AP - The Bird & The Bee, "Ray Guns are Not Just The Future" (Blue Note Records)

The horror! Neil Gaiman's spooky book wins Newbery David Beckham has been sued by a disgruntled photographer who was roughed up last month by one of the soccer star's bodyguards...

Principal production on the first of a planned pair of 3-D motion-capture films featuring the intrepid Belgian...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:55 pm

Crisis? What crisis? Paris haute couture thinks big (Reuters)

Reuters - Dramatic blood-red gowns on the catwalk, billowing fur coats in the audience: at the haute couture shows in Paris on Monday the super-rich defied the economic crisis in extravagant style.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:54 pm

Mary-Louise Parker Tackles Hedda Gabler plus Other Culture Highlights From This Week’s New York

Mary-Louise Parker is the latest to play the title character in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler — will she be the first to get it right? David Edelstein investigates. Dan Kois reviews Sam Mendes's production of The Cherry Orchard. Edelstein reviews The Class. Are this year's Oscar nominations as game-changing as Barack Obama? Mark Harris is dubious. How did Bruce Springsteen manage to remain the Boss for 40 years? Ira Boudway explains it all in chart form. Was Sundance 2009 the best in years? Yes, say Logan Hill and Bilge Ebiri. Also, Hugo Lindgren interviews Andrew Bird on his musical roots.

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: in the magazine

Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:50 pm

Senate OKs digital delay

Front Page: Nationwide switch postponed four months -- The Senate voted unanimously Monday to delay by four months the mandatory nationwide switch to digital broadcast TV signals.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:50 pm

Paris Couture: Dior Inspired by Vermeer (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - We headed north, but not that far, at the Christian Dior spring 2009 haute couture show Monday with a trip to Flanders, where everyone from Vermeer to Van Dyck had their say in the opulent reconsideration of the house's oeuvre.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:43 pm

John Thain’s Phone Date With Denial

If you ask us, Maria and John's phone date today started off on a bad note. First of all because she was in Davos (which is where he wanted to go this week except he got fired), and he was stuck back in New York at CNBC's studio. They could have at least hologrammed him onto the slopes so he would look cooler! But no. Anyway, Thain said what you might expect: The losses were a fault of legacy positions and market movement, though some of his little raw nerves showed when he said he was "surprised" by his ousting but couldn't "comment specifically on what irritated" Ken Lewis. But really the entire conversation is best encapsulated by this exchange near the end:

M-Hons: Why did you need to renovate the office? What was wrong with Stan O'Neal's office?
Thain: "Well — his office was very different — than — the — the general décor of — Merrill's offices. It really would have been — very difficult — for — me to use it in the form that it was in. And — you know, I — it needed to be renovated no matter what.

We'd like to interject here and note that this is where Maria is supposed to ask the very important follow-up questions, like: How different was Stan's office from the rest of the offices? Was there an under-the-sea theme complete with round water bed and black lights? An insufferable incense smell and life-size naked-lady paintings? A doll collection? Did he take in stray cats that crapped anywhere?

Instead she goes straight to:

M-Hons: So it is an environment where jobs are being cut and clearly salaries are being cut. And the firm is reporting all of these losses. Did it occur to you at some point over the process to say this is probably not the best judgment, I better put this off?
Thain: Well, Maria, remember, this was back in December of '07. So the financial industry hadn't melted down yet. I had every expectation that Merrill Lynch would be a large, successful company, that these office renovations would be used by me for many years in the future. And we were also doing lots of other things to bring down costs. So with 20/20 hindsight, it was a mistake.

Okay, so we'd like to interject again and say this is just stupid, and wrong. December 2007 was not exactly halcyon days, if you recall. December 2007, when Brainiac Thain stepped in after his predecessor, Merrill Lynch CEO Stan O'Neal, took a then-unheard-of $8 billion in write-downs and was summarily dismissed, was also the month in which Vikram Pandit took over for Chuck Prince at Citigroup, when the latter was forced to resign after taking $6.5 billion in write-downs, and the month in which it was decided that Jimmy Cayne might want to bow out of Bear Stearns, which ceased to exist soon after. In short: December 2007 was the exact month in which it became pretty freaking clear, even to us, and we don't know shit, that America's banks had some pretty serious problems. So, basically, we kind of think Thain failed this one. He should have stayed home and laid low. We guess he will from now on.

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: banks, business, chuck prince, citigroup, cnbc, john thain, maria bartiromo, merrill lynch, stan o'neal, vikram pandit

Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:31 pm

…OF THE DAY

• TIN-TULAR ROLE: Billy Elliot himself Jamie Bell will star as Tintin in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the Tintin comic book series, with Daniel Craig set to co-star. The role of Snowy the dog remains uncast... I assume Eddie Murphy's agent has been on the phone non-stop? (ONTD)
• COMING SOON - HOT BETTY: ABC is bumping Ugly Betty until at least June, which could mean the beginning of the end for the America Ferrera comedy. I'm sure Vanessa Williams will land on her feet, especially if NBC picks up Eraser: The Sitcom. (Radar)
• SNAKES ON A WATCHMEN: This Watchmen viral video is so damn viral, Dr. Mario wouldn't even last a second against it. It's like J.J. Abrams banged these Gatorade subway ads and gave birth to an online video. (ComingSoon.net)
• THE AMAZINGLY RANDOM RACE: School of Rock and Nacho Libre screenwriter Mike White and his father Mel will appear as contestants in the upcoming season of The Amazing Race. Hopefully, this will inspire Charlie Kaufman to jump on board for a confusing but brilliant season of Dancing With The Stars. (Defamer)
• LITTLE CHILDREN - THE MUSICAL: And finally, the most uncomfortable video of the week, and it's only Monday -- The Chippendiddys!!! Clicking this link automatically sends your IP address to Chris Hansen. (Scandalist)

Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:30 pm

Wait… Maybe He Said “Go Duck Yourself”?

This video fits the bill in so many ways: It's a little tail about a construction worker and his pet duck, Frank. Frank used to be a duck hunter, until he ordered a live duck as a joke... and then that very duck... became his very best friend. And now, lil' Frank escorts his owner all around town, to his construction job, back home, all the while just quackin' away and eating bananas in the passenger seat. Quote of the Vid: "As stupid as it sounds, maybe if more people had a duck in their life, maybe we wouldn't be all so mad at each other." In the words of Billy Madison: That's Quacktastic. (via Cute Overload via my animal lover in crime Stephen Lenz) Ahead, our favorite Quack Whore on Earth. Please click if you know what is good for you.

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: ABC, America Ferrera, cancellations, TV, Ugly Betty





Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:04 pm

Lil Wayne Plugs In




It's slightly depressing that so much Internet commentary these days seems to be devoted to criticizing and dismissing art work before anyone's had a chance to experience it. Which is why we'd like to express heartfelt gratitude to whoever leaked last night "Prom Queen," the first single from Lil Wayne's upcoming, uh, "rock album," Rebirth — now we don't have to wait until tomorrow's previously planned unveiling to responsibly hate on this awful, awful idea! Weezy, evidently influenced by Nashville band Framing Hanley's screamo cover of his "Lollipop," has created a bewildering mess of sludgy guitars and auto-tuned bleating about the titular love interest who's "crying, sitting outside my door." If you can believe it, it's worse than that sounds.

Read more posts by Amos Barshad

Filed Under: lil wayne, music, prom queen, rebirth, right click



Last month, a Valleywag tipster...

