josh Brolin, who is getting big Oscar buzz for Best Actor and Supporting Actor for his complex roles in the monosyllabic critical faves W and Milk. In Michael Musto's Blog post, "Best Comment Made at Last Night's NY Film Critics Circle Awards," our fearless leader quotes Josh Brolin as saying, "Great actor, Sean Penn. Great actor. Not an asshole like Russell Crowe."

Brolin worked with Russell Crowe in "American Gangster."

Chris Albers And Tom Fontana To Receive WGA Richard B. Jablow Award





(Albers, top, Fontana, bottom via wgaeast)

The Writers Guild of America, which had a wild 2008, announced a few hours ago that Late Night with Conan O'Brien writer Chris Albers and Oz creator Tom Fontana have been selected to receive the Writers Guild of America, East’s (WGAE) Richard B. Jablow Award for devoted service to the Guild. One of the beautiful things about the strike, which The Corsair covered for FishbowlNY, is that it brought a political awareness and sense of unity among the writers -- who otherwise pursue a rather solitary muse -- working in television here on the East Coast, particularly. Many of those writers, children of union organizers and workers, had an opportunity to participate in the same activities that their parents did decades previous. And the stories, friendships and romances that came out of the strike were quite touching.

The Richard B. Jablow Award honors the first counsel, recognizing devoted service to the Guild. From the press release:

"Chris Albers served as president and Tom Fontana as vice president of the Writers Guild of America, East from 2005 - 2007. As a team, they were instrumental in bringing the Writers Guild, East and Writers Guild, West together, brokering the agreement that ended an extended period of hostility between the two unions. The guidelines established under this agreement ensured the unions would work as partners going forward.

"'Chris Albers and Tom Fontana personify what the Jablow Award is about – service and dedication to the Writers Guild, East, and its membership. During their tenure as president and vice president, the two helped bring the Guild into the 21st century with a bold initiative to restore harmony and unity with our colleagues in the Writers Guild of America, West. This effort reaped enormous benefits during our 100-day strike when Chris and Tom, although officially out of office, continued to serve their union as strike captains, intermediaries, communicators and invaluable advisors,' said Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East."

The Jablow Award has been around since 1978. Past recipients of the Jablow Award include: Ryan's Hope co-creator Claire Labine, Warren Leight and Michael Winship. Albers and Fontana will receive their awards on February 7 at New York City ’s Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel during their 61st Annual Awards Ceremony.

Resolved: CNN's Fredricka Whifield Is Sexy

Howard Stern: More People Listen To Me Than Watch Jay Leno



(image via howard-stern-radio)

Perhaps Howard Stern should consider doing late night after his contract expires next year on satellite radio, so he can take this Leno feud into the evening ethers and the broader popular culture. The present rhetorically brawly narrative, as it evolves, is becoming the stuff of legend. Stern's feud with Tonight Show host Jay Leno, which began when Leno hired Stern regular "Stuttering" John Melendez without the customary show business heads up, is starting off the New Year smouldering. The New York Times, oddly, appears to be the sounding board of choice between the two entertainment industry alpha males.

To recap: Stern felt that Leno hired Stuttering John out from under him. Stern, always edgy, lashed out on-air afterwards, calling Leno "fake" and "mainstream." No crueler charges could be made against a comedian. This was particularly brutal because the Stern Show is highly listened to in comedy and entertainment world circles where Leno, presumably, also circulates (and his writing staff almost certainly listens). Further, Stern went on Letterman -- Leno's nemesis -- attacking Leno, going so far as to call him a "scab" for his position on last year's writers strike.

What alpha male could sit still for that? Leno returned volley in December, right before Stern went on holiday vacation, telling the New York Times' television reporter Bill Carter -- the same guy, incidentally, who wrote "Late Shift" -- that Howard Stern's Move To Sirius "Seemed A Mistake"

Stern lashed back at Leno's "fake" image as the common man, citing Leno's collection of motorcycles and cars. Tim Arango's critical piece in the NyTimes business section on Sirius' future -- for which Stern declined to participate -- came out after Stern was on vacation. It seemed to add coals to the fire of Stern's anger. Yesterday Stern returned from his break. From Popeater:

"Stern wasn't having any of it on his first day back from vacation. 'Jay seems to have a lot to think about with me,' he said.

