BOOK DEAL
New York, NY October 12, 2005
New York City Consigliere, photographer, verbose blogger, manhattan society.com honcho, Chris London's: "STRAIGHT UP AND WHACKY" ......Tales and confessions from inside the Big Apple life of a'How you doin' kind of guy, a really long book detailing his verbose tirades on the web, his rise from bridge and tunnel obscurity to a fun and fabulous life as a New York Sex God, "alleged" hit man and otherwise dodgey character in a major pre-emptive deal (including TV/film rights) to Judith "Big Pussy" Regansiero at Joey Bag O'Donuts Publishing, by Paulie Walnuts of the Guido Literary Agency. Paulie Walnuts of Guido Literary Agents will represent foreign rights (for book sales outside the NY/NJ region), on behalf of Bag O'Donuts Books. Christopher Moltisanti gets his 10% because ....well like it is not like you really need to know do ya? Bag O'Donuts Books was presented with an offer that they could not refuse when the Consigliere stated "gimme ten million or else I start tearing out pages." So rather than risk a horse's head in the Publisher's bed, the sum of $10 million was agreed to.
Walnuts speaking on behalf of Bag O'Donuts books states: "If you axed me, I would tell ya we would rather have had that Alex Blagg guy. I mean shiite, that dude can write but wat da fuck eh, it seems these days that you do not need an original or the genuine article to make money selling books, capische? Look at dat fat red headed broad who promotes herself, like the next Carrie Bradshaw on diet pills. Just another narcissitic Manhattan female cliche who deep down hates herself....and gets pissed when anyone pokes fun at her. The only difference between her and Lauren Weisberger is that some guys would actually like to put a little Devil in Lauren's Prada. Wat da fuck did this Consigliere do that Blagg did not? Well for one, he profiled the little red headed douche-bag a little more extensively, if only a year later. Sure he coulda been perhaps a little more succinct and maybe have a greater sense of humor like A Tale of Two Broads. An advantage in signing the Consigliere, however, is that each of his entries read like a freakin book so this cuts down on the publishing cycle. We could have this beyotch putting out a dozen books faster than you can say The Devil Writes Nada." The Consigliere, after thanking his numerous male and female fans (both of them actually) stated "I really do believe that my success is larely due to following the 10 minute blogging rule (and then multiplying it by 10), intricate use of index cards for each posting as well as sucking up or doning knee pads to service anyone who would help me get ahead."
The Consigliere goes on (as usual) to say, "I learned that strategy from learning how the Greek Tragedy networked a friendship/alliance with This Fish, after being introduced to her by a lesser known blogger, Ari Goes Down. You see, This Fish gets even more hits and more traffic than the Greek Tragedy blog and is actually ranked higher, but there is no need to tell anyone that, shush!. Ari was also ceremoniously dumped from the Tragedy's links because she is guilty of well not having as "pretty in pink" or tragically cliched a blog or persona. That's too bad but indicative of the self absorbed networking character of the zaftig red-headed douche-bag. Besides which once the wannabe whiney Diva met The Fish, who needs Ari anymore right? This Fish gets more hits than both of their blogs. The Diva figured out Everyone Worth Knowing well before the book was written on the subject by someone else."
Mr. Walnuts stated further, "besides, look this Alex Blagg guy is all the way out in the City by the Bay and I am not leaving Jersey to get on a freaking plane to talk to some guy who writes like a wise guy but lives 3,000 miles away. The Consigliere is paisan, sort of like the Tony Soprano of the blog world, and you know what even if the boss is not the best writer, I know who greases my wheel. We need a male voice to counter these Chic Slit wannabe types who would be far better off if they slit their own throats than attempting to slit the throat of anyone who critiques them. Whacking them would be sort of superfluous (and that is a big word for me even) cause der freaking whacked already if you catch my meaning. In my opinion, da problem with some of these dem der broads is that it all comes back to the "SAU-Seeche." Perhaps if they were gettin a regular feeding of the good ole Braciole they would shut their freaking traps. Their mouths run on like a drippy faucet with the freakin clap. And what's with chics who name themselves after "Fish"? Isn't that the last label a woman wants associated with herself? Go figure.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Friday, August 12, 2005
Greek'ed Tragedy: Stephanie Klein, The Puff Daddy of Chic Lit
I turned to the New York Times Fashion & Style section on Sunday July 16, 2005 to read a piece written by Stephanie Rosenbloom entitled "Reader, I dated him." In fact, the subject of the piece herself, Stephanie Klein tipped me off in advance of the impending piece via Instant Messenger that she was "ironically" the subject of another New York Times Fashion & Style piece. Her feigned anxiety and nervousness stemming from the fact they were interviewing her legions of fans and perhaps even her ex husband was not lost on me.
