R.I.P.

DENNIS HOPPER

1936-2010

"There are moments that I`ve had some real brilliance, you know. But I think they are moments. And sometimes, in a career, moments are enough. I never felt I played the great part. I never felt that I directed the great movie. And I can`t say that it`s anybody`s fault but my own."

QUOTE FOR TODAY

" I`m still the little southern girl from the wrong side of the tracks who really didn`t feel like she belonged."

-Faye Dunaway

It's Time For...

Douchebag Quotes of the Week!

1.Lets set the scene first...

Maxim Magazines Hot 100 Party. This place is like a breeding ground for DBags. I mean, they seemed to multiply over the 2 hours I was there. They were like roaches, for everyone oneI stepped on and squished the ego out of, it was like two more would appear in his place.

So, not only was this guy hammered, but he's hammered off the berry martinis they were giving out for free. He's also wearing a terrible button up, has enough gel in his hair to be on the Jersey Shore, and slurring every third word out of his mouth. And boy oh boy did he think he had just the right thing to say to me, to get me to go with him!

DBag: (drunk off of his ass) You should come with me!

Me: Why?

DBag: I've got a VIP TABLE! With bottle service and everything!

Me: (Roll of the eyes) No Way! Seriously? A VIP table? That's amazing.

DBag: And you should come, because I gotta limo!

Yeah dude. Because not only do free drinks from Pauly D knockoffs get me going, but the limo! Oh Wow! The limo... Should I drop my panties now? Or should I do it when I'm staring up at some trashy fiber optic lighting while sliding around on bad leather seats? And PLEASE tell me if it's a Hummer limo, because I will drop 'em right here if that's the case.

2.I'd just spent the last two hours sitting next to this guy at a nightclub. Knowing this guy has a very serious girlfriend and knowing everyone else in the room did as well, I steered clear of being anything more than friendly. And after watching half a dozen or so girls walk as sultry and or slutty as possible by our table, trying to get even just an inkling of his attention, I decided desperation wasn't a good look on anyone. But later that night as a car full of boys dropped me off at home, he decided he hadn't got the attention he wanted and he was going to be the one to walk me to my door. You'd think that after two hours of me shutting down this ego inflated man/boy he would've gotten a clue, but apparently he's not the brightest crayon trying to get into my crayon box.

DBag: We should have an affair.

Me: You have a girlfriend.

DBag: That's why it's called an affair.

Me: No.

DBag: Give me your number

Me:No!

DBag: Come oooon... Give me your number.

Me: Goodnight.

This is a note to all men out there, no matter what you look like, how successful you are, how many chicks you've banged, how many cars you have, how big your house is, how special your mother thinks you are, and even if you are Gods greatest gift to this Earth... Whining is NOT attractive. Ever.

Oh, and neither are cheaters!

3.Nightclub. Standing with my three girlfriends. We have drinks in our hands, which YES, we bought ourselves... He's not only old, but poor guy looks like his ex wife left him nothing but a bad button up shirt and really bad jeans.

DBag: You girls HAVE to come with me to my table. I have a bottle. Free drinks! And, I mean, my friends will think I'm cool for once, i mean, if you guys come with me...

I'm sorry to say, but your friends most likely already think you're cool. And they most likely think you're the best looking one out of them, considering they sent you over to violate our space. So, as I shut you down, keep your head held high knowing that even though we aren't going within 15 feet of your table for the rest of the night, your friends think you're the tops!

"Little in the middle, but she got much back!" Finally a book for ladies just like me!

Big Bouncy Butts

Putting the backside front and center

The Kama Sutra gives detailed instructions on how to spank it. Contemporary Italians touch it for luck before placing a bet. Americans are having it cosmetically enhanced at rates approaching breast enlargement surgery. The female butt, tush, culo, or derrière has always inspired awe, fantasy, and slavish devotion.