"'I left terrestrial radio and I couldn't be happier. I didn't have any delusions that when I'd go on satellite radio I'd have as many listeners that I had on terrestrial radio.'

"(Stern) continued: 'I came over to build a business. My assignment was to save Sirius radio. To bring listeners and to make things happen here. I came here to help this media merge, not to have as many listeners as I used to have. I'm in love with not having as many listeners as I used to have. I'm in love with the listeners I have, I don't get S---t every time I open my mouth by some mainstream tight a** a**hole who's going to misinterpret what I say because he happened to tune by and not even understand what I was trying to say.'

"Stern then singled himself out for Sirius's turnaround. "I hit every home run I could possibly hit. When I came here, they never dreamed of a merger with XM. It happened within two years. It's the biggest success story in broadcasting history. There's not another broadcaster in this world that could have turned Sirius from 600,000 listeners to 20 million listeners inside of two years. Who could do that. There's zero point zero performers who could do that.'

"'Do as many people hear me now? No. Do more people hear me than watch the Tonight Show? Yes. Jay Leno, with all of his horses**t has five million viewers. We on the other hand, because we are listened to by 60 percent of Sirius and XM, we probably have ... five to six million listeners. I'm not going to be an a**hole and I'm going to downplay it. So even downplaying it, we beat 'The Tonight Show.' So if Jay Leno is relevant, I'm surely as relevant as he is.'"

More transcription here.

Kelly LeBrock And Ron Wood?



(image via artfiles)

Kelly LeBrock is, in the minds of many red-blooded Gen X males, somewhat immortal. She was the cartoonish ideal woman in that significant cultural artifact Weird Science, of which Roger Ebert famously said, "If you are 14 you'll love this film, if you are 14 1/2, not so much." Or something to that effect (Averted Gaze). But Kelly, who has since appeared less gloriously in VH1's lamentable Celebrity Fit Club 3 doesn't seem to have the taste in men commensurate to her pop-cultural stature. Her tempestuous marriage to sleazy Hollywood gasbag Steven Seagal -- eew -- is well known. Now, according to Cindy Adams, we learn that there was a fling with leathery modelizer and all-around Rusophile Ron Wood. From NYPost:

"TWO THOUSAND NINE is not start ing off great for Ron Wood. We've already heard - as has his longtime wife, Jo - about ladyfriend Ekaterina, with whom he remains closer than a little boy and his dog.

"... He is - pardon the phrase - deep into this Russian lady, so Jo now figures better a divorce than continued humiliation. The problem is money. Since Rolling Stones concerts aren't being announced, he needed Plan B, which was to be the Faces, a reunion with Rod Stewart, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones - the surviving Faces bandmates.

"Rehearsals began in Paris but did not go well. The grampas can still make music, but they can't make nice. They can still play the songs but ain't no harmony between them personally. Result? Concert dates aren't being booked.

"Another difficulty. Rehabbed Ron's former manager Nick Cowan just wrote a spill-all titled 'Fifty Teabags and a Bottle of Rum.' It's sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and Ronnie's affairs, like doing it with plus-size model Kelly LeBrock. For 22 years he was protected by Cowan but Cowan has just been replaced by Jo Wood's son James."

All this seedy Hollywood oiliness -- Ron Wood, Rod Stewart, Steven Segal -- and no mention, surprisingly, of Sylvester Stallone. We kept waiting for the musky Stallone 80s Hollywood sleaze angle to materialize (and leave a greasy residue)-- or at least some creepy, testosteronal appearance by Elie Samaha -- but that never quite happened and, to be frank, its kind of harshing on our mellow.

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



(image via timeinc)

"WHILE Madonna entertains herself with Brazilian boy toy Jesus Luz, she's apparently willing to share her other man, Alex Rodriguez, with her kabbalah friends. A-Rod flew into Parrot Cay to ring in the New Year with Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Bruce Willis and Donna Karan. While on the island, a spy says the slugger got 'very close to [Karan] who only had eyes for him and followed him around all night on New Year's Eve.' But apparently Rodriguez is "still hung up on Madonna" and refused Karan's advances." (PageSix)