When I read it, despite my off hand knowledge of the numerous pieces written out there critiquing the blog, Stephanie Rosenbloom, the writer for the NY Times, presumably does either (a) not use google search as part of her research or (b) is one of a gaggle of Stephanie Klein's female writer friends in her network or (c) her piece was the result of yet another Girl Crush. There are some quite pointed, poignant and otherwise fair critiques of her blog out in blog land, including one entitled Profiles in Douchebaggette'ery and still others questioning her originality as well as her overall smarminess. These critiques some how escaped mention in Ms. Rosenbloom's column since apparently all Stephanie has are "fans."Greek Tragedy has been critiqued widely by many bloggers on the internet for being nothing more than an utterly vapid and self indulgent rip off of Sex and the City and character Carrie Bradshaw, created by Candace Bushnell. One blogger satirized her blog in a piece entitled Soap Bloggera. There is also now even a smart parody of her site, see A Tale of Two Sisters. In essence, many have found Stephanie as shallow as a kiddie pool. One writer has even given a most accurate assessment as to Why Stephanie is Still Single:
"Here we have a clearly intelligent, reasonably attractive person, a talented and creative individual with a pretty excellent sense of humor. What is the problem? On the surface, this woman should be prime quality. Instead, she appears more to be a pathetic, sex driven, sadly tragic soul. It took a fair bit of reading to find out why as her site is huge. The answer lies here on the page "men to avoid". Bloggers often like to make lists. If done well (so don’t look for one here), they can provide a realistic and often humorous insight into the person. This page explains to me why Stephanie is still single and having problems. At first, I thought this a humorous response to "The Emotionally Unavailable Alcoholic’s Guide to Holiday Romance" published in the blog Manhatten Transfer (itself a great bit of writing), but as I read a ton of her Posts, it became clear this was, in fact, her mantra.
So now I know. Bluntly, she is perhaps one of the more superficial, immature, shallow, money hungry, status seeking people I’ve met through blogs… and I fear a women seemingly devoid of a value system or boundaries. And that writer isn't the only one who thinks he can see past Klein's flowing red curls to her vapid heart; the sorority girls at Barnard must have seen it too: "If she was as socially immature at Barnard as she is now," he wrote, "I can fully understand why she was the only woman in her class not to be invited to join a sorority. They had her number." see also Judge Roberts? Yawn. Stephanie Klein? Yowza!
The puff piece by Stephanie Rosenbloom, however, came across as one written on Judith Regan or Regan Books stationary. In fact, after reading it, I asked Stephanie whether the publicity team over at Regan books was responsible for planting the story, since the story did not contain nary a critique. I realized the insensitivity of my comment when I made it but maybe I was just being "straight up and dirty." My sense was that the writer was very much one whom Stephanie Klein courted and developed a relationship. I almost wanted to ask whether Stephanie Rosenbloom was in fact a personal friend of Stephanie Klein. I suspect so, as Stephanie stated to me that, "they really like me over at the New York Times." Perhaps the manner in which Stephanie Klein and Heather Hunter networked the Times for their gab fess piece on getting schtupped by the same guy, Benjamin Wagner, at the same time explains the reason for their being on the same menstrual cycle. Maybe their internal fluids became mixed in the process? See, Traveling the Too- Much-Information Highway.
