Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Media-Whore D'Oevres



"Parsons The New School's 60th annual benefit and fashion show Monday night drew gobs of fashion execs, designers galore and a borderline overload of affection ... After opening remarks by New School president Bob Kerrey, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper presented Diane von Furstenberg with the evening's second accolade. 'My mom Gloria [Vanderbilt] called and said, Tell them how freeing that wrap dress was for all us women! ... First time attendee Natalie Massenet of Net-a-porter hosted a table, inviting Anna Wintour, Eliza and Alex Bolen, Amanda and Christopher Brooks, André Leon Talley, and past honoree Oscar de la Renta (who was on hand with Sidney Kimmel). " (Fashionweekdaily)

"But while this crisis simmers, the larger problem of Sudan's survival as a state is becoming increasingly urgent. Trends more ominous than even the carnage in Darfur could bring the country far more bloodshed soon. Long-standing tensions between the Arabs who populate the Nile River valley and have held power for a century and marginalized groups on the country's periphery are mutating into a national crisis once again. The tenuous 2005 peace deal that ended the civil war between the Arabs in the north and the Christians and the animists in the south is in danger; new strains in these groups' relations nearly broke out into a full-scale war late last year. Now, neither this situation nor the conflict in Darfur can be resolved without reference to the other. More crises loom as well. The Nubian people of the Nile River valley nearly rebelled last year over a dam project that threatened to destroy their homeland, and a 2006 peace agreement between the government and the Beja and Rashaida peoples in eastern Sudan is near breakdown.: (Foreign Affairs)

"With far fewer new shows available to tout, the upfront presentations themselves -- once three-hour or more affairs -- have been slashed down, as the nets forgo the pomp and circumstance. Nets may announce fall lineups but forgo midseason announcements. With fewer cutdowns to show than usual, the network presentations are expected to be short and sweet this year. What's more, most nets have canceled their post-presentation parties (with the exception of Fox)." (Variety)

"A shot of Miley Cyrus posing with father Billy Ray irked Howard Stern, who couldn't hold back on his satellite radio show Monday. 'The picture disturbs me. It looks like his daughter is his girlfriend. He's trying to be hot,' Stern said. 'He's got to be incredibly grateful but angry about her success,' he continued 'Here's a guy who had one hit. And then the cat disappeared. I don't think he had much going on. Then he has this kid and turns her into a showbiz kid. So then the kid goes into show business and becomes a megastar and he's like oh F---. He sort of the guy who hangs on.' 'That daughter of his is the only thing between him and going on The Surreal Life,' chimed in Stern sidekick Artie Lange." (SoHood)

"The superdelegate count since March 5 - Obama 38, Clinton 8. (Not counting today - wink, wink.) Sleeper story: They don't seem to be moving." (Politico)

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