He also set to work denying that he had anything to do with leaks to the press regarding Caroline Kennedy last week. "I would love to know who is responsible," he said. "But at this point, I've been unable to determine that." He also told the Times he knows the whole thing has hurt his standing with New Yorkers. "You have ups and downs in public service, and you have to keep working," he said. "You have to keep doing your best. And if you conduct yourself ethically, I think over a period of time people see that."

After Criticism, Paterson Cancels Trip to Davos [City Room/NYT]
Poll: Cuomo right at Paterson's heels [Runnin' Scared/VV]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: caroline kennedy, cuddle guv, david paterson, early and often, polls






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:50 pm

Mickey Rourke vs. Kate Winslet: Who Blew It Worse Last Night?




As everyone knows, in the final weeks before the Academy Awards, Oscar campaigns are won and lost based not on the competing nominated film performances but on all the other crazy things the contenders do. So who blew their shot at last night's SAG Awards? Maybe Kate Winslet! The only person shocked by her win for Best Supporting Actress seemed to be Kate Winslet, who gave an acceptance speech (see it after the jump) that was every bit as breathless and awestruck as the two she made at the Golden Globes a couple weeks ago (to loads of bad reviews). Could she really have not expected to win, again? While at least she didn't commit the faux pas of forgetting the name of one of her fellow nominees this time, some worry that Oscar voters could get tired of her feigned surprise and over-the-top emotions. Remember, she still has the BAFTAs on February 8!

Not to be outdone, though, The Wrestler's Mickey Rourke announced plans on the red carpet to compete in April's Wrestlemania 25: "The boys from the WWE called me and asked me to do it," he told Access Hollywood. "I said, 'I want to' … Chris Jericho, you better get in shape, because I'm coming after your ass." And while the Academy's anti-Wrestlemania bias is mostly implicit, few Oscar nominees have historically been brave enough to test it. Will voters think Rourke is as lunkheaded as his character? And does his announcement imply that he might've kept some of the wardrobe from The Wrestler?

So whose perceived misstep is worse? Since the Oscars have never really shown an allergy to excitable speech-makers, we're probably inclined to say Rourke's (also, we're still pretty sure Winslet is going to win). But can either truly redeem him or herself? Maybe only if Rourke cries at the BAFTAs and Winslet participates in Wrestlemania.

Access Exclusive: Mickey Rourke To Get In The Ring With WWE For ‘Wrestlemania’ [Access Hollywood]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: kudos, mickey rourke, movies, oscars, sag, the reader, the wrestler






Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:30 pm

Luxury Companies Continue Rolling Out $43k Suits and Other Ridiculously Priced Stuff


Courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Brioni just launched a line of suits that cost as much as $43,000. Brioni's chief executive noted the economic timing was "not fortunate" but figured at least they're showing customers they stick to "high-quality initiatives." And they've even managed to sell 30 of the suits! That's because — revelation time — really rich people are still really rich. While demand for luxury goods by brands like Louis Vuitton ("aspirational") or Coach ("accessible") is expected to fall 3 to 7 percent in 2009, demand in the highest end of the luxury market should hold steady. The Wall Street Journal reports:




While middle-income consumers have cut spending because of their income, "that's not the case with the wealthy," says Carl Steidtmann, chief economist at Deloitte LLP. The wealthy are "constrained by guilt, and that's the hurdle high-end brands have to overcome."


How is that done? With ads that convince you it's okay to spend a lot of money if you just buy one really expensive thing instead of four smaller, less expensive things. Because if you only buy one pair of $1,200 Louboutin boots instead of three pairs of $450 Miu Miu pumps, you'll think harder about your purchase. And if you've considered your $1,200 pair of Louboutins carefully enough, you'll convince yourself of how useful the purchase is, absolving you of all guilt. It's that whole "new morality" Karl Lagerfeld was talking about. And if you wear your $1,200 shoes three or four times in one week, you'll really look thrifty.

The $43,000 Recession Suit [WSJ]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: brioni, eff the recession, karl lagerfeld






Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:26 pm

Everyone Wore Updos at the SAG Awards; Prince Inspires Nail Polish


Eva Longoria-Parker at the SAGs.

HAIR
• The big-hair trend at the SAG Awards: Updos. Eva Longoria-Parker, Angelina Jolie, and Kate Winslet all wore them. Yawn. [Glamour]

NAILS
• Deborah Lippmann's spring collection includes a new shimmer violet shade called Purple Rain, inspired by Prince. It's the same shade models wore in Zac Posen's last show. [All Lacquered Up]

MAKEUP
• The Oscar nominees in the Best Makeup category are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army . So, two comic books with Brad Pitt. It's anyone's game. [BellaSugar]

• Behold, eleven more looks from the International Center of Photography's "Weird Beauty" exhibit. Love. [NY Times]

• Givenchy's new spring makeup collection is quite spring-y. One shadow palette contains pastel hues like mint, rose, canary, and peach. [Beauty Anonymous]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: beauty marks, givenchy, hair, makeup, nails, zac posen






Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:15 pm

5 Signs Kanye West Wants To Star in Bisexual Porn

Sure, he may deny it. But let's face it: We all know Kanye West would love to star in a Bisexual Porn. He wants us to let him be great... but what he doesn't realize is he probably WOULD be great (at putting his shvanz in a gender-neutral orifice). Check out this photo taken today of Kanye at Paris fashion week, and then follow our 5 signs that he actually DOES want to star in Bisexual Porn: 1. His crushed velvet smoking jacket. Snuff said. 2. His gloved hand clutching his jacket ever so gently. That hand almost looks like it belongs to someone else (namely, a lady.) It reminds us of that old "Whose Line Is It Anyway" game, Helping Hands. 3. His facial hair says "vagina", while his scowl says "I might like to do it to a man." 4. His other gloved hand caressing an invisi-peen. Don't let his otherwise cocky persona fool you into believing he suffers from some sort of Napoleonic complex. We believe he's packing. 5. It's very clear that that man behind him would gladly co-star. Under those shades lies a yearning. A desire that might one day be met. I won't even mention the Geisha fan tucked into his jacket pocket... Memoirs of a Gaysha anyone? Mmmbye. Ahead... find out my who Kanye would star with in my fantasy bi porn. It would be Kanye and Karl Lagerfeld, of course. Half the fun would be figuring out if the little circle I'm looking at is Karl's lips or his anus.
Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:09 pm

Introducing the Downturnaround




Sure, the front-page headlines spell gloom and doom, but if you look carefully, the proverbial silver lining is visible. Which is why we're breaking out of the media funk to bring you the Downturnaround: In which each week, like an out-of-work banker checking the sofa cushions for change, Hugo Lindgren digs deep into the darkest crevices of the internet and mainstream media to bring you a digest of economic news that isn’t despairingly negative! This week so far: Some people on Wall Street make money, Nouriel Roubini says something positive — or at least not negative — and hey, other recessions have been worse than ours! After the jump.

• Nouriel Roubini, a.k.a. Dr. Doom, says that the U.K. will not be the next Iceland. [RGE Monitor]

• Meanwhile, Peter Schiff, a grizzly bear who, among other certain calamities, sees the United States dollar going the way of the Zimbabwe currency, gets his hat handed to him. [Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis]

• Don't let buzzwords like "depressed," "bottom," and "dismal" distract you from the overall sense of non-gloominess in this paragraph about the future of automobile sales: “Sales won't increase right away (look at the depressed sales during the early '80s), but this does suggest that auto sales are closer to the bottom than the top, and that auto sales will increase significantly in the future — although sales in 2009 will probably be dismal.” [Calculated Risk]

• In his latest quarterly letter, David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital sees further buying opportunities ahead, even if that does include a bit of that doom-mongerer’s favorite, gold. (Einhorn also scores points with us for quoting Thomas Pynchon in his letter.) [Infectious Greed]

• Private money-manager Jeremy Grantham, another one of those scary-smart guys, has a couple of comforting observations in his latest quarterly letter. For starters, he concludes that the bubble that popped in Japan in the early nineties, often cited as a model for our current woes, was in many ways much worse.

“Their stock market, at 65 times earnings, was over three times our market’s recent highs and their land was at several multiples of ours. In 1989, Tokyo’s land per square-foot was around ten times the value of Manhattan’s!


Moreover, those of you who are not yet broke can take solace in the fact that “with the market at half price, you now have much more powerful dollars. For consumption purposes, a dollar is always a dollar. Investment dollars, in contrast, are weak dollars in badly over-priced markets but powerful dollars in cheap markets. Today, investment dollars are a whole lot more powerful than they used to be.” That was hard to follow, but amen! [GMO]

• Oh yeah, this isn’t the first recession in recent times that made us all hate ourselves for buying too much crap and think that everything in America would have to change forever. [Marginal Revolution]

• And just when it looked like the only way banks could make a buck was by taking it from taxpayers, some guys at Morgan Stanley and Bank of America caught a windfall from Pfizer. Now, c'mon fellas, hit the shops and restaurants and spread it around! [Bloomberg]

• The banks can take our houses, they can revoke our credit cards, they can leave us in the street wearing nothing but last year's distressed denim. But they cannot take our BlackBerrys! [Silicon Alley Insider]

• Jack Welch, formerly America's most respected businessman and now a guy who gets listened to not quite so much, says the government's bailout plans are doing the trick. [Seeking Alpha]

• And finally, the big economic number of the day, the all-important existing-home-sales figure, came out not so horribly, dreadfully, terribly bad. Sales improved 6.5 percent from November to December. Yes, prices continued to slide at an annual rate of 15 percent, but hey, people are buying shit. That’s not nothing! [Money/CNN]

Read more posts by Hugo Lindgren

Filed Under: business, finance, jack welch, The Downturnaround, the economy






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:09 pm

Grammy Performances Set to Outshine Actual Awards




Despite going ahead and mostly nominating old people for Grammys this year, the organizers seem to be doing considerably better work when it comes to securing artists to take the stage for the February 8 broadcast. Not only will Radiohead be giving their first live performance on American television since 2000, but Kanye West, Jay-Z, and T.I. will all be on hand to perform their M.I.A.-sampling posse cut, "Swagga Like Us." Old people, don't get scared away: Paul McCartney will be there performing, too. [Rock&RollDaily/Rolling Stone]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kudos, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, T.I., The Grammys






Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:04 pm

Lost Video: Get Sneak Peeks of Wednesday's Ep!

Two more days until Lost, but we just got three sneak peeks that you can watch now! IMHO, the third episode of Lost wipes the floor with the first two—plus, we finally get some...







Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 26 Jan 2009 | 10:00 pm

Planned Coney Amphitheater Derided As ‘Plastic Potato Chip’




This August, they're supposed to break ground at Coney's Asser Levy–Seaside Park on a $64 million amphitheater with 4,000 seats and a sort of translucent, swooping roof-type thing. Brooklyn borough prez Marty Markowitz announced the project last year and is really excited that it'll be competitive with area concert venues like Jones Beach and Westbury. But now some folks are saying this'll cost too much and eat up all of the park. 'What — $64 million for this?" barked local Ida Sanoff. "We don't need this expensive plastic potato chip here!" Salty! [Brooklyn Eagle]

Read more posts by Tim Murphy

Filed Under: coney island, neighborhood watch






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:54 pm

FBI Joins in "Sensitive" Travolta Extortion Case

The FBI is lending a hand—or, more accurately, ear—into the alleged extortion plot of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, with special voice-analysis experts assisting Bahamas police...







Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:52 pm

Afternoon Fix: Taylor Swift's Britney Poster Panic Attack

• Taylor Swift momentarily freaked out when her mom moved a beloved Britney Spears poster from her bathroom to her bedroom. That comeback of Brit's just keeps getting better, doesn't...







Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:50 pm

Extortion Case New Tragedy for Travoltas

Family friend and paramedic arrested in plot to profit from son Jett's death.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:37 pm

Bill Kristol Wants a Piece of Matt Damon




It's unclear whether Matt Damon is even aware that this is being set up, but apparently Bill Kristol, who just today penned his final column for the Times, has agreed to debate the outspoken liberal actor, in Hollywood (his "home turf"), and Drudge disciple Andrew Breitbart is offering Damon $100,000 to take part. This comes after Damon called Kristol an idiot in Sunday's Miami Herald. If this debate ever happens, which it definitely won't, expect it to be the biggest thing since Lincoln-Douglas. Unfortunately, they'll probably agree that dinosaurs and humans did not co-exist. [Big Hollywood]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: bill kristol, debates, matt damon, Things That Need to Happen, william kristol






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

ICYMI: It’s About Time “Boner” Was An Answer On Family Feud

The Question: "Name something that goes up" The Answer: Family Feud surveyed 5 eighth-graders for this category. Also, all 5 of them used an uncommon but happy term for 'penis':


Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

Newfangled Sherlock Holmes Loses Cocaine Addiction, Gains Abs


One of these things is not like the other.

If you were to approach the editors of Vulture and ask us how we would reinvent the Sherlock Holmes character for today's ADD-addled audiences, we wouldn't have begun by telling you what kinds of new, 21st-century traits he needs to take on. Rather, we would've stated that the ideal place to relaunch a character like this would be on television, not film. However, since Hollywood never actually asked us for our thoughts on the matter (the nerve!), they went ahead and began developing two separate Sherlock Holmes projects for release on the big screen. While not many details are known about the comedic take that Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell plan on doing for Sony, Warner Brothers recently invited the New York Times to publicize spend some time on the set of their Sherlock Holmes project, scheduled for release in November. So then, what changes do director Guy Ritchie and star Robert Downey Jr. have in store for the world's most famous sleuth?

Looking to capitalize on the public's current taste for gritty, emotionally damaged action heroes like Jason Bourne and James Bond, the new Sherlock Holmes will be considerably more physical in his approach to crime-solving than were the prior, prissier incarnations of the character. In addition to the fact that he's shedded his Inverness coat (so as not to cover up Downey Jr.'s newfound abs of steel), we learn that this Holmes is a bare-knuckle boxer, a martial-arts expert skilled in bartitsu, and an expert swordsman — not to mention a compulsive gambler. He's also got a bit of a Johnny Depp in Pirates of Caribbean vibe to him, too; producer Lionel Wigram informs us that the character should resemble a member of the Rolling Stones, perhaps Brian Jones, in his Victorian-dress period. However, we were disappointed to learn that this darker take on the Holmes character is losing his biggest vice: his addiction to Bolivian marching powder. "No," Wigram told the Times. "He doesn’t do cocaine in our movie." Bummer!

As much as we trust in Downey Jr.'s vision and in his ability to make this character come to life, we can't help but feel a little worried that Guy Ritchie has turned history's most famous gumshoe into Poochie. Guess we'll have to wait until November to find out for sure.

Is That You, Sherlock? [NYT]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Guy Ritchie, Jude Law, News Reel, Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes






Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

Never Fear, the Couture Shows Will Be Just As Fabulous As Ever


Christian Dior Couture, spring 2009

The couture shows started in Paris today. The three-day-long parade of fashion's most fabulous, blatantly exorbitant clothes is a terribly ironic event for These Economic Times. You might think that couture, like every other part of the fashion industry, would be braced for the credit crunch; that designers would downsize their visions for newly sobered fashion sensibilities; that the wealthiest fashionistas are so ashamed of showing the outside world how rich they are they've decided to skip the couture shows this season. Well friends, we couldn't be more delighted to tell you that you'd be wrong. As you can see above in John Galliano's spring 2009 Christian Dior couture collection, designers aren't holding anything back.


Executives at labels like Dior, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Christian Lacroix expect no drop in client attendance. Chanel's president of fashion told WWD he expected growth in couture in 2009 (last year, the division saw a double-digit sales increase). The president of Givenchy forecasts a 20 percent increase in couture sales in 2009. The really rich people who buy this stuff will always be rich enough to do so. And new customers are trickling in — often from places like China, Japan, and the Middle East — who can pick up the slack if American or European clients hold back. With the worldwide pool of couture customers numbering in the hundreds, adding just one new client is a big deal.

"In more of a crisis situation, you need to be very close to your clients," said Lacroix president Nicolas Topiol. (Because no pain is greater than that which you witness but don't feel yourself.) Houses will continue improving special services extended to couture customers. For instance, if you purchase a couture Givenchy wedding dress, the house will dispatch a seamstress to you on the day of the wedding for last-minute adjustments, wherever you are in the world. They'll also help you pick hair and makeup artists and photo and video crews to document your entire couture experience, from the show to the fittings to the wedding itself.

We're glad couture designers aren't toning anything down, because these few days show just how amazing clothes can be. And just like there's no point in drinking low-calorie champagne, there's no point toning down couture. If all the dresses fit through a standard-issue doorway, we may as well start wearing burlap sacks.

Couture Stays Viable in Down Economy [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: chanel, christian dior, christian lacroix, couture, economy, eff the recession, givenchy, jean paul gaultier, john galliano, spring 2009






Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

Music Review: Posthumous Left Eye CD shows talent (AP)

AP - Left Eye, "Eye Legacy" (Mass Appeal Entertainment/Koch Records)



Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:26 pm

Mickey Rourke: From Wrestler to Wrestlemania

Mickey Rourke is taking this wrestling thing way too seriously. Hollywood's comeback kid du jour, who just notched an Oscar nomination for playing washed-up...







Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:21 pm

Bernie Madoff Pissed Off the Wrong Trust-Funders




Not long ago we stressed how it would be completely not okay to try to kill Bernie Madoff. If, however, his Florida mansion were to be subjected to hilarious pranks until the end of time, like the briefly missing statue or the toilet-papering it got yesterday, that would probably be fine. A few heroic teens called in to the Palm Beach Post to take credit for this latest act of defiance, calling it retaliation for the loss of their trust funds. Best part is, the anonymous teens claim their vigilantism was sanctioned by their parents — obviously the "cool" type of parents who let their kids get drunk in the basement in seventh grade and book strippers for their birthday parties. Anyway, while it's gratifying to see Madoff get his comeuppance, it's also a little deflating that these teens doled out the same punishment to the man who ruined their lives — whose grifting will force them to work for their money — that they would usually reserve for random, blameless houses on Halloween.

Trust fund teens take credit for decorating Madoff mansion, in toilet paper [Palm Beach Post]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: awesomeness, bernie madoff, pranks, toilet paper






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:15 pm

Netflix posts spike in profits

Front Page: Company climbs 45% in fourth quarter -- Netflix posted a 45% spike in fourth-quarter profit Monday, attesting to the appeal of its mail-delivered DVD service during the onset of the recession.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 9:14 pm

Flemish paintings inspire Dior couture (AP)

AP - Duchess lace, delicate blue-and-white porcelain and other Flemish fineries recovered their long-lost status as the ultimate luxury goods as Christian Dior sent out a majestic haute couture collection Monday inspired by Vermeer paintings.



Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:59 pm

MJ's 'Thriller' Creeps to the Stage

Michael Jackon's iconic "Thriller" music video to be adapted for Broadway.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:55 pm

The Single Sales Girl Who’s Sleeping With Last Week’s Diarist




Once a week, Daily Intel takes a peek behind doors left slightly ajar. This week, we bring you a special treat, the Single Sales Girl Who's Sleeping With Last Week's Diarist: 21, female, financial district, straight, single.

DAY ONE
Midnight: I'm hitting various bars in the East Village with my amazingly preppy girlfriend, letting some Salvadoran pediatricians buy us drinks. Though I just graduated with a degree in Ethics, this never makes me feel guilty.
1:30 a.m.: Meet up with a former summer-camp counselor of mine that I recently reconnected with. He's got a notorious sex blog, and we realized quickly we had a lot in common and that we'd probably inevitably sleep together. We all head over to Employees Only, then my preppy girlfriend finds a Harvard golf-team grad, and the counselor and I head back to his.

2:30 a.m.: I always end up sleeping with guys I'm only physically attracted to, with whom I never want to be on an intimate level. I've been single for nearly two years now. I should probably be in therapy, but instead I'm just hedonistic, and don't let anyone get close. I know it's all a power play.
3 a.m.: The counselor and I start hooking up; he's surprisingly great with his hands. Hopefully I'm unsurprisingly great with my mouth. Even though I've been wrestling with the inner anxiety of my number getting higher, we rock the missionary. Sometimes good vanilla is all you need.
9:30 a.m.: Wake up at the counselor's. I jokingly point out the mirrored armoire facing his bed, and next thing you know we're watching as he takes me from behind. Trust me, watching yourself during doggy-style definitely leads to those amazing body-shaking orgasms. Actually, I'm pretty sure we finished at the same time. Yum.

DAY TWO
10 a.m.: Half-awake thinking about the 35-year-old who I started seeing last week. We met through mutual friends and I wooed him with my philosophical thought experiments, and then pretty much lived at his apartment, naked and coked up, for the entire week. While we still haven't slept together, blindfolding me with his Italian cashmere scarves has certainly gotten my attention. It's still very new, but this is the closest thing to a crush I've had in a while. I'm totally infatuated in that nervous, butterflies-in-my-stomach, way. He reads me perfectly, and he's gorgeous to boot.
10:15 a.m. About to go for my vibrator when my phone rings; my dad's two blocks away and coming up to say hi. There goes that.
3 p.m.: At work, but apparently no one wants to buy lingerie today. Suddenly remember making out with one of Harvard Grad's friends the other night in the bathroom while the counselor waited for me at the bar. Oops. Actually, I think he was pretty hot.
8 p.m.: Preppy is over helping me pack my apartment, and she decides to Facebook the Harvard grad. I assure her that the worst-case scenario is that he doesn't friend her back, and she really has nothing to lose.
10 p.m.: My fuck buddy of about a year shows up. I refer to him as "Old Faithful" because he's always available, never stays over, and we've got a routine. It's like Hi-How-Are-You-Blow-Job-His-Hands-Missionary-Doggy-Style. Always. ALWAYS. But it always gets me off, so that's worth something. We commence.
11:35 p.m.: Old Faithful and I smoke a J, and he heads home. I browse through XTube.com and fall asleep to it.

DAY THREE
9 a.m.: Wake up early for packing; I'm moving back to my parents' today for a few weeks before I spend the spring traveling abroad. I'm doing my law-school applications for the fall, but there's little chance my degree in Ethics will get me a job I want in the meantime.
3 p.m.: The movers are a disappointment in the looks category. Why do I always have a thing for the help? After much self-analysis over this, I'm probably obsessed with control.
1 a.m.: I realize my bedroom shares a wall with my parents'. Can I XTube? This isn't going to work at all. Instead I fall asleep watching Gossip Girl on iTunes.

DAY FOUR
4:30 p.m.: Get a dirty text from one of the twins I met last month in the Bahamas. I chaperoned a trip my younger sister won, so I naturally seduced a pair of identical twins, separately, but in the same night. Disclaimer: I don't usually have one-night stands, more like a succession of fuck buddies that allow me zero commitment. This, however, was worth it. How many people can say they've had BOTH twins?
9 p.m.: Text back and forth with the 35-year-old. He's fourteen years older than me. Fourteen. I lost my virginity at 14. Still, I'm slightly head-over-heels. He may be as screwed up as me, and I've started to crack him. That's when I really started falling. Tonight, though, the conversation goes nowhere beyond him retorting that my staying with my parents is "cute."

DAY FIVE
2 p.m.: Since I finished my last final, I've been unmotivated to do anything other than party. I haven't taken any time off school since last January, and I'm just completely burnt out. Should be unpacking or application-ing.
3 p.m.: Driving to Greenwich, Connecticut, to shop, while on the phone with the trip organizer for the internship program I'm preparing for abroad. Lots of heavy flirting, and I'm showing off my great driving skills by screaming, "Where the hell am I?!" He tells me he thinks it'll be a lot of fun when I show up. How do they always know?
9 p.m.: I tend to frequent the Equinox gyms on Wall Street or Tribeca, where this time of night I've got all the eye candy in the world. Equinox in Westchester, where my parents live, however, currently has about five middle-aged, divorced guys, and one or two firefighters or other civil servants. Where's the motivation?
1:21 a.m.: After a flirtatious Facebook chat session, I could really go for a session with the vibrator right now. Living with my parents is terribly frustrating.

DAY SIX
5:30 p.m.: It turns out that the camp counselor does the reverse commute into Westchester from the city for work, so I meet him for happy-hour drinks at some random sports bar. All we ever talk about is sex and our past experiences, but I actually have a lot of fun with him. I do feel we connect as friends as well as in bed, so I guess that's nice.
8 p.m.: After ordering food at the bar, the counselor confesses that he's never run out on a bill. Me neither. We "go out for a cigarette" and run for the car park so I can drive him back to the train before we get arrested. What about me makes everyone so reckless?
8:30 p.m.: We get to the train station at 8:10, at which point the counselor slyly hints that even though the train's in seven minutes, they run every half hour or so. He's in no rush. We drive up to the roof of the car park and I straddle him in the backseat. Skinny jeans are not conducive to car sex.

DAY SEVEN
8:30 a.m.: I'm back in the city. YES. FINALLY. Selling lingerie all day.
4:30 p.m.: Text the 35-year-old, letting him know that I'm back. He calls within four seconds of receiving my text. "That was immediate," I say. His reply: "Don't you know you always make me come quickly?"
11 p.m.: At what turns out to be a really great party in the Village. Doing way too much blow because I can never say no, and making a fool of myself on the phone with the 35-year-old when he calls to see what my plans are. He's slightly condescending, and I'm going to lament this all night.
11:30 p.m.: Frustrated over the 35-year-old who's still got my head spinning, but high as a kite.

TOTALS: One act of bar-bathroom making-out; three acts of aborted masturbation due to parental proximity; four acts of intercourse with two partners; two days of obsessing over 35-year-old beau with coke predilection.

Filed Under: sex diaries






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:50 pm

Asterix creator rebuffs his daughter's sellout claims

French illustrator Albert Uderzo, seen here with his creation Gallic hero Asterix in 2007, hit out at his daughter Monday after she accused him of selling out by ceding control of his iconic comic series...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:48 pm

Bell, Craig to star in 'Tintin'

Front Page: Steven Spielberg sets cast for trilogy -- Steven Spielberg has set his cast for "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," the first installment in the 3-D motion-capture trilogy that Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment are co-financing.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:45 pm

Pope Reaches Out To Jaded Cat-Video Lovers With Vatican Youtube Channel

The Vatican started its own Youtube Channel this week, hoping to produce some viral gold with videos like "Benedict XVI: Human life is inviolable" and "Benedict XVI: Conversion is trusting in Christs forgiveness" (watch out, Digg!) While I certainly have no objections with The Vatican's forward-thinking use of technology (which many local churches worldwide already employ), I just can't help but wonder what this channel is gonna look like once internet commenters get a hold of it. DRAMATIZATION:
Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:45 pm

Fashion Director Michael Fink Is Out at Saks




We've just learned that Michael Fink, Vice President and Women’s Fashion Director at Saks, left the company on January 15. Saks released the following statement:

His departure is the result of a corporate restructuring of the organization in response to the current economic climate. We are very grateful to him for his invaluable contributions to our organization and wish him well in the future.


Saks sure is doing a lot of corporate restructuring these days. Ten days ago the company announced it would cut 1,100 jobs among a slew of other cost reductions. We wonder if Saks is looking for someone to take the fall for all the money they're losing, and Fink happens to be that person. In any case, we feel bad for him but — forgive the Carrie Bradshaw jargon here — can't help but wonder who's next?




Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: ins and outs, michael fink, saks fifth avenue






Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:45 pm

Artist Peter Caine Brings Narnia to Chelsea


Peter Caine's Portable Igloo (2008)

Brooklyn artist Peter Caine gives faces to our winter demons, fashioning them into grisly creatures like giant teddy bears with metal claws, grimacing green monsters, and, here, a ghoulish stump-like figure who belongs in a C. S. Lewis novel. Caine's frosty installation is on view at Derek Eller Gallery through February 21.

Read more posts by Emma Pearse

Filed Under: art, art candy, peter caine






Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:45 pm

Is Haley Joel Osment the East Village Penistrator?




The East Village has been longing to know the identity of the so-called Penistrator, who draws big, funny-looking penises, and occasionally boobs, in the snow on cars in the hood. And now the mystery takes a celebrity turn. TMZ.com ran shots of someone who looks a lot like The Sixth Sense tyke Haley Joel Osment, now an NYU student, doing the wintry penile renderings. Has early proximity to Bruce Willis driven him to this madness? [EV Grieve via TMZ]


Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: east village, haley joe osment, Neighborhood Watch, real estate, snow






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:42 pm

John Thain Sorry About That Whole Office Thing




Last year when former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain sold the brokerage to Bank of America, he said it was because he didn't want to end up in the same position as Lehman Brothers' Richard Fuld. But last week, huge Merrill Lynch–related losses at BofA combined with an embarrassing story about Thain's splurging on Marie Antoinette–inspired office décor left him actually worse off than Fuld. He didn't just look arrogant and evil but ridiculous, standing there in the puddle of his reputation like a kindergartner in soiled corduroys.

But Thain is still determined to be unlike the Lehman Brothers CEO, who hid out for weeks after the collapse of his company. He's taken a long hot bath, dried his tears and cleaned up, and is now, apparently, fighting back. This morning CNBC printed a rather defensive memo Thain sent to staff, in which he defended himself against allegations that he'd hid Merrill's problems from Bank of America, blamed the losses on "legacy positions," and, calming down at the end, stated his intention to reimburse the company for his $35,000 commode and assorted other goodies:

The $1.2 million reported in the press was for the renovation of my office, two conference rooms and a reception area. The expenses were incurred over a year ago in a very different environment. Nonetheless, they were a mistake in the light of the world we live in today. I will therefore reimburse the company for all of the costs incurred.


Oh, it was conference rooms, too? That changes everything. Not really, though. Anyway, now Thain is set to be interviewed by Maria Bartiromo at 4:15. Too defensive? Too soon? We'll see. Let's hope he at least knows that Preparation H works wonders on puffy eyes.

Thain's Memo to Merrill Lynch Employees [CNBC]
Earlier: John Thain Is the New Villain of Wall Street

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: john thain, richard fuld, White Men WIth Rugs






Source: Daily Intel | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:00 pm

Sundance Jury Gives Screenwriting Award to Film Without Script




Sticking around all ten days of the Sundance Film Festival meant foolhardy survivors got to listen to actress-juror Virginia Madsen at the Saturday-night awards ceremonies talk longer while presenting awards than the winners accepting them. Madsen gushed about the mostly maligned Paper Heart, featuring stand-up comic Charlyne Yi as she travels across the country interviewing people about love (while falling in it with Michael Cera). "I'm sweaty, I smell bad, I don't know what to say," Yi said, joining her director and co-writer Nicholas Jasenovec onstage to accept the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, which ostensibly is awarded to the Sundance film with the best script. The only problem, Jasenovec told us at the awards after-party, was that Paper Heart didn't have one.

"It was the one award we didn't expect because we didn't actually write this film with a paper and pen," Jasenovec said, fighting laryngitis, a common festival ailment for Sundance filmmakers. "Shocking but a very nice surprise." The other shock was that not everyone loved the movie: "We did get really hit hard by some people, and I never thought that was a possibility. But it is what it is. We wanted to make a movie that would put a smile on people's faces …. Everyone has a love story or wants one." It's also the type of story you don't even need a screenplay for, though Jasenovec still plans to keep his award.

Read more posts by Steve Ramos

Filed Under: best of the fest, charlene yi, movies, nicholas jasenovec, paper heart, sundance






Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:00 pm

Pamela Anderson's New Vivienne Westwood Campaign Is Out




Of all the spring 2009 campaigns, we were perhaps most excited to see Vivienne Westwood's. (Madonna, we still love you. Katie, we're coming around.) Not because it stars Pamela Anderson and was shot at her Malibu trailer, but because Vivienne and her husband Andreas Kronthaler also star in the ads. The images, shot by Juergen Teller, just leaked on Les Mads. These shots are two of our favorites, because we think Vivienne sells her brand just as well as, if not better than, any fake-breasted-blond actress–slash–model–slash–other–stuff who happens to own a trailer. But you can see more of Pam's solo shots, starring those breasts, over at Les Mads.

Werbekampagne: Pamela Anderson für Vivienne Westwood [Les Mads via Fashionista]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: advertising, campaign trail, juergen teller, pamela anderson, spring 2009, vivienne westwood






Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 8:00 pm

"The Colossus"

"The Colossus," seen here, one of the best-known paintings attributed to Spanish master Francisco de Goya, was in fact done by his apprentice, Madrid's Prado Museum said Monday.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:53 pm

Rolling Stone's Essential Grammy Coverage

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards: 2009 And the Winner Is... Grammy Faceoff '09: Our A-list Panel Give the Lowdown on Who's Taking Home a Trophy on Music's Biggest Night Source: Rolling Stone: Features | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:40 pm GUESS THE CELEB: Tattoed Scalp-Fat Edition Hint: It's not a character from Oz, though he is imprisoned. Answers / Joke Answers in the comments, please -- answer after the jump: Yep -- it's Boy George (again)! For the record, every future "guess the celeb" post on BWE will be this picture of Boy George. The picture of Shia LaBeouf with a paper bag over his head last week was actually Boy George in a LaBeouf mask with a paper bag over the mask. I'm still not ruling out the possibility that this is just a picture of Frank Black after he was bitten by a vampire. (pics via Socialite's Life) Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:30 pm Ortenberg moves to Weinstein Co. Front Page: Former Lionsgate vet tops theatrical films unit -- Tom Ortenberg, a 12-year vet of Lionsgate, is leaving for a comparable exec post at the Weinstein Co. Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:24 pm Color Wins on the SAG Awards Red Carpet The red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards was an eye-popping explosion of color. Bright ensembles paraded down one after another, from Eva Longoria-Parker's peachy coral Jenny Packham gown to Freida Pinto's periwinkle draped dress by Marchesa. Royal blue stood out on Kate Winslet in Narciso Rodriguez and Marcia Cross in Carolina Herrera. Christina Applegate wore kelly green Emanuel Ungaro, Marisa Tomei chose golden yellow Elie Saab, and Evan Rachel Wood selected deep teal Monique Lhuillier. Of course, the basic blacks were bound to show up last night on Susan Sarandon, January Jones, and Robin Wright Penn. Even Angelina, queen of the black, wrapped herself in Max Azria's muted shade of sapphire. For more colorful looks from the SAG Awards, click ahead. Read more posts by Sharon Clott Filed Under: 30 rock, alec baldwin, alison brie, america ferrera, amy adams, amy poehler, andrea bowen, andrew gn, angela kinsey, angelina jolie, anne hathaway, anthony hopkins, ben harper, brad pitt, brenda strong, christina applegate, claire danes, dana delaney, diane lane, emile hirsch, emily blunt, entourage, eva longoria parker, eva longoriaparker, evan rachel wood, forest whitaker, freida pinto, holly hunter, hugh laurie, jane krakowski, january jones, jenna fischer, jennifer carpenter, Jennifer Morrison, jennifer westfeldt, jeremy piven, jerry ferrara, john slattery, jon hamm, josh brolin, judah friedlander, kate winslet, katrina bowden, kevin bacon, kevin connolly, kevin dillon, kevin nealon, kiefer sutherland, kristin scott thomas, kyra sedgwick, laura dern, laura linney, lisa edelstein, lisa rinna, marchesa, marcia cross, marisa tomei, mickey rourke, nicollette sheridan, olivia wilde, omar epps, On the Red Carpet, paula abdul, penelope cruz, perrey reeves, rainn wilson, rex lee, robin wright penn, rosario dawson, saffron burrows, sag awards, sally field, sean penn, slideshow, steve carell, susan sarandon, taraji henson, teri hatcher, tina fey, tracy morgan, viola davis, will arnett Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:20 pm Filmmaker Eran Merav Learns Important Lesson About Dogs Before he directed the feature film Zion and His Brother, one of the more buzzed-about films at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Israeli director Eran Merav made waves with the beautiful and sad 2002 short film Underdog, which played and won awards at numerous film festivals, including Berlin. A sharply observed and unbearably tense coming-of-age story, it opens with Nati, a young ice-cream seller, getting duped into an unbelievable act of cruelty by some of his yahoo friends. Later, when he meets and falls for a girl, he begins to realize not only that actions have consequences, but that there are more similarities between man and beast than he may have initially realized. Part One: Part Two: Read more posts by Bilge Ebiri Filed Under: eran merav, video, vulture picture palace Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:15 pm Doug Allen steps down from SAG Front Page: Move follows brutal battle over negotiations -- Doug Allen, the lightning rod at the center of the Screen Actors Guild's bitter polarization, has been fired as national exec director and chief negotiator. Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 7:11 pm Breaking: Olivier Theyskens Out at Nina Ricci?! Olivier Theyskens at his spring 2009 show. Grazia is reporting Olivier Theyskens has officially left Nina Ricci. Or at least that's the word on the front row of the couture shows, which are going on in Paris right now. Rumors that he might leave have been swirling for weeks. Both the designer and Puig president Mario Grauso tried to quiet gossip about design differences between Puig and Theyskens less than two weeks ago. But apparently Theyskens's latest collection for the house wasn't selling. Nina Ricci is yet to confirm that Theyskens is really out. But if it's true, what on earth is Ricci going to show at Paris Fashion Week, which is just weeks away? And where, oh where, will Theyskens go? BREAKING: Olivier Theyskens leaves Nina Ricci [Grazia] Read more posts by Amy Odell Filed Under: nina ricci, olivier theyskens, puig, ricci watch Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 6:38 pm 5 Reasons To Watch The Puppy Bowl Instead Of The Super Bowl We're less than a week away from my annual tradition of DVRing Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl" with a "Save Until Manually Deleted" tag and keeping it until the next year's Puppy Bowl airs, but I just received a press release email about the event that makes a really strong case for watching the Puppy Bowl instead of the Super Bowl. Reason #1: Puns If a Super Bowl broadcaster makes a lame, forced pun, everyone in the room boos and whips beer bottles at the tv, especially if their team is losing, thus shattering the host's expensive television and leaving everyone to spitefully finish the rest of the homemade dips in awkward silence. The Puppy Bowl, by contrast, is nothing but wall-to-wall dog puns, and they never stop being awesome: Reason #2: Pepper The Parrot Will Sing The National Anthem Would you rather watch "Please welcome, internationally renowned recording artist, biggest person name could get" sing a predictably diva-ized version of the Star Spangled Banner, or would you rather be introduced to Pepper The Parrot? Even Jennifer Hudson's fans would vote 'parrot'. Reason #3: An All-New Kitty Halftime Show Another easy question -- would you rather watch Bruce Springsteen degrade himself by shelling "Working On a Dream" to a deliberately-assembled field crowd of robotically jubilant twentysomething females, or watch two dozen kitties pawing at each other in a strobe-lit chew toy obstacle course? I don't believe an easier question has ever been befallen humankind. Reason #4: All The Dogs Were Rescued From Local Shelters You wanna tell these pound puppies to their faces that you won't be watching them Sunday? If the Puppy Bowl ratings don't score highly enough, these two get put to sleep at 10:00.* *Unconfirmed Reason #5: Nudity I copied the following line straight from the press release - This year, the Puppy Bowl will be crashed by a PUPPY STREAKER! Animal Planet truly did think of everything. Ultimately, I'm sure I'll end up watching the Super Bowl with a contingent of my Pittsburgh friends, receiving by-the-minute angry friend-texts when the Steelers run Willie Parker into a pile for no gain on every first down without exception, but the millisecond that game ends, I'm clicking on the DVR Menu, playing the Puppy Bowl from the beginning, and drunkenly celebrating regardless of the outcome of the game. And if the Super Bowl had been Ravens/Cardinals, you better believe I'd be watching these puppies live. Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 6:20 pm Diane Von Furstenberg Takes Layering to a Whole New Level DVF on Inauguration day. This is a picture of Diane Von Furstenberg on Inauguration Day. In a diary of her trip to D.C. for the festivities, where she ran around with Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley, she writes she wore leggings, multiple sweaters, her ski suit, a vest, a jacket, a fur hat, and big boots. When she went to a party at Maureen Dowd's house,Talley helped her select a beaded cocktail dress with feathers at the bottom. She thought Maureen looked sexy and calls the party "a real Hollywood/Washington power nexus." But: "Afterwards I feel bad for Maureen: there were so many people, her house must be completely destroyed." [FT] Read more posts by Amy Odell Filed Under: andre leon talley, diane von furstenberg, Inaugur-nation!, inauguration, maureen dowd Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 6:10 pm Reed Business trims staff Front Page: Cuts made across all units -- Due to the economic downturn, some 30 staffers will be trimmed by Reed Business in Los Angeles. The staff reductions span corporate, editorial, sales and other personnel. Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 6:00 pm Decoding the Slumdog Millionaire Backlash As the first two thirds of Slumdog Millionaire make clear, the slum-dwelling beggars of overcrowded Mumbai lead no easy life. But if violence, hunger, and substandard living conditions weren't already enough to contend with, the movie's ten Oscar nominations have them dealing with an additional scourge: pushy journalists who won't stop asking them what they think of Slumdog Millionaire. Probably spurred by reports of protests and even a lawsuit stemming from purported offense over the movie's title, LA Times New Delhi correspondent Mark Magnier went looking for a Slumdog backlash. He tracked down a few Indian academics who called the movie "a white man's imagined India" and "a poverty tour" (it should probably be noted that the LA Times accompanies the story with a photo slideshow of an actual Mumbai slum), but despite the damning headline of his piece yesterday ("Indians don't feel good about Slumdog Millionaire"), he couldn't find any real-life slumdogs who felt insulted. "Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?" says 12-year-old Salman Ali, an orphaned beggar who almost certainly has not seen Slumdog Millionaire and, even if he had, would likely not object to what practically many agree is a generally accurate depiction of his city's problems. Also, Magnier spoke with an Indian homemaker who seems equally completely unfamiliar with the movie, but nonetheless is asked to weigh in on its magical realism (which she finds unrealistic): "I feel it's a wrong route," she says referring to the movie's game-show premise. "We barely get by, but the answer is education and hard work, not a quick fix." As Magnier concedes near the middle of his piece, most of the perceived uproar over Slumdog seems to derive from India's reluctance to be portrayed as an underdeveloped country at a time when it's trying to position itself as a global superpower, and not from any actual offense taken by Mumbai residents. And since none of Hollywood's award-givers seem to be listening anyway, we doubt Danny Boyle's losing much sleep over this. Indians don't feel good about 'Slumdog Millionaire' [LAT] Critics rave over 'Slumdog Millionaire,' Indian public mixed [AFP] Mumbai slum residents object to 'Slumdog's' name [AP] Earlier: A Best Picture Contender’s Guide to Running Against Slumdog Millionaire Read more posts by Lane Brown Filed Under: backlash, movies, slumdog millionaire Source: Vulture | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:45 pm SAG board attempts to remove Allen Front Page: Guild's chief negotiator ruled out by majority -- Open warfare has broken out at the Screen Actors Guild over the thwarted attempt to fire national exec director Doug Allen and dissolve the negotiating committee. Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:42 pm Music Review: Party winds down for Franz Ferdinand (AP) AP - Franz Ferdinand, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" (Epic) Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:35 pm 10 Songs Raped, Murdered by Microsoft Songsmith Earlier this month, we alerted you to a commercial seemingly created at world famous ad agency "The Devil's Taint & Co. LLP": The Microsoft Songsmith Ad. For those whose virgin ears have never bled bile, allow us to explain: Sing a song into the Songsmith, and it creates a back-up track to whatever melody you had in mind. And while we're sure the technology that went into this program is cutting edge, the MIDI-file shart-toppers it spits out are what music experts like to refer to as "pulling intestinal circus flags out of your own rotting carcass." (Ed. Note: I could not make it through more than 64 seconds of any of these. See if you can beat my record.) 10. The Police, "Roxanne". We know what you're thinking. "How could easily the worst Songsmith example come in at a measly #10?" Well, we need something to hook you with, right? We're pretty sure the following mash-up is the only thing on planet Earth that could kill Sting's Tantra-boner: Ahead, more proof that music is now dead. 9. Oasis, "Wonderwall". No fear though, folks. Once Liam and/or Noel catch wind of this monstrosity, they will surely track down every copy of Songsmith and kick the living sh*t out of it. 8. Radiohead, "Creep". We can't wait to see the Carnival Cruise commercial that's born out of this musical 'bortion. 7. Marvin Gaye, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". This song is almost as good as Fastball's "The Way". We said almost. 6. Billy Idol "White Wedding". The perfect thing to play at the ceremony of a brother and sister who are getting married to each other. 5. The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". This is the song you will hear on your elevator ride to hell. 4. Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic". White Rap: Suddenly not so cool anymore. 3. Metallica, "Enter Sandman". I'm not gonna lie: I actually liked this song BETTER after being churned through the Songsmith cogs. It's sort of Mannequin-esque! 2. Weezer, "Buddy Holly". Do you still need proof that the Microsoft Songsmith is a deaf Chinese man playing the harpsichord in an abandoned subway station? 1. Notorious B.I.G., "Dead Wrong". Not gonna lie... this one's pretty good. So, who survived? Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:28 pm Fashion Scandal Strikes Lipstick Jungle Fashion houses often send celebrities, magazines, and TV shows pieces with the understanding they'll be sent back when the receiving party is done with them. Maybe the items won't be used other than for gleeful private preening in the fashion closet, but at least they go back wrapped in plastic in pristine condition. We're guessing Lipstick Jungle stage manager Arthur Moreira wasn't familiar with this fashion-borrowing etiquette, because he was just arrested for allegedly plundering the show's fashion closet and selling the items online. Designer Sylvia Toledano's employees got wind of his scam when they found several items they had lent to Lipstick on eBay. The police, clearly realizing the severity of these crimes and the bad name it could give to fashion borrowers everywhere, set up a full-blown sting operation to catch Moreira that involved buying the stolen items at his apartment. Items stolen included sequined mosaic clutches, an Oscar de la Renta snakeskin bag, and Gucci coats. This is why only the strongest souls should work in fashion — the goods entice all of us, yet we must remember shame always outlasts temptation. Stage manager accused of theft from 'Lipstick Jungle' [CNN] Read more posts by Amy Odell Filed Under: lipstick jungle, television Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:25 pm FOX 411: Katie Holmes Snags Plum Job Did Katie get the best presenting at the SAG awards simply because of her famous hubby? Source: FOXNews.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:15 pm Maxim Mondays: Super Bowl Hotties and Sucky Sequels Maxim.com is bringing a fun mix of hilarious articles and sexy photos to Foxnews.com Entertainment every Monday Source: FOXNews.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:11 pm Looks Like We Have A New “Most Adorable Album Cover” Of All Time Last summer, Sara Schaefer compiled a list of the 30 Most Adorable Album Covers, with The Best Party Ever by The Boy Least Likely To taking second place to the John Denver / Muppets Christmas Album. The Boy Least Likely To apparently felt slighted with their second-place finish, because they just released the cover art for their 2009 cd, and I think it's time for an Adorable Album Cover List recount: Damn. Looks like we have a new champion -- this album is so frickin' adorable, it just received its own daily four-hour show on Nick Jr. The adorable ball is in your court now, Denver. Source: Best Week Ever | 26 Jan 2009 | 5:00 pm Death Cab For Cutie Readies Spring Tour Death Cab For Cutie will begin a spring tour April 7 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, Pa. Cold War Kids will support in April, with Matt Costa taking over for dates in May. Ra Ra Riot will open all shows. Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:56 pm Report: Jen to Upstage Brangelina at the Oscars Rumors swirl that the star is gearing up to be a red hot presenter at this year's awards Source: FOXNews.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:47 pm Fraser, co-star find warmth in 'Inkheart' The new fantasy film "Inkheart" has at its center the relationship between father Mortimer "Mo" Folchart and his 12-year year old daughter Meggie, played by Brendan Fraser and Eliza Hope Bennett. The two got along as well in real life as they did in the movie. Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:45 pm Tom Ford Launches $990 Jeans His Fordulessness Well you didn't expect denim by the man who makes $9,000 fur boots to cost less, did you? Tom Ford's new jeans, which retail for $990, are hitting stores now. They're made from raw-looking pre-washed Japanese selvage denim and won't shrink or shed indigo on any of your favorite undershirts. It's the least they could do for nearly $1k, after all. Better still, the front button is 18-karat gold plated, and the pockets are lined with fine silk. Of course, they also come with an intrinsic invaluable wealth of pocket/button-related pickup lines. [WWD] Read more posts by Amy Odell Filed Under: denim, eff the recession, tom ford Source: The Cut | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:40 pm WATCH: The Stars Honor the Stars Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:10 pm Lil Wayne Teams With AT&T To Debut 'Rebirth' Lil Wayne has announced a tentative April 7 release date for his next album, "Rebirth," a Universal spokesperson confirms. First single "Prom Queen," produced by Infamous and Drew Correa, was serviced to media over the weekend and will go live on Wayne's MySpace page tomorrow (Jan. 27). Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 4:07 pm Spanish actor Miguel Antelo performing in the Spanish version of 'Peter Pan, El Musical', in the West End Spanish actor Miguel Antelo performing in the Spanish version of 'Peter Pan, El Musical', in the West End in central London, 2008. London's theatres recorded their best ever year in 2008, according to... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:50 pm Buffett Taking Fans To 'Summerzcool' Dates are beginning to trickle out for the 2009 edition of Jimmy Buffett's traditional summer tour schedule, which shows no signs of slowing. Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:49 pm Debut White Lies Album Soars To U.K. No. 1 White Lies, one of the most hotly tipped new British bands of 2009, confirmed that potential with a No. 1 debut for their first album, "To Lose My Life" (Fiction/Polydor) on the new U.K. album chart. Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:35 pm British pop legend Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, performs in Hamburg in 2007 British pop legend Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, performs during the Live Earth concert in Hamburg, July 2007. Yusuf on Sunday released a charity song whose proceeds will go towards assisting... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:23 pm McCartney, Radiohead To Rock Grammy Telecast Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Justin Timberlake and the quadruple threat of Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West have been added to the performance lineup for the 51st annual Grammy Awards. Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:09 pm Big win for 'Slumdog'; 'Button' gets zip The actors of "Slumdog Millionaire" won outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, and Heath Ledger posthumously won best supporting male actor at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was shut out. Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 3:00 pm Rapper Lil Wayne: Get Me the Cops or Else From police-escorted Lil Wayne to the funny Foo Fighters, stars' odd requests. Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 2:42 pm Stephane Rolland goes big, bold on haute couture (AP) AP - French designer Stephane Rolland made his debut Monday as a full member of the elite club of grands couturiers, sending out an imaginative collection of cocktail dresses and evening gowns that played on bold beadwork and unexpected elements like bustles and capes. Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 26 Jan 2009 | 2:40 pm Pop Tarts: Heidi Montag Is a Swinger Once a staunch player for the McCain/Palin team, it looks like 'Hills' star Heidi and 'husband' Spencer are now on board with Team Obama Source: FOXNews.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 2:29 pm Gallery: Stars at SAG Awards Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 2:08 pm PHOTOS: Celeb Memoirs Swayze will recount life stories, including cancer battle. Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 1:13 pm PHOTOS: Celebrity Hair Colors Beckham, Theron switch experiment with different hair colors. Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 1:12 pm 'Slumdog' Picks Up Key Pre-Oscar Award Indian movie grabs top spot in SAG awards. Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 26 Jan 2009 | 12:40 pm Queensryche Probes War On 'American Soldier' Queensryche examines the plight of the American soldier on a new album of the same name, due March 31 on Atco/Rhino. Source: Billboard.com | 26 Jan 2009 | 11:19 am Disclaimer | About World : News Archives | Business | Entertainment | Sports | Technology | Science | Marketplace Audio India : News | Business | Entertainment | Sports | Telugu | Blogs : Humor pages | Norkay's Blog | Kids Stories | Indian Recipes | Database Tech Blog Sundries : World Video Clips | Songs Clips | Indian Video Clips |