Networking the media leads to good results and pieces like those written about Stephanie Klein most recently illustrate that. Whether she or Judith Regan worked the Times is irrelevant. This was very much the work of a skilled promoter or publicist. So this answers the question some writers have asked as to "Why I am not as famous as Stephanie Klein."
I met Stephanie Klein about a year ago. I was introduced to her blog by a friend Ari and subsequently met her. I am aware of, have met and personally interacted with some of New York's best writers and journalists, or at least those covering the social beat who write about the social life and style undercurrent, like Warren St. John, Amy Sohn, Vanessa Grigoriadis, Richard Johnson, Ben Widdicombe, Rachel Kramer Bussel etc. So I was curious that perhaps here was yet another, New York Original in the form of little Stephanie Klein. Unfortunately, I have found Stephanie to be about as original as Ray's Pizza. But I am sure her response would be to kish mir in tuchis since she is the one with the huge advance and more fat pay days ahead.
Stephanie Klein, an Ivy League educated suburban girl of affluence, who lives near Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side, is a Creative Director at Young & Rubicam, a Madison Avenue advertising agency. This is a woman who is quite adept and skilled at how to properly package a product for the market place, including herself. This is what she is paid handsomely to do by day. Her web design skills and photography are clear evidence of that.
Stephanie Klein's Greek Tragedy is pre-packaged by design, a caricature of a New York City female based upon the fictional character Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. The Puff Daddy of the blogging world's chic lit set, her blog is a cliche, hallmark or post card to the heartland if you will. Arguably Stephanie's blog is designed to appeal to lonely people with no legitimate lives of their own and no real sense of life in Manhattan. Their voyeuristic tendencies are satisfied by a glimpse into what they fancy must be the “Sex and the City” life (redux or the reality version) as they sit on their couches eating bon bons wondering what it must be like to be Stephanie Klein.
Her stories are by design, however, so tragically ironic as well as terribly self absorbed and indulgent, all while masked in this hip downtown edginess of Amy Sohn. Unfortunately, it does not make her as original as Amy Sohn. If she did not, however, come across so much as packaged sincerity and allowed herself to actually be what she was...it might be more credible and maybe in fact actually more interesting, but then again maybe it would not sell or be that interesting? It has also already actually been done by someone else. Perhaps her overnight success will allow her to develop an original voice, rather than remaining the Puff Daddy of Chic Lit, working off of the riff of other artists.
Stephanie is an attractive woman who knows how to make herself more attractive without looking like she is "working it." Much like the designer jeans thats come casually torn in the right places to highlight a woman's best attributes, Stephanie is acutely aware and tends to those little things that are supposed to accidentally make you look better. But as a friend said to me, are you sure it is not a bit more like those pre-fab homes which are put together rather quickly but lack the character, history and craftsmanship of the originals that they were modeled after? The originals being? Amy Sohn and Candace Bushnell, she said. Her persona seems rather contrived. It is.
When I first met Stephanie, I was very much looking for reasons to like her. As much as I genuinely tried, for a number of reasons, I found it incredibly difficult to find any substance of character in her persona beyond the self promotion. Like a good Publicist or Director of Communications in a political campaign she was adept at remaining on message. I have found her to be very much a fictional person living a fictional life, one that is designed or choreographed for the purpose of creating an utterly fabulous blogging persona. At first I thought it was perhaps because I did not understand her, her blog or what she was about. I even questioned whether I was being unfair. So, I gave it time, spent more time in her company and yet my perception did not change. I could not find the soul of Stephanie Klein and in fact after a year, gave up looking for it.
Virtually from the the day I met Stephanie, everything she does has been in pursuit of a book deal while trying to seem laid back or indifferent about it. That she succeeded in her mission with the book deal with Judith Regan is to her credit. That she pretends otherwise is well.......so Stephanie. Nothing happens in Stephanie's life by accident, except perhaps her husband walking out on their marriage. As her readers know the failed marriage and her ex husband has provided much of the fodder for her blog. But after X years, really give it up already. Move on. We have all had our hearts broken. To subject some dude to a daily written assault who for whatever reasons simply stopped loving you and walked out and otherwise ruined your Princess dreams of marriage, is kind of manic. It is simple, he was just not that into you. I even joked with her at one point, "you know Stephanie, in some ways you have your ex husband to thank for your success. You might have been destined for a mediocre marriage but now you seem destined to be the next big it girl." Judith Regan was quick to realize that in this reality tv era that the reincarnation of Carrie Bradshaw is a saleable product to advertisers. So while the intelligencia will have little respect for the gibberish on her blog, recognize that you and I are not her target market. The target market is rather those who have never been to New York City and perhaps only received a postcard or watched Sex and the City. Stephanie knows the game from the screenplay which she creates daily with her life to the one she is writing now for the TV Show for the book which has yet to be published.