Curiously, its primary purpose is functional rather than aesthetic: butts balance our bodies while running, according to biologists. But ask any pygophiliac—as fundament fans are clinically termed—and you'll get the same answer: female hindquarters exist to please the eye, the hands, and parts south. A pert posterior causes instant arousal, as Zora Neale Hurston observed in Their Eyes Were Watching God: "The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruits in her hip pockets." Or, as rapper Sir Mix-a-lot proclaimed, "My anaconda don't want none, unless you’ve got buns, hun."

Having all but disappeared from western culture in the breast-obsessed second half of the 20th century, the fully formed fanny is currently enjoying a massive resurgence, attributed by some to American actress Jennifer Lopez, by others to the rise of booty-centric hip hop culture. Yet this rage for shapely butts is nothing new. The ancient Greeks worshipped at the temple of Aphrodite Kallipygos, Goddess of the Beautiful Buttocks, while a womanly rump has always been an object of worship in most of the southern hemisphere.

The Big Butt Book explores this perennial fascination with female booty—from small and taut to large and sumptuous—in the fourth installment of Dian Hanson's critically acclaimed body parts series. Over 400 photos from 1900 to the present day, including works by Elmer Batters, Ellen von Unwerth, Jean-Paul Goude, Ralph Gibson, Richard Kern, Jan Saudek, Ed Fox, Terry Richardsonand Sante D'Orazio, of butts ranging from petite Pam Anderson's to sumptuousSerena Williams', are contextualized by interviews with porn icon John (Buttman) Stagliano, filmmaker Tinto Brass, artist Robert Crumb, bootylicious butt queens Buffie The Body, Coco and Brazil's Watermelon Woman, plus Eve Howard and her life-long spanking obsession.

About the editor and author:
Dian Hanson was born in Seattle in 1951. For 25 years she produced various men’s magazines, including Puritan, Juggs and Leg Show, before becoming TASCHEN's sexy book editor in 2001. Her many books for TASCHEN include The Big Penis Book, The Big Book of Legs and Bob’s World. She lives in Los Angeles.

(taschen.com)

A beautiful night with beautiful ladies...

On Tuesday night my girlfriend Jen Goldman threw a party for the amazing makeup line Nyx Cosmetics. So, my lady friend Zina and I made our way over to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. There we found Dj Harley Viera Newton spinning fun songs, while a mashup of the movies Tommy and Gentleman Prefer Blondes played above her, we are guilty of eating more than one of the frozen cheesecakes on-a-stick, there was disco balls floating in the pool, and amazing gift bags to take home! All I have to say is I'm excited to try all my new products, especially the Dramatic Chromatic Eyeshadow Pigment on Oro and the Mega Shine Lipgloss in Miami Babe!

(Zina and I with our Nyx glosses)

Nyx Cosmetics Celebrated Their Decade +1 Anniversary

Nyx Cosmetics celebrated their Decade +1 Anniversary on May 18th, 2010, with a star-studded party at the legendary Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Over 250 guests, including celebrities, models, makeup artists and fashion and beauty insiders came out to help ring in the next decade of Nyx Cosmetics!
Guests mingled around the Roosevelt pool while enjoying tunes by DJ Harley Viera-Newton and sipping on grapefruit Nyx-tini’s. Stars were chatting with Nyx Cosmetics founder and Creative Director, Toni K. And everyone made sure to stop by the Nyx Beauty Bar, where guests (including Carmen Electra, Stacy Kiebler and Katharine McPhee) mixed & matched candy-colored shades of Nyx glosses and shadows for their own customized bag of products.
Nyx also gave their guests a voyeuristic peak at the photo shoot of their next marketing campaign, shot by model and photographer Jason Olive. Nyx beauty models also walked the space sampling guests with products. And at the end of the night, every guest went home with a (big) beautiful gift bag!

About Nyx Cosmetics: Celebrating 11 years of success, Nyx Cosmetics is an indie cosmetics line based in Los Angeles known for their professional-quality products in fun, fashion forward shades. Nyx products are beloved by makeup artists, models and beauty insiders for their high-pigment formulas AND incredibly wide range of shade options. Nyx is sold at Ulta Stores and in thousands of specialty & beauty supply stores across the US. The brand is also available in over 11 countries – including Harrods in London and beautiful freestanding stores in Japan, Brazil and Switzerland.
(via talkingmakeup.com)

CDS TO BUY TODAY

Bed, Bed, Bed

Bed is where I rest my head.

Bed is where I sleep like the dead.

And even if my feet hang off the bed…

Why?! Oh Why?!

Can’t I just be in my bed…

To Live and Die For Fashion

Dior Channels the 1960s for Resort 2011

Thank you John Galliano!

Thank you for the winged eyeliner, the bouffants, the yummy sherbet colors of the clothes, and just for making the 1960's glamour look so damn fresh...

Baby, I can't stay, you got to roll me And call me the tumblin' dice.

Lives of excess: Mick Jagger listens to Keith Richards playing guitar at Nellcote in 1971

The Rolling Stones' Iconic 'Exile on Main Street' to be Released With Never-Before-Heard Tracks

Album Launch to Coincide With New Documentary 'Stones in Exile'

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group is pleased to announce the re-release of The Rolling Stones' album Exile on Main Street with an additional 10 never-before-heard tracks. Regarded as one of the greatest albums in rock 'n' roll history and one of the most defining of the Stones' catalogue, Exile will be available May 17, 2010, in the U.K. and May 18, 2010, in the US.

Upon its release more than three decades ago, Exile on Main Street innovatively wove varying musical genres, instruments and even artists into a compelling rhythmic masterpiece. This new compilation features 10 tracks originally recorded during the Exileera and only recently discovered while working on the reissue project. The unearthed tracks which include such titles as "Plundered My Soul," "Dancing in the Light," "Following the River" and "Pass The Wine" have undergone a unique evolution, while staying true to the essence of the 1972 album. Alternate versions of "Soul Survivor" and "Loving Cup" also are a part of theExile bonus materials.

As a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, a documentary, "Stones in Exile," has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally. The documentary features rare, never-before-seen archival film, photos and interviews as well as new conversations with the band and the artists they influence. Produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Battsek and directed by Stephen Kijak, who is known for award-winning work on Cinemania, andScott Walker: 30 Century Man, "Stones in Exile" offers an uncommon glimpse into the lives of the band as they created one of the greatest albums of all time.

The original 18-track double-album was recorded in various stages at multiple locations, including Olympic Studios in London,Keith Richard's mansion Nellcote in France, and in Los Angeles where the literal "Main Street" influenced the album title. These atypical circumstances surrounding the recording process greatly affected the album's outcome which was highly reflective and influenced by the sociopolitical turbulence that marked the late `60s and early `70s. The Stones nixed the influences of a flower-child era and directed their creative process with the edgier, excessive, "more is more" approach of the `70s. Exile reveals asprawling mix of genres with undertones of blues, country, R&B and gospel mixed with lyrics that fervently demand for release and liberation.

The album pulled together an electric array of talent including Dr. John, the late Billy Preston and pianist Nicky Hopkins. Guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones in the band shortly before Jones died in 1969, is a magnificent blues player who brought an intensity and elegance to these epic tracks. At times, these musicians and others lived on the recording studio premises with the band creating an extremely open and creative collaboration for the album.

"The album's riveting portrait of artists pushed – by the times, by themselves – to the very limits of their creativity has provided inspiration to every musical generation that has come along since Exile was released in 1972," said author Anthony DeCurtis. "Every song on Exile on Main Street is elevated by its relationship to the music that comes before and after it. The album's irresistible power is unlikely to diminish any time soon."

Exile on Main Street will be available in two CD formats: the original 18 track release; a deluxe CD edition with the 10 special bonus tracks; and a super deluxe package that also includes vinyl, a 30-minute documentary DVD with footage fromCocksucker Blues, Ladies and Gentlemen… the Rolling Stones and Stones in Exile, and a 50-page collector's book with photos from the Exile era. The 10 unreleased tracks were produced by Jimmy Miller, The Glimmer Twins and Don Was.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

To Live and Die For Fashion

André Leon Talley Calls Crystal Renn’s Chanel Walk ‘Groundbreaking’

Modeling expert and ANTM judge André Leon Talley on Chanel’s resort show: "[Karl] Lagerfeld had cast the show with a slightly more curvaceous model named Crystal Renn, not seen on any Chanel catwalk before. This in itself was groundbreaking for the house, but there was also the return of personality models encouraged to be themselves instead of robotic look-alikes." [Vogue.com]

My favorite looks from Chanel's Cruise 2011 show in Saint Tropez

QUOTE FOR TODAY

Sabrina: [writing to her father] I have learnt how to live... How to be In the world and Of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch. And I will never, never again run away from life. Or from love, either...

A Veronica Taylor Original

An interview with photographer Mike Rosenthal

To Live and Die For Beijing

I’ve just returned from Beijing, China! And I did a little legwork for anyone who’s ever interested in going…

PLACE TO STAY

The Opposite House

The Village

Building 1, no.11 Sanlitun Road

Chaoyang District, Beijing China 100027

Theoppositehouse.com

Not only modern and hip, but has 6 options for dining and nightlife. The food was delicious and I especially loved that they had poached eggs for me every morning. The rooms are simple, bright, and beautiful. And when dry cleaning lost my pants, I was fully reimbursed.

PLACES TO EAT

Tian Di Restaurant

By far my favorite place I ate. The hot and sour lobster soup is still making my mouth water.

(Above: from left, Justin our amazing guide, Will the best hair and makeup artist ever, and Kelvin the most fabulous stylist that’s ever existed. Below:Hot and sour lobster soup)

Tian Di Yi Jia Open daily from 11AM to 2PM and from 5PM to 10PM. 140 Nan Chi Zi Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 140_Tel: + (86) -10-8511-5556_Price: Count 400 to 500 RMB for two people, drinks not included.

The China Club

The exclusive China Club is located inside a beautifully decorated, 400-year old Qing dynasty palace, once home to Yuan Shikai, the President of the Republic of China.

This place is members only, but I’m telling you, find a member and go! You will feel like your eating in a place straight out of “The Last Emperor.”

The fresh watermelon juice and pork dumplings were at the top of my list for memorable foods.

(Above: Me striking a pose in the courtyard. Below: Dinner in one of the many banquet rooms)

No.51 Xi Rong Xian Lane, Xi Dan,Dongcheng District Beijing 100031, China

Street Vendors

There are street vendors all over Beijing offering up all kinds of traditional snacks and dishes. Most are not recommended for those with weak stomachs. I however did enjoy a few of the local tastes.

(Above: me enjoying some delicious scorpion. Below: Other offerings on the street)

PLACES TO SHOP

The Silk Market

The Silk Market (aka Xiushui Market)is famous for selling counterfeit goods. What the Chinese vendors are doing here can’t last too much longer, but for the time being get ready to haggle! They sell everything from Chanel bags to Ipods. Some of them real, most are not. When the vendor quotes you a price you get to argue back and tell them NO! Repeatedly! I still get a rush thinking about it. Get ready to be grabbed, have your hand or shirt pulled on, and to have the vendors yell for you to come into their stalls. It’s highly addicting and highly entertaining. Even if you don’t buy anything I recommend you go just for the fun of it.

North of Dong Chang An Avenue, Jianguimenwai Street, Chaoyang District

Yaxiu Market

Located near the nightlife district of Sanlitun, this market, which is also housed in a mall, is extremely popular with young western shoppers who love to shop at the mall for knock -off brand name apparel and shoes. Prices at Yaxiu Market tend to be slightly lower than those at the Silk Alley market. The mall also houses many Beijing tailors who can rustle bespoke shirts, jackets, dresses and shirts for you in a couple of days at extremely reasonable prices.