"Last night on my way to dinner, we were stopped at an intersection by the flashing red and blue lights of a cortege of black limousines, SUVs with serious looking security detail in the front seats. There been five vehicles in this cortege, taking the Right of Way. The world stopped for them. Whoever they are/were. Some politician. Maybe a visiting foreign dignitary, maybe a Senator or whoever (not a President – not enough security). Whoever they were, they were 'important.' New Yorkers today are used to politicians riding around in corteges of black SUVs with tinted windows and escorts and sirens to navigate their Selves through the madding crowd. Privilege is to the politician what greed is to the banker .." (NYSocialDiary)

"Which supermodel is terrified that a video clip of her racking up lines of cocaine on a yacht in the Mediterranean are going to appear online any day?" (3AMGirls)

"The need for a move away from the lethal mix of arrogance and ignorance characteristic of George W. Bush's presidency is hard to dispute. That is not all that needs breaking away from. Some observers have welcomed the past year's surge of older-style US diplomacy, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's multiple visits to the region, efforts to build Palestinian institutions and security forces, and negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians over a final status agreement. Yet spin aside, these efforts hardly can be deemed successful. Realities on the ground—from settlement construction to deepening divisions within Palestinian and Israeli societies to growing disillusionment with a two-state solution—render the possibility of a peace accord increasingly remote. The failings of Bush's efforts have also revived nostalgia for President Clinton's. But it is a nostalgia born as much of anger with the present as of longing for the past. The 1990s were a time of US activism on behalf of peace, yet there is a record to contend with. It is not as forgiving. On this issue, Clinton's term concluded in failure, and it is a failure that bears at least some relation to the policies so lamented today. President Obama will need to make a change, of that there can be little doubt. But it will take more than turning the page on the worst of the Bush years. It will mean writing an entirely different script." (NYBooks)

"We all have to cut costs these days and clearly Ron Perelman is no exception: He's in the process of selling his yacht for $67 million. The 190-foot Ultima III comes with eight bedrooms and a Jacuzzi and is where, according to the Guardian, the billionaire financier has 'entertained' Gina Gershon and director Penny Marshall on the 'yacht's lengthy sun deck in recent years.'" (Cityfile)



"John Madejski, who last week won a knighthood in the U.K., is selling a bronze version of Edgar Degas’s best-known sculpture at Sotheby’s February auction of Impressionist and modern art in London. 'Petite danseuse de quatorze ans' owned by Madejski --one of the U.K.’s wealthiest businessmen -- is expected to fetch up to 12 million pounds ($17.6 million) on Feb. 3, the auction house said in an e-mailed statement today. Its minimum estimate is 9 million pounds." (Bloomberg)

"The incoming and outgoing chairs of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee signaled concerns about President-elect Barack Obama ’s choice of Leon E. Panetta to head the CIA, primarily because of Panetta’s thin intelligence resume. 'I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta. . . . I know nothing about this, other than what I’ve read,' said Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who will chair the committee in the 111th Congress, in an e-mailed statement. 'My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best-served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.' Added an aide to John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., who served as chairman of the committee in the 110th Congress: 'I think, based on press reporting if it proves correct, Sen. Rockefeller has some concerns about his selection. Not because he has any concerns about Panetta, whom he thinks very highly of, but because he has no intelligence experience and because he has believed this has always been a position that should be outside of the political realm.'" (CQPOlitics)

"The newest chapter in the NBC-Ann Coulter feud didn't even take a day to develop. Coulter appeared tonight on FNC's 'Hannity & Colmes' to promote her new book, and the very first question from Sean Hannity related to the NBC cancellation. 'I know the whole thing was a set up to block me from other TV shows,' said Coulter, who said she was 'very upset about this' ..Earlier this evening NBC told TVNewser they had offered Coulter a segment on Wednesday's show, but it didn't sound like she'd be showing up. 'I think I'll accept and then cancel at the last minute,' she said." (TVNewser)

"The cable channel that sold for a bargain-basement price last month is suddenly the object of a tug-of-war between two prospective owners. Lionsgate surprised the biz late Monday by announcing that it's cut a deal to acquire the TV Guide Network cabler and TV Guide Online from Macrovision for $255 million. Just three weeks ago, Macrovision announced a deal to sell the channel and online biz to investor Allen Shapiro for the same price, but late Monday the tech firm announced it had 'terminated' that agreement in favor of the deal with Lionsgate ..Lionsgate is set to pay cash for the acquisition that's expected to close by Feb. 28. Shapiro's deal was also said to be for cash, but Macrovision execs said it was subject to other closing conditions that made it less attractive to Macrovision than the Lionsgate offer." (Variety)