If the life that she has created on her blog was not lifted from the pages of Sex and the City I might have less of an issue with the latest incantation of Carrie Bradshaw in the form of Stephanie Klein. The only tragic irony in all of this is that there is a whole legion of chic lit bloggers who will continue to assault our consciousness since they may fancy themselves as the next Amy Sohn, Candace Bushnell or now "oy vey"...Stephanie Klein. It is tragic because many are still so wet behind the ears with so little real life experience and actual drama or angst in their lives to legitimately write about or have any genuine ability to reflect.
In a media driven society, content is king. Content is needed to sell advertising. Psuedo angst sells, especially when you know how to package it. What is more disturbing about Stephanie Klein's Technorati ranking is that I have witnessed her rabid pursuit of media people and other bloggers, forging alliances and friendships purely with the goal of getting her blog linked and her "fame" spread. Anyone who does not add to that pursuit is largely irrelevant. Her notoriety stems from other female bloggers sensing that she must be it, linking her hoping to be mentioned or to get their comment in print online on her blog linking back to her site. Although one may wish to be careful because only polite syncophantic comments waxing philosophic about the beauty and elegance of the blogger's prose are allowed. Most who comment are typically bloggers themselves. Critics are routinely banned from posting.
Several months ago, I received a call and then numerous emails from Stephanie to me when yet "horrors" another blogger ripped and dissed her, not on her blog but on his. Stephanie was frenetic. This Blagg Blogg guy had to be stopped of course. I hesitated for a second thinking, well gee, I do not read what you write because while I like you (or am trying to do so at least) he reads you and is simply a critic. People have told me how much I suck numerous times but life goes on. Nevertheless, since she was my "friend", I shot off a nasty email without thinking. His entry was smartly called Profiles in Douchebaggette-ery.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in New York gets broadcast around the world. The life and style of New Yorkers is an export. Myth becomes legend. The legend of Stephanie Klein is that her JAP Mythology passes for Greek Tragedy. That what she does is considered a greater or more profitable art form than those more talented is a sad reality and speaks volumes of the world that we live in today. Sometimes the greatest artists starve while the more commercially astute ones lead lives of grandeur. Stephanie is astute in that regard but after a year I have no idea who or what she is or stands for.
Do I hate Stephanie Klein? No, most certainly not. I am but a critic of what I do not think qualifies to be considered a literary art form. As someone else who knows her well, however, said to me confidentially over cocktails in the Hamptons, "it is one thing to wish your friend's success but it is quite another when the person is really just not at all likeable. The idea that she represents the typical Manhattan chic is repulsive to me."
Many who know her and have been in her company have her ceaseless self promotional skills somewhat offensive. Stephanie is always equipped with cards informing people who she is and that she is the next great thing but ironically despite the NY Times piece to the contrary, I have never been in her company and had anyone recognize her as someone "famous." Humility is not an adjective you would associate with Stephanie unless it is of the contrived and feigned sort you find in her musings on her blog. A conversation with Stephanie Klein, however, always leads back to uh well......Stephanie Klein of course. "You should check out my blog. I get X thousand hits per day." See "Straight up and Braggy, The Other Side of "Fame."
For those who are fans, enjoy your "reality" show and go buy her book, when it comes out. The most over hyped not yet author is coming to a book store near you. I will pass. If you made it this far, you may consider this my contribution to Stephanie Klein's Technorati ranking.
