NEW SEASON OF PROJECT RUNWAY SPOILER

So the new season of Project Runway kicked off with a nifty "hat' trick yesterday. By nifty, I meant to say quite terrible. Using materials and items from their apartments, the designers had to construct a dress. One of the designers placed what quite literally resembled a lampshade onto of his model's head. The hat paired with the big lamp hat made the model look...unwell. She might as well have been wearing a bicycle helmet and looking for her baseball. Nonetheless, the model still looked hotter than you and me. That's why she's a model and you aren't. I didn't want to be sucked into yet another reality show (I'm already committed to "So You Think You Can Dance"), but this damn show had me at hello.

Anyhoo, the gossipmongers at New York Daily News have a bit of a spoiler for this season's Project Runway. If you're curious, click on "more" below.

The Daily News writes:

Hungarian model Jia Santos (whose real name is Eliza Jakubek), 18, became one of the three finalists. But near the end of taping, she was struck by a bus while riding her bike to the show's location in the city.

"She was dragged underneath the bus," her agent, Avenue Models' Javier Hernandez, told us yesterday. "She fractured her skull and her eye socket and was in critical condition for three days. Now she has been in intensive care for a month."

Her first words upon waking up, Hernandez tells us, were: "Am I still on 'Project Runway'?"

It's good to see that this model has her priorities in the right place, but I'm wondering who chose her "model" name "Jia Santos." Her real name seems model appropriate. I wonder how frequent this practice of changing names is in the modeling industry.

NOTE:

Thanks to all ya'll posting comments on this great show.  Please don't stop at this entry. Check out the rest of my blog--I'm sure you'll find something else here that'll amuse you.

THOUGHTS ON A D-LISTER

Update Looks like I'm not the only one with a changing opinion of this d-lister. Kathy Griffin's earned the ire of Page Six (which, in celebrityland, is like a violent death). Instead of opening her act with asking "Where are my gays?" she may, instead, need to ask, "Where are some of my gays?" Page Six gossips:

Chelsea gay club Splash is throwing a hissy fit over comic Kathy Griffin. Club spokesman Len Evans tells us Griffin - the star of Bravo's "Life on the D-List" who often talks about her gay friends in her stand-up act - has turned down an offer to perform there in September. "We offered her $5,000, but she wanted 30 grand plus a $10,000 rider," Evans says. "On her show she's always like, 'My gays' and 'I love the gays,' but it's totally opposite in real life. We were taken aback by her response. If she had love for her gay fans she'd do it. I mean, J.Lo just performed at Gay Pride for free. I guess it's all about the money." Griffin's publicist said, "Any public appearances or stand-up bookings go through her agent."

Will more gays jump off the Kathy G vaginawagon?

On the growing success of her show on Bravo, ever self-deprecating Kathy Griffin has definitely been stepping her game up and the ascending sunrise she sees in the distant horizon just may shine favorably upon her and elevate her onto the c-list of celebrities. I've been a big fan of hers--not quite on the level of worship offered by her gays--for a long time, but lately I've been developing an internal seismic shift that's making me rethink my opinion of her.

The shift isn't set in stone, but my love for Kathy that developed over her first season on Bravo has lately been tainted by a new hesitation and ambiguity. This shift is similar to the feeling that develops when I begin noticing annoying habits or tendencies of a girl I've recently started dating. I'm sure everyone can relate to that. You go from thinking the girl (or boy in Moye's case) is the flyest and sexiest chick in the world to being first, distracting, then irritating, and then finally absolutely being disgusted by her because she...says "like" a lot or chews with her mouth open (nasty FYI). This is how I'm slowly beginning to feel about Kathy Griffin.

I still love her show and her dishing on celebrities, but her handling of the situation with her ex-husband, Matt (best name ever, by the way) disgusts me and is making me think that she's as self-absorbed as the Nicole Kidmans, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Nicole Richies that she hilariously makes fun of.

