Oh Bronx. I'm so so so sorry about this. Your daddy told Sirius radio's "Monday Mash Up" show that your mom's breast milk tastes "weird" and "soury." I know. That means Pete Wentz has been drinking Ashlee Simpson's breast milk - and is telling people about it. It seems that Pete has had a touch of the di-di of the mouth as of late on the radio. Between this and his detailed description of what it's like to bang his wife, I think someone needs to remind Pete that the internet listens to the radio. Because it will only be a matter of time before the kids at school google this crap and start with the "Breast Milky Wentz" nicknames and the "Bronx's dad likes to drink from his mom's boobs!" chants.
After 160 years in existence, venerable New York law firm Thacher, Proffitt & Wood will shut down next year after its structured-finance practice collapsed and more than half of its attorneys fled to a competitor. About 100 lawyers will join Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal next month. [NYP]
Enya may stay out of the public eye -- she hasn't toured in two decades -- but her albums are greeted with huge sales and applause by her fans. Her latest is "And Winter Came."
• Non-marrieds Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt had to beg and cry to get into their own show's after-party at Butter in NYC Monday night.
• Lindsay Lohan gets...
AP - The stock market is in the tank, the plant is closing and the neighbor is losing his home ... the perfect time to go to a concert, by one measure.
AP - Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern who resigned this year amid a probe into the secret donations he pocketed while in office has struck a six-figure deal to write his memoirs, the British unit of Random House confirmed Wednesday. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 24 Dec 2008 | 2:07 pm
You'd think, as the 25th approached, Caroline Kennedy would only increase in power. Like Superman recharging near the sun, Catholics derive energy from Christmas the way Jews do from Passover, and Episcopalians from gin. But that doesn't appear to be the case this year. According to the Times, Governor Paterson is annoyed that Caroline's handlers are telling people her appointment to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate is already a "done deal," which makes Pattycakes feel boxed in. Democratic State Assembly leader Sheldon Silver doesn't want her to be senator because she's aligned with Mayor Bloomberg, who is not a Democrat and is also basically enemies with Silver. And resistance among state party leaders is beginning to solidify against her.
Plus, the Daily News, New York's liberal-leaning tabloid where Caroline used to toil as a copy girl, has gone and dug up her rough net worth — a surefire blow to her populist appeal. Kennedy's worth is well over $100 million, according to the paper, which includes a $40 million, 366-acre oceanside estate on Martha's Vineyard (we almost threw up typing that, and we like rich people). After a bunch of billionaires basically brokered this year's change on mayoral term limits, New Yorkers are already chafing against the feeling that we live in some sort of pseudo-democratic oligarchy. Which we wouldn't mind, if we were the oligarchs. Or if we even just had the estate on Martha's Vineyard.
EVENTS
• Personalize your last-minute gifts. Engravings by Joseph Callari are complimentary with men's or women's fragrance purchases of $80 or more. Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., at 59th St. (212-705-2000); 9–10.
SALES STARTING TODAY
• Missed the Diane Von Furstenberg sample sale last week? Head to her Meatpacking District store, where all fall merchandise is 60 percent off. Ongoing. 874 Washington St., nr. 14th St. (646-486-4800); Mon.–Wed. (11–7), Thurs. (11–8), Fri.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6).
• Take 50 percent off of Oak's stylish downtown in-house collection. Ongoing. 28 Bond St., nr. Lafayette St. (212-677-1293) and 208 N. 8th St., nr. Driggs Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Mon.–Fri. (11–8), Sun. (11–7).
• The party-friendly clothes by Alice + Olivia are 25 to 75 percent off in-store. Ongoing. 80 W. 40th St., nr. Sixth Ave. (212-840-0887); Mon.–Fri. (10-7), Sat. (noon–6), Sun. (closed).
ENDING TODAY
• Don't fret if you've fallen behind on your shopping schedule. Macy's is open all night, and its doors won't shut until 6 p.m. on Wednesday. 151 W. 34th St., at Broadway (212-695-4400).
• Jack Spade's must-have men's accessories are up to 50 percent off, plus 30 percent off nylon, canvas, and waxwear bags. Through 12/24. 56 Greene St., at Broome St. (212-625-1820); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6). 400 Bleecker St., nr. 11th St. (212-675-4085); Mon.–Fri. (12–8), Sat.–Sun. (11–7).
STARTING FRIDAY
• Take 20 percent off the stock at Upper Echelon Shoes. 12/26-ongoing. 100B Forsyth St., nr. Broome St. (212-925-8330); Daily (noon–7).
• Sweet kids' clothes from Petit Bateau, Lili Gaufrette, and Splendid are marked down by 50 percent at Small Change. Through 1/31. 1196 Lexington Ave., nr. 81st St. (212-772-6455); Mon.–Fri. (10–6), Sat. (10–5), Sun. (noon–5).
• The year-end sale at Aloha Rag features 70 percent off their stock of fall/winter 2008 merchandise from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Giuseppe Zanotti, Ksubi, Rogan, YMC, and more. Ongoing. 505 Greenwich St., nr. Spring St. (212-925-0882); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6).
• Links of London jewelry, small leather goods, and accessories are up to 50 percent off. Through 1/17. 535 Madison Ave., nr. 54th St. (212-588-1177); Mon.–Sat. (9:30–7:30), Sun. (11:30–6). 402 W. Broadway, nr. Spring St. (212-343-8024); Mon.–Sat. (11–8), Sun. (noon–close). MetLife Building, 200 Park Ave., nr. 44th St. (212-867-0258); Mon., Tues., and Thurs. (8–8), Wed. and Fri. (8–7), Sat. (10–6), Sun. (closed).
STARTING SATURDAY
• Agent Provocateur's racy underthings are half off; the Bridgette bra is $65. Through 1/10. 133 Mercer St., nr. Prince St. (212-965-0229); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6).
• Steven Alan donated 1,000 items from Lulu, Willa, Sophie, Sea, Reve Seam, and its namesake line to Housing Works. Jackets are $150 (originally $450), peacoats are $83 (originally $249), and men's shirts are $56 (originally $168). Today only. Housing Works Thrift Shop, 143 W. 17th St., nr. Sixth Ave. (718-838-5050); 10–6.