"John Bolton proposes in today's Washington Post giving up on Palestinian governance and a two-state solution, instead opting for a "three-state approach" in which 'Gaza is returned to Egyptian control and the West Bank in some configuration reverts to Jordanian sovereignty.' If a zombie can be defined as a 'reanimated corpse,' then (former Ambassador) Bolton's proposal certainly fits the bill. This concept reappears like clockwork whenever there's an Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Some see it as a magic bullet to negate Palestinian nationalism or at least redirect Palestinian ire towards their new/old Arab rulers. Others just can't imagine the emergence of any Palestinian leadership they find acceptable (probably a safe bet) and prefer the predictable dictatorships to the East and South. Most recently, in October, Israeli Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Giora Eiland's Washington Institute for Near East Policy paper proposed a 'trilateral' solution (more discussion here)." (ForeignPolicy)

CIA Director Panetta



(image via observer)

And now for something completely different. The NYTimes is reporting that Obama is appointing Leon Panetta to become Director of the CIA. Panetta is a highly unusual choice -- the NYT went with "somewhat unusual" -- in that Panetta, though a hugely competent manager, has no actual intelligence experience (although he was a member of the Iraq Study Group) and may be seen as an outsider within the famously insular agency. George Herbert Walker Bush, who served as CIA Director from January 1976 - January 1977 and also lacked intelligence experience appears to be the most similar director to Panetta. We cannot fail to note, though, that Bush's appointment -- at a time, similarly, when the CIA was suffering from low public opinion -- was regarded as, according to Evans and Novak, "another grave morale deflator." Will Panetta's pick also suffer from those barbs? From The New York Times:

"Given his background, Mr. Panetta is a somewhat unusual choice to lead the C.I.A., an agency that has been unwelcoming to previous directors perceived as outsiders, such as Stansfield M. Turner and John M. Deutch. But his selection points up the difficulty Mr. Obama had in finding a C.I.A. director with no connection to controversial counterterrorism programs of the Bush era.

"Mr. Deutch, now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Mr. Blair and Mr. Panetta were an 'absolutely brilliant team,' and called Mr. Panetta a 'talented and experienced manager of government and a widely respected person with congress.'

"He said that given global environment, there are indeed good reasons for Mr. Obama to select a C.I.A. veteran to lead the C.I.A. But he said that two of the agency’s most successful directors, John McCone and George H.W. Bush, had little or no intelligence intelligence experience when they took over at C.I.A.

"Aides have said Mr. Obama had originally hoped to select a C.I.A. head with extensive field experience, especially in combating terrorist networks. But his first choice for the job, John O. Brennan, had to withdraw his name amidst criticism over his role in the formation of the C.I.A’s detention and interrogation program after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Panetta served eight terms in the House, then was Budget Director and Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton. This pick -- at CIA -- has been particularly difficult for the President-elect, lasting far longer than his other national security picks. Apparently the difficulty lay in the fact that people who had experience were tainted by their complicity with Bush, 43's policies (NSA spying, torture).

Predictions 2009



(image via derock.net)

At the outset we should say that we are not so good on predictions. In the five years or so of doing these acts of divine seeing we have really only been right about John Edwards winning the South Carolina primary in 2004. Not the strongest recommendation of the clarity of The Corsair's crystal ball. Still, we persist. Some predictions for 2009; we'll see how it turns out:

Mike Tyson will finally break down and do porn to pay the bills.

Jann Wenner will purchase Defamer from Nick Denton for $5 million.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will win the Presidency of the Ukraine, then begin healing the rifts between her country -- which will be hit hard by the global recession -- and Russia. Tymoshenko, an attractive woman, will gain political rock star status among men throughout Eastern Europe.

A multinational force -- including China's first venture beyond their territorial waters since the 15th Century -- will confront the Somali pirates, culminating in a formal Law of the Seas agreement accepted and agreed to by all members of the United Nations by year's end.

Artists -- from musicians in the beleaugured music industry to painters of the canvas -- will have to avail themselves of their natural creativity in heretofore untested ways to pay the bills. Look for some interesting artist-corporate partnerships/sponsorships in which the inherent hipness of artists is co-opted, somewhat, by the fatcats in a manner that is not entirely whorish to all involved.

