From London to New York, living in an expat daze
Hacked to death.
After 167 years, time was called on Britain’s biggest-selling Sunday newspaper (unbelievable but true), the News of the World, by its owner, one Rupert Murdoch. The final edition goes out on Sunday without any advertising. Revenue from sales will go to good causes. (!)
The scandal just keeps right on giving! Fallout, fallout everywhere but surely an inquiry, yes, another one, will be along soon to provide time-honoured shelter from the storm? (more…)
I have deliberately avoided any mention of the political peccadilloes concerning the latest scandal that is Anthony Weiner, NY Democrat representative in the US Congress. There is enough information out there for anyone interested in the details.
However, in today’s New York Times, Ross Douthat, in writing about The Online Looking Glass states that
“The rituals of social media, it seems, make status-seekers and exhibitionists of us all.
Read it. You will not be wasting your time. Let me know what you think!
For what it is worth, narcissists will always find a way to expose themselves. And how do we know these details? Social networking in some shape or form. As simple as “Me Tarzan, you Jane!” Word always gets around. Eventually.
The National Enquirer did it for Sen John Edwards, winning a Pulitzer Prize in the process. Oprah Winfrey did it for James Frey. The Hitler Diaries were eventually outed as frauds and Richard Millhouse Nixon did it for himself. Not forgetting, Tiffany’s doing it for Newt! As we speak!
But my favourite has to go to Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll and the scandal of the Headless Men.
. . . and the attempts to live happily ever after with Mr Right.
Sitting in the bar of a hotel in San Francisco, my company for the duration was the television tuned to CNN where the amiable host Piers Morgan was interviewing Donny and Marie from the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas where they are performing their latest variety show.
Image via Wikipedia
Donny’s ageless good looks had Piers Morgan dribbling with envy. Marie, however, sat back in a glazey daze of surgical plastic fantastic, the camera hovering from too close a close-up. Ever the trooper, she joshed and bantered with good will, remembering the old days when good old Groucho pinched her butt. Between the two of them it was memories of Sammy this and Elvis that.
Image via Wikipedia
Can’t wait till Wednesday! Apparently that is the day Newt Gingrich announces he will be throwing his hat into the ring as a Republican candidate for the 2012 Presidential election.
So, if I know that now, what is there left to announce?
As a non-American without voting rights living in the US I am always taken by surprise at how much Newt never fails to irritate me. (more…)
Image via Wikipedia
. . . but we know she will live forever up there on the big screen across which she blazed such a trail in the history of twentieth century cinema.
Her death has brought a slight lump to my throat and I am taken aback at the depth of my surprise. Her beauty, her passion, her Hollywood stardom glowed big time in the era of a true Mid-Century Modern which made its way all the way into the heart of the crazy family I had no choice but to call my own.
Another dirty day here in LA, the smog sits over the hills of Hollywood and soon we will be out of here and heading into the desert of Death Valley.
I am simply passing through this town but so many have come to LA from everywhere to pursue a dream. Milk-fed on the ideal of the American Dream Los Angeles would seem to be the epi-centre for such a pursuit.
. . . is Newt Gingrich. Remember Newt?
Former Speaker of the house, he is considering running as a candidate in the 2012 Presidential race. Announcing recently the launch of an “exploratory phase” Newt is testing the warmth of the water that is the public opinion from his website, Newt’s Org
. . . admits the Rev Grant Storms, the New Orleans pastor arrested yesterday on obscenity charges. Married with four young children, he is not looking forward to having to explain to his children how naughty he has been.
A christian fundamentalist, he is famous for vigorously protesting against the annual Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans and for hosting “The Reformer Radio Show.” Now he is famous for more, so much more.
. . . he’s back! But, did he ever really go away?
Dick Cheney, the gift who keeps on giving courtesy of a battery-powered heart pump, broke the early morning light of yesterday in an interview discussing the recent shootings in Arizona, his views on Obama’s Presidency (one-term), security issues and points of potential resignation during his term as Vice President. All of which we will be able to read in greater detail in his new book due to be published in September. He is writing the book with help from his fiercely protective daughter, Elizabeth Cheney.