Bullock is Expendable:Sylvester Stallone is in hot pursuit of Sandra Bullock as he tries to add her to the testosterone-filled cast of his action disaster The Expendables. Sly has already cast Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Forest Whitaker, and Randy Couture in the tale of mercenaries out to depose a dictator. Bullock, thankfully, won't play a gun-toting mercenary but rather a government agent out to stop the brutes. Seems safe to assume she'll be that rare type of government agent who wears thin white tank tops as she chases cons through the rain forest. [JoBlo]
Ugly Lauren:Dexter co-star Lauren Vélez is making friends with Ugly Betty. Vélez's multi-episode arc will have her play Elena, a nurse that enters the lives of the Suarez family because of a plot twist that might involve the death of a major character. If it's little Justin, we're going to be very very upset. And if it's Betty, well, it's time to make this show about Justin anyway. [HR]
Tron-a-thon:Bruce Boxleitner has joined fellow Tron star Jeff Bridges in Tr2n, the follow-up to the 1982 sci-fi flick. In the original, Bridges plays an arcade owner who is digitally reconstituted into a 3-D computer world. Once there, he teams up with Boxleitner to outsmart the malicious program that turned him into a bunch of pixels. Tr2n is set to be the next chapter. Now, if they could just do something about that name. [Coming Soon]
Cromer is Broadway Bound:David Cromer has signed on to direct the Broadway revivals of Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound. The two autobiographical comedies by Neil Simon will begin rehearsal in the summer, start previews in the fall and, if recent Broadway history is any indication, close a week later. [Variety]
Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern _ who resigned this year amid a probe into the secret donations he pocketed while in office _ has struck a six-figure deal to write his memoirs, the Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 24 Dec 2008 | 1:54 pm
Thursday brings one of the biggest slates of Hollywood entertainment to open on Christmas Day in many years. A slew of movies -- including stars such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Aniston -- are hitting theaters.
(AP)
AP - Unlike anything you've ever seen before, "Waltz With Bashir" will change your ideas about the possibility of film.
BAMAKO, Mali, Dec. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Mali's national public broadcasting authority, ORTM (Office de la Radio et Television du Mali) announced today the initiation... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 24 Dec 2008 | 12:26 pm
Britain's Channel 4 says Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver the TV channel's annual Christmas broadcast. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said on Wednesday that Ahmadinejad's... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 24 Dec 2008 | 12:25 pm
DJ AM has spun his own version of the tragic events that unfolded in September.
The celebrity mix maestro, severely injured along with Travis Barker in a private-jet crash that killed...
In 1988, a relatively unknown rock and blues guitarist named Warren Haynes got some of his friends together to play music in Asheville, North Carolina. It was just an opportunity for local musicians to jam during the holidays, the one time of year they were all in town together.
Reuters - Cigarette smoke wafts through a hall in Lebanon's biggest jail where an all-male jury is arguing over whether an accused murderer should be hanged.
'Tis the season to be...topless? At least if you live at the Playboy Mansion, it is.
Here's Hugh Hefner's holiday card featuring his new girlfriends,...
What was cable's top series of 2008? And, no, the answer, "Definitely not The Hills," is not acceptable. (Although, true, highly accurate.)
Why could New Mexico be a...
It all comes down to this for The Dark Knight, Milk, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire and all the other films labeled "Oscar hopeful" for whatever reason in 2008.
Ballots for the...
What did he work, and when did he work it?
As questions go, they're not the most pressing to face a president, or, in the case of Barack Obama, a president-elect. But they're...
Peter Berg is out of the line of fire.
A negligence lawsuit filed against the actor-director over a fatal accident that occurred in 2006 on the set of Berg's terrorist thriller The...
If you were to talk to Scrooge today, he'd tell you the newspaper as a medium is dying. If you talked to Tiny Tim, he'd say it’s just going through some changes. Some papers are now sharing stories, and some editors are exiting. But one bankrupt newspaper owner might buy himself a holiday gift of — yep — another newspaper. The media’s awkward stage continues!
• The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun are going to begin sharing stories, as of January 1. Robert J. McCartney, the Post's assistant managing editor, said: “So, if a story broke … we'd talk with the Sun and figure out who was in a better position to send a reporter, and both papers would use that reporter's story.” [WP]
• On that note, Timothy A. Franklin, the Sun's editor, resigned yesterday. He’s replaced by J. “Monty” Montgomery Cook, a former assistant sports editor at the Post. [WP]
.• And, Jim Brady, editor of the Washington Post’s Website, resigned today, as the paper merges its print newsroom with its online newsroom. Brady said: “I’m beat up, tired, burned out.” [WP & Washington City Paper]
• The other new trend for newspapers? Selling their homes. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Fort Worth Star-Telegram are some of the latest papers trying to raise money by selling off company-owned property, newsrooms, and buildings. [AP]
• Despite being bankrupt and all, the Tribune Company might buy a newspaper. Right. The Sam Zell–owned newspaper conglomerate is possibly adding the San Diego Union Tribune to its growing list of ailing newspapers, if the move is permitted by a bankruptcy judge in Delaware. Sam Zell is so Citizen Kane and every nice thing ended up burned at the end of that, too. [Voice of San Diego]
As a curious nation edges ever close to Valkyrie's long awaited theatrical debut on Thursday — the nerds over at HSX have it pegged for an opening weekend gross of roughly $16.7 million — it becomes imperative for everyone associated with the film to keep on the same page when it comes to publicizing the film. Especially when MGM has spent its nearly $70 million marketing budget [!] trying to convince Joe Moviegoer to spend the holidays watching heroic Nazis fail to assassinate Hitler. Which is why we nearly keeled over when we read director Bryan Singer's interview with the New York Post this morning, an interview in which he actually compared his film to Hogan's Heroes. "I used to watch 'Hogan's Heroes,' and I was keenly aware that I had sympathy for Klink or Schultz, these characters whose job it was to run the prisoner-of-war camp," Singer told the Post. "On the other hand, the SS were the bad guys. So there was a structure of good guys and bad guys within the German army." So much for staying on the talking points that emphasize the film's suspenseful plot (which, as you'll recall, we liked quite a bit). Better luck next time, MGM!