Howard Dean will be nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to be his Commerce Secretary.

Caroline Kennedy will be appointed by Governor Patterson for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat and will work tirelessly with Ted Kennedy and incoming Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle on passing a modified Baucus Plan for universal health care. This will be the legislation that Ted Kennedy will be remembered for for the rest of his life; it is for this cause that Ted Kennedy was born.

Barack Obama will tour Africa in July, visiting Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda -- which is en route to becoming Sub-Saharan Africa's success story -- culminating his trip in a visit to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday on the 18th with Oprah and Bill Clinton.

South African President Zuma, Nelson Mandela and Hillary Clinton will diplomatically usher Robert Mugabe into "retirement" as tyrant of Zimbabwe. He will soonafter expire; Zimbabwe will begin the process of moving on.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs, famously a fruitarian and then a vegan, will admit to an eating disorder and begin eating balanced, sensible meals.

Sundance, due to the global recession, will eliminate the swag. Cannes, ever contrary, will turn up the glamour, thus getting enormous negative press around the world.

Tommy Lee will contract a serious STD, requiring something significantly stronger than Valtrex.

Fox Television will syndicate the show "Page Six," based on the influential NY Post feature, which will compete successfully against TMZ's low-rent gossip show.

Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn will snipe at each other with increasing bitchiness leading up to the Academy Awards, where Brad Pitt will come from under-the-radar, operatically, to snatch the Best Actor honors. Jennifer Aniston will, true to form, annoyingly complain about it for the rest of the year.

What are some of YOUR predictions for 2009? Send them here.

Rebecca Romijin and Jerry O'Connell Have Twins



(image via msnbc)

Who says that the Howard Stern Show is largely irrelevant? Jerry O'Connell, the ultimate Stern fan, allowed the shock jock an exclusive about his family. From Newsday:

"Celebrity couple Rebecca Romijin and Jerry O'Connell finally had their twin girls, according to Howard Stern, who mentioned it on his Sirius radio show this morning. The twins are the first children for both of them."

The babies are named Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip, and we welcome them to the world. More here.

A Little Of The Old In And Out



In: Andrea Mitchell. 2008 certainly wasn't a banner year for the husband of the Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for NBC News. Alan Greenspan, former Fed Chief and one-half of the ultimate DC Power couple, admitted to a crisis in his holy belief in the inviolate nature of laissez-faire capitalism. But yesterday, his better half cashed in some chits to get an exclusive that will have major reverberations throughout the news cycle today. From TvNewser:

"NBC's Andrea Mitchell was first to report that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination as Commerce Secretary. Richardson is citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state as his reason for pulling his name from consideration.

"The AP confirmed the news 30 minutes after the report first aired on MSNBC."

Out: Harvey Weinstein. Pink, abrasive anger-junkie Harvey Weinstein, from out of the protective embrace of Disney, has been somewhat relegated, at least temporarily, to the pink sheets. From DeadlineHollywoodDaily:

"Back in 2007, Harvey Weinstein was boasting about Genius Products, the Santa Monica-based DVD distributor 70% owned by The Weinstein Co. That was then, and this is now. On December 24th, its shares were de-listed from the 'over-the-counter' board (OCTBB) to the pink sheets."

Oops.

Who Is Donating To Obama's Inauguration?



(image via komonews)

President-Elect Obama is putting online a chart of his inaugural donors in the interest of transparence. The maximum donation Obama's Presidential Inauguration Committee won't accept any more than $50,000 per person, which is like a billion in this economy and we are curious as to who can swing that. Some of the names of people that are donating are interesting. Like:

Bill Gates, the maximum $50,000 (His wife, Melinda also gave $50,000)

Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer, $50,000 (Ballmer's wife, Connnie also donated the maximum, $50,000)

Former Touched By An Angel star Roma (Downey) Burnett, $25,000.

Oscar winner Jamie Fox, $50,000.

Rob Glaser, Founder, Chairman and CEO of RealNetworks, Inc., $50,000.

Barry Gordy, Motown founder, $50,000.

Film director and British Baron Christopher Guest, $25,000.

Lisa Henson, co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company, $50,000.