The story explaining the divorce that Kathy has peddled, most notably on Larry King this past week, is that Matt stole money from her.

"That money totaled $72,000. And he was doing [it] systematically over about a year and a half," Griffin said.

I understand that every married couple organizes their finances differently (my parents' money all went into the same pot), but one spouse stealing money from the other seems to be symptomatic of a larger problem in their relationship. Of course, what that is, is unknown to us at the moment. There are rumors flying around the blogosphere that Matt was usually responsible for paying for everything (dinners and such), which he couldn't afford--a problem exasperated by Kathy's demanding personality towards Matt. Even if she's only living in a d-list atmosphere, that's still out of the reach, financially, for most people (her house has a freakin' elevator for god's sakes). With Matt playing the role of hair dresser and personal assistant to Kathy's non-normative schedule, I imagine Matt's career took a backseat to Kathy's.

All of this is speculation and I take it with a grain of salt (and so should you). What has really triggered my changing opinion of her, however, is her decision to air her and Matt's dirty laundry in a very public way. I think it's very distasteful and unfairly vindictive.

I wouldn't have a problem if Nicole Kidman decides to go on Larry King to reveal all about her beard marriage with Tom Cruise ("Larry...it was very cramped in that closet."), because her and Tom are on a equal and balanced fighting field. Matt, despite his appearances on Kathy's show (and in my opinion, often funnier than shrill Kathy), is still relatively a nobody just like you and me. He's not going to get invited anytime soon to Larry King or Jay Leno or hell, even the View. The guy doesn't get a chance to tell his side of the story.

Adding to this, a story came out today that her two favorite gays from her first season aren't in the second season and in fact, they are completely estranged from Kathy. The reason? Money. They wanted some money to appear and Kathy's admitted obsession with gettin' paid excludes hooking her friends up with some Bravo money. I would link to the article, but I can't seem to find it at the money. You google it.

One final thought: Kathy told Larry that she isn't dating anyone right now. Okay, she's funny and seemingly quite likeable (my aforementioned comments notwithstanding), but she's not the prettiest rose in the bunch. She should date a blind guy with a good sense of humor and who doesn't know how to use an ATM.

MISS KOREA PAGEANT

The always outraged Angry Asian Man linked to a NY Magazine article that briefly profiles four of the contestants in the 30th annual Miss Korea New York competition. The pageant thing seems so bizarre to me and I don't understand the appeal of it.  MTV had a series on pageant girls this year and from the show, it seemed to me that pageants attracted primarily girls from upper-middle class and affluent families.  I was hoping the show would be scandalous and fabulous, but it was instead banal and pathetic (e.g. pageants held in dingy gymnasiums).  They were also not the most attractive either.  However, women who compete in big national and international pageant competitions are generally banging and fly, albeit in a plastic-y and homogenously Barbie way.

Non-white pageants are slightly different from those featured on MTV or "big league" contests like Miss Teen USA, in that they emphasize, and in the process reaffirm, a particular ethnic or racial culture.  Nevertheless, in the end, you still have the swimsuit component that results in a schizophrenic dissonance between the slut and the doyenne.

As for the NY Magazine article, even though they state nineteen Korean-Americans are competing, it is curious to me as why they felt the need to state how long the contestant has been living in the U.S.  For example, the magazine writes:

Mijin Park, 19, Philadelphia; schoolteacher and college student; in U.S. twelve years.

Essentially, Ms. Park grew up and acculturated in the U.S.  She is American, so I'm quite not sure what the relevance of the last detail is.  I may be over-reacting, but is this yet another subtle code inserted by the magazine to inform their readers (most who are white I presume) that these girls are not quite fully "American" (as defined by whites)?

Unpacking and examining racial symbolism, issues of assimilation, and media critique aside, the rest of Mijin Park's profile made me laugh.