And you thought Kim Kardashian's 2009 calendar was hot.
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star gave us a sneak peek at one of the sexy snaps to be included in next...
Giles Deacon only likes big, revolving bow ties. Bet you didn't know that, didja? Well, he told British Vogue TV, and it's captured in their year-end reel, which is a snippets love-fest you can see by clicking the link below. At first, we were really digging Alexa Chung's totally out-of-context quote "I want to make children cry," as we can sympathize (kidding), but we were then taken by Alexander McQueen when he talks about his first love. "There was this boy named Tom who asked me to smoke his cigarette with him," he divulged, while subsequently erupting into a fit of nervous schoolboy laughter. Who knew McQueen would have such adorable buckling knees? And just for that, Tom, if you're out there, we love you, too.
The man who shot and killed T.I.'s childhood friend—with bullets the rapper believes were meant for him—will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
A Cincinatti...
On the off chance the rest of baseball didn't quite hate the Yankees enough already, this should just about do it. The team this afternoon agreed to a contract with free agent first-baseman Mark Teixeira worth $180 million over eight years. Combined with their previous signings of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, they’ve now committed more than $400 million this off-season to three players. When they open their new stadium in April, they'll have the four highest-paid players in baseball — three of whom will share the same infield. So we guess not everyone’s in a recession. [ESPN]
"The majority of our games came from short selling, which was actually good to use in the bear market instead of the bull market." —Alexandra Scott, of Greenwich High School, whose team won $500 and a trip to Hartford in a statewide "Stock Market Game" sponsored by Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. [Greenwich Time via DealBook/NYT]
Front Page: Emergency meeting scheduled for Jan. 12-13 -- SAG's postponement of its strike authorization vote may signal that its leaders are tilting in a more moderate direction -- so much so that the divisive vote may be called off.
When all the outlandish claims in Misha Defonseca's ridiculous Holocaust memoir Misha almost slipped by unnoticed earlier this year, Herman Rosenblat probably thought he could put anything he wanted to into his ridiculous Holocaust memoir, just so long as he didn't claim he was raised by wolves or something (which Defonseca did, hilariously). But he might've been mistaken! The New Republic has just posted an investigation into Rosenblat's upcoming biography, Angel at the Fence: The True Story of a Love That Survived, in which the retired TV repairman claims he was kept alive during his stay in the Buchenwald concentration camp by a girl who slipped him food through the fence, and whom he subsequently married years later after meeting her on a blind date ("The single greatest love story, in 22 years of doing this show, we've ever told on the air," says Oprah, who's had him on her show twice). As it turns out, though, it's possible that none of this even happened.
According to TNR: It would've been impossible for a Buchenwald prisoner, or person on the outside, to access the fence. The only possible location to which someone could get near, according to Professor Kenneth Waltzer, Michigan State University's director of the Jewish Studies program, was "right next to the SS barracks." Also, Rosenblat's story is doubted by those who were in the concentration camp with him, including Ben Helfgott, a fellow survivor who "went through the Holocaust with Herman every step of the way, and never once heard of the girl at the fence until Herman spoke publicly of his story in the 1990s." "The story is a figment of his imagination," says Helfgott. "There is not a word of truth in what he is saying."
Reps from Penguin, Rosenblat's publisher, insist his story has been fact-checked, as does Harris Salomon, the president of Atlantic Overseas Pictures, who's producing a $25 million film based on Angel at the Fence. Even so, we can't imagine Oprah will be too pleased to hear about this.
Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer for the shaky-cam aficionado in your family? Might we suggest picking up the Cloverfield monster (standing a nearly life-size fourteen inches tall!) and pairing it with a bottle or four of Dramamine? Ah, Christmas! [Hasbro Shop]
HAIR
• Lily Allen's locks changed from blonde to pink to brunette to black, making her the Best Chameleon Hair of the Year. [The Sun]
• Meanwhile, Jada Pinkett Smith's bold asymmetrical haircut is reminiscent of Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield." It's okay; dare to be different, J. [Daily Beauty Reporter/Allure]
MAKEUP
• When The L Word returns to Showtime in January, they'll show off some custom pouts. Three Custom Color Specialists inspired by the four lesbians on the show, Bette (red), Kit (brown), Alice (taupe), and Shane (brown-nude), each for $20. Sassy. [BellaSugar]
• Take a chill pill with M.A.C's newest collection, Chill. The 13-piece line focuses heavy on the eyes with light nude or pink lips. [This That Beauty]
PLASTIC SURGERY
• Plastic surgeons say that people are opting for Botox and gel fillers instead of face-lifts because they like the idea of pay-as-you-go (pay for each Botox treatment) instead of one lump sum for a surgery (like $15,000 for a face-lift). How consumer-savvy. [WSJ]
Someone has hung mistletoe over the entrance to the Bedford Avenue L stop. And many have sighted this Arctic hipster out of fuzzy red work clothes hanging out there under it, waiting for a young alterna-babe to come along who reminds him of his wife before she got fat and complacent like this. (Yeah, people, we know — lame. But we have a bus out of town to catch!) [ScoutingNY.com]
Front Page: Guild needs to find exit strategy -- As the prima facie evidence mounts that SAG's 122,000-plus members are in no mood to approve a strike authorization vote, the guild's two top bosses -- prexy Alan Rosenberg and national exec director Doug Allen -- seem to be twisting in the chilly December wind.
US film director Woody Allen, seen here addressing the press in Paris, said Tuesday he hopes to shoot a new comedy in Paris next summer, continuing his recent run of choosing to film in European cities... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Dec 2008 | 9:46 pm
Dorothea Lange's photo of a "Migrant Mother" was the definitive image of the Great Depression. The woman in it, Florence Owens Thompson, was tired, hungry, and desperate, and the hardships she suffered made her look far older than her 32 years. Wrinkles creased her forehead, worry was etched around her mouth and eyes.