Ron Howard, Academy Award winning director, $50,000.

Socialite Marlene Hess, $50,000.

Former BET Chief Reggie Hudlin, $25,000.

YouTube CEO Chad Hurley, $25,000.

CNBC business analyst Ron Insana, $50,000.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson, $50,000.

Magic Johnson, $25,000.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, $50,000 (and his wife, Marilyn, also donated the max, $50,000)

Film producer, James Lassiter, $50,000.

Hedge Fund Cowboy, Daniel Loeb, $25,000 (that's all?)

Harvard Business School Professor, Jay W. Lorsch, $25,000.

Miami socialite Amarilis Osorio, $50,000.

Billionaire Ron Perelman, $50,000.

Oracle President, Charles E. Phillips, Jr., $50,000.

DefJam's Antonio "LA Reid, $50,000.

Linda Rice, Chairperson and CEO, Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., $50,000.

Laurance Rockefeller, $38,000.

Google's chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, $25,000.

Time Warner's Joanna Shields, $25,000.

D.E. Shaw founder, David Shaw, $50,000.

Financial journalist Andrew Tobias, $10,000.

Leslie & Robert Zemeckis, $50,000.

Some impressions: lots of Silicon Valley $$ here (And, predictably, Hollywood donations, financiers and African-American wealth).

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"MAUREEN Dowd's love of the Hollywood elites continues unabated. The Times columnist and avowed liberal, who has dated Michael Douglas and Aaron Sorkin, is hosting an inaugural weekend bash at her DC home honoring David Geffen. Insiders say she's hoping President-elect Barack Obama will stop by. Geffen helped turn the tide against Hillary Rodham Clinton in California by stat ing in Dowd's column that Clinton was 'polarizing' and 'ambitious' and calling Obama in spirational. Geffen then held several Obama fund- raisers." (PageSix)



"Courtney Love's appalling outfit wasn't helped by strong winds yesterday as she strolled along the street with a pal."

"The Howard Stern Show returned after a two-week vacation without comedian Artie Lange yet again. Monday morning's show opened with the crew mentioning the vacant seat in the New York City studio. Stern spent 17 minutes discussing various things before informing his listeners of the situation, including his parents -- a popular topic. Show producer Gary Dell'Abate informed Stern last week that Lange was checked in to an 'intensive rehab' by his sister and friends. Stern said Lange left him a message over the weekend saying he never felt better in his life and has been sober nearly two weeks and lost 20 pounds -- Lange had swelled up to over 300 pounds. After the two spoke on the phone, Stern called Dell'Abate and was told the experience wasn't quite intensive rehab. Dell'Abate said he would classify the actual experience as a detox, not rehab. The crew surmised Lange is in Miami and likened the experience to a luxury spa. Stern said he expects Lange back on the show Wednesday." (Newsday)

"Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy's son Saif insists on the best. We hear Saif paid Mariah Carey a small fortune to perform at his New Year's Eve party on St. Bart's. One spy says Carey's three or four songs at the Nikki Beach Club set Saif back about $1 million. Moammar's second son is used to writing big checks. Having criticized his father's regime in 2006, he has been involved in Libya's compensation of victims of past acts of terrorism." (RushMolloy)



(Bernie and Ruth Madoff via NYSD via DailyMail)

"Bernie Madoff was beautifully captured in yesterday’s Daily Mail in an excellent piece by Miles Goslett. It’s about his 'likes' and 'loves.' In the interview, the main source of which was his London office manager for more than seven years, Julia Fenwick, 38, we learn that Bernie was what we popularly call anal retentive and/or obsessive compulsive. Bernie visited London two to three times a year. His offices occupied two stories of a Georgian townhouse in an area of Mayfair known as 'hedge fund alley.' It was run as a 'proprietary trading house' investing the Madoff family assets which in 2007 were estimated at $220 million. Last year they negotiated a new ten-year lease and spent a million dollars refurbishing it, including with handmade desks. He liked smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches on brown bread. And Diet Coke. Only." (NYSocialDiary)

"The problem with the new office video conferencing system was the shape of
the wall where the camera was mounted. It was semi-circular. And for Bernard Madoff, the man now at the centre of the biggest alleged corporate fraud in history, semi-circular was beyond endurance. Madoff, whose elaborate £34billion pyramid scheme collapsed last month leaving scores of high-profile casualties in its wake, would sit and stare at the wall in his London HQ all day. can't have that in my office,' he declared. 'I can't live with it. It has to be square.' The wall was duly remodelled." (DailyMail)