I turned to the New York Times Fashion & Style section on Sunday July 16, 2005 to read a piece written by Stephanie Rosenbloom entitled "Reader, I dated him." In fact, the subject of the piece herself, Stephanie Klein tipped me off in advance of the impending piece via Instant Messenger that she was "ironically" the subject of another New York Times Fashion & Style piece. Her feigned anxiety and nervousness stemming from the fact they were interviewing her legions of fans and perhaps even her ex husband was not lost on me.
When I read it, despite my off hand knowledge of the numerous pieces written out there critiquing the blog, Stephanie Rosenbloom, the writer for the NY Times, presumably does either (a) not use google search as part of her research or (b) is one of a gaggle of Stephanie Klein's female writer friends in her network or (c) her piece was the result of yet another Girl Crush. There are some quite pointed, poignant and otherwise fair critiques of her blog out in blog land, including one entitled Profiles in Douchebaggette'ery and still others questioning her originality as well as her overall smarminess. These critiques some how escaped mention in Ms. Rosenbloom's column since apparently all Stephanie has are "fans."Greek Tragedy has been critiqued widely by many bloggers on the internet for being nothing more than an utterly vapid and self indulgent rip off of Sex and the City and character Carrie Bradshaw, created by Candace Bushnell. One blogger satirized her blog in a piece entitled Soap Bloggera. There is also now even a smart parody of her site, see A Tale of Two Sisters. In essence, many have found Stephanie as shallow as a kiddie pool. One writer has even given a most accurate assessment as to Why Stephanie is Still Single:
"Here we have a clearly intelligent, reasonably attractive person, a talented and creative individual with a pretty excellent sense of humor. What is the problem? On the surface, this woman should be prime quality. Instead, she appears more to be a pathetic, sex driven, sadly tragic soul. It took a fair bit of reading to find out why as her site is huge. The answer lies here on the page "men to avoid". Bloggers often like to make lists. If done well (so don’t look for one here), they can provide a realistic and often humorous insight into the person. This page explains to me why Stephanie is still single and having problems. At first, I thought this a humorous response to "The Emotionally Unavailable Alcoholic’s Guide to Holiday Romance" published in the blog Manhatten Transfer (itself a great bit of writing), but as I read a ton of her Posts, it became clear this was, in fact, her mantra.
So now I know. Bluntly, she is perhaps one of the more superficial, immature, shallow, money hungry, status seeking people I’ve met through blogs… and I fear a women seemingly devoid of a value system or boundaries. And that writer isn't the only one who thinks he can see past Klein's flowing red curls to her vapid heart; the sorority girls at Barnard must have seen it too: "If she was as socially immature at Barnard as she is now," he wrote, "I can fully understand why she was the only woman in her class not to be invited to join a sorority. They had her number." see also Judge Roberts? Yawn. Stephanie Klein? Yowza!
The puff piece by Stephanie Rosenbloom, however, came across as one written on Judith Regan or Regan Books stationary. In fact, after reading it, I asked Stephanie whether the publicity team over at Regan books was responsible for planting the story, since the story did not contain nary a critique. I realized the insensitivity of my comment when I made it but maybe I was just being "straight up and dirty." My sense was that the writer was very much one whom Stephanie Klein courted and developed a relationship. I almost wanted to ask whether Stephanie Rosenbloom was in fact a personal friend of Stephanie Klein. I suspect so, as Stephanie stated to me that, "they really like me over at the New York Times." Perhaps the manner in which Stephanie Klein and Heather Hunter networked the Times for their gab fess piece on getting schtupped by the same guy, Benjamin Wagner, at the same time explains the reason for their being on the same menstrual cycle. Maybe their internal fluids became mixed in the process? See, Traveling the Too- Much-Information Highway.
Networking the media leads to good results and pieces like those written about Stephanie Klein most recently illustrate that. Whether she or Judith Regan worked the Times is irrelevant. This was very much the work of a skilled promoter or publicist. So this answers the question some writers have asked as to "Why I am not as famous as Stephanie Klein."