Well. The women of the Greatest Depression are not about to let themselves be caught looking like that. Today's Journal reports that despite the economic downturn, many working women have refused to give up the cosmetic treatments that keep them looking vibrant and youthful, even though they're breaking the bank.
Maralyn Burr of Omaha, Neb., in June lost her job as a district sales manager for bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. Ms. Burr, who is $140,000 in debt from her 22-year-old daughter's musical education, says she has slashed spending and all but stopped eating out. But she hasn't given up her Restylane and Botox injections. "It's like comfort food," she says.
Well. At least when future generations look back at this historic meltdown, the pictures will be nice.
In Lisa Young's hushed video, Practice (at CUE Art Foundation), a young man wearing an untucked polo shirt, his hair cropped short, works on his putting while a lawnmower navigates the course quietly in the background. Young has attempted to distill perfection. And, oh dear, is it dull.
Front Page: Academy members to determine '09 nominees -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is readying a post-Christmas gift for its 5,810 voting members. Oscar ballots are set to be mailed out on Friday.
After wide-leg jeans and high-waist trousers splashed through this year's trend pages and stole the spotlight away from skinny jeans, yet another style is diving back into the jean pool this spring — bell bottoms. Just look at denim designer Michelle Siwy's seventies-era inspiration for her new 24-inch flare Chloe style for Siwy Jeans. With that sort of circumference size, these flares are large enough to classify them as a new style of super-bell, if you will. And Siwy's mass-market jeans are just one sign of a seventies comeback — Marc Jacobs's fall 2007 collection rallied a certain disco feel. Can we cue the theme song to Welcome Back Kotter and channel our inner Sweathogs now?
No, that's not the VH1 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders Countdown being projected as a three-dimensional hologram, it's actually Dee Snider ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Just when you thought the economy had slammed headfirst into "rock-bottom":
Two more reasons to feel optimistic about the economy after the jump:
After over a year of insane cross-country road trips, hours of berating reporters over the phone and in person, and constant battles with his own colleagues, you'd think Hillary Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson would want at least twelve months of a break from intense politicking. You'd hope, even. The dude settled down with a nice fat Fox News consulting paycheck and a relaxing couple oflittle blogs. But no. We haven't seen the last of ol' Howie and his Bill Cosby sweaters. He's signed on to help with Mayor Bloomberg's reelection campaign, which means that Hizzoner is expecting a knock-down, drag-out fight. He'll join Bloomberg's new campaign manager, Brad Tusk, who was last known as Rod Blagojevich's "pugnacious" deputy governor in Illinois. This one is going to be rough on all of us, we can just tell.
Also? An anagram for Brad Tusk and Howard Wolfson is "A Blowhard's Wonks of Turd." How awesome is that?
The vacancy left by Gerard Mortier at New York City Opera could soon be filled. A former executive director of NYCO, Mark Weinstein, says the embattled company will appoint George Steel, the former director of Columbia University's Miller Theater, to the position in early January. "I anticipate that George Steel will be asked to be the next general director of New York City Opera," says Weinstein, now the executive director of the Washington National Opera. But Steel denies any involvement with the company's search for a general manger. "Have I ever spoken with them?" asks Steel of his contact with NYCO board members. "Of course. Am I in negotiations with them? No."
Steel's association with the position was first mentioned on Monday by Bloomberg News, in a story Steel calls "complete nonsense." The story reported that NYCO has been in talks to hire Steel away from Dallas Opera, where he has been general manager since just October. But Steel says the story was false, and Bloomberg News posted a second story reporting Steel's denial. Asked if he would consider the job if it was offered to him, Steel said "I don't think so. I'm very happy where I am. But I love New York City Opera. And, like everyone else, I'm hoping for a great new leader for them."
According to Weinstein, though, the hiring process is under way. "I would expect an announcement shortly after the new year," he says. City Opera's chairwoman, Susan L. Baker, could not be reached for comment. Mortier backed out of his contract to become NYCO general manager on November 7, 2008, citing the company's refusal to meet his
budgetary demands.
Sahar Daftary, a London model who had been crowned the Face of Asia, fell twelve stories to her death in Greater Manchester on Saturday. The fall came just days after Daftary found out her boyfriend was married and had children. Rashid Jamil, 33, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder but was released. (Daftary fell from Jamil's apartment window while collecting her things after they had broken up.)
Daftary, just 23, had pulled out of a modeling gig earlier in the day claiming she was ill. She had also posted about her relationship on her blog, noting the ups and downs.
Daftary's family told the Telegraph that they don't believe the fall was accidental or an act of suicide. "She would never commit suicide. It was against everything she believed in. She had everything to live for. She was a beautiful, intelligent, religious woman," Joe Karim, her brother-in-law said.
The couple had declared their love in an Islamic ceremony last year.
Whereas the first trailer for Dreamworks' Monsters vs. Aliens played like Hellboy rejiggered for preteen boys, the film's just-released second preview actively courts the young female quadrant by focusing heavily on Reese Witherspoon's Attack of the 50-Foot Woman–type character. But while we are treated to a few more details about her character's arc — she gets hit by a stray meteor on her wedding day, causing her to swell to ginormous proportions, at which point the U.S. government forcibly enlists her to assist with national security issues — we still don't get the sense that this movie will be as awesome to watch in 3-D as the upcoming My Bloody Valentine remake (MBV3D for short). Also, we would be remiss if we didn't inform you that Seth Rogen's amorphously blobby character does appear to find himself a love interest at some point in the film. Specifically, a Jell-O mold. Heck, that beats fucking a pie any day of the week!
Peter Kraus has impeccable timing. He was hired at Merrill Lynch this past September, just a couple of days before CEO John Thain engineered the sale of the firm to Bank of America. Then Friday he left the firm forever, just after the $25 million bonus he got from the sale kicked in. His job description at Merrill was "overseeing the firm’s business strategy and investments; global growth plans and opportunities." So we guess he oversaw that shit. Or, you know, watched it happen. Anyway. Nicely done. Happy holidays, Peter! Cheers to you not getting mauled by angry taxpayers in 2009! [Deal Journal/WSJ]
If you experience back pain from your handbag, it's too heavy. But you knew that, right? Just by that thudding ache that won't go away? As a general rule, your bag should not weigh more than 10 percent of your body weight, which means thirteen pounds if you're 130, says FabSugar.com. That seems like such an impossibly tiny number when we're talking about fitting our entire lives into one bag. Especially now, when totes are huge and hot — just look at the new styles from Louis Vuitton, large enough to fit a small animal and a new pair of shoes (without touching each other, mind you). So what if you end up with a dead arm, pinched nerves, or a hump-back. No pain, no gain.