Sang: “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. Why do you want to win? Audrey Hepburn said you should use one hand to help yourself and the other hand to help others. Which others? I’ve heard in Africa they really need education there. I can help if I have the title. [My favorite response if for the sheer simultaneous incognizance and hubris] Why the Little Mermaid song? She’s trying to get out of the sea to be a person. That’s me. I want to grow from a little girl to a young lady. What’s your favorite Hepburn movie? [Long pause] I’m not really sure.

I'm totally rooting for Mijin, but Naomi "Nina" Kim rocks too.  When asked why she was doing this, she responded, "To represent the Korean race. I want to be the first Korean supermodel."  I hope I see her on America's Next Top Model soon.

ZIDANE HEAD-BUTTING GAME

Someone clearly has too much time on their hands...but thank goodness they do, because this is a masterfully amusing game that lets you step into Zidane's magical shoes and head-butt your way into glory. To play...Click Here.

SHAMU WATCH 3

It appears I didn't jinx Shamu after all. It's back to the top of the list for the most e-mailed article at the New York Times. This story's got some serious legs. Go Shamu!

LAST NIGHT'S PARTY

I went out on a Tuesday night to hang out with my friend Mike before he leaves for India tomorrow, Thursday, for a job. He'll be there for the next two years, which is crazy, but exciting. I wish him the best. At the Starbucks on Spring Street in Soho, Mike's alter ego reveals itself.

Me and Mike in Union Square after drinking at Coffee Shop.

Who is cat eating out on the town And make the whole dining room turn they head around Mr Dugga Dugga Dugga.

Mike and his Georgetown buddy, Mook at Botanica. As evident by the collar shirt, Mook just got out of a law firm related social event. We are chilling at Botanica, which is one of my all time favorite bars.

Me and Lauren--another soon to be lawyer.

The lonely and quiet Metro North train ride back.

FLOWER POWER

I take photos of flowers. Thank you macro feature! I don't know what kind of flower this is, but it reminds me of a mango smoothie.

ZIDANE UPDATE

Jason Kottke's got more information on the Zidane situation (and commentary). Two main UK newspapers hired lip readers to decode what Materazzi said that triggered Zidane's glabrous rage. The papers claim that the Italian player said:

Hold on, wait, that one's not for a nigger like you.

We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore.

So just fuck off.

Wow. So it appears that Materazzi might have talked about Zidane's mama as I previously guessed. Of course, this is still not a concrete fact, so everything is still pure speculation.

HYPERCOLOR PAINT

Remember those hypercolor t-shirts that were so popular during the Nineties?  The shirt's color would change when heat was applied.  Like slap bracelets, it had a brilliant, but brief lifespan.  A supernova of t-shirts. Well, now there is a new paint that reacts with heat and will change color.  Just imagine the possibilities.

I 'm sure this stuff will appear in the next season of Cribs.

HEAD BUTTING RACISM

Reuters is reporting that Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist" prior to Zidane's infamous headbutt.  If this is substantiated, this incident makes me like Zidane even more.

NEW YORKER TACKLES NYC HIP HOP

Using NYC's hip hop radio station "Hot 97" as the focal point, the always awesome New Yorker examines the current state of hip hop in New York City. It's a very fascinating, engrossing and entertaining read. Here's an excerpt from the article:

A recent edition features a scene shot last year, before Gravy’s feud with Hot 97, and shortly after he and Fendi had negotiated to take their private label, Dirty Money Records, to Warner Bros., for a reported three million dollars. It is night, and Gravy and Ice-T are standing on Eighth Street, in the Village—a young rapper on the cusp of success, basking in the attention of an elder statesman. “We just chilling,” Ice-T says. “I bumped into Gravy. Say, ‘What’s happening?’ We talking.”

“We gone got the official Gangsta Man,” Gravy says. “You can’t get more gangsta than this man right here, you know?. . . Tell me, what you got going on, Ice-T?”

“Right now, I’m on TV—niggas watching me on ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,’ cause I’m the real mothafuckin’ pimp,” Ice-T says. “Playing the police. Imagine that. That’s real pimpin’ for a street nigga like me.”

Ice-T mentions that he’s got a new album coming out (“Gangsta Rap”), along with a clothing line (310 Motoring) and an energy drink (Liquid Ice) to promote: “I’m just trying to get it all, man. I’m trying to stay in the game.”

Gravy, nodding along, is wearing three huge silver necklaces, with crosses dangling in front of his stomach. “My man, shit, let me check out how you roll,” he says, turning and pointing behind Ice-T to a silver luxury car.

“Yeah, this the Bentley,” Ice-T says, before directing the camera to the front seat, where he shows off a customized steering wheel. “Got a lot of wood up in there. You go check niggas’ Bentleys out, you ain’t even going to see the wood steering wheel, ’cause that’s extra. That cost five thousand. . . . But I got it from hard work.”

Ice-T turns serious. “The hardest thing in the world to get is street respect, where niggas really are happy to see you with this type of stuff, you dig? That’s the hardest thing to obtain, is to get it, and have the hood feel like you deserve it, you dig? ’Cause you can go out there, get a budget, and get a whole bunch of money—niggas will run right up in your crib and repossess that bullshit, real quick. Look, look, look— ”

A double-decker sightseeing bus has pulled to a stop behind the Bentley (“Ladies and gentlemen, Ice-T!”), and tourists on the upper level begin snapping pictures. “What’s up, Ice-T?”

“What’s happening?” he shouts back.

“There he is!”

Turning to face the camera again, Ice-T smirks, and says, “That’s all white people—trip. That’s all white people. So you got to be good in the hood, and gets respect from the top deck, you dig? World renowned, internationally known, and locally respected. That’s me and Saucy”—Gravy—“we do it like that.”

The cameraman asks, “Ice-T, how’s the rap game changed since you’ve come up?”

“I mean, the rap game’s changed a lot, but I’m not mad at it,” he says. “It’s more raw. . . . Now every rap crew is made of real mothafuckin’ dangerous individuals, you dig what I’m saying? You got to understand, I got in the rap game to get out of the streets. . . . Now the streets is in the rap game.” Ice-T, as if in a time warp, appears to be counselling his protégé Gravy from some vantage point in the future. “Now niggas idolize the shot, not the shooter,” he says. “You brag how many times you got shot. I’m supposed to be impressed? . . . I’m down with the niggas who staying on the streets, who ain’t getting shot, ’cause nobody wants to shoot ’em. . . . I’m down with the niggas who come from the gutter but are trying to do it right, so they can feed they kids. Them is my crew. . . . Like this, ya heard?” He tugs Gravy back into the frame. “If you motivate niggas to do low, you hustling sideways.”

Ice-T’s wife, Coco, who is white, enters the picture, and his mood lightens. “She representing—just got her mothafuckin’ nails done,” he says. “I love her to death. . . . All the black women that got problems with Ice-T with a white girl? Kiss my fucking ass.” Then he puts his arm around Coco and starts singing “We Are the World,” swaying from side to side.

People are asking me why I'm switching from my old blog to this new one. If they use the points made in this article as a metaphor, they'll understand my motivations. I'm just trying to step up my game, ya heard?

MYMODELSTER: ONLY MODELS NEED APPLY

Another family has joined the social network neighborhood. Friendster first arrived on the scene in 2002 with a splash, but this master was soon surpassed by the grasshopper as MySpace (for emo and music fans originally) and Facebook (college students) quickly dominated the social network scene. Google's Orkut service is primarily popular in only Brazil (I don't quite understand why, but that's the way it is). In the never ending pursuit of greater market, most of these social networks have attempted to become more and more inclusive. There are a couple notables that prides themselves on being exclusive, like this new network strictly for the thin, tall, and beautiful. And it doesn't count if you competed in a few mall modeling contests. Nope. Started by Jesper Lannung (see below) and called ModelsHotel.com, this one is only open to legitimate models who are signed and represented by the "top 50" agencies.