I met Stephanie Klein about a year ago. I was introduced to her blog by a friend Ari and subsequently met her. I am aware of, have met and personally interacted with some of New York's best writers and journalists, or at least those covering the social beat who write about the social life and style undercurrent, like Warren St. John, Amy Sohn, Vanessa Grigoriadis, Richard Johnson, Ben Widdicombe, Rachel Kramer Bussel etc. So I was curious that perhaps here was yet another, New York Original in the form of little Stephanie Klein. Unfortunately, I have found Stephanie to be about as original as Ray's Pizza. But I am sure her response would be to kish mir in tuchis since she is the one with the huge advance and more fat pay days ahead.
Stephanie Klein, an Ivy League educated suburban girl of affluence, who lives near Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side, is a Creative Director at Young & Rubicam, a Madison Avenue advertising agency. This is a woman who is quite adept and skilled at how to properly package a product for the market place, including herself. This is what she is paid handsomely to do by day. Her web design skills and photography are clear evidence of that.
Stephanie Klein's Greek Tragedy is pre-packaged by design, a caricature of a New York City female based upon the fictional character Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. The Puff Daddy of the blogging world's chic lit set, her blog is a cliche, hallmark or post card to the heartland if you will. Arguably Stephanie's blog is designed to appeal to lonely people with no legitimate lives of their own and no real sense of life in Manhattan. Their voyeuristic tendencies are satisfied by a glimpse into what they fancy must be the “Sex and the City” life (redux or the reality version) as they sit on their couches eating bon bons wondering what it must be like to be Stephanie Klein.
Her stories are by design, however, so tragically ironic as well as terribly self absorbed and indulgent, all while masked in this hip downtown edginess of Amy Sohn. Unfortunately, it does not make her as original as Amy Sohn. If she did not, however, come across so much as packaged sincerity and allowed herself to actually be what she was...it might be more credible and maybe in fact actually more interesting, but then again maybe it would not sell or be that interesting? It has also already actually been done by someone else. Perhaps her overnight success will allow her to develop an original voice, rather than remaining the Puff Daddy of Chic Lit, working off of the riff of other artists.
Stephanie is an attractive woman who knows how to make herself more attractive without looking like she is "working it." Much like the designer jeans thats come casually torn in the right places to highlight a woman's best attributes, Stephanie is acutely aware and tends to those little things that are supposed to accidentally make you look better. But as a friend said to me, are you sure it is not a bit more like those pre-fab homes which are put together rather quickly but lack the character, history and craftsmanship of the originals that they were modeled after? The originals being? Amy Sohn and Candace Bushnell, she said. Her persona seems rather contrived. It is.
When I first met Stephanie, I was very much looking for reasons to like her. As much as I genuinely tried, for a number of reasons, I found it incredibly difficult to find any substance of character in her persona beyond the self promotion. Like a good Publicist or Director of Communications in a political campaign she was adept at remaining on message. I have found her to be very much a fictional person living a fictional life, one that is designed or choreographed for the purpose of creating an utterly fabulous blogging persona. At first I thought it was perhaps because I did not understand her, her blog or what she was about. I even questioned whether I was being unfair. So, I gave it time, spent more time in her company and yet my perception did not change. I could not find the soul of Stephanie Klein and in fact after a year, gave up looking for it.
Virtually from the the day I met Stephanie, everything she does has been in pursuit of a book deal while trying to seem laid back or indifferent about it. That she succeeded in her mission with the book deal with Judith Regan is to her credit. That she pretends otherwise is well.......so Stephanie. Nothing happens in Stephanie's life by accident, except perhaps her husband walking out on their marriage. As her readers know the failed marriage and her ex husband has provided much of the fodder for her blog. But after X years, really give it up already. Move on. We have all had our hearts broken. To subject some dude to a daily written assault who for whatever reasons simply stopped loving you and walked out and otherwise ruined your Princess dreams of marriage, is kind of manic. It is simple, he was just not that into you. I even joked with her at one point, "you know Stephanie, in some ways you have your ex husband to thank for your success. You might have been destined for a mediocre marriage but now you seem destined to be the next big it girl." Judith Regan was quick to realize that in this reality tv era that the reincarnation of Carrie Bradshaw is a saleable product to advertisers. So while the intelligencia will have little respect for the gibberish on her blog, recognize that you and I are not her target market. The target market is rather those who have never been to New York City and perhaps only received a postcard or watched Sex and the City. Stephanie knows the game from the screenplay which she creates daily with her life to the one she is writing now for the TV Show for the book which has yet to be published.
