Media-Whore's D'Oevres



(image via todaysseniorsnetwork)

"Leadership": "Rudolph Giuliani's membership on an elite Iraq study panel came to an abrupt end last spring after he failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, causing the panel's top Republican to give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit, several sources said.Giuliani left the Iraq Study Group last May after just two months, walking away from a chance to make up for his lack of foreign policy credentials on the top issue in the 2008 race, the Iraq war. He cited 'previous time commitments' in a letter explaining his decision to quit, and a look at his schedule suggests why - the sessions at times conflicted with Giuliani's lucrative speaking tour that garnered him $11.4 million in 14 months." (Newsday via BenSmith)

"..At Landmark's Sunshine Cinema on Houston Street, film buffs like Piper Perabo, Liev Schreiber, and Jim Jarmusch gathered to cheer on Zoe Cassavetes and the New York premiere of her new movie, Broken English. 'It's such a surreal experience to come to this point in the game,' said the first-time director, who was dressed for the occasion in Marc Jacobs. Afterward at the Bowery Hotel, the kudos came fast and furious. 'She came to all of my screenings, and I wanted to be here to support her,' said new mom Sofia Coppola, who had her Parisian musician boyfriend, Thomas Mars, in tow. 'It's always scary with your first movie.'" (Style)

"Even as Mayor Bloomberg visits California sounding very much like a presidential candidate (according to the New York Times), one wonders about his radical plan to ease congestion in Manhattan by charging commuters for the privelege of bringing their cars into the city. Is there a link between his coy presidential aspirations and the congestion plan which has little hope of making it through the unfriendly confines of New York's State legislature which has to grant approval for it to materialize. With even his fellow Republicans in Albany -- who have greatly benefitted from his generous campaign contributions -- finding it difficult to get behind the plan and Democrats signalling no interest in bringing it to a vote what does he expect to get out of it. Well, I was thinking about it when it suddenly hit me that the congestion plan and presidential aspirations were linked. If nothing else it has positioned him as a visionary, someone willing to try out new ideas." (Papermag)

Madonna to Quit Making Movies; Thank You, Jesus



Cindy Adams, our favorite apologist for right-wing dictators, must have felt right at home chatting with the Material Girl. Madonna, not unlike Rose McGowan, is a sort of brutal tyrant about her image. Refusing to stretch her acting chops, Madonna demands to be portrayed as the ultimate sexpot (Or, in the case of the laughable "Evita," the ultimate sexpot dictator). All of these films, we must say (same goes with McGowan), have been bombs or bombish. They only exist to feed an already freakishly over sized ego. The only film Madonna ever made that was critically acclaimed and rewarded at the box office was "A League of Their Own," where -- dare we say this? -- Madonna was decidedly un-glam and, we cannot fail to note, a fine actress relying on substance instead of surface. Read between the lines, dear. In acting: Ego = Bad; Humility = Good.

Well, no more. Instead of stretching and lending her boldface name to some well-written but unpromotable indie film, Madge is giving up her hobby to saunter into E. Graydon Carter's fabled "Seventh Room," with all the movie stars and heads of state sip the distilled blood of orphaned Third World babies and devour Endangered Species (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). She'll have to settle for the decidedly less classy Sixth Room, of people who have dined with Prince Charles and made erotic coffee table books in which they have simulated sex with Big Daddy Kane. (Averted Gaze). From Cindy Adams:

"Speaking of disadvantages, Madonna's finished making films. She says: 'What can survive people saying it'll be a bomb as soon as it's announced? Why keep doing that knowing I'll get the s - - - kicked out of me?'"

RIP, Madonna's Acting Career (In the cemetery plot adjacent to her largely irrelevant recording career).

Scrotal Waxing: End of the Trend



(image via ainelevia)

Alex Kuczynski alerted us to the growing hegemony of "Scrotal Waxing" in Manhattan where "our girlfriends and wives will put them in their mouths." Now -- from History to Farce -- Simon Doonan officially ends the trend. A "Manhattan business bloke" -- the uncoolest bastards in the universe -- has attached himself -- Eew -- to the unscruffy scrotal sac. From TheObserver:

"Known among practitioners as 'back, sack and crack,' this trend concerns male hetero hair removal. Yes, below the waist. Eeeeeuw!