"In the interest of drumming up maximal funds—or 'transparency'—Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration Committee has released a chart (to be updated in real time) listing the names, employers, cities, and contributions of everyone who donates money to help make January 20 the best inauguration ever .. Out in Los Angeles, Steven Spielberg, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Bradley Whitford, Tom Hanks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Magic Johnson, Robert Zemeckis, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Berry Gordy and director-producer Reginald Hudlin have all pitched in. From New York, we have Cynthia Brill and Patricia Duff, who each gave $25,000. Ms. Duff's ex, Ron Perelman, gave $50,000, as did Def Jam executive Antonio Reid, Laurance Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Wendy, Citigroup's Ray McGuire, Sally Minard, Howard Milstein (two family members also donated the maximum amount), and five people with the last name Soros (including, of course, George)." (Observer)

"Democratic and Republican House campaign strategists already are plotting for the 2010 midterm elections, as the necessities of early candidate recruitment and fundraising have essentially obliterated the old-fashioned concept of an “off-election” year. The targeting decisions made by these party officials will be influenced by the results of the elections held two months ago, and what lessons they can glean from the outcomes. Special attention will be paid, not surprisingly, to the closest races of 2008. The aim on both sides is to field top-flight candidates in 2010 who can win districts that narrowly eluded their party’s grasp last November ..Of the 10 closest races by percentage margin in 2006, three — all Republican-held seats — flipped parties in 2008: North Carolina Rep. Robin Hayes lost a rematch with Democrat Larry Kissell and Democratic candidates won the seats left open by narrow 2006 GOP winners Heather A. Wilson and Deborah Pryce." (CQPolitics)

"Do you know the Spanish word sinverguenza (seen-ver-gwen-za)? It’s a wonderful word that we don’t quite have in English: a noun meaning 'a shameless person.' We ought to have such a noun. Consider two prime candidates: Bernard Madoff and Roland Burris. And perhaps a third. Bernard ('Bernie' sounds just a bit too casual, given the enormity of his—alleged—crimes) Madoff is of course the sinverguenza who allegedly stole $50 billion of his clients’ money, including some $15 million from the Elie Wiesel Foundation. To use another indispensable Spanish word, it surely takes cojones of the shiniest brass to plunder a Holocaust-devoted charity, when one is oneself Jewish." (Christo Buckley/TheDailyBeast)



"Anyone who watched The Osbournes or the X Factor knows Sharon Osbourne is not a woman to be trifled with. And when a contestant on her American reality show, Charm School, insulted her rocker husband Ozzy, there was no hiding place from her furious temper.Mrs Osbourne launched a glass of juice and then herself at former glamour model Megan Hauserman, who later filed a police complaint for alleged assault." (DailyMail)

"What do you think is going to happen in 2009? Will President Obama put his political capital behind a Middle East peace agreement at the outset? Will the recession turn into a depression? Will Caroline Kennedy get nominated to the United States Senate from the state of New York? Will America go green with gusto? Will Mike Tyson go into porn to pay the bills? Will The New York Times go under? Will Rwanda become sub-Saharan Africa's success story? Will Paris Hilton and Jeremy Piven just go away? Will Showtime's "The Brotherhood" ever get the attention it so richly deserves? Will this year finally be the end of network news? Will politics and celebrity become forever entwined with Obama a mainstay on the cover of supermarket tabloids? Will Howard Stern consider returning to terrestrial radio? What are your predictions for 2009?" (AWEARNESS)

"When it comes to momentum heading into the new year, the Eye has it -- and it's pretty much alone. One year after the writers strike disrupted development and production cycles, the broadcast networks don't seem to have recovered as a group. While CBS is doing just fine, the Big Four have ceded more ground to cable. There's certainly hope for the new year -- ABC, CBS and Fox will all have more firstrun scripted programming than usual -- but they'll face an uphill battle in an industry where new successes are the exception. Only one fall newbie -- CBS drama "The Mentalist" -- can be deemed an unqualified hit, while many returning dramas and nearly all veteran reality shows have taken a tumble." (Variety)

