AP - The Roman Catholic drama "Doubt" leads contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations, including honors for Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 18 Dec 2008 | 2:14 pm
AP - The Roman Catholic drama "Doubt" leads contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations, including honors for Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 18 Dec 2008 | 2:14 pm
AP - The Roman Catholic drama "Doubt" leads contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations, including honors for Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 18 Dec 2008 | 2:14 pm
Reuters - Former Beatle Paul McCartney and pop star Britney Spears are at the top of Simon Cowell's celebrity wish list as possible mentors on the upcoming season of "American Idol."
AP - Country singer Mindy McCready was hospitalized after she cut her wrists and took several pills in an apparent suicide attempt, Nashville police said.
As we reported on Tuesday night, Caroline Kennedy indeed went upstate on a mini, one-day stumping trip yesterday. She met with officials and regular voters, in a sort of ultra-lite version of Hillary Clinton's "Listening Tour" in 1999 and 2000. The Times observed that her handlers exhibited Sarah Palin–like caution while she was answering questions, but what did the people she was actually "listening" to think? Well:
• Even though no press releases or advance details were sent out prior to the tour, people (mostly the press) still figured out where she was going to appear and showed up in droves.
• The mayor of Rochester, Robert J. Duffy, called Ms. Kennedy “delightful.”
• "I know she is," said Representative Louise Slaughter, who heard her in Rochester. "You know, who ever said you had to have had elected office before? Hillary didn’t."
• "She's wonderful," said Stacy Cibula, a random member of the public in Syracuse.
• Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said Kennedy "certainly is qualified to be a senator."
• “I thought it was fine,” said Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll of Syracuse. He added that she was "well-read."
Hmmm. Not exactly a rave from upstate politicians, but certainly nothing bad was said. She'll lunch with Al Sharpton at Sylvia's in Harlem today, and he'll probably (okay, definitely) have much more to say. And now that Kevin Sheekey, Mayor Bloomberg's political guru, is on the warpath on her behalf, people are sure to get talking even more than they usually are. Still, Kennedy only has a couple of weeks to win over people's confidence, and Charlie Rangel says that Paterson's already made his decision anyway.
Reuters - A curator at the Louvre Museum in Paris has stumbled upon some unknown drawings on the back of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci that look like they might be by the Italian master himself, the Louvre said on Thursday.
If there's one thing Quincy Jones can't stand, it's people without a sense of history. The music legend is dumbfounded by kids (and adults) who have no knowledge of American music greats. Many of them can be found in his new book, "The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions."
Reuters - Look for Playboy magazine to adopt an edgier editorial tone and classier nude pictorials if Hugh Hefner's teenage sons take the helm of the 55-year-old magazine some day.
ATHENS, December 18 /PRNewswire/ -- City of Athens Christmas festivities commenced on Tuesday December 16, with the lighting of the city's Christmas tree at Syntagma Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 18 Dec 2008 | 12:45 pm
AP - "The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture" (Phaidon Press, 800 pages, $195), by The Editors of Phaidon Press: This large-format atlas spotlights 1,037 notable buildings completed worldwide by superstar architects and regional talents since January 2000. Innovative projects in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania are shown in 4,600 color photos, 2,100 line drawings and concise textual summaries. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 18 Dec 2008 | 12:25 pm
Shea Hess brings you a dynamite wrap up of the Best Year Ever! It's everything you loved, everything you missed, and everything you need to see again! And you can! Right here!
From "Met" operas to Elton John to theatre, the performing arts are drumming up new revenue and widening audiences by taking live acts to screens worldwide. Leader in the field was New York's famed Metropolitan... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 18 Dec 2008 | 6:44 am
Paris Hilton bought herself a Christmas present. The heiress loves pink, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that Paris decided to pimp out her Bentley in her favorite color. Check out what...
What an episode of Top Chef: Martha Stewart! Natasha Richardson! Spoiled food!
Following a refrigerator foul-up, several chefs are in hot, unsanitary water as they find their food...
Ew. And... ew, again.
Yeah, it's for a great cause and all, but has our celebrity-engrossed culture sunk so low that someone will consider bidding on Scarlett Johansson's snot...
Front Page: Director to helm 'Bob the Musical' for Disney -- Adam Shankman is taking to the high notes and to the high seas for his next two helming projects.
After an emergency family court investigation into the former child star's lifestyle, a judge issued a...
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office has ruled the death of Mark Ruffalo's 39-year-old brother, Scott, a homicide.
Ruffalo died in the...
The holidays are all about giving, which may explain why the good, kind folks at HBO are giving us the second season premiere of Flight of the Conchords a full month earlier than expected! (And we...
Hollywood actor Ben Affleck and rock luminary Mick Jagger launched a media campaign meant to raise money for and draw attention to people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Here are two things you never thought you'd find in the same sentence: Repo! The Genetic Opera and Oscar.
But the Paris Hilton-featuring stinker could end up being an Academy Award...
Forget Joe Jonas. Taylor Swift has her mind set on someone else!
When asked in the new issue of Your Prom magazine who her "celeb dream date" is, the 19-year-old country crooner...
Pamela Anderson has no problem getting naked in public. But sometimes it's not even intentional!
The buxom blonde accidentally flashed her breasts to an entire studio audience during...
• Paris Hilton has learned things. Twenty things to be specific, like "Having a nightclub in your house really helps for having a party, because then you don't need to go...
(Reuters)
Reuters - Will Smith's new drama "Seven Pounds" bears hallmarks of his previous collaboration with the film's director, Gabriele Muccino, on 2006's "The Pursuit of Happyness."
Feathers have been cropping up everywhere this year, flouncing down the spring runways and parading on the red carpet. Though we can't all afford to wear wispy, avian-inspired gowns this season, the trend has thankfully trickled into stores in a daintier form: feathered hairpieces. Click ahead to see more party-ready feathered hair accessories, from subtle, tufted clips to bold, Kenley-esque headwear.