3.3 Mall

Six full stories of tiny shops with clothing from local designers to knockoffs of Chanel. If you were a shoe size larger than a 9 good luck! You are most likely not going to be buying shoes here. The locally designed clothing is trendy and beautifully made.

33 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang district

SIGHTSEEING

The Great Wall

Obviously The Great Wall is on the top of anyone’s list when they come to Beijing. However there are many different sections of the wall. I visited the Juyongguan Pass of the Great Wall. We also hiked the less tourist filled side, which is the hard side. Put on some hiking shoes and get ready to climb!

The Forbidden City

I was only able to see a little part of this beautiful place, but it was absolutely breathtaking. For more information visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City

(Me taking a spin around the Forbidden City)

Beihi Park

A must see for anyone going to Beijing. Especially if you love paddleboats!

For more info visit http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/beihai.htm

(Above: the entrance to Beihai Park. Below: Kelvin, Will , and I strike a pose on the emperor’s throne.)

Jane Says...

Another night out, another private show... This is the first time I've seen Jane's Addiction and I was completely blown away! Perry Farrell not only has an amazing voice, but such vivacity. Watching Dave Navarro smoke one cigarette after another and every time he went to play placing his stogie in the strings of his guitar to jam away was just as entertaining.The energy in the room was undeniable. And of course, I’m always a big fan of confetti being blown all over. It was pure rock’n’roll magic.

(Photo by Kristin Burns)

JANE'S ADDICTION PLAY INTIMATE SURPRISE SHOW

(By Liam Gowing via spin.com)

"Even in this tiny little room," said Perry Farrell to the 150 or so folks sharing the confines of Hollywood club Bardot, "I can feel an oceanful of love."

It might have been a convenient way for the Jane's Addiction frontman to lead the band — appearing for the first time with GN'R alum Duff McKagan on bass — into its confetti-laden final number, "Ocean Size." But it also summed up the appreciative mood of the audience around him.

For diehard fans, some of whom had been waiting since 10 a.m. for a wristband to the surprise show (announced two days before on the band's website) this was heaven: A chance to see the alternative rock gods play a room no bigger than a volleyball court.

Hitting the stage with an exultant "Happy Cinco de Mayo! Ay yi yi yi!" Farrell set the celebratory tone. With a bottle of wine in his hand, a huge smile, and uniquely bedazzled Converse high-tops, he cranked up the volume with an explosive take on Ritual de lo Obitual's opener "Stop!" — complete with Dave Navarro's switchblade-attack guitars, Stephen Perkins' ultra-dynamic drumming, and McKagan's Avery-esque bass-playing.

"Ay yi yi yi!" Farrell called out again after the song ended. "Dave Navarro told me that means ‘fuck yeah' in Spanish."

A fan appreciation show and a chance to test the waters with McKagan on bass, the set came off like a Jane's Addiction party with a few close friends.

"We want to wish a quick happy birthday to our girl Susan Holmes," Farrell said after completing a ferocious take on "Had a Dad" from 1988's Nothing's Shocking. And with that, he presented the former supermodel — Duff McKagan's wife — with a birthday cake before leading the crowd in a heartfelt recital of "Happy Birthday."

Then it was back to business — completing a short but sweet eight-song set of classic Jane's tracks with only one tune that was newer than two decades old: An unreleased midtempo track called "Soulmate."

"I tell you what man," Farrell said wistfully after a particularly transcendent romp through "Pigs in Zen," another of the four tracks plucked from Nothing's Shocking. "There's nothing like going to see a live music event in L.A."

He meant it as a tribute to the VIP guests in the audience — including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and ex-Fishbone Keyboardist Chris Dowd -- to whom he gave shout-outs afterward.

But to the mesmerized crowd gathered at his feet, it had a whole different meaning.

SETLIST:
1. Stop!
2. Mountain Song
3. Had a Dad
4. Soulmate
5. Whores
6. Pigs in Zen
7. Ain't No Right
8. Ocean Size

Perry Farrell/By Vern

Michelle and I