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"THE thaw in the relationship between Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson sure didn't last long, with the girlfriends ringing in the new year with a nasty fistfight. Trouble started Tuesday night as the two partied at Set in Miami. 'Both their families were there, and Lindsay and Sam just started going at it,' our spy said. Then, on New Year's Eve, the couple went nuclear and started screaming at each other while hosting a party at Mansion. The fight spilled out into an alley behind the club, where Lohan screeched at Ronson, 'When I storm off, you are supposed to follow me!'" (NYPost)

"Now as a new administration moves to town, another Washington guessing game begins: who will be able to snag the Obamas for dinner? 'There’s a lot of jockeying right now,' said Ann Walker Marchant, the chief executive of a public relations firm and a niece of Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the longtime Clinton insider. 'They certainly know they have an open invitation at my house.' 'Everybody in town wants to see them, everybody wants to go to the White House,' said Sally Quinn, the author, journalist and frequent hostess. 'And everybody wants to have them over.' She added, in careful Washingtonese, 'I have no plans to have a party.'" (NYT)

"There are dozens of balls and galas. Historically, the hottest tickets are the 'official balls.' This year, there are 10 such balls — the only ones where Barack Obama, Joe Biden and their wives are guaranteed to show up. The unofficial balls are going to be really lavish, probably more glitzy than the official balls. Already, we've heard of holiday celebrity types who are throwing their own parties. You have the Creative Coalition selling tickets at a minimum of $10,000 for a pair. Susan Sarandon and Anne Hathaway will be there. Sting is performing. The Hip Hop Ball will feature LL Cool J, and Russell Simmons. A possible party thrown by Oprah is shrouded in mystery. 'All we know for sure is that Oprah is going to be taping a couple of episodes of her show in Washington at the Kennedy Center on, I believe, that Monday,' Argetsinger told co-anchor Erica Hill. 'However, we had heard that Oprah's people were asking around, trying to find a good venue for a party. Still no word on this party. ... Everyone is expecting that whatever Oprah does will be the best.'" (CBS)

"When the Beckhams snapped up a luxury pad in Dubai, they could use it to escape the frenzied media circus back in LA. But their peace and quiet is about to be shattered big time. Because party girls Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson are moving in. There goes the neighbourhood! Lindsay has been house hunting on the Palm Island development in Dubai, a haven for the rich and famous. It seems the pair fell in love with the glitzy resort after DJ Sam did a gig at the opening of the superluxurious Atlantis hotel. And when some property developers suggested having a look at the (USD: $2.1 million) place, they jumped at the chance. A source said: 'Lindsay and Sam loved the tacky glitziness of Dubai.'" (3AMGirls)

"Phillips de Pury & Co., a smaller auction house bought by Russian retailing giant Mercury Group in October, also says it has curbed its guarantees. For sellers, 2009 may be a year of lower expectations. Sellers who have a choice will likely sit on the sidelines, experts say, leaving the market to those who must sell to settle an estate, a divorce or a debt. Mr. Ruprecht says he has spoken with 'lots' of collectors who had invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, the New York firm that allegedly carried out a $50 billion Ponzi scheme. 'I have clients for whom art is the sole liquid asset they own today,' he says." (WSJ)

"Kristin Davis, whose Wicked Models escort agency counted former governor Eliot Spitzer as a client, thinks Britney Spears could earn $1,000 an hour in the world's oldest profession. That's the opinion Davis, who denied sleeping with Spitzer herself but pled guilty in October to charges of promoting prostitution, shared with Chaunce Hayden of Steppin' Out, a publication which bills itself as 'NY & NJ's #1 Entertainment Magazine.'" (Gawker)

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



(image via smh)

"Yachts are very expensive to keep up, as we all know especially if we hang with billionaires. And you can tell Mr. Allen really knows how to live -- so if you’ve got it, it’s hard to resist, no? The yacht upkeep rule of thumb is approximately ten percent of the cost of the boat on delivery. That would put Mr. Allen’s annuals for Octopus somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million or about $38.4 grand a week. In another words: another fortune ..Mr. Allen, as many know, is also a major rock and roll fan and a Jimi Hendrix aficionado to the point where he’s accumulated much of the late great rocker’s earthly possessions which are stored in museum like surroundings." (NYSocialDiary)