HOW RUDE: A judge has ordered that former Full House actress Jodie Sweetin will only be allowed to see her children with supervision, after she drove drunk with them in the car. Sigh... remember the good ol' days, when she was just getting implants and addicted to meth? It's a real shame. (TMZ)
PERSON OF THE YEAR: Almost President Barack Obama has been named Time's Person of the Year. And once again, Susan Lucci is ignored for an honor she so desperately deserves. (Time Magazine)
BALL TWO: Alex Rodriguez was scene catching two balls at a recent Yankees practice. Only, they were the kind that are attached to him, and also his testicles. (Jezebel)
GUESS WHO IS BACK: You probably didn't guess this guy... but you definitely missed him. (Videogum)
THE BIGGEST WINNER: Congratulations to the beautiful Michelle, who took home the $250,000 on The Biggest Loser finale last night. She was quoted as saying she finally feels "at peace", and followed up by saying "speaking of peace, anyone up for $250,000 worth of pecan pie? Just me? If you insist!" (Us Magazine)
Front Page: BenDavid Grabinski wrote action comedy -- Barry Sonnenfeld will direct and produce action comedy "The How-To Guide for Saving the World" from BenDavid Grabinski's script.
Today, publishing companies faced financial troubles, newspaper editors resigned, magazine writers were laid off, and an adorably grumpy online magazine writer intellectualized the ordeal. Onward!
• American Media Inc., the parent company for the National Enquirer, is cutting its costs by firing a gang of ad and marketing staffers, with editorial layoffs expected soon. [Ad Age]
• San Diego magazine has laid off a handful of editorial and art-design staffers, including its executive editor, Ron Donoho, and art director, Laurie Miller. The receptionist at the magazine’s San Fran HQ was pink-slipped, too. [FishbowlNY/Mediabistro]
• Somehow, magazines like Private Air and Corporate Leader — what they sound like — are still standing. But alas, their readers will now have to receive their big-spending tips only quarterly (and online), as the magazines’ publishing home, Doubledown Media, is facing financial concerns. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]
• USA Today editor Ken Paulson, the sixth editor in the paper’s history, is leaving his job to become president of the Newseum, the museum of newspapers! There’s a metaphor somewhere in there. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]
• “Digital technology” is killing off all the print publications, and all the “self-pitying” laid-off journos are only as sad as “the misery of a sacked bond trader,” says Jack Shafer, working writer for a successful online magazine. [Slate]
• Yesterday it was announced that financial newsweekly The Deal cut 10 percent of its overall workforce. [Folio]
• Macmillan Publishing has eliminated 64 staffers, 4 percent of the company’s workforce. The company also plans to merge its children’s book imprints into one division. [Publishers Weekly]
Like they say, there's no accounting for taste. But really, don't you think there should be?
We've always been more than a bit fascinated by the songs that the nation of England chooses for its Christmas No. 1. For those of you who are unfamiliar (meaning those of you who have inexplicably been able to avoid Love Actually all these years), there is a particularly enthusiastic annual competition between record labels as to which artist will sell the most copies of a particular single during the week before Christmas*. The songs tend to fall into one of three broad categories: Christmas songs (duh), covers, or weird-ass novelty songs**. However, over the last few years, the country's Christmastime tastes have been dominated by winners of X Factor, an American Idol–esque show that not so coincidentally wraps up in late December. And this year, two artists are going head-to-head in the charts with covers of Leonard Cohen's timeless and darkly sexual song, "Hallelujah."
As you might expect, the recent resurgence of "Hallelujah" across the pond is being driven by this year's X Factor winner, a young lass named Alexandra Burke. She's sold more than 150,000 copies of the song to the TV-watching masses, but not without stirring up some controversy. After all, there are legions of passionate Jeff Buckley fans who consider his rendition to be THE definitive version of the song, and they organized a campaign in order to try to knock Burke's (clearly inferior) interpretation off the charts. Though we won't know who will emerge victorious until Sunday, there is one clear beneficiary who wins regardless of the outcome. That being, of course, Leonard Cohen. According to The Guardian, the septuagenarian is set to make some 250,000 pounds in royalties from the battle. That'll buy a lot of Nutella!
Anyway, we're assuming you've all heard Buckley's version by now, but we're guessing you haven't heard Burke's. So here goes:
*Why that phenomenon never caught on over here, we'll never know. Stupid record companies.
**For example, we just happened to be traveling through England back in 1993 when a truly frightful character named Mr. Blobby landed the Christmas No. 1 spot with a legendarily awful song called, appropriately enough, "Mr. Blobby" (trust us, you never want to hear it). Then, a few years later, some animated monstrosity called Bob the Builder hit the top of the charts.
Front Page: Take-Two signs Rockstar deal -- The creators of "Grand Theft Auto" are sticking with publisher Take-Two in an unprecedented deal that includes a cut of the profits and full ownership of future games.
Staten Island is like Cousin Bill, your second cousin on your father's side, the one you only ever see at weddings and funerals. It's always a little awkward with Bill, because you don't have very much in common: You see each other so infrequently, and the conversation is a little stilted because you're always worried he's going to say something racist. Then you have a few drinks and it's all fine. But imagine if, one day, Cousin Bill decided he wanted to secede from the family, and you in particular. "Screw those people," he'd say, tossing down an invitation to yet another one of your kids' bar mitzvahs. "They're snobs and I'm not writing any more checks for them and their dang kids." He'd call you, he'd RSVP "no," and it would be weird, right? You'd be disappointed. Because despite your differences, you're still family. Not that you don't understand why Bill is having this little fit of pique. You have eight million kids, and he only has like, four. But you know what? When his cat died of cancer, you were totally there for him. And on the inside, he knows it. That's why, eventually, he'll come to his senses and show up to your kid's crummy bar mitzvah, and you'll have a few drinks and chat awkwardly like you always do. Because that's what family does.
US actor Jim Carrey arrives for the photocall of his film YesMan on December 13, 2008, in Rome. Carrey is hoping his latest comedy can help movie-goers escape from the endless stream of gloomy headlines... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 10:50 pm
We've know for some weeks now that NexCen-owned Bill Blass was pretty much doomed. And now it's official: The label is closing. The New York Times reports that the company will shutter its Seventh Avenue showroom and eliminate the 30 remaining jobs there as soon as Friday. From 2003 to 2007, Michael Vollbracht designed the line. He told the Times that he'd heard the company had to close owing to the crap economy. “The demise of Bill Blass is not just saddening,” he lamented. “It’s another rude awakening to this industry, I think.”