"Here's what one well-known Manhattan business bloke told me last week: 'I have no f*cking idea why you gay guys are so into that godawful Danish modern furniture. It's freaky and ugly, But I've totally gotta give it up to you on the ball-waxing,' he ranted under conditions of extreme anonymity, adding, 'Wow! What a brilliant invention. Thanks a bunch!' You're welcome?"

Blame Alex K.

Media-Whore's D'oevres



"Howard (Stern) said that Pam (Anderson) was there with Magician Hans Klok. The two of them came in and Howard told Pam she's looking great .. Howard asked Pam what she's doing with this Hans Klok guy. She's actually working with him in Vegas .. Howard read that Pam was going to earn 3 million bucks for doing this show for 3 months. Pam said that they're very generous out there in Vegas. She said that they gave her a jet of her own and she has to be out there on Thursday and she's home by Saturday .. Pam told Howard about her kids and how they wanted to go see ''Borat'' and she thought they might be a little young to see it. She had to tell them about the sex tape since they were learning about all of that kind of stuff. She said that they won't be surprised if it ever comes up." (Marksfriggin)

"On the rooftop over at Pop Rocks, the guest of honor was MIKE JONES, the escort who blew the whistle, among other things, on REVEREND TED HAGGARD. Jones—who poetically looks like a cross between JEFF GANNON and JOHN PAULUS—told me that "when the mass media converged on me, I needed help, but the HRC never called back. I guess they think I'm a poor representation of the gay community. It's disappointing to me. But some gay people see me as a hero. Even KARL ROVE mentioned the Haggard scandal as one of the reasons the Republicans lost!' Is saggy Haggard a professional liar? 'He says he only met me one time for a massage,' related Jones, 'and he bought drugs from me and threw them away. But it was actually three years of more than massages. And I didn't buy him drugs, I hooked him up—and he did not throw them away.' Most importantly, darling: top or bottom? "He was a bottom one time," said Jones. "He wanted to try it, but he had a hard time of it." (MichaelMusto)

"Ever-Unpredictable Aquarius: "The New York Observer's Azi Paybarah reports that Mike Bloomberg, New York's nominally Republican Mayor, just switched his party registration to 'blank.' The news comes a day after he gave a scalding speech condemning the field of presidential candidates that, if he's not running for President himself, is very hard to understand. His statement on changing his registration also seems to point to an Independent run. His top political aide, Kevin Sheekey, responded twice to my incredulous emails today with the words 'not running.' But if he's not running, what is he doing? (BenSmith)

Naomi Campbell, Gemini



(image via moldova.org)

As a Gemini we have trouble seeing the multiple personality performing act thingie that it is we do until it is right before our eyes. We're too close to the action to offer an impartial and objective analysis. Naomi Campbell is also a Gemini, and in the course of 24 hours does a 180-degree switch in the media that is a womder to behold. From Fashionweekdaily:

"Naomi Campbell’s late arrival Monday night at Scoop in the Meatpacking District, sans signature bodyguards and publicist, made for a refreshing moment as the supermodel helped host the launch party for the OmniPeace by Signorelli T-shirt line—proceeds of which benefit Millennium Promise, a non-profit dedicated to ending poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by 2025." (FashionWeekDaily)

And, the switch. From those intrepid Page Sixxies: "NAOMI Campbell is pulling a Kevin Federline - making a mint off her bad reputation. Campbell shot a commercial for Dunkin' Donuts yesterday in which she riffed on her anger-management issues. According to a spy, the script called for Campbell to "be gardening in an evening dress. Something goes wrong, she gets frustrated, and she flips out. She then takes her shoe off and throws it through a window."

War and Peace. You do your thing, Naomi with the Tolstoi flava; you .. do your .. thing (Neck snap followed by a headroll). (PageSix)

Finally, Bloomberg Exits GOP



(image via collegepublisher)

Is it a socially permissible lie when a Presidential candidate says they have no intention of running even though everyone knows they do -- wink, wink, nudge, nudge Fred Thompson, Newt Gingrich -- so as to achieve the maximum political impact when they do, finally, announce. It is an open secret or lie? that NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a man who has admitted to smoking and liking "the sweet leaf", is all but in the 2008 race? But to any camera in his vicinity he says: No.

Tease.