But as our posture continues its free fall into Quasimodo territory, maybe some downsizing is worth considering for a New Year's resolution. Do we really need a day planner when we're headed to the gym or a three-pound hardcover book while shopping? And just how many pairs of shoes should be in there? Because if life's necessities are literally a pain in the ass, it's time for us to collectively unload.
(The following conversation occurred last night over the telephone with limited interruption. This is the ACTUAL transcript.)
Mom: So you know how I was telling you about Daddy and I going to Tel Aviv? Well, we figured "let's do a layover somewhere". So Daddy's on Orbitz for the past hour, but he's not getting anywhere. And we wanted to go to Madrid, but then you had to open your mouth about the pickpockets, so now I'm too afraid to go there. So Daddy's online, it's taking forever, so I say 'Mel, why don't you just call already?' so he does. 2 minutes later, chick chock, one two three, we have a lovely man on the phone from British Airways, speaking the Queen's English. And would you believe the ticket over the phone was $100 cheaper! ha HA!
I'm arriving to london Sunday night, then we have all Monday, and (screaming now) Tuesday our flight is at 1, right Mel?
Michelle: (completing 2009 taxes) Uh huh...
Mom: Then he says "Want to leave in the morning?" I said "What time?" He says "7am." I said "You don't have enough money to pay me." What time am I gonna get up? 3 in the morning? To get to the airport at 5? I don't think so. Nah, I'll go in the afternoon. I learned. Make it easy! I'm not stupid.
Michelle: (entering 2nd REM cycle, phone receiver on floor) Right...
Mom: See, many times online it gives you such sh*tty hours, why do I have to kill myself 9 oclock in the morning? Am I nuts? This way, one o clock! A mechiah! I have time to have breakfast, the taxi can even take me to Buckingham Palace on the way - ha HA - Then I get into Miami at six! What's better?
(fading one-ended laughter) So that was good. (pause)
Michelle: (Riding on a flying bus with John Lennon. "The people down theh are so smohl!" John exclaims. "And their beards are so long!" I reply. Then all of our teeth fall out.)
Mom: Tell me, what musical should Daddy and I see in London? Because I was thinking Phantom because Daddy never saw it, but then I hear a lot about this Billy Elliot, it's getting great reviews, but you can't go wrong with Phantom.
Michelle: (The first thing I've said this entire conversation, no kidding) What about Les Mis? It's a classic.
Mom: Nuch, Daddy and I saw Les Mis in 1986. With the original Jean Valjean, dahling!(direct quote)
(subject change with little to no warning in the middle of our conversation)
Mom: You know what show I am absolutely addicted to? 3rd Rock from the Sun. What actors!! All of them are good: The guy, the kid, she's fantastic. And the way he loves Jane Curtain on the show... the sh*t that he goes through! Uch that sh*t is the best. I watch it every night.
You know who else I love? Judge Karen. You ever watch her? She. Is. The Best. She is so good! And now that I know how to use the DVR, I tape it so that I can come home and find out what the verdict was.
Today a woman sued her landlord for bedbugs. Michelle, I have to tell you, not only was I pishing in my pants, but the people sitting in her court were sh*tting laughing. I'm addicted to her.
Michelle: Mmmbye.
The End.
For the record, I'm watching Judge Karen right now... and it's pretty good. Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 8:00 pm
If someone were to ask you how Will Smith, out of all the world's working and aspiring actors, became one of Hollywood's top-grossing movie stars, you'd probably answer, "total luck." And, of course, you'd be completely correct — but don't let him hear you say that! Smith is among the growing number of film-industry rainmakers (including Dustin Hoffman and director Sam Mendes) using an argument from Malcolm Gladwell's new best seller Outliers to explain their massive success, reports today's L.A. Times. In the book, Gladwell posits that any skill can be "mastered" if one spends 10,000 hours practicing, attributing the accomplishments of Bill Gates and the Beatles to all the time they spent programming computers and playing eight-hour sets in dingy German rock clubs (respectively).
Smith recently spoke to the L.A. Times about a small film he saw, describing its cast thusly: "I could tell that none of the actors in the film were world-class actors with 10,000 hours of experience." (Both Hoffman and Mendes have made similar-ish statements in interviews, says the paper.)
There are lots of plausible reasons for Will Smith's super-fame — charm, likability, the endless durability of this song, etc. — but would anyone ever credit his success to the countless hours he spent mastering his craft? And has he really even put in the requisite 10,000 hours? Just because Seven Pounds seems to go on forever doesn't mean he spent that long acting in it!
Visitors view the 15th century wooden crucifix attributed to Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo displayed to the press during the inauguration of the exhibition at the Italian parliament in Rome. Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Dec 2008 | 7:40 pm
This is really sad. Thierry Magnon de la Villehuchet, a co-founder of French fund Access International, apparently committed suicide after losing approximately $1.4 billion of clients' funds with Bernard Madoff. He was found dead this morning in his Upper East Side office. "(He) could not cope with the pressure following the outbreak of the scandal," a relative told French newspaper La Tribune. "This is a farewell from someone who had done nothing wrong." [NYDN]
AP - Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet tear each other apart more thoroughly than an iceberg ever could in "Revolutionary Road," a brutal and brutally tedious depiction of marital malaise.
Ladies and gentlemen! As previously mentioned, we here at Bestweekever.tv were given an exclusive inside look at The Real World: Brooklyn house. Since we knew you'd never believe us, we brought a video camera along for the ride. Here is your first INSIDE look at the house - brought to you by your very favorite bloggers in the world! And me! (Language NSFW)
Do not forget, the new season premieres on MTV, January 7, at 10 p.m.! If you can't wait until then (and if seeing Dan and I topless wasn't enough), you can check out clips on RealWorldDailies.com which launches on January 2 and will include all sorts of debaucherous footage throughout the season. Also, there is a Real World Secrets: Revealed special airing on January 4, which I'm sure will reveal some of the behind-the-scenes scandals you're just dying to know about (do you think they discovered that I'm the one who broke the pool table in half?). Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 7:05 pm
Sufjan Stevens just released Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Infinity Voyage, his eighth annual Christmas EP, which, as always, he's giving away free. In keeping with the space-age feel of the title, most of the tracks are Switched-On Stevens versions of traditional carols, making heavy use of retro synth sounds to balance out the warmth of an occasional piano and Stevens's own hushed, intimate delivery. The two exceptions are new songs "Christmas in the Room," a touching snapshot of an aging couple who are all the decoration the other needs; and "The Child with the Star on His Head," a holiday fantasia that starts as a desultory blues number before blasting off halfway through the 13-minute running time with trumpet-playing aliens.
Like many who work in the fashion industry, model Alison Nix says she is "all about black, all of the time." The day our Video Look Book cameras caught up with her, she was decked out in the color — wearing a black rag & bone cape jacket that she bought at the sample sale, black jeans, and black lace-ups. She also revealed her affinity for cooking, but says, "I'm a model, so I can't really eat what I make. But when I retire, I'm going to be a big, fat baker in my own café." Watch the video to find out more about Alison's style.
Can you guess what Tom Brady bought his ladylove, supermodel Giselle Bundchen, for Christmas? Did he buy her:
a. A flat-screen tv.
b. A giant rice cake.
c.Gwyneth Paltrow's head.
d. Sexy Spongebob costume.
e. This painting.
f. A framed reprint of this.
It's definitely e., by the way. Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 6:15 pm
"I'd be doing Chekhov and they'd be chuckling. I'd be like 'What the hell are you laughing at?'" —Jennifer Aniston got into comedy because people wouldn't stop laughing at her [Reuters via Yahoo]
"The people of Oakland have come too far to have our city's name trampled upon in the name of entertainment." —David Chai, chief of staff to Oakland mayor Ron Dellum, on HBO's Gentlemen of Leisure [SJ Mercury]
"We definitely need a kid ASAP." —Spencer Pratt threatens the world with potential devil spawn [MTV]
"We still got it in Harlem. But instead of it being a pizzeria, we got it as a Chinese restaurant. We got some elements of the old in there, but we're adding some new elements." —RZA on his remake of The Last Dragon [MTV]
"We just ran out of money. We could have made him into a baby. Anything you want to do, you can do now." —David Fincher on his original plans to CGI a baby Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [MTV]
"Of course he doesn't get jealous. I'm not a porn star." —Kate Winslet on her husband's reaction to filming her love scenes in Revolutionary Road [Coming Soon]
I wasn't able to post this yesterday because I spent most of the day crying and vomiting over this horrific tragedy. What hath the barber shop wrought??? Someone got a haircut, and now the very foundation of hotness has been shaken. Find out who has ripped my heart out with his foolish buzzcutting ways, after the jump. The question is: is he still hot?
Prepare for your fantasies to die...
Oh Robert Pattinson (and God)! WHYYYYYYY!!!! I don't know if I can ever look at you the same way again. I just don't know if I think you're that hot anymore. And now, I'm totally regretting that neck tatoo of bite marks with "Robert Was Here" written underneath. DAMN YOU, PATTINSON! GROW IT BACK! Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 6:00 pm
Whitney Port doesn't want her new Whitney Eve clothing line to fall into the celebrity-fashion-line category (we've been covering this beat a lot today, huh?), probably because the stereotype is categorically negative. So she differentiates herself thusly: "I thought if I could bring a California style that was more unique, and more based on a vintage aspect, then women would feel a little bit different," she says. Because Mischa Barton's vintage-inspired bags and Nicole Richie's vintage-inspired accessories don't tackle that special feeling of celebrity vintage inspiration enough? Sure, we get it. [Nylon]
A&E's Intervention is easily one of the greatest shows on television. But you would think the A&E website would be a little more sensitive to the show's touchy subject matter. Check out the advertisement currently running alongside the Intervention forum:
Because if you're going to fall off the wagon, what better way than with a relaxing glass of crisp Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio... "Your Family Will Never Know."
(Apologies to those who watched this week's episode after my gushing review last week. For what it's worth, you usually don't see someone pumping food into their own stomach. Usually.) Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 5:31 pm
Jennifer Lopez sent her assistant to spy on her husband Marc Anthony.
The 39-year-old 'Get Right' singer - who gave birth to twins Max and Emme in February - allegedly wanted to make sure Anthony didn't stray while he was on tour.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: "She wanted reports back so he didn't cheat on her."
The couple - who have recently been photographed without their wedding rings on - are reportedly selling their Bel Air home where they tied the knot in a surprise ceremony in 2004.
It seems Jennifer isn't the only one spying. Friends claim Marc is constantly checking the star's phone records and wardrobe.
Another source said: "He's very, very controlling of her. The skirts aren't as short. You don't see so much of that booty anymore."
Marc was seen flirting with women in New York and Las Vegas nightclubs last week, reportedly complaining Jennifer was "making me miserable".
Marc's publicist denies the marriage is in trouble, insisting: "They're doing great."
Scarlett Johansson's used tissue has raised $5,300 for charity.
US TV network NBC put the soiled tissue on auction website eBay after 'The Spirit' star appeared on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' last week, and have now raised the staggering amount for food-gathering charity USA Harvest.
According to eBay, bidding for the sneeze debris started at $0.99 but jumped to $4,050 just hours before the auction ended. The final price was reached after 83 bids were placed.
Bidders had to be pre-approved before they could put in an offer, and the lucky recipient will remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, Scarlett has appeared on Maxim magazine's Young Hot Hollywood 2009 list, compiled of stars they believe "will be leading Hollywood's new guard of A-list icons".
The 24-year-old actress features alongside seven other female celebrities in the January 2009 issue of the men's publication, including 'Gossip Girl' star Blake Lively, 'High School Musical' beauty Vanessa Hudgens and singer Katy Perry.