If the life that she has created on her blog was not lifted from the pages of Sex and the City I might have less of an issue with the latest incantation of Carrie Bradshaw in the form of Stephanie Klein. The only tragic irony in all of this is that there is a whole legion of chic lit bloggers who will continue to assault our consciousness since they may fancy themselves as the next Amy Sohn, Candace Bushnell or now "oy vey"...Stephanie Klein. It is tragic because many are still so wet behind the ears with so little real life experience and actual drama or angst in their lives to legitimately write about or have any genuine ability to reflect.
In a media driven society, content is king. Content is needed to sell advertising. Psuedo angst sells, especially when you know how to package it. What is more disturbing about Stephanie Klein's Technorati ranking is that I have witnessed her rabid pursuit of media people and other bloggers, forging alliances and friendships purely with the goal of getting her blog linked and her "fame" spread. Anyone who does not add to that pursuit is largely irrelevant. Her notoriety stems from other female bloggers sensing that she must be it, linking her hoping to be mentioned or to get their comment in print online on her blog linking back to her site. Although one may wish to be careful because only polite syncophantic comments waxing philosophic about the beauty and elegance of the blogger's prose are allowed. Most who comment are typically bloggers themselves. Critics are routinely banned from posting.
Several months ago, I received a call and then numerous emails from Stephanie to me when yet "horrors" another blogger ripped and dissed her, not on her blog but on his. Stephanie was frenetic. This Blagg Blogg guy had to be stopped of course. I hesitated for a second thinking, well gee, I do not read what you write because while I like you (or am trying to do so at least) he reads you and is simply a critic. People have told me how much I suck numerous times but life goes on. Nevertheless, since she was my "friend", I shot off a nasty email without thinking. His entry was smartly called Profiles in Douchebaggette-ery.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in New York gets broadcast around the world. The life and style of New Yorkers is an export. Myth becomes legend. The legend of Stephanie Klein is that her JAP Mythology passes for Greek Tragedy. That what she does is considered a greater or more profitable art form than those more talented is a sad reality and speaks volumes of the world that we live in today. Sometimes the greatest artists starve while the more commercially astute ones lead lives of grandeur. Stephanie is astute in that regard but after a year I have no idea who or what she is or stands for.
Do I hate Stephanie Klein? No, most certainly not. I am but a critic of what I do not think qualifies to be considered a literary art form. As someone else who knows her well, however, said to me confidentially over cocktails in the Hamptons, "it is one thing to wish your friend's success but it is quite another when the person is really just not at all likeable. The idea that she represents the typical Manhattan chic is repulsive to me."
Many who know her and have been in her company have her ceaseless self promotional skills somewhat offensive. Stephanie is always equipped with cards informing people who she is and that she is the next great thing but ironically despite the NY Times piece to the contrary, I have never been in her company and had anyone recognize her as someone "famous." Humility is not an adjective you would associate with Stephanie unless it is of the contrived and feigned sort you find in her musings on her blog. A conversation with Stephanie Klein, however, always leads back to uh well......Stephanie Klein of course. "You should check out my blog. I get X thousand hits per day." See "Straight up and Braggy, The Other Side of "Fame."
For those who are fans, enjoy your "reality" show and go buy her book, when it comes out. The most over hyped not yet author is coming to a book store near you. I will pass. If you made it this far, you may consider this my contribution to Stephanie Klein's Technorati ranking.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Chasing Amy.... Sohn
I genuinely tried to like her. For the longest time the answer eluded me, even though it was right there before my eyes on a semi regular basis. No matter what angle I viewed her from she was difficult to like. I wondered why. Was I envious? Was it something about her? Did she wrong me personally in some way? No. Was I angry at women in general for some reason?