It is difficult to be ridiculously good looking and so it is understandable models want a space that is safe and comfortable for them where their anorexia and homoerotic photo shoots won't be mocked by a public that doesn't understand the art.

The first 100 to join will receive a "Members Only" jacket.

CONAN O'BRIAN WEDDING PICS

Here are a few photos from NBC Late Night's Conan O'Brian's wedding. These photos were taken from the wedding photographer's website. Conan and his now wife had a baby recently. From these photos, that baby will grow up to be the whitest baby in the world. 10 minutes in the sun will result in a major sunburn.

THE GLADIATOR FOR THE SENSITIVE MAN

I just finished watching "The Gladiator" on TNT for the umpteenth time. Am I the only guy that gets choked up in the final scene when the senator looks down at the fallen body of Maximus and asks "Who will help me carry him?"

ADAM CAROLLA HANGS UP ON ANN COULTER

This shouldn't come off as a shock to any of you who have been reading my blog or know me personally, but I pretty much hate Ann Coulter. I think she is a terrible human being. So I personally really enjoyed this moment in radio history when Ann Coulter calls into Adam Carolla's radio show to pitch her latest fatuous polemic. She tells him that she's short on time to which Adam responds by hanging up on her. His finals words:

Listen bitch, don't call in an hour and a half late and then complain you're tight on time.

To read more...Click Here.

To listen to an mp3 recording of this interview--an interview I consider the best Ann Coulter interview ever--Click Here.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

One became a world class athlete and the other a famous thespian and Hollywood star. Both have been known to use their heads to kick some ass.

POST WORLD CUP FINAL THOUGHTS (UPDATE)

Update on Head Butt-Gate The blogger for Guardian Unlimited writes the following about what set Zidane off. The frat boy nipple tweak.

115 mins Replays show that Materazzi's crime was to, erm, tweak Zidane's nipple. I kid you not. Tyldesley, the Zidane lover, is now launching into the darker spots of Materazzi's CV, but he's a fool: Zidane is slap bang out of order, kinky nipple tweak or no nipple tweak.

I disagree. Both Materazzi and Zidane should have been sent off. I'd knock the fucker out too if he pinched my ol' nips. Some on the blogosphere are arguing that Zidane's action against Materazzi was an egregious over-reaction. It may be, but I have so much less respect for players who commit sneaky fouls. If you're going to foul, foul, but don't try to tweak nips. Maybe soccer should adopt a few more rules from hockey such as the penalty box that would give teams a man or more advantage for five or ten minutes as well as letting the players fight it out until one of the fighter's knees hit the ground. I'm kidding about the last point, but I think the penalty box is a workable idea that could address some of international soccer's problems.

There is also an unsubstantiated rumor also going around that Zidane was called a terrorist or something similiary offensive by Materazzi.

But back to the nipple tweaking and some evidence via the requisite youtube links to the offense. Look closely at the very beginning of the clips at Materazzi's hands.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc]

And here's a better angle:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBV52GPhNjw]

And just for kicks, I'll say it again one last time: NIPPLE TWEAK.

Wow. Except for French and Italian fans (who I presume are more concerned with the final outcome of the game), the true stunner of the game was that head butt to the chest that Zidane dropped on that Italian player (see photo and gif below). It was quite magnificant, except that sort of action is quite frowned upon in soccer. That said, I won't judge Zidane until the full scope of what happened is revealed.

(If image does not play, click here to view)

The replays show Zidane and the Italian talking before Zidane jogs forward a bit before turning around and dropping that vicious header on the Italian player. My conjecture is that the Italian might have said something racially offensive, if which that is the case, more power to Zidane. That said, the guy could have just said something about how fat Zidane's mama is. And if that's what happened, then good riddance to Zidane.

The Italians dominated the first half (penaly kick scored by Zidane notwithstanding), while the French owned the second and most of the overtimes. All in all, it was quite an entertaining game. It is just too bad that Zidane and the other player had to tarnish this final with their behavior.

A GIRL'S GUIDE TO SNAGGING A BANKER

I can't blame girls for wanting to date investment bankers.  Hell, I want to date an i-banker.  I would love to eat at Masa and be taken on vacation to the islands.  So the attraction the ladies have for Mr. Goldman Sachs is understandable, but some of you are probably thinking: I have a pair of breasts, a vagina and and a degree from Penn--How come I'm not dating an i-banker?   The answer may lie in where you work, how you dress, and who you roll with.

Well, like anything else, there are rules to becoming a banker girlfriend. If you commit to these 5 simple yet indispensible guidelines, you are well on your way to having a loving, fulfilling relationship with the banker of your dreams, (and possibly a three-story in Greenwich, with unlimited access to brawny pool boys and the latest in pharmaceuticals)

1. Work at Sotheby's.

This is first for a reason. I simply can not stress enough the importance of working at Sotheby's. Sotheby's is what we call a "feeder workplace". Each year, a high percentage of Sotheby's women go on to date bankers from all the "bulge brackets".

If, for some reason, you can not get a job at Sotheby's, there are a few other acceptable professions, including: development at the MOMA or Natural History Museum, PR, and book publishing (anywhere but HarperCollins, for obvious reasons).

To read more...Click Here.

WORLD CUP THOUGHTS

I have thoroughly enjoyed this year's World Cup, but I found it bizarre that there is a consolation match between the two losing teams of the semi-finals to battle it out for the seemingly meaningless title of third place.  No one remembers who came in second place, let alone third.  I think the World Cup should follow the NCAA Final Four basketball tourney format where there is only one winner: the winner of the final match. My biggest complaint, shared by many others, is the laughable--if it wasn't so god damn irritating--tendency of the players on the pitch to resort so frequently to theatrics.  When slightly nudged or grabbed or bumped, the "victim" (or more accurately, diver) tumbles to the grass with an act that rivals the best Olympic gymnastics floor routine--all to grab the attention of the referee and hopefully earn a free kick or a card against the opposing player.  For all the talk about soccer being a "beautiful game" and a skilled one, lets call these player's exaggeration actions for what it is: unsportsmanlike and cheating.

Admittedly, I don't know what solution there might be to address this issue.  The field is too big and the action too quick and minute for a referee to truly discern the genuine from the disingenuous.  In the same way some sports are defined by the hardiness of the players abilities to take coma-inducing hits (hockey most notably), I think the issue of diving is ingrained in the culture of futbol.  Therefore, this diving problem cannot be fixed at just the elite international level of play.  It must occur at its roots in the playground, gymnasiums, youth leagues and so on.  The culture of soccer must change to the extent that diving is considered a dishonor to the utmost extreme.

Along with the culture modification, the finger for a player and team's tendency for diving must also be pointed at the general, the head coach.  The coach sets the play, attitude, and personality of a team.  In this light, a player that dives has the tacit approval of the coach.  I think if a referee draws a yellow card for diving, the coach should receive one too.  If another player on the same team receives another yellow card for diving, the coach will receive his or her second card as well, resulting in the coach's expulsion from the game.  Diving is a controllable act and therefore, the penalties should be extreme in order to root out this disease from an otherwise beautiful game.

With only a few hours left before the start of the final match between France and Italy, I'd just like to say "Go France!"  It's extremely difficult for me to not root for the "old men" or more specifically, the French captain Zidane.  He is everything a world class soccer star should be and I'd like to see him go out with the proverbial final-at-bat home run.

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS FUNNY

Based on this ad on Craigslist, apparently enough time has passed for Osama to be a punchline.

The ONION is casting for an Arab-speaking male actor (roughly 30 to 50 years old) to play Osama Bin Laden in an upcoming video segment. We’re hoping that you’ll have strong comedy chops, be comfortable with improv, and can be absolutely fearless in your performance. If you’re interested, please send headshot/resume to onionwebvideo@gmail.com.

Osama + comedy chops = Emmy.