Well, Michael Bloomberg -- who may or may not have $13 billion cashmonies -- took one step closer to being frank with us all by leaving the Republican Party to become an Independent. Like we didn't see that coming a mile away (Averted Gaze). Curiously, this comes days after someone in former Senator David Boren's camp leaked that Bloomie approached him for a possible position in an "Independent" Bloomberg campaign for President.

Hmm...

And, once again, with The Governator -- with whom he shares this week's Time Magazine cover -- at his side today, Bloomberg said No, he is not running.

yeah, Right. From WCBStv.com:

"On Tuesday, Bloomberg was in California attending a conference at the University of Southern California along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said Bloomberg would make an 'excellent candidate' if he were to make a presidential run.

"Later, Scharzenegger reacted to hearing the news of Bloomberg's decision. 'The governor was surprised to learn of the mayor's decision,' Schwarzenegger spokesman Adam Mendelsohn told the AP. 'He looks forward to continuing their strong working relationship. The governor has always said it doesn't matter what party you are a member of, what matters is serving the public.'"

We love the fact that Bloomberg, an Aquarius sun sign with the characteristic flair for the unpredictable maneuver -- threw the stable and immensely Leo-Sun Schwarzenegger for an equilibrium disturbing loop.

And, we cannot fail to note, Bloomberg is a major donor and fundraiser for The Governator -- so, Ahnold certainly had to parse his words with precision as to how to approach Bloomie so as not to offend his party, the party Bloomie presently finds lame.

John Catsimadis: "I don't see (Dick) Parsons standing at subway stops handing out leaflets"



(image via drummajorinstitute)

If Rudy Giuliani and Mayor Bloomberg are any indication of future political trends, the Mayoralty of new York appears to be metamorphosing into stepping stone to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That having been said, some very big mogul-ish guns have been hinting at running in 2009, after Mayor Bloomberg is forcesd out by term limits (Or -- long shot -- the Presidency of the United States). From Cindy Adams:

"John Catsimatidis. I've reported earlier he's going for mayor. I've not reported earlier that he will announce at the turn of the year. He'll run as a Republican. I asked how come, since years ago he sat on the dais of the GOP's annual Lincoln Day dinners, and when Clinton came in, out of the party went John. 'I was never a real Democrat. Only a Clinton Democrat,' he says.

"'Look, the Democrats have Christine Quinn, Bill Thompson, Anthony Wiener, a cast of thousands. The GOP has nobody. No bullpen. Only name popping up is Time Warners' Dick Parsons, but he'd never do it. I don't see Parsons standing at subway stops handing out leaflets. He hasn't the stomach for it. I have that stomach. I also have that cash. I'll spend $30 million of my own money.' As I've also reported, he'll consider taking $100 - and only $100 - from everyone just to make them feel part of the process."

Be careful, Cat-man; talking smack about Dick Parsons will only pique his curiositas.

Media-Whore's D'Oevres



"Several of HBO's top digital execs have ankled as the company is consolidating operations in its New York headquarters under its new leadership.Digital initiatives prexy Jim Moloshok, business development VP John Penney, and EVP new media programming Carmi Zlotnik are all leaving the company in an exodus of its execs who were leading the pay cabler's online media efforts. It's believed that HBO will continue exploring digital distribution possibilities out of its New York office, though the departure of several senior execs is a sign those efforts may slow." (Variety)

The Next Paris Hilton/ Bijou Philips: "Most students settle for working on a checkout to fund their next term at university. Not Peaches Geldof. The 18-year-old has landed herself a much more peachy summer job - her own fly-on-the-wall documentary. We can reveal that Bob's publicity-hungry daughter will be followed around this summer by Orange mobile phone company for a series, similar to Victoria Beckham's NBC show, to be aired on Channel 4." (ThisisLondon)

Please, Hillary: Just Do SNL (They Know From Funny): "Hillary, at long last, picks a song: Celine Dion's "You and I," via a video that spoofs the final scene of 'The Sopranos,' complete with cameo from a Sopranos cast member. It's aimed, like the whole exercise, at humanizing her a bit." (Politico)

"On the heels of Jericho's surprising resurrection, MediaVillage.com's president and CEO Jack Myers is calling for fans of the cancelled Studio 60 on Sunset Strip to stand up and fight for the reinstatement of Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and the rest of the gang. Myers argues that the show was "one of the last true politically relevant series on network television" and 'offered perspective from opposing political points-of-view.' For now, Myers urges people to head to his site and log their protests, but 25 tons of peanuts can't be far behind."

Fran Drescher For Congress?



(image via answers)

Congresswoman Fran Drescher? Could you imagine that cloying laughter amplified ten-thousandfold through the halls of Congress? Well, she couldn't be worse than some of the other celebrity politicians that we have elected like the late Sonny Bono, or, the Congressman from the band Orleans who sand "Dance with Me" (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). From Marksfriggin:

"Howard said that Fran Drescher was there to talk about this cancer thing she's doing. She's thinking of running for congress based on this Cancer Schmancer thing. Fran came in a short time later and said that she's seen him working out at the gym she goes to and he's amazing. Howard asked her about this congress thing and if she's going to run. She said she really didn't know at this point. She said if she does, it would be from New York even though she loves in both New York and California. Howard asked her if she knows about politics. SHE claimed she did but when she was asked who decides on if we go to war, she didn't know it was Congress. She thought it was the President."

In her defense, Congress authorizes the war. This blog, however, will withhold endoresements until we see the rest of her, uh, platform.

Shar Versus Star



(image via itgirlpublicrelations)

Although Shar Jackson lost that ill-conceived "Dance Off" to Britney Spears -- the, ehr, "Prize" in that competition was K-Fed(Eew), she appears to have the stronger constitution. Shar Jackson, whom we wronged by printing a false rumor of yet-another K-Fed pregnancy (sorry, Shar), in a surprising move, is offering up her EPT test -- Again, Eew -- to Bonnie Fuller. Whatever lurks on that EPT cannot be worse than what US Weekly staffers placed on Fuller's mini chocolate souffle cakes back in the day (Averted Gaze). From TMZ:

"TMZ has learned Shar Jackson has hired attorney George Gallegos in her fight against Star Magazine's claims that she is pregnant once again with ex Kevin Federline's baby. Popozao!

Shar, who denies the mag's claim, says her children are being affected by the rumors, and told TMZ through her rep, 'When my kids hear things at school and then ask me if they are getting a new brother or sister, I have to put my foot down.'

"TMZ has also learned that Shar is willing to prove to the magazine that she is not pregnant, and tells Star's editor-in-chief, Bonnie Fuller, "I stand by my truth by offering you an EPT test if you stand by yours and reveal your source to me.'"

Pimpslap the editrixie with that used EPT test, Shar ... You .. do .. yout .. thing (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detahchment). (TMZ)

Corsair Classic

Media-Whore's D'oevres



(image via usgs.gov)

We couldn't make this shit up if we tried: "Anna Wintour partied with the Shirley-Masticians Saturday night, when she opened her Long Island country home to the local townspeople to host a benefit to save the nearby Forge River from the ill effects of all the duck feces .." (Fashionweekdaily)

Terry Semel Out at Yahoo! "John Shinal, MKTW: 'The beginning of the end for Semel came last summer, when he announced that Yahoo would delay the implementation of new technology that he had promised would boost profit margins on search into the same league as Google’s. Between then and last week, when many shareholders voiced their anger over Semel’s pay package, the calls for his ouster rose to a fever pitch. On Monday, the Yahoo board finally heard it. They decided that to compete with a rival run by two Stanford computer geeks, Yahoo needed to put its own Stanford computer geek in charge.'" (Paidcontent via Marketwatch)

"Anne Hearst and Jay McInerney are throwing Gillian Hearst-Shaw an engagement party tonight at the Doubles Club on Fifth Ave" (Fashionweekdaily)

Reason #7,035 Why Senators Don't Win The Presidency: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) efforts to complete work on the immigration bill might again disrupt the weekend travel schedules of those senators running for president. Reid’s warning on the Senate floor yesterday that 'if they’re going to be gone from the Senate, they’re likely going to miss votes,' prompted an aide to one of the presidential campaigns to respond simply, 'Yuck.'" (TheHill)

"And this week's straight-to-Netflix award goes to—no drum roll necessary, as it's painfully obvious—Nancy Drew. Julia Roberts' niece, Emma Roberts, couldn't buoy this doomed project, as it barely cracked the top 10 in New York City, despite playing in 9 theaters in its first weekend. Don't hold your breath for a Hardy Boys movie." (Observer)

Steve Jobs, Demi-God



(image via newyork)

As former Editor-in-Chief of MacDirectory Magazine, The Corsair has had over the years an interest in Apple's CEO Steve Jobs. Today he gets the cover treatment at New York Magazine. No one of his generation except perhaps Bill Clinton and Paul McCartney -- and, of late, Al Gore -- gets such reverence. It is almost disturbing to see otherwise hugely rational Boomers act as if in the presence of the Second Coming. Otherwise mighty folks gasp at a Steve Jobs sighting; otherwise ice-cold journos go out of their way to accommodate.

And now: The i-Phone, which, when it drops, may -- or may not -- finally confer elusive i-Godhood status to Steve Jobs. From John Heilmann's article:

"The Steve Jobs story is one of the classic narratives—maybe the classic narrative—of American business life. Its structure has been rigorous, traditional, and symmetrical: three acts of ten years each. Act One (1975–1985) is 'The Rise,' in which Jobs goes into business with his pal, Steve Wozniak; starts Apple in his parents’ Silicon Valley garage; essentially invents the personal-computer industry with the Apple II; takes Apple public, making himself a multimillionaire at age 25; and changes the face of technology with the Macintosh. Act Two (1985–1996) is 'The Fall': the expulsion from Apple, the wilderness years battling depression and struggling to keep afloat two floundering new businesses, NeXT and Pixar. Act Three (1997–2007) is 'The Resurrection': the return to Apple and its restoration, the efflorescence of Pixar and its sale to Disney, the megabillionairehood, the sanctification as god of design and seer of the digital-media future.

"The consistent thread running through all three acts is Jobs’s singular persona. His messianism has been present from the start: 'He always believed,' says Wozniak, 'he was going to be a leader of mankind.' Yet the most common descriptor applied to him, by friends and foes and even Jobs himself, is 'asshole.' (Running neck-and-neck for second are 'genius' and 'sociopath.')" (New York)


'

If Conan leaves, Jimmy Fallon Takes Over



(image via sunburst)

Remember when Jimmy Fallon was regarded as "cute" as well as "funny"? He and Tina Fey were going to take over the world, one witty observation at a time. In the intervening years came "Taxi," a bomb of cataclysmic proportions that nearly rendered civilization back to the Stone Age.

Life as we know in all it's magnificent tenacity it has recovered. And so, evidently, has Fallon. On the Howard Stern Show Jimmy shook off the loser dust to reveal that he is in line to get Conan's show should he leave. According to Marksfriggin:

"Howard asked Jimmy if the rumor about him taking over for Conan is true. Jimmy said that he has signed a contract with NBC where he will take over Conan's spot if he leaves. He said that it's a little trickier than that because they actually won't let him do late night shows anywhere else. In the mean time, they're paying him to wait for that. He said that they need the next person to replace Conan."

This, of course, intrigues as there is rumor that Jay might not "retire." That would give Conan a $40 million windfall, and Jimmy an early start on his late night talk show career.

Picture Pages, Picture Pages ...



Newsweek's Howard Fineman looking to be anticipating the process of doing some penetrating "investigative journalism." (image via fishbowldc)



Eco-librium; The excessive plastic on the one side of this photo is nicely offset by Ashton Kutcher's legendarily wooden acting. (image via style)

Media-Whore's D'oevres



"BRITNEY Spears is trying to patch up her marriage to Kevin Federline —and has spent two nights in the past week with him. Pals say the pop star, 25, is desperate to get the couple's relationship back on track for the sake of their children. They claim she has dumped latest boyfriend John Sundahl — a drugs counsellor at the rehab centre she went to — and has been spending time with Kev at her house. A friend said: 'Britney does not want two divorces behind her at her age.'" (Newsoftheworld)

Flirting with Jon Stewart: "After NBC Universal’s high-profile signing of Ben Silverman for the top programming job, Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart might be next on the Peacock’s wish list.NBC Universal President/Chief Executive Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios Co-Chair Marc Graboff recently wined and dined the satirical news anchor and his agent, James Dixon. According to a network source, Zucker and Graboff didn’t focus on pitching any specific role at the dinner meeting. 'They just made their interest known in finding a way to do business together if Jon was ever available,' says the source, who categorized the talks as 'exploratory.'" (B&C via TVNewser)


The Upcoming Veto Onslaught: "ADDRESSING a Republican fund-raising dinner at the Washington Convention Center last Wednesday night, President Bush declared: 'If the Democrats want to test us, that's why they give the president the veto. I'm looking forward to vetoing excessive spending, and I'm looking forward to having the United States Congress support my veto.' That was more than blather for a political pep rally. Bush plans to veto the Homeland Security appropriations bill nearing final passage, followed by vetoes of eight more money bills sent him by the Democratic-controlled Congress. That constitutes a veto onslaught of historic proportions from a president who did not reject a single bill during his first term." (Rovak)

"In New York, Saks Fifth Avenue's Steve Sadove hosted an intimate dinner at the Four Seasons in honor of Victoria Beckham and her new sunglasses and jeans collections. 'It was bedlam,' he said of her in-store appearance earlier in the day. The paparazzi crush didn't seem to faze the designer formerly known as Posh. 'I love it here,' she said. 'David, the boys, and I were in Spain, and Brooklyn [one of their three sons] asked, 'Dad, when are we going to America?' My husband said, 'What do you know about America?' And Brooklyn replied, 'It's the place where you can have everything.'" (Style)

Republicans for The Baker Report: "The Republican leader in the Senate said Sunday that support in the GOP is growing to follow recommendations from the Iraq Study Group. 'The president himself has spoken favorably of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, which…basically involves still having troops forward- deployed but getting them off the point which would obviously reduce our casualties, and possibly reducing our numbers as well,' Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said." (TheHill)

Media-Whore's D'oevres



"Photo booths, basketball hoops, air hockey, HD golf, and pool tables greeted guests at Roseland Ballroom on Thursday night after a packed Zeigfeld Theater screening of the first two episodes from the new season of 'Entourage.' HBO celebrated the fourth season of the show with the cast, their extended families and friends, and industry-types. Debuting this Sunday, the season opens with the guys struggling to finish their $30 million indie feature, 'Medellin.' Fans in Cannes last month spotted Vince, Eric, Drama, Turtle and Ari at the Festival, a sign that their new film will somehow make it to France. But last night, we had to wonder... in the Festival or in the Market? At the party, lead actor Adrian Grenier posed for photos near his table, while at the nearby virtual golf, executive producer Mark Wahlberg got in some swings at courses in Pebble Beach and Banff, in between posing for digital pictures with fans and fellow golfers. Kevin Dillon was joined by his brother Matt on Thursday night and the rest of the cast made the rounds as well. Also quite popular at the party, 'Sopranos' co-star Robert Iler who greeted numerous guests and received many pats on the back just days after the HBO series came to a close." (Indiewire)

"After his failed presidential run, a bearded and embattled (Al) Gore signed on as an adviser with a then-obscure Internet company called Google. He went on to join the board of Apple, then he started his own profitable cable company and an asset management firm. Now, according to a new article in Fast Company magazine, the former U.S. vice president is worth at least $100 million." (ABCNews)

"It's official: NBC's Campbell Brown is moving to CNN. Once considered Katie Couric's heir apparent on Today, Brown has been an NBC utility player for a while now, taking the anchor chair at Weekend Today, filing news reports on NBC Nightly News and anchoring on MSNBC, and doing some critically-acclaimed reporting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Last month, Page Six predicted the ouster of Paula Zahn, with Brown as the leading candidate to replace; today, TVNewser reports from an 'unimpeachable' source that Zahn is indeed on the outs." (HuffPo)

"Ms. Peterson is the daughter of Peter G. Peterson, a Commerce secretary during the Nixon administration, who is projected to get $1.9 billion when the equity firm he helped establish two decades ago, the Blackstone Group, makes its initial public offering this month. 'The Manny' started as an article that Ms. Peterson wrote for The New York Times in 2002. It chronicled the popularity of male nannies among an Upper East Side set eager to expose their sons to the sort of informal knowledge about sports and girls that nannies and workaholic fathers were not delivering. Ms. Peterson wrote a draft of a novel based on the article and hired an agent. A highly contested auction ensued, with Dial Press making the highest bid." (SundayStyles)

"We have a housekeeper and we prefer to have dinner by the fire. I don't ever take part in the Hamptons social scene. In the last two summers I've probably been out two or three times. The thing about Quogue is, it's just a bit too far. I go to Lally Weymouth's thrash in July, which is fun--it's the only place you can see Eliot Spitzer on the dance floor if you know what I mean." (Tina Brown in HamptonsStyle)

"Tony Blair, the British prime minister, could end up swapping Downing Street for a job as the first full-time European Union president, under a plan being actively touted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.Mr Sarkozy is understood to have discussed the idea with other EU leaders ahead of next week’s European summit, Mr Blair’s last major international event as prime minister.His support for Mr Blair taking on a big European job is a remarkable sign of Anglo-French rapprochement since Mr Sarkozy replaced Jacques Chirac as president last month." (FT via Drudge)

Bloomberg-Boren?



(image via ti)

Clearly Michael Bloomberg -- despite what he says -- is examining all options with regards to an Independent run. He is presently in New Hampshire for, he assures us, "social" reasons. . And, it would seem, he is examining his Midwestern options closer than others. You'll remember that New York's mogul-mayor broke bread with Nebraska maverick Senator Chuck Hagel. Now, David Boren of Oklahoma. From our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak:

"WHEN Mayor Bloomberg delivered the University of Oklahoma commencement address May 11, he engaged in a long, private discussion about 2008 politics with university president and maverick Democrat David Boren.

"According to New York political sources, they discussed a role Boren might play in an independent Bloomberg campaign for president - generating speculation about a Bloomberg-Boren ticket. In introducing Bloomberg for his commencement speech, Boren praised the mayor's record stabilizing his city's budget and strengthening its economy after the 9/11 attack.

"Boren was governor of Oklahoma before serving 16 years in the U.S. Senate. A moderate Democrat, he clashed with President Bill Clinton and left the Senate in 1994 to take the University of Oklahoma post. He declined Ross Perot's offer of the Reform Party vice-presidential nomination in 1996 but said he might be open to a 2000 draft."

In a May 11 commencement speech to the graduates of the University of Oklahoma, Bloomberg said:

"Good evening to you all, and thank you, President Boren, for that very eloquent introduction. You are a true leader, an inspiring teacher, and a great American. (Have you ever considered a career in politics?) President Boren and I actually have a lot in common: We are both heads of large organizations, we are both devastatingly handsome and we were both students of distinction. While David was at the top of his class, I was the kind of student who made the top half of the class possible."

What about the top of the ticket?


(NYPOST)

Lapo Elkann: "If (Johnny Depp) wants to come to the Mediterranean, we actually would love to invite him for a Cruise



Hello, Luscious! (image via malvesite)

Lapo Elkann cut a wide swath through the hoi-polloi of New York a few weeks ago, who seemed mostly concerned with his lineage and not his considerable wit. The whole-rich-kid-with-a-dark-past is kind of tired, yes, but fucking "Lapo" -- if only for that ass-clown name of his -- is one amusing fuck, if you go in for that sort of thing. He's no Nat Rochtschild, to be sure. But a life as the boozy but pretty Euro, slaughtering the English language is interesting. A this blog is all about wit, and internationalism, and Power -- so "Lapo," as incongruous as he is, fits in nicely with Our Program. From the salmon-colored weekly:

"'For me a cappuccino,' said Lapo Elkann, flicking two fingers in the air. He had burst through the doors of the diner, introduced himself and his companion, taken a seat and placed the order faster than you could say 'Testarossa.'

"The New York–born heir to the Fiat fortune—known alternatively as the Prince William of Italy or the playboy who overdosed in a transsexual prostitute’s apartment in Turin two years ago—moves fast.

"Grandson of the original Italian mack daddy Gianni Agnelli, Mr. Elkann, 29, tan and possessed of a leonine head of blond hair, takes style seriously. He wore a pinstriped royal blue Oxford unbuttoned down to the chest, rolled up to the elbows and tucked into a pair of dark blue slacks, sans belt. A silver chain with a bejeweled medallion in the shape of an anchor hung about his hairy chest; his bare feet nestled in a pair of black velvet slippers customized with skull and crossbones.

"'They’re funky, I like them,' he explained of the shoes. 'It’s like the pirates, you know? We are pirates, not of the Caribbeans, we are pirates of the Mediterranean. Johnny Depp is pirate of the Caribbeans. We are pirates of the Mediterranean. But if he wants to come to the Mediterranean, we actually would love to invite him for a cruise."

"Carribeans" indeed! One Corsair to another -- I'm sure you would, honey; but Johnny Depp's, uh, "territorial waters" are closely patrolled closely by Vanessa Paradis. (Observer)

Media-Whore's D'oevres



(image via nationalledger)

We Think We Know This One (For further reference, see above): "Which male model, who was recently in the tabloids due to his love
life, had such bad paranoia due to his monster coke habit that on a weekend in the Hamptons a few years ago he slept with a kitchen knife because he was convinced people were out to get him?" (Gatecrasher)

We Really Have No idea: "WHICH newsman and TV legend has been able to keep his skeletons in the closet for decades? He has two children out of wedlock who are now adults living in New Jersey." (PageSix)

"Great-power competition isn't a historical artifact. The next President will spend countless hours managing China's rising influence in Asia, which threatens to marginalize the U.S. and our close ally, Japan. And he or she will have real problems with Russia, which although domestically weak throws its weight around overseas, jockeying for clout in the former Soviet Union and using its gas exports to bully Western Europe. Dealing with Moscow and Beijing will require strategic judgment, not humanitarian action. And if Democratic candidates avoid it, they risk confirming the stereotype that Democrats see foreign policy as social work and flinch at hard-nosed calculations of national interest. There's another problem. Even the best-laid U.S. plans to combat transnational threats won't succeed if rising powers like China and India aren't part of the solution. The U.S. doesn't have the power or credibility to design and enforce rules for how other nations should handle public health, weapons proliferation, the environment or almost anything else without other big countries on board. The U.S.'s efforts to help weak states will largely depend on how well we cooperate with strong ones. In the months to come, the Democratic front runners will make more foreign policy speeches. Let's hope they each devote a whole one to China and large chunks of others to India, Russia and Japan." (Time)

"In an interview with The Mirror, Justin (Timberlake) exposed his strategy for getting the women: 'I defy a girl not to fall in love with me if I'm on a surfboard or snowboarding. It's my secret weapon if a girl resists me.'" (TMZ)

He'll Be Bacanovic in the High Life Again: "From Chanel to Versace, a myriad of fashion parties have invaded Hollywood this spring, and while they’ve all been spectacular in their own unique ways, how many soirées can boast of synchronized swimmers performing a water ballet at The Beverly Hills Hotel pool? .. The sold-out event’s two hosts, Liane Weintraub and Peter Bacanovic, greeted the more than 350 guests like Maria Bell, Monique Lhuillier, Minnie Driver, Jenni Kayne, Alexandra von Furstenberg, Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, Elizabeth Wiatt, and Rachel Leigh Cook, many of whom came clad in apropos YSL looks." (fashionweekdaily)

"Howard (Stern) came back from break and brought in movie reviewer Richard Roeper. He said that Richard has pretty much taken over the Ebert and Roeper show now that Roger has been out for a while. Howard said he's been in contact with Roger's wife lately and she gives him some updated on Roger's condition. Roger is unable to speak because of the problems he's had losing his salivary glands. Richard said that Roger hasn't been able to eat at all in the past 10 or 11 months so it's been very tough for him. Richard said that he's got more surgery coming up soon but he's still writing reviews for the Chicago Sun Times. Richard said that Roger really loves movies and it's sad that he can't talk about them on the show now. He said that Roger still has suggestions for the show but they communicate on paper. He said that Roger still interrupts him and tells him he's wrong, he's just doing it on paper though. Howard said it must be tough arguing with him when he's writing on paper ... Howard asked Richard if he thinks the show is jinxed and that anyone on the show is going to get sick. Richard said he didn't know that it was a rumor and he hadn't thought about it. (Marksfriggin)

"WOW I'm exhausted today. Wednesday was a wild one. First we hosted a luncheon at Indochine celebrating the tenth birthday of our fave shop in Paris, Colette. Sarah Lerfel and her mom (and shop namesake) Colette hopped over to New York for the occasion and it was SUCH a fun crowd .. he downtown power girls Daryl K, Victoria Bartlett and Maria Cornejo were at the next booth and next to them was a super-cool table with more power arty downtowners like Rita Ackerman, Agathe, and Claw Money. The Misshapes came and were gabbing with Vogue's Sally Singer nonstop, who was sitting next to the awesome vision in extreme fashion Iris Apfel .. scraped myself together and then ran uptown with my friends James Gager (MAC creative director) and Richard Feretti (Gourmet magazine creative director) to Carnegie Hall so we could dole out the tickets we had to a bunch of cuties I'd invited: Threeasfour, Citizens Band's Sarah Flicker and her hubby Jesse Peretz, Screaming Mimi's' Laura Wills and of course Paige Powell." Of course . (Papermag)