- Chris: Was it really necessary for This Fish to rip on my friend on her blog? I mean he is a private guy that just lost interest in dating her. And she makes fun of him, his quirks and the fact that he is 40 years old. Tell her to get the fuck over it. Believe me, there is alot that sucks about your friend...a lot. It is not like he went to write a blog entry about her or the size of her tuchis.
- Ari: You hate women, own it!
- Chris: I do not hate women. I love women. Some of us just see no point in dating women who's alleged artistic talent is to poke fun at every "loser" that they date. That is why I will not date any chic lit blogger.
- Ari: You seem to hate women very much. You sure that you are not just gay?
- Chris: I like gay people. Big deal. But I also very much love women. I just have no empathy or interest in unoriginal women who are leaving these pseudo "tragically ironic" lives posturing to be the next Amy Sohn or Candace Bushnell. Frankly I would rather suck a big veiny cock than read that drivel
- Ari: That is not what all of us are doing
Chris: I am not referring to you but your friends Heather "This Fish Hunter and Stephanie Klein with her Greek Tragedy. Greek Tragedy? Give me a break. That shit is more like JAP Mythology. There is nothing tragic about her life. The only thing tragic or ironic is that we live in a society where people find this crap interesting. I am only fortunate to have gotten to know the person behind this and all I can is that at best it is soul less manufactured drama passing for bad commerical art. - Ari: Why do you care?
- Chris: It is repulsive to me that this canned soul less garbage passes for some literary art form. There are writers writing original stories who do not get the attention that this Madison Avenueized manufactured shit gets
- Ari: Is no longer online
Female Trouble
Amy Sohn wrote a column called Female Trouble in the New York Press in the 1990's. Like many, I and many of my male and female friends became intriqued and fascinated with her column. Amy so uniquely embodied the persona of that artsy Lower East Side, East Village chic even though she was from Brooklyn. Before I was even aware of the the label "chic lit" I saw Amy as a New York original. I read Amy's Female Trouble column and happy to see her climb the literary food chain, not because I had seen 5 thousand pictures of her on a blog in various different contrived poses. We had no clue and could only speculate as to what Amy actually looked like. She was sexy, vulnerable and real. It did not matter that as I found out years later when I actually met her that she happens to be a fairly attractive woman.
However artistic, creative and cool I thought that I was, to the likes of an artist, I was an upper east side cliche; way too yuppie with short hair. I was not a rocker, hipster or artistic dude with an angle that could appeal to the likes of someone like Amy. I was attracted to her even though I had no idea what she looked like. So many evenings over late night eggs and coffee after a night out, I would sit in the Viand Diner on the Upper East Side and read Amy's latest life experience, sexual interlude, romantic disappointment etc. More than Page 6 or the Sports Section, I was genuinely curious about this girl's escapades. I had no idea what she looked like and all different images would come to mind. Her words and experiences were heart felt and real. They did not reak of hey, I am trying to get my shit out there to become famous and get a book deal. They did not seem scripted to fit some pre-conceived notion of an edgy downtown female. She was in fact an edgy downtown female. Of that I was sure.
Several years later, as she climbed the charts of New York's writers, she became a published author and her column moved to the upscale New York Magazine, where she is remains a regular columnist. Whatever commercialization there has been of Amy Sohn, it has not come at the price of her originality and if nothing else has come as a consequence of her success first as a legitimate writer and story teller who did not derive her content from the works of other artists.
In late 2002, I got an email from Amy Sohn. She was researching a story and my name landed in her email box as a potential contact or source for a story. Hey Chris, this is Amy Sohn the email read.....I was referred to you by......she thought you might be an interesting guy to speak to....and it ended with, if you have a moment, can you give me a call at____ or let me know how to reach you. I replied with my number. A short time later the phone rang. It was Amy Sohn. How cool is this I thought. I have a great deal of respect for writers, especially those with a journalistic edge who research their subjects and show a commitment to getting a subject and the story straight. Immediately I felt comfortable with Amy. We began to speak in earnest as she fired off various questions to me. I was admittedly a little star struck and on some level still am in her presence. (Photo by Gregory Partanio: Amy Sohn, Chