Media-Whore D'Oevres



(image via nysun via ap)

"Pope Benedict XVI gave the United Nations a dense and complex speech April 18. Here are four key phrases to help unlock its meaning: 'Unchanging justice.' The pope used this phrase to describe the principle that fundamental human rights 'cannot be applied piecemeal' and cannot be denied or diminished because of 'different cultural, political, social and even religious outlooks.' In one of the speech's most significant lines -- one that could apply to the Middle East and several other global situations -- he said that when human rights are unfairly applied it creates a breeding ground for violence: 'Indeed, the victims of hardship and despair, whose human dignity is violated with impunity, become easy prey to the call to violence, and they can then become violators of peace.'" (CatholicNews)

"He may have moved from poverty-stricken Malawi just two years ago, but little David Banda seemed non-plussed by the attention when mum Madonna showed him off to waiting paparazzi last night. The 49-year-old singer looked happy as she carried the two-year-old from London restaurant San Lorenzo with children Lourdes, 11, and Rocco, 7, in tow." (Thisislondon)

"IFC Entertainment has secured North American rights to Madonna’s directorial debut, 'Filth and Wisdom.' Scripted by Madonna and Dan Cadan, and co-produced by Madonna and Nicola Doring, comedic drama was initially intended as a short. It will unspool in autumn, with a theatrical run coinciding with video-on-demand availability. Intertwining plotlines track, among other characters, a man who spanks for money, a chemist and a pole dancer. The material girl had initially contemplated an iTunes release, but instead partnered with IFC." (Variety)

"The Argentinian film XXY (opening May 2) is about a teen named Alex, who was born an intersex child with both male and female genitals. No, she doesn't grow up to star in Halloween." (Musto)

"On the night of Wed. April 16, comedian Mo Rocca walked across the stage in the spacious auditorium at the Hilton Washington on Connecticut Avenue in Washington D.C. and thanked several hundred reporters, politicians, and celebrities for showing up at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner. 'I know that the White House Correspondents' dinner in about 10 days gets most of the glory,' said the ubiquitous political satirist and sometime MSNBC contributor. 'I think of this one as sort of the Nicky to that one's Paris Hilton. This is sort of the Jamie Lynn to that dinner's Britney. Well that dinner is sort of like CNN. This one is MSNBC." (Observer)

"Pennsylvania has the third-oldest population in the nation - - a group that solidly favors Clinton -- and she is leading state polls. In previous contests, however, younger, better educated and more liberal Democrats have preferred Obama, and Pennsylvania has 700,000 college students on more than 150 campuses in a cross-section of voting districts -- many whose demographics favor Obama, others that lean to Clinton. Voters aged 18 to 24 represent 10 percent of registered Democrats statewide, making them a group that could swing the vote in certain districts. Among campus political junkies, pressure to back the winner and the threat of social ostracism is real. This year, being a Clinton supporter swimming against the Obama wave can be even harder, Moreno said, than being a college Republican -- a breed accustomed to being the minority on many campuses." (Bloomberg)

"Proenza Schouler's highly-anticipated sunglass launch at Ilori in SoHo was reminiscent of a lively gallery opening, where the fanfare eventually took to the streets ... Mary-Kate Olsen, Mirabelle Marden, Melissa Bent, Catherine Holstein, Tory Burch, Margherita Missoni (capping off an event-filled week), Terry Richardson and Jen Brill sauntered about, sipping summer cocktails and downing caviar as deejay Benjamin Cho worked his magic in the flowery reception room downstairs." (Fashionweekdaily)

"One thing I can say for sure, many would gladly have taken home Dita Von Teese last night at the charity art auction held at the Phillips De Pury Gallery, aptly titled 'Take Home a Nude.'As I was leaving, I caught Andre Balazs and Nicole Miller and I had to ask Andre if he was talking 'handsome pills.'" (Papermag)

"Meanwhile, last Tuesday night at the townhouse of David Chu, the Accompanied Literary Society celebrated the publication of Lapham’s Quarterly Spring Issue 'About Money.' The evening was hosted by the magazine’s founder Lewis Lapham, Patrick McMullan, David Chu, Tom Wolfe and Graydon Carter. Among the boldfaced ones who partook of the evening’s libations, conversations and readings were: Brooke Geahan, Lou Reed, Jim Clark, Paul Haggis, Harvey Weinstein, Josh Lucas, Euan Rellie, Celerie Kemble and Boykin Curry, Liz Smith, Aly Hilfiger, Taki and Mrs. Taki, Patty Raynes, Arden Wohl, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Kristy Hinze, Steve Garbarino, Nicolas Berggruen, Amanda Cutter Brooks and many others too numerous and eclectic to mention." (NYSocialDiary)

"The Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed a number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with Cabinet-level agencies and inter-agency departments looking for opposition research to use against presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).In early February, there was a sharp uptick in the number of FOIA requests from the DNC with McCain as a specific target. February was about the same time McCain emerged as the front-runner and likely nominee.A review of FOIA requests and independent confirmations obtained by The Hill turned up requests from the DNC at at least three agencies – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Commerce Department." (TheHill)