Indeed, things have been especially rocky these past six months for the label. Peter Som left, NexCen couldn't find a buyer, and retailers passed on Som's spring 2009 line because of so much uncertainty within the company. NexCen is still trying to sell the Bill Blass name with the hope that someone else can revive the runway collection.
AP - Notwithstanding the success of Wii bowling, video games exist largely to give most of us abilities we don't already have. I'm not even talking about careers as exotic as NFL quarterback or spaceship captain; I mean physical activities like executing a backflip or scaling a cliff.
AP - Someone should have butted in with an emphatic "No" before the cameras rolled for Jim Carrey's "Yes Man," whose makers said yes to a commonplace screenplay that lacks the wit or heart to lift the movie above its formulaic premise.
Variety's Todd McCarthy is the first critic out of the gate with a review of Seven Pounds, and boy, oh boy, it's the biggest evisceration of a Will Smith vehicle since Wild Wild West. Not only will it "infuriate anyone predominantly guided by rationality and intellect," but McCarthy also blasts Smith for "embracing [his character's] saintlike status in a way so convincing that it proves disturbing as an indication of how highly this anointed superstar may regard himself." Yikes! At this point, we can only keep our fingers crossed that the Times had the good sense to assign their review to Manohla Dargis. [Variety via Hollywood Elsewhere]
Governor David Paterson announced a proposed $121 billion budget this week, which includes taxes on things such as iPod downloads, taxi fares, and even soda. Those are the most famous ones, but of course Daily Intel can see what's coming next. Here are some of the suggested taxes we spotted scribbled in the margins of a Paterson aide's spiral notebook. Expect them any day now:
Mom tax: 18 percent tax on non-diet soda; 14 percent tax on beer, wine and cigars; 22 percent tax for going out dressed like that; 24 percent tax for jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge because your friends did; 30 percent tax for thinking this city is made of money; 27 percent tax for using that tone with us. Those caught crying about taxes will be given something to cry about.
Beast tax: The ever-growing population of city canines will be taxed based on level of irritation. Dogs with expensive doggie jackets, 12 percent; small, yapping dogs, 18 percent; people who carry small, yapping dogs in bags, 45 percent. Disabled dogs that use those adorable two-wheeled chariots for their hind legs will not be taxed, since they are so much fun to look at.
Crazy tax: Crazy is no longer free. City residents caught rubbernecking when passing crazy homeless people will be taxed according to how crazy the act: sort of crazy, 14 percent (senseless cooing at pigeons); really crazy, 16 percent (senseless cooing at pigeons while naked); craziest thing I ever saw, 36 percent (knitting overalls out of pigeon pelts).
Fat and Phat tax: If you are obese, you will be taxed accordingly. If you still use the word "phat," you also will be taxed accordingly. If you still use the phrase "cool beans," they will foreclose on your home.
Gas tax: Anonymously passing gas on the subway, then feigning shock that someone would do such a thing, will no longer be free. One person passes gas, everyone on the train gets taxed. Better be careful; now people will notice when you lean.
Tourist tax: City residents can approach tourists at any time, for any reason, and demand a tax. Taking photographs in your neighborhood, asking for directions, not walking with a sense of purpose — just a few reasons to levy a tax. Should residents feel motivated, they can even pull over one of those double-decker buses and make the tourists take you anywhere in the city.
Though his street cred may have been shot full of holes by the Smoking Gun, Akon seems to have survived unscathed, probably because nobody really wants you to keep it real when you're singing ultrashiny hooks like those found on "Beautiful," the third single from his new album, Freedom. "Beautiful" debuted on this week's Hot 100 at No. 19, and it's easy to see why — Akon's oddly compelling vocals ride atop a Jock Jams hook that's ripe for cross-merchandising. Cutting the pop sweetness a bit is an island-inflected guest verse from Canadian rapper Kardianal Offishall, but there's nothing he offers up that will keep this from being played wherever one finds speakers. We wouldn't be surprised if this gave Akon yet another No. 1.
Front Page: Billy Ray to write, direct adaptation -- United Artists has teamed with StudioCanal to turn Fritz Leiber's 1952 novel "Conjure Wife" into a feature film. Billy Ray has been set to write the script and direct.
Who would actually wear these Samurai-themed underpants that go down to your knee and look really uncomfortable, especially when Turtles In Time came out fifteen years ago and no longer dictates the majority of my fashion decisions (only some):
The answer is: Everybody, apparently, given that all four models are currently sold out. I include myself, because Turtles III is TIMELESS.
(via Gorillamask) Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 10:15 pm
The Cloris Leachman comeback train rolls through Scranton on January 28 when the Dancing With the Stars castoff guests on The Office's post–Super Bowl special along with less exciting celebrities Jack Black and Jessica Alba. We hope she plays Michael Scott's mom! [Zap 2 It]
Barack Obama’s Cabinet selection process is finally nearing its completion, and though it would be hard to characterize it as a wildly entertaining affair (besides that whole drawn-out Hillary Clinton drama, which was great), it has been interesting finding out who will actually be running our country for the next four years. Because, as we know, these folks have a lot of horrible things to deal with. But are they up to the task? Have their lives effectively prepared them for this moment? It turns out that, yes, they probably have. And they also have a lot of other amusing experiences that have absolutely nothing to do with anything. Find out all about them in our slideshow!
Duchess Camilla has a new BFF (beast friend forever)! The look in the horse's eyes is awesome. He's all "Hurry up and take the picture dude, this is seriously hard to do."
I know. I totally should have made the "Why the long face, Prince Charles?" joke. Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 9:52 pm
Brooklyn’s own Darren Aronofsky spent the eighties listening to hip-hop and being a whiz kid at school, so it’s probably a bit strange to see him making a movie about a has-been pro wrestler who still fights to the strains of forgotten metal heroes like Accept and Cinderella. Aronofsky burst onto the indie scene with 1998’s ultra-low-budget Pi and then catapulted onto the A-list with 2000’s Oscar-nominated addiction drama Requiem for a Dream; But with his latest film, The Wrestler, which opens today, Aronofsky appears to be ready to recharge his batteries, having dispensed with his regular crew and working on a relatively tiny budget. And with said budget, Aronofsky won the Golden Lion at Venice and resurrected troubled lead Mickey Rourke’s career along the way. The director sat down with Vulture to talk about his latest, the reception to his 2006 sci-fi epic The Fountain, and about how a Ratt song can enhance the emotional texture of a bar scene.
