Death is a sad fact of life. Though I find this story unintentionally hilarious I do have sympathy for Ms. Rivers’ late companion and his family. I have an equal amount of sympathy for Ms. Rivers for enduring what must be one of the worst dates ever. Having your date die is surely a blow to one’s self esteem.
Joan Rivers in an undated photo.
Joan Rivers date dropped dead during dinner at Le Cirque
ny.eater.com | Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | by Amanda
Today, on a particularly amusing episode of the Howard Stern show, Joan Rivers revealed that a man she had been dating for five weeks dropped dead during dinner at Le Cirque seven months ago. Rivers said her date suddenly went quiet, with his eyes wide open, sitting upright on the banquette, and he just died. Jokes that she made about the incident: 1) Her salmon dish was ruined as a result, 2) She paid for the meal by reaching into the dead man’s wallet and handing over his AMEX, 3) At least left a 20% tip even though he didn’t finish his meal, 4) He must’ve kicked the bucket after seeing her in the bright light.
Not the worst place to die right?
His death was not made public at the restaurant. Rivers, the management, and paramedics told patrons that he would be fine so as to not, you know, totally freak them out. Also it should be noted, her date was elderly, so the death was not, as far as she knows, food related.
There are worse places to drop dead. Readers, please put your best jokes about Le Cirque’s deadly prices, its dying breed of patrons, and the like in the comments.
Update: The official comment from Le Cirque: “No one has died at Le Cirque. The crème brulee’s to die for, but that’s about it.”
UPDATE No. 2: The good people at Sirius were kind enough to transcribe the show for us. And yes she eludes to Le Cirque, but is ambiguous about it:
JOAN RIVERS ON THE HOWARD STERN SHOW/SIRIUS XM/March 2, 2010
The first Gilly Hicks:Sydney just opened. Only time will tell if a sex soaked image will lead to success in this tepid economy. Since this article was written the first Gilly Hicks:Sydney retail outlet has opened, but I liked this article for it’s snarky attitude to Gilly Hicks:Sydney inaugural FLASH campaign. The same comments apply, IMHO to rest of Gilly Hicks:Sydney branding.
Gilly Hicks: Sydney – flashers
by Abram Sauer | March 24, 2008 | www.brandchannel.com
Gilly Hicks: Sydney (GHS) is Abercrombie & Fitch’s (A&F) latest endeavor to market underwear and unmentionables to the youth market. Yes, that same demographic targeted by the parent company’s other offshoots—Abercrombie, Hollister, and RUEHL.
From Gilly Hicks’ use—or abuse—of both flesh and Flash, it’s no surprise that the company’s website is generating attention and controversy.
The Gilly Hicks: Sydney Internet marketing strategy is perfectly representative of what one would come to expect from the brand masters at A&F. The company’s decidedly non-Australian CEO, Mike Jeffries, recently described GHS as “the cheeky cousin of Abercrombie & Fitch.” However, there are two noteworthy observations to be made about Gilly Hicks: Sydney’s brand strategy. The first has to do with the brand’s website’s “sex sells” approach.
I first heard the word “vajazzle” in early 2010 when someone posted a link to Jennifer Love Hewitt chatting about her privates. Apparently the Completely Bare Salon in NYC has been providing this service since 2000. As their site states:
Now it’s time to go completely bare with a flair. Accessorize your own jewels…with crystals.
In case you still don’t understand what’s involved I’ll be blunt. First a woman’s privates have all their hair removed. Sparkly crystal “stickers” are then adhered to the bare skin. Ta da!
British fashion designer Alexander McQueen has died, an apparent suicide at age 40. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by his life. His mother had just died, in fact he died the day before her funeral, his Australian lover whose name he had tattooed on his arm returned to Australia and he was enduring the pressure of mounting his next collection.
Lee, as his friends called him, had a working class background and 2 weeks before his death was allegedly musing about the emptiness of fashion and the vacuousness of the rich and famous and pondering leaving fashion with a photographer. His life had changed drastically before, the cab driver’s son got a CBE from the Queen before he was 40.
He has been mourned publicly by the best dressed, loudly and dramatically so. In the words of his former “husband,” George Forsyth “The truth is, the fashion world is the loneliest place on the face of the planet. It’s a shallow world full of party people and party ‘friends.’ Lee knew that,’ ” he tells the London Daily Mail. According to Forsyth he and Lee partied and lived large with the “fabulous crowd” including Kate Moss, before becoming bored and disillusioned with it. Forsyth chides the recent press coverage of McQueen as not reflecting the life of the brave, tough, bold, talented man he knew and instead focusing on celebrity reaction, often celebrities he didn’t even know.
While a fashion student he was discovered by fashion editor Issie Blow who became a close friend and early supporter. As Mr. McQueen’s career sky rocketed he did not find a place in his empire for Ms. Blow whose career became sluggish as they grew farther apart. She too killed herself in 2007.
‘Bad boy’ of fashion broke rules
www.edmontonjournal.com | February 14, 2010
Alexander McQueen, who was found dead on Thursday at age 40 after apparently hanging himself, was celebrated as the “bad boy of British fashion” — an aggressively talented tailor who refused to compromise and was all the more lauded as a result.
His genius with clothes catapulted him out of a grim East London estate into a world of glamour and wealth. But while the “poor-boy-made-good” story was good copy, McQueen never truly shrugged off his outsider status. Instead he thrived on controversy, baiting the grandes dames of the fashion world who queued up to interview him, on one occasion leaving a powerful fashion journalist who had crossed the Atlantic for an audience “white with shock.”
McQueen was always at his best when in confrontational mode: setting new trends — such as his infamously low-slung “bumster” trousers — or daring to use textiles printed with the image of a man being executed in the electric chair. Nor was the advent of new technology a threat to him.
When the model Kate Moss featured in a drugs scandal in 2005 and was disowned by many in the industry, McQueen swam against the prevailing tide in typically swift and innovative style. Rather than snub Moss, he projected a three-dimensional hologram of her at his next Paris show.
But an eye for the grand gesture was not purely gimmickry. While McQueen was happy to spray-paint a model on the runway — as though she were a car moving along the assembly line — the roots of his talent were as far from automation as the trade could get.
Honed at Savile Row, his feel for the chalk and scissors was bolstered by an acquisitive nature that drove him to master not only the classic shape of the gentleman’s suit, but also the designs of years gone by, or “16th-century pattern cutting and stuff like that,” as he put it.
This case first came to my attention because the judge ordered a $150 a day makeup artist be hired to cover up Mr. Ditullio many visual, neck and face tattoos. That makeup artist may have prevented an innocent man for paying for a crime he did not commit.
These are truly some of the worst tattoos I’ve ever seen. I have seen kids in elementary school draw stuff on their faces and do a better job. If all his friends had similar tattoos can you imagine how fast they could clear out a Waffle House?
Hung jury in neo-Nazi trial
www.myfoxtampabay.com | 13 Dec 2009, 4:13 AM EST
NEW PORT RICHEY – A jury was unable to come up with a verdict in the case of accused murderer and self professed neo-Nazi John Ditullio.
At 10:40 p.m. Friday night, after almost 11 hours of deliberation, Circuit Judge Michael Andrews declared the jury hung and ordered prosecutors and the defense to return to court at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning.
The jury told the judge that ten of the jurors believed Ditullio to be innocent. The remaining two were convinced he was guilty of killing 17-year-old Kristopher King and stabbing Tricia Wells at her home three years ago.
It’s been three years since 17-year-old Kristopher King was stabbed to death. John Ditullio has spent as many years in jail accused of the heinous murder. But Friday, one witness said she has known for the past two years who really did it.
His name, she said, is Shawn Plott.
“Shawn said to me that he kinda felt bad because he did this and he feels bad that a kid has to go away for this but it’s okay because he wouldn’t ave made it as a Nazi anyway,” testified Samantha Troupe.
Shawn Plott, a fellow neo-nazi to Ditullio, is the man the defense says committed the crimes.
Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010: PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise
Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times
CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 8, 2009 –Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.
In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”
Bah Humbug. High School rules are frick-dack-ducking draconian these days. Link to video.
Student Santa gets suspended
Katherine Scott | abclocal.go.com | December 23, 2009 | WPVI
A Delaware County teenager has created a new realm of debate, over what is appropriate attire at school. He donned a big red suit, went to class, and got suspended over it.
18-year-old Michael Hance said he wanted to spread holiday cheer by dressing up as Santa at school, though he admits he was warned otherwise. So when he walked into Strath Haven High Tuesday morning as Old St. Nick he found himself square on the school’s naughty list.
Donning the famous red suit he bought just for the occasion Michael thought Santa Claus was coming to Strath Haven High but instead he was quickly sent home even though he says the school permitted costumes for Student Council members.
“There were elves and reindeer and they didn’t get suspended.”
Apes? Wrestler? Lions? I want to see more of this guys “typical West Texas yard.” The photos show his yard before and after the recent snow storm that affected much of the western US. Humble and immense thanks to Mr Buddy Heater Co for this story.
Statue of David Posing As Santa Causing a Stir
by Diane Tuazon | NewsWest 9 | Dec.8, 09
BIG SPRING – It’s not exactly something you would see displayed on someone’s lawn during Christmas.
“It’s an art piece and you can think of it what you want,” Barry McBee, said.
Some who live in the neighborhood find the piece of art a little odd during this time of year.
“When we have parties, people are asking me what’s wrong with the guy next door, but we’re used to it. He’s a good neighbor,” Kay Burns said.
The Associated Press reported the naked statue of David was causing a stir in the neighborhood, but Barry McBee says it’s all done in good spirit, and that offending people wasn’t his intension.
“People called and asked why Santa was naked, and if he was going to get clothes on. I didn’t have an excuse for it , so I gave him a pair of shorts, and people haven’t complained since I put clothes on him,” McBee said.
McBee’s next door neighbor says she’s used to the various decorations that fill his lawn.
“I saw the lions, the big wrestler, the apes, and of course David; they change daily, it’s all part of West Texas aloof,” Burns said.
McBee says he decorates his lawn for every holiday, but this year he wanted to do it in a different way.
“I’ve got all sorts of yard ornaments; people have been driving by and taking pictures of David,” McBee said.
It will be very interesting to see if this trend will continue.
German magazine to ask photographers to shoot only real life women
British Journal of Photography | October 7, 2009
The German magazine Brigitte has announced it will now asked its photographers to only shoot ‘real life’ women, banning all professional models from appearing in its pages
Andreas Lebert, co-editor of Brigitte Magazine, which is one of the most popular women magazine in Germany, says in a statement that it will now ’show women who have an identity. The 18-year-old student, the head of the board, the musician, the football player.’
He continues: ‘Behind the career of a model lies the idea of not showing women themselves, but instead a place holder – a model of a certain size. Now many women find this outdated, especially the beauty ideals, also moulded by the fashion industry, that are highly controversial.’
The women featured in Brigitte Magazine from next year will receive the same payments as regular models, says the magazine.
Looking at this painting I can see da Vinci’s hand.
Privately owned painting called Profile of a Young Fiancee, thought to be a lost work by Leonardo da Vinci.
How a ‘New’ da Vinci Was Discovered
time.com | Jeff Israely | Oct. 15, 2009
It’s the flip side to the multimillion-dollar counterfeit. The art world is abuzz with the recent discovery that a portrait thought to be the drawing of an unknown 19th century German artist is now being attributed to the Italian master Leonardo da Vinci. And the way the revelation was made is straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel: researchers traced the portrait to the artist using a 500-year-old fingerprint.
The 13-by-9-inch portrait, which has now been dubbed La Bella Principessa, is a delicate profile of a young aristocratic Milanese woman, drawn with pen, chalk and ink on an animal skin known as vellum. It was bought two years ago by an anonymous Swiss collector at the Ganz Gallery in New York for about $19,000. Experts now put the possible value of the artwork at upwards of $150 million.
Some have said that as Americans we must be respectful of the many nations and cultures that lag behind ours in terms of civil rights. However the incongruous combination of the covered “precious jewels of Islam” brutally beating the tar out of another human in a traditionally male sport while veiled is ridiculous.
Muslim women boxers to wear hijab at 2012 Olympics
Marie Woolf, Whitehall Editor | www.timesonline.co.uk | October 4, 2009
THE burqa boxers are coming. Young women are training in Afghanistan to fight in Islamic dress at the 2012 London Olympics.
Wearing hijabs beneath their headguards and clothes that cover their bodies, 25 female pugilists are preparing for their bouts in gruelling training sessions at Kabul’s Olympic stadium, once the scene of public executions by the Taliban.
The team, whose ages range from 14-25, were recruited by their coach, Fadir Sharify, a former professional boxer. He persuaded the girls’ families that it would not be inappropriate for them to take to the ring.
The 2012 summer Games will be the first time women have been allowed to box under the Olympic banner.