Other stars to appear on the list were 'House' star Olivia Wilde, 'Heroes' beauty Hayden Panettiere, reality TV starlet Audrina Partridge and 'Umbrella' singer Rihanna. Source Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 23 Dec 2008 | 5:26 pm
The film A Clockwork Orange was the inspiration for Christina Aguilera's 28th birthday bash.
The singer dressed up as the lead character from the 1971 Stanley Kubrick movie.
Wearing a bowler hat and jumpsuit, Christina was joined by husband Jordan Bratman at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.
They sipped on her favourite cocktail, the cotton candy mojito, dined on an orange cake and were entertained by DJ AM, 35, real name Adam Goldstein, on the decks.
Other guests at the bash included Nicole Richie, 27, and fiancé Joel Madden, 29.
Front Page: Balanced lineup helps lead network to victory -- NBC had the "Biggest Loser" and the biggest show, but CBS edged past the Peacock for the demo lead last week and has now opened up a bit of a lead for the season race.
Michelle Obama–approved designer Jason Wu is expanding his brand with a new collection called the Exclusives. Consider it similar to Thakoon's new line, Thakoon Addition, and less like a Target diffusion one. The capsule collection will have eight pieces, according to WWD: three dresses, two jackets, a knitted cardigan, a knitted T-shirt, and a skirt. The prices range from $390 to $780 wholesale, and the line hits stores in June.
What brought on this expansion? Why, the economy, of course! "In this economic climate, it's important to zero in on what our clients want," Wu says. The designer is also launching a fur line with Saga Furs for his fall 2009 collection, debuting on February 13 at Exit Art. "It will be fur garments mixed with fabric," Wu told WWD, noting that he used mainly minks. "In certain stores, they would hang with clothes, and in bigger department stores, they could hang in the fur departments." So not only does the new First Lady wear him, but he's possibly reaching a new audience with his Exclusives line and fur lovers at the same time. Well done.
Seattle folk rock band Fleet Foxes has scored the first gold-certified record for U.K. indie Bella Union in recognition of shipments of 100,000 copies.
Much has been made of Barack Obama's interest in "Team of Rivals," Doris Kearns Goodwin's best-selling book on President Lincoln and his cabinet. But James M. McPherson's new book might also be worth reading for the president-elect.
Kelly Clarkson's new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," will hit U.S. radio outlets Jan. 19. The track will introduce her fourth, as-yet-untitled studio album, due March 17 from RCA.
Front Page: Vet writer to receive lifetime achievement kudo -- The Writers Guild of America West has tapped veteran scribe William Blinn as the recipient of its Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television.
Today, the Daily News devotes a sizable slideshow to celebrities who actually wear their own fashion lines. Of course, this is nothing new: Gwen Stefani is always sporting her L.A.M.B. goods, SJP pairs her Bitten with Loubs, and LiLo practically lives in her self-esteem-boosting leggings. Nevertheless, it's fun for a mindless click-through: Remember when Katie Holmes tried to make her own clothes? Or how strangely cheap J.Lo looked when she wore a Sweetface dress? Matthew McConaughey's self-styled j.k. livin t-shirt, however, just makes us wish he'd stick to the bike shorts and wetsuits. [NYDN]
Ahhh.... cappella. Perhaps no other form of organized performance gets my bile flap in a tizzy like a cappella, the finger-snapping, musical college equivalent of an IRS audit. The college I went to had a slew of singing groups to choose from, and it seemed that even though I never attended any of their concerts by choice, I was still subjected to their harmonizing ways at various events. There I would be, lured into our student center by a table of free snacks, and just as my arms were as laden with as many Entenmann's as a lady could handle, I would hear it: A small Asian girl in the opening throes of "No More 'I Love You's'"; or a group of Christian singers dealing Jesus perhaps the most sinful of blows: A slightly flat version of "Your Love Is Liftin' Me Higher." Within seconds, there was a powdered sugar outline where my body once stood as my legs road-runnered it to the door (pastries in hand, of course).
My theory about a cappella is as follows: They sound passable when singing together as a group, but as individual singers are mediocre. (This theory, of course, does not apply to Rockapella, the narrative singers from Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? They were geniuses.) And the worst part is? All a cappella singers are so cocky about having good voices, even though most of them don't! Andy Bernard on The Office is a great (written) example of this baffling phenomenon.
I tell you all this as a precursor to the following admission (dignity swallow): The following video may be the first a cappella performance I actually (shudder) enjoyed. A group of guys at Indiana University got together with a reimagining of "The 12 Days of Christmas", and you know what? IT WAS PRETTY ENTERTAINING, OK?? There, I said it! And I don't care what you think!
I FINALLY LIKED AN A CAPPELLA PERFORMANCE (sobbing):
Is this a sign I'm getting older... and wiser? By the way, as cute as that was, I still don't know if it necessarily warranted the Rolling Stones like reaction from the crowd.
OPEN THREAD: A question for the ages. Is It Possible To Truly Like A Cappella? And how many of you a cappella singers out there hate me now? ~It's nothing personal~ I promise.
AHEAD: These same guys, in sweaters, singing live on The Today Show!
*CONFESSION: Ok, fine, I also have an a cappella version of "Say It Ain't So" on my Ipod. And I don't mind it. Will I get into heaven now? Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Dec 2008 | 4:06 pm
I, David Blaine, will donate coats to the New York coat drive, as I do not myself need coats for my large, bare arms, which are invulnerable to cold because of my mental concentration.
Now that this child has a coat, he possesses the warmth to nurture his spirit and grow into a true zealot of the human condition.
Many many coats... like God's winterwear...
I will now lie underneath these 800 pounds of coats for fifteen days. If someone wants to donate them afterwards, I suppose I won't stop you.
Wal-Mart will be the exclusive U.S. retailer for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's "Greatest Hits," which will arrive Jan. 13, two weeks prior to the group's new Columbia studio album, "Working on a Dream."
AP - I spent hundreds of hours this year immersed in role-playing games like "Fallout 3," "Fable II" and "Lost Odyssey." The genre is special to those of us who like our small-screen adventures to have a widescreen feel. I've saved the world from total annihilation too many times to count, and I'm always ready to rally another motley band of fighters and take on another megalomaniacal supervillain.
The leadership of the Screen Actors Guild delayed a strike vote Monday and scheduled an emergency meeting for January over the union's failure to negotiate a new contract with producers.
Oh Bronx. I'm so so so sorry about this. Your daddy told Sirius radio's "Monday Mash Up" show that your mom's breast milk tastes "weird" and "soury." I know. That means Pete Wentz has been drinking Ashlee Simpson's breast milk - and is telling people about it. It seems that Pete has had a touch of the di-di of the mouth as of late on the radio. Between this and his detailed description of what it's like to bang his wife, I think someone needs to remind Pete that the internet listens to the radio. Because it will only be a matter of time before the kids at school google this crap and start with the "Breast Milky Wentz" nicknames and the "Bronx's dad likes to drink from his mom's boobs!" chants.
• Non-marrieds Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt had to beg and cry to get into their own show's after-party at Butter in NYC Monday night.
• Lindsay Lohan gets...
DJ AM has spun his own version of the tragic events that unfolded in September.
The celebrity mix maestro, severely injured along with Travis Barker in a private-jet crash that killed...
'Tis the season to be...topless? At least if you live at the Playboy Mansion, it is.
Here's Hugh Hefner's holiday card featuring his new girlfriends,...
What was cable's top series of 2008? And, no, the answer, "Definitely not The Hills," is not acceptable. (Although, true, highly accurate.)
Why could New Mexico be a...
It all comes down to this for The Dark Knight, Milk, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire and all the other films labeled "Oscar hopeful" for whatever reason in 2008.
Ballots for the...
What did he work, and when did he work it?
As questions go, they're not the most pressing to face a president, or, in the case of Barack Obama, a president-elect. But they're...
Peter Berg is out of the line of fire.
A negligence lawsuit filed against the actor-director over a fatal accident that occurred in 2006 on the set of Berg's terrorist thriller The...
And you thought Kim Kardashian's 2009 calendar was hot.
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star gave us a sneak peek at one of the sexy snaps to be included in next...
The man who shot and killed T.I.'s childhood friend—with bullets the rapper believes were meant for him—will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
A Cincinatti...
(The following conversation occurred last night over the telephone with limited interruption. This is the ACTUAL transcript.)
Mom: So you know how I was telling you about Daddy and I going to Tel Aviv? Well, we figured "let's do a layover somewhere". So Daddy's on Orbitz for the past hour, but he's not getting anywhere. And we wanted to go to Madrid, but then you had to open your mouth about the pickpockets, so now I'm too afraid to go there. So Daddy's online, it's taking forever, so I say 'Mel, why don't you just call already?' so he does. 2 minutes later, chick chock, one two three, we have a lovely man on the phone from British Airways, speaking the Queen's English. And would you believe the ticket over the phone was $100 cheaper! ha HA!
I'm arriving to london Sunday night, then we have all Monday, and (screaming now) Tuesday our flight is at 1, right Mel?
Michelle: (completing 2009 taxes) Uh huh...
Mom: Then he says "Want to leave in the morning?" I said "What time?" He says "7am." I said "You don't have enough money to pay me." What time am I gonna get up? 3 in the morning? To get to the airport at 5? I don't think so. Nah, I'll go in the afternoon. I learned. Make it easy! I'm not stupid.
Michelle: (entering 2nd REM cycle, phone receiver on floor) Right...
Mom: See, many times online it gives you such sh*tty hours, why do I have to kill myself 9 oclock in the morning? Am I nuts? This way, one o clock! A 
(subject change with little to no warning in the middle of our conversation)
Mom: You know what show I am absolutely addicted to? 3rd Rock from the Sun. What actors!! All of them are good: The guy, the kid, she's fantastic. And the way he loves Jane Curtain on the show... the sh*t that he goes through! Uch that sh*t is the best. I watch it every night.
You know who else I love? Judge Karen. You ever watch her? She. Is. The Best. She is so good! And now that I know how to use the DVR, I tape it so that I can come home and find out what the verdict was.
Today a woman sued her landlord for bedbugs. Michelle, I have to tell you, not only was I pishing in my pants, but the people sitting in her court were sh*tting laughing. I'm addicted to her.
Michelle: Mmmbye.
The End.
For the record, I'm watching Judge Karen right now... and it's pretty good.
Because if you're going to fall off the wagon, what better way than with a relaxing glass of crisp Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio... "Your Family Will Never Know."
(Apologies to those who watched 
Ahhh.... cappella. Perhaps no other form of organized performance gets my bile flap in a tizzy like a cappella, the finger-snapping, musical college equivalent of an IRS audit. The college I went to had a slew of singing groups to choose from, and it seemed that even though I never attended any of their concerts by choice, I was still subjected to their harmonizing ways at various events. There I would be, lured into our student center by a table of free snacks, and just as my arms were as laden with as many Entenmann's as a lady could handle, I would hear it: A small Asian girl in the opening throes of "No More 'I Love You's'"; or a group of Christian singers dealing Jesus perhaps the most sinful of blows: A slightly flat version of "Your Love Is Liftin' Me Higher." Within seconds, there was a powdered sugar outline where my body once stood as my legs road-runnered it to the door (pastries in hand, of course).
My theory about a cappella is as follows: They sound passable when singing together as a group, but as individual singers are mediocre. (This theory, of course, does not apply to Rockapella, the narrative singers from Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? They were geniuses.) And the worst part is? All a cappella singers are so cocky about having good voices, even though most of them don't! Andy Bernard on The Office is a great (written) example of this baffling phenomenon.
I tell you all this as a precursor to the following admission (dignity swallow): The following video may be the first a cappella performance I actually (shudder) enjoyed. A group of guys at Indiana University got together with a reimagining of "The 12 Days of Christmas", and you know what? IT WAS PRETTY ENTERTAINING, OK?? There, I said it! And I don't care what you think!
I FINALLY LIKED AN A CAPPELLA PERFORMANCE (sobbing):