I think a lot of people will be surprised by how restrained your style is in this film.
I took on this film because I very consciously wanted to do something different. I feel like Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain are all kind of connected in some way — they’re almost a trilogy. And I wanted to reinvent myself. So this was a radical departure for me. My partner, Rachel Weisz, is an actor, and I loved the idea of just getting in there and being able to work in that space between actors, to really make a film that fed off on that interaction between actors. I also wanted to go back to shooting documentary style, which was how I originally started filmmaking.
You realize, of course, that people will say that you’re just regrouping after the failure of The Fountain.
[Laughs] Well, you know, I couldn’t be happier with The Fountain. It’s the film I wanted to make, and I think if you get it, you get it, and if you don’t, you don’t. People seem to think that movie was universally panned, but if you go back and look at what was actually said, you’ll see that that’s not the case. I was talking with Hugh Jackman the other day, and he said that he still gets approached by more people about The Fountain than about any other film he’s made. There are a lot of people out there who really love that movie.
Did people warn you about working with Mickey Rourke?
Financiers certainly did. We couldn’t get the film financed with Mickey in it. Everybody thought we were crazy. Nobody thought that he could be sympathetic in the role. Which is ridiculous when you see the film. You just have to look into his eyes and there’s just something incredible there. And Mickey was great to work with — you have to push his buttons certainly, and he’s a challenging actor. But that’s what I wanted to do anyway. This movie is Mickey. It’s hard to imagine anyone else doing this part.
Did you improvise along the way?
Mickey and I sat down with the script beforehand and went through it line by line, and I let him change things that worked or didn’t work for him. But we definitely worked from a script. There is a lot of stuff there where we just got in there and shot what we could. The scenes with Mickey behind the deli counter — that’s a real deli counter. A lot of those are real customers. That’s him just interacting with people. We didn’t have the budget to plan and program everything perfectly. For a lot of the wrestling scenes, we were at real matches.
What’s the hardest cut you’ve ever had to make?
The hardest was while making this movie, actually. We had a scene near the end with Mickey in front of the mirror, where he’s talking and he just went to some incredibly deep, dark place. Seriously, it was possibly the finest piece of acting I’ve ever seen in my life. It was absolutely intense. And I had to cut it. It would have totally upset the balance of the film — it was that powerful. It was heartbreaking.
I was impressed with the music in the film. Yes, you’ve got a Springsteen song and you’ve got “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” but you’ve also got Ratt and Accept — these are kind of like the loser bands of eighties metal.
Well, let’s just say that those are the rewards of not really having a music budget. [Laughs] The original script had these bigger songs in it, but there was no way we could afford them. In fact, in the bar scene where Marisa and Mickey bond over Ratt’s “Round and Round,” Mickey really wanted it to be Guns ‘N Roses. He hates hair metal. And I knew there was no way we could get “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Mickey said, “I’m friends with Axl, I’m friends with Axl!” And he was on the phone every day leaving messages for Axl to let us have the song. Finally, we just had to shoot it, and Axl came through at the last minute, let us have it for a fraction of the amount they would have ordinarily charged. But I decided I couldn’t change it. I had to go to Mickey and tell him that. He was furious. But it wouldn’t have worked — two people connecting over “Sweet Child O’ Mine” isn’t anything special. Two people connecting over Ratt — that’s so much more unique.
Front Page: Aretha Franklin, Itzhak Perlman to perform -- Aretha Franklin will perform at Barack Obama's presidential swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 20.
We're not quite sure what's gotten into models lately, but for some reason they're deadset on letting laymen like you and us in on what it's really like to be them. Coco Rocha is the latest to put her world on the Internet for the enlightenment of the general public. That's right — she's a blogger now! We've perused her new blog, Oh So Coco (so you don't have to!), and can now say with utter confidence that we are in the dark no longer. She explains she had to keep her new red hair a secret because Vogue had the exclusive on it and it couldn't be seen anywhere else until the issue came out. Also, she's really excited to go to Australia for the holidays, where she'll lie on the beach all covered up under an umbrella. Eye-opening videos include this ten-minute montage of Coco photos, precluded by footage of Coco and Behati Prinsloo wearing sunglasses during what appears to be the daytime and bouncing around to music. We can also reveal Coco brushes her teeth, because she videotaped that, too! So in sum, being a model is all about making silly faces at cameras all day. Now we know.
A copy of the first American edition of "The House at Pooh corner" by A.A.Milne is displayed at Sotheby's auction house in London. A collection of original illustrations of Winnie-the-Pooh and his animal... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 9:35 pm
Yes, there were "multiple failures" on the part of SEC staff with regard to Bernie Madoff. Yes, a variety of "credible and specific allegations" over a span of at least ten years "were repeatedly brought to the attention of SEC staff," and yes, it's true that no one there took any action whatsoever. But look, Chris Cox said in a press conference today, you can't blame them. They are very special people and they were just doing the best they could do. "They are extraordinarily professional," he said. "I'm enormously proud of them." You're all winners, SEC staff! Now go fuck yourselves. [WSJ, SEC.gov]
Arts institutions could be the next victims of Bernard Madoff's malpractice. He and his clients constitute a network of board members from the city's top cultural organizations, two in particular: Madoff himself sits on the board of New York City Center and is a major donor to the institution. His fellow board member is Judy Wilpon, a major donor at City Center and wife of Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon, who just lost hundreds of millions of dollars through Madoff. The Wilpons are tight with Sanford and Joan Weill (again, major City Center donors), and Sanford is the chairman of Carnegie Hall. The two families are so tight, in fact, that in 2005 they helped broker a deal to create an artistic partnership, with a proposed joint board, between City Center and Carnegie Hall (the deal fell through in 2007). Under the leadership of Weill at Carnegie is board member J. Ezra Merkin, whose firm not only lost $1.8 billion of its clients' money, but who is now also under investigation for his possible complicity in Madoff's scheme.
A City Center spokesperson denied that the institution had invested any money with Madoff and said the security of his position within the organization was "a matter for the board," the next meeting of which is in February. But with the management rosters of these institutions now spotted with gaping financial holes, Madoff's massive mismanagement continues its degenerative effect.
We see tourists every day, but do we truly understand them? We sent urban anthropologist Tim Murphy into the field to talk to tourists and learn about their fascinating, foreign culture. Watch the video and gain some cross-cultural understanding about why the McDonald's in Times Square is different from the McDonald's you grew up with.
This 4-year-old named Olu loves him some Paul Wall. And by "loves," I mean, he's dead f*cking serious about it. At about the 2:45 mark, he starts doing an awesome move that one can only hope will get its own rap song soon. The hat action at the end is also pretty great.
Car seat can't keep a man from feeling the beat. Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 9:15 pm
HAIR
• Jessica Simpson's hairstylist, Ken Paves, says shewashes her hair only two or three times a month. Grimy. [Be Flossy]
• Coco Rocha shows off her new red hair in Vogue. Yes, the fact that her hair is now red instead of brown is still a big deal. [Fashionologie]
• Rob Talty, Britney Spears's on-set hairstylist, swears by the Naluwaver to create old-fashioned waves. Eh, even though this blogger thinks it looks "ferosh," we think she looks better without them. [Girls in the Beauty Department/Glamour]
SKIN
• The mineral content in sea salts can help increase circulation in addition to exfoliating skin. So remember, sugar scrubs are for fools. [BellaSugar]
NAILS
• Here's a list of the 21 best nail polishes of the year. Green, gray, purple, and gold came out on top. [All Lacquered Up]
Every year, the fabulous organization The Lunchbox Fund asks celebrities to custom-make lunchboxes for auction, proceeds which go towards feeding poor children in South Africa. This year, they've rounded up some Hollywood A-Listers to design their specialty lunchboxes (auctions of which end tomorrow!). Some of the designs are astoundingly creative... and some, well, some leave us longing for the Good Ol' Days of our purple Popple Box n' Thermos set.
So now, we'd like to take you through some of our favorites, in a little segment we like to call "What Your Celebrity Lunchbox Says About You":
GWYNETH PALTROW
"I have no idea what children find fun. Also, I have no idea what goes inside of these things."
EMERIL LAGASSE
"Bam!" (Sounds of the final bullet Emeril puts through his own head.)
CAMERON DIAZ
"I Like Dumpster Diving Behind Local Elementary Schools. And farting in the face of the American public."
GOSSIP GIRL CAST
"Too busy doing coke off of 14 year old t*ts at Tenjune to care about poor children."
SPIKE JONZE
"Drew Barrymore is a banana. And I, the milk."
JAMES EARL JONES
"James Earl Jones is too good to make a 'May the Forks Be With You' Joke. Also, I have no faith in today's youth."
MARIO BATALI
"You know what puts me in the mood for a delicious meal? Dried puke. Also, long, orange pubic hairs... but I digress. p.s. My balls are hot."
MARTHA STEWART
"In my downtime, I like to needlepoint for hours on end, drink a fifth or two of Hennigan's, and weep myself to sleep on the cold marble tiles of my kitchen floor. Nothing like a live French Bulldog pillow to remind you how lucky you are every morning."
ELLEN PAGE
"NEWSFLASH: I am still cooler than you. Also, I made this while taking breaks from playing Ellen Page in (insert movie title here.)"
MICHEL RICHARD
"No, I'm not Michael Richards! I am famous French artist Michel Richard!! Why do people always insist on calling me 'that guy from Seinfeld'????? Also... downwiththeblacks."
MIKE MYERS
"This giant lunchbox is a great way to hide your millions of Dreamworks dollars in your house without robbers having any idea where you put it."
RACHAEL RAY
"The best part about my lunchbox??? You can never turn it off!!! Hahahahaahahahahaahha (--gunshot)(loud thud)(el fin)"
THRIVING IVORY
"We a bunch of classy motherf**kers."
TOM COLICCHIO
"Padma made these when she was high."
WILLIAM WEGMAN
"My house smells like wet diapers."
YOKO ONO
"I broke up the Beatles." (Note: This is what everything says about Yoko.)
Thanks to the tip from Urlesque! Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 8:52 pm
"SYRACUSE — In a carefully controlled strategy reminiscent of the vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, aides to Caroline Kennedy interrupted her on Wednesday and whisked her away when she was asked what her qualifications are to be a United States senator." [NYT]
French cartoonist David B.'s 2002 graphic novel, Epileptic, was a surprise hit, declared the No. 1 comic of the year by Time and getting rave reviews in The New Yorker and the Washington Post. Now David B.'s next book, Nocturnal Conspiracies, is being released, and it's as richly detailed and curiously familiar as Epileptic. This time David B. is exploring his own dreams, and the results are bizarre and beautiful.
This week on the Comics Page, Vulture is proud to present an exclusive seven-page excerpt from Nocturnal Conspiracies, published this month by NBM Inc.
New Yorkers don't like to wait. They don't like waiting in line, or waiting for sales, or waiting tables even though they know it's probably only going to be a short while before their acting career really takes off. They don't like waiting to do stuff they want to do now, basically. Which is exactly why Michael Hampton, a retired advertising executive, is pissed off. He bought a house in Montauk some time ago in order to renovate and sell it for a profit, and he expected, when he put it on the market last year for a little under $6 million, that a bidding war would erupt given the location (which is "nestled among the rich and famous") and the "panoramic ocean views." Seriously, he expected, like, bloodshed. And what's happening? Nothing. "It is as if somebody held up the stop sign," Hampton wondered to Reuters. And now he has to wait. Just bide his time and ride this thing out. Twiddling his thumbs. Sucks. "While I have no urgency to unload the property, it is frustrating that I cannot start another project because there is only so much in the piggy bank," he said. Poor Michael. He has nothing to do and no money problems and a big-ass beautiful summer house. Imagine how hard that must be.
I just ran across this little odd news item about a Chinese man who thought he bought a Pomeranian but it turned out to be an Arctic Fox. The dog apparently bit him a lot, was hard to tame, wouldn't bark, and smelled bad. All signs that your dog, in fact, is no dog at all. Obviously. But the very best part of this story, by far, is the picture:
First off, the fox looks like a Dr. Seuss character. And I can't understand how the guy is holding him, it's such a weird position. And please. Let's talk about this guy's face! Is he allergic to Arctic fox, or is he just super embarrassed that he thought that thing was a Pomeranian? Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 8:22 pm
Choreographer Jermaine Browne describes his style as "urban, classic, hip." The day our Video Look Book cameras caught him he wore a vintage sweater from London with pants from Miami, a belt he stole from his friend, and a bag from H&M. "I like to mix the English fashion with American style and try to find something unique," he says. Kind of like Kanye West! Click on and find out what item Jermaine wears every day.
In Nathalie Djurberg’s latest animation at Zach Feuer Gallery (through January 24), a gangly ballerina prances about a table set for a tea party. The dancer, seemingly high on sugary fumes, teeters over teapots, cherry-studded cream puffs, and piles of oozing confections. It’s not clear what sort of statement Djurberg is making: perhaps that there should be more black ballerinas? Or more tea parties? Whatever it is, she has cobbled together a delightful show.
No matter how many times I see a dramatic tv show moment leading into the commercial break followed by a super happy commercial, it still always makes me laugh. I'm sure Pillsbury was pretty happy about their ad placement during today's One Life To Live -- nothing goes together quite like hospital rape schemes and hot, flaky crescent rolls!
Why are we having all this nostalgia all of a sudden?
Once again in their final days in the White House, the Bush family reminds us how cute they can be. In an interview with the family in People, George, Laura, Barbara, and Jenna looked back:
Jenna: Eight years ago my dad was a very popular Texas governor … I think I was a little naïve about how people would treat him. But he’s never wavered in his decisions and he’s the same as he was when we were little, his ethics. So that’s something to be proud of in itself. Barbara: They’ve stayed the same to us and they have the same ethics that they had all their life. The President: I thought you’d say my hair got grayer.
Jenna: He’s been under a lot of stress, we’re ready for him to go back to Texas and be warmly received. People: Barbara, Jenna, any advice for Sasha and Malia Obama? Jenna: Well, they’re a lot younger than we are, cuter than we are. We’re old news. Barbara: Even the puppy is going to be cuter.
Now, let's not go too far. Barney and Miss Beazley are pretty frickin' adorable, even if they are a little feisty. And if you ask us, America really should always have a cat in the White House named Willard.
So Madonna's in Brazil shooting a spread and cover for W magazine with Steven Klein. Made in Brazil is reporting she'll appear with a slew of hot Brazilian male models, two of which we've pictured here. On the left is Felipe Anibal, and in the center and right is Miro Moreira in D&G's spring 2007 campaign and Armani Exchange's spring 2008 underwear ads. At least two more boys like this will reportedly appear with Madge in the spread, shot at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro and a bar in Ipanema. See, this is why we love Madonna. She doesn't get divorced and have a lame 4 p.m. Champagne and cake menopause fest. She flings herself to the tropics to rub up on (can you imagine?) Brazil's finest-looking younger men for all the world to see. After all, why settle for one beefy, too tan baseball player when you can have four ideal specimens of foreigner?
Well, this is odd. An Off Broadway show is actually closing extending its run. (Sorry, we're so used to typing "closing.") Playbill reports that Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me will now play through March. Though we are slightly confused about the concept of extending a show that has an open run, we are happy for Birbiglia and producer Eli Gonda, who explains that "there is nothing like seeing people leave a theatre feeling better about life than when they walked in." See it in January when nothing else is open! [Playbill]
Front Page: Actor leaves show due to 'high mercury count' -- Jeremy Piven will abruptly end his run in Broadway's "Speed-the-Plow," after missing Tuesday evening's performance and a Wednesday matinee.
In case you lost count, it's now been four months since the release of Pineapple Express, and The Year One — the next film made with the tangential involvement of producer-genius Judd Apatow — won't be out until next June. Noble efforts like Role Models and W., with cast members borrowed from Apatow's stable, have helped fill the void a little, but in the midst of this dark, depressing Oscar season, things are getting dire. Can the promise of I Love You, Man, due in March, possibly get us through the winter? Maybe! In this new trailer, it seems even more Apatow-y than it did on paper — the ever-non-douchey Paul Rudd plays a friendless guy marrying Rashida Jones who must somehow find a best man. Why he doesn't just pick his brother, played by Andy Samberg, like most friendless guys is not made clear. Even so, this doesn't look so bad.
Dear Alive World,
Hi. Jeff Buckley here. Remember me? I rose to musical success in the 90's for my hit single, "Last Goodbye." I released only one album during my life, called Grace (which, let's be honest, was pretty f*cking amazing). I was working on my second album, when, all of a sudden, I died tragically while swimming in the Wolf River at the tender age of 31. I know, it's been really hard on you guys, and the thought of so much untapped talent in a person who died so young can be really really upsetting to think about. Not to mention the fact that I'm gorgeous, so it makes it all the more tragic. And I understand the need to keep my memory alive and keep my music fresh for generations to come. But after the first 10 or so compilations of previously un-released material, live tracks, Grace re-re-re-re-mastered, and B-sides, I'm starting to get annoyed. This has gotten WAY out of hand. (And I'm not even talking about this bullsh*t.) Imagine my disappointment today when I logged onto Jesus Christ's laptop and saw that, once again,my music will be re-released and re-packaged on a new compilation called So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley. What could possibly be new about this? I'll tell you what's new: nothing. You want to get "so real?" FINE! Let's get so motherf*cking real.
How about you STOP TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY TRAGIC DEATH FOR YOUR OWN MONETARY GAIN!!! What's next? I'll tell you what's next, because Jesus told me. Here are some of the upcoming Jeff Buckley albums that you will be able to buy:
Grace: Slightly Louder This TimeLast Goodbye: Only The Guitar PartsMy Sweetheart The Drunk: Track #4 Is Now Track #1The Sound Of Jeff Buckley's Old Apartment (10 tracks of room noise)
Look. All I'm asking is that you just move ON already. Tell these record labels to stop trying to make a quick buck(ley) off my death. Whenever you miss me, just pop in your old copy of Grace and listen to it the way it was supposed to be done: curled up in a ball on your bed, staring out the window, while occasionally kissing your pillow as if it was that cute boy on the football team.
This is our last goodbye (until you get to heaven),
Jeff Buckley Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 7:15 pm
From left: Sunner ruffle dress ($110), Steven Alan plaid jacket ($150), Steven Alan plaid dress shirt ($59), Steven Alan chino twill pant ($56), Steven Alan peacoat ($83), Steven Alan reverse-seam shirt ($56), Steven Alan gray chino ($56), Reve Seam shirt
'Tis the giving season at Housing Works. After last week's successful vintage Yves Saint Laurent sale (which raised $17,000 for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS), Steven Alan followed suit, donating more than 1,000 items to the nonprofit thrift shop. Stock includes more than just the Steven Alan's line itself, too, such as men's and women's clothes from Lulu, Willa, Sophie, Sea, and Reve Seam. Jackets are $150 (originally $450), peacoats are $83 (originally $249), men's shirts are $56 (originally $168), and a ruffle dress by Sunner is $110 (originally $320). Anything that doesn't sell on the Saturday, December 27, opening day will be spread out to the other Housing Works locations in the city. But if you like Steven Alan, plan on showing up on day one for this for this charity sample sale. Because you're a giver, we just know it.
Housing Works Thrift Shop, 143 W. 17th St., nr. Sixth Ave. (718-838-5050); December 27, 10–6.
It's no secret that we at the BWE.tv offices are big fans of A&E's Intervention. No other candid reality show on television can simultaneously make us feel so good about ourselves while also making us feel blessed about our lives. Because if there's one thing that can make you feel better about your own troubles, it's watching a meth addict fall asleep in a dirty swamp halfpipe while pantsless.
Interventions are usually heart-wrenching, sometimes soul-crushing/rebuilding, and often tear-inducing and inspiring. But every now and again, an episode will come along that is -- simply -- hilarious. Perhaps the most famous of these rare Intervention episodes was Allison, a former medical student who became addicted to inhaling air from COMPUTER DUST-OFF CANS. If you've never seen her cotton-mouth tell you she's "Walkin' on Sunshine", than you truly haven't lived. She's like the Jim Carrey of addicts.
Last night, while catching up on this week's episode via my DVR, my heart started to race. It seemed this week's episode, featuring a woman named Janet, was going to stack up to a 43-minute long laugh riot. I tuned into the show about 30 seconds too late. Still, without hesitation, I immediately sent the following e-mails to my friend Mike, a fellow Intervention addict. And they read:
1 AM:Dear Mike,
Did you see the Intervention about the sex addict? It just started but I already LOLed 2x. (Ed. Note: Yes, I talk like an assh*le in real life.) The woman was PANTING!! Write back soon.
Yours,
Michelle1:01 AM:
Mike,
Errr uh oh she's also a serious alky. Errrrm but still... lol?
Collar pull,
Michelle1:04 AM: Mike,
Soooo she was molested when she was 6 by a 70 year old. Is there any way to retract my original e-mails? This is highly disturbing.
Apologies.
Most Sincerely,
Michelle
Mike's appropriate response, received this morning:
Michelle,
Wait, is this the older lady with the crazy hair and a bunch of kids? I saw the end, but not the beginning of that one.
Never feel sorry for these people, Mich, they would tear your hair out and sell it on the black market for a nip of Malibu.
Love,
Mike
You can see Janet's entire episode on Youtube! Make sure to watch it at work, with the boss around:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5
It has a happy ending. Is her husband not the best guy in the WORLD? Jesus C. Source: Best Week Ever | 17 Dec 2008 | 6:48 pm
Fashion Wire Daily - On the red carpet Tuesday night for his new drama "Seven Pounds," Will Smith admitted that, like "The Pursuit of Happyness" that went before, the film is "a chick flick for guys." That characterization of the serious story of a man who tries to atone for a terrible mistake may not exactly drive men into theaters, but the bona fide biggest star on the planet isn't too worried about that.
From left, Gretchen Bleiler Mane Jacket by Oakley, Movement Gloves by Rome, Slub Jacket by Burton, Ally Hat by Dakine, Vagrant Jacket by Rome, Clana Jacket by Rossignol.
Last night's snow means it's mountain season! Even if you're not into snowboarding or skiing, you probably know someone who dedicates their entire winter to the sport and who is always trying to convince you that you'll love it if you just try it. So why not give it a whirl? We shopped for all the best ski and snowboard gear for our latest Shop-A-Matic, for those of you spearheading the day trip to Mountain Creek, Hunter Mountain, or Camelback (or perhaps a weekend away to Killington?). Browse through 129 items, from boots to bindings to jackets to keep you warm, even if you're just hanging at the bar, chatting up some cute guys. Remember, just because you fall flat on your ass carving turns doesn't mean you can't look good doing it. Check out our six picks after the jump.
Gretchen Bleiler Mane Jacket by Oakley Price: $280 Why we like it: The faux-fur lining on this subtle paisley-printed jacket will keep you warm on cold days at the summit.
Movement Gloves by Rome Price: $40 Why we like it: No need to take these gloves off to adjust bindings or clothing — they're super flexible.
Slub Jacket by Burton Price: $250 Why we like it: The pixelated print pops off this men’s jacket, making it a bold look with a slouchy and confident vibe. This is for the boys dominating the terrain park, that's for sure.
Ally Hat by Dakine Price: $20 Why we like it: Perfect for tucking into your helmet for extra head warmth (and a good cover-up to hide helmet hair when you take it off).
Vagrant Jacket by Rome Price: $260 Why we like it: The green-on-green print is a bit more subtle and relaxed, but it's still fun.
Clana Jacket by Rossignol Price: $180 Why we like it: A great alternative to the plain jackets most people wear, the print is feminine and fun without looking juvenile.
Front Page: Studio promotes Rory Bruer, Mark Zucker -- Sony Pictures has upped Rory Bruer to prexy of worldwide distribution in a move that puts him in charge of international operations as well as domestic distribution, which he has headed since 2002.
Hip-hop star Akon is pleading guilty to harassment after he tossed a fan off stage at a concert last summer. He will serve no jail time as long he performs 65 hours of community service and pays a $250 fine.
British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood has collaborated with Rodarte, Alberta Ferretti, and Pollini, creating some of the most dangerous runway shoes we've seen. Abbey Lee fell at Rodarte's spring 2009 show, for one, and for this, Nicholas feels bad. He tells Style.com:
"I’m pretty much over the five-inch-high platform and girls tripping all over the place. Granted, I’ve been responsible for some of that … [I]t’s terrible. I have sympathy, I do. Next season’s shoes should be more manageable, I’m feeling ready for a more refined, lighter, more feminine look.
"…I’m working on a pair of flats, but for me, it’s either super-high or super-low. There’s no point messing with anything in between."
Wow, five-, six-, seven-inch heels are finally on the way out because they're — dare we say — impractical? Has the fashion industry gone mad? Still, we don't mind seeing these crazy heels go. It's a long way down for those models as it is, and we regular human folk can't be trusted in these shoes anyway.
Kim Kardashian fans have a wonderful year ahead, with the sexy reality starlet releasing a 2009 calendar that highlights her famous curves. Source: FOXNews.com | 17 Dec 2008 | 5:34 pm
Far-right Dutch deputy Geert Wilders, author of the anti-Islamic film "Fitna," holds a press conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. The European Parliament banned the planned screening... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 5:14 pm
North Korean singer U Ran Huy sings a Vietnamese song during a rehearsal at Hanoi's Opera House. Filled with revolutionary fervor and drilled to artistic perfection, North Korea's elite dance troupe rehearsed... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 5:10 pm
North Korean dancers perform during a rehearsal at Hanoi's Opera House. Filled with revolutionary fervor and drilled to artistic perfection, North Korea's elite dance troupe rehearsed in communist Vietnam... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 5:10 pm
Rock's original tough gal talks being loved by Pete Townshend and
scorned by Clive Davis
With Twilight star Kristen Stewart portraying Joan Jett in
an upcoming Runaways biopic, a new hits collection on the way and
even a Christmas album on Jett's Blackheart label, Rolling
Stone caught up with rock's original tough gal and her
longtime co-writer/manager Kenny Laguna to chat about Pete
Townshend, being burned by Clive Davis and recording the perfect
cover.
You've got a new Gibson signature model guitar
now?
Joan Jett: I sure do. It's a Gibson Joan Jett Melody Maker. It's
copied...
This undated file photo shows actors performing in the "Jack and the Beanstalk" at the Courtyard theatre in Hereford, western England. The play, which has financial crisis jokes woven into the traditional... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 4:32 pm
Reports of Hootie & the Blowfish's demise in the wake of frontman Darius Rucker's country music success this year have been greatly exaggerated, according to Rucker himself.
Malcolm Young (left) and Angus Young of AC/DC perform during their "Black Ice" tour in October 2008 in Pennsylvania. Tickets for a concert by the hard rock band in Vienna sold out within minutes on Wednesday,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 17 Dec 2008 | 4:03 pm
In a week without a top 10 debut, Taylor Swift's "Fearless" reclaims the top spot on The Billboard 200, inching up 2-1 thanks to a 29% sales increase to 249,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says an investigation closed Wednesday determined that someone shot 39-year-old Scott M. Ruffalo in the head. Source: FOXNews.com | 17 Dec 2008 | 1:39 pm
A former Bond girl was murdered after grappling with an intruder whom she caught in her home in Dublin Monday. Source: FOXNews.com | 17 Dec 2008 | 12:57 pm
Paris Hilton bought herself a Christmas present. The heiress loves pink, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that Paris decided to pimp out her Bentley in her favorite color. Check out what...
What an episode of Top Chef: Martha Stewart! Natasha Richardson! Spoiled food!
Following a refrigerator foul-up, several chefs are in hot, unsanitary water as they find their food...
Ew. And... ew, again.
Yeah, it's for a great cause and all, but has our celebrity-engrossed culture sunk so low that someone will consider bidding on Scarlett Johansson's snot...
The holidays are all about giving, which may explain why the good, kind folks at HBO are giving us the second season premiere of Flight of the Conchords a full month earlier than expected! (And we...
Here are two things you never thought you'd find in the same sentence: Repo! The Genetic Opera and Oscar.
But the Paris Hilton-featuring stinker could end up being an Academy Award...
Forget Joe Jonas. Taylor Swift has her mind set on someone else!
When asked in the new issue of Your Prom magazine who her "celeb dream date" is, the 19-year-old country crooner...
Pamela Anderson has no problem getting naked in public. But sometimes it's not even intentional!
The buxom blonde accidentally flashed her breasts to an entire studio audience during...
• Paris Hilton has learned things. Twenty things to be specific, like "Having a nightclub in your house really helps for having a party, because then you don't need to go...
This week on the Comics Page, Vulture is proud to present an exclusive seven-page excerpt from Nocturnal Conspiracies, published this month by 
Dear Alive World,
Hi. Jeff Buckley here. Remember me? I rose to musical success in the 90's for my hit single, "Last Goodbye." I released only one album during my life, called Grace (which, let's be honest, was pretty f*cking amazing). I was working on my second album, when, all of a sudden, I died tragically while swimming in the Wolf River at the tender age of 31. I know, it's been really hard on you guys, and the thought of so much untapped talent in a person who died so young can be really really upsetting to think about. Not to mention the fact that I'm gorgeous, so it makes it all the more tragic. And I understand the need to keep my memory alive and keep my music fresh for generations to come. But after the first 10 or so compilations of previously un-released material, live tracks, Grace re-re-re-re-mastered, and B-sides, I'm starting to get annoyed. This has gotten WAY out of hand. (And I'm not even talking about 
It's no secret that we at the BWE.tv offices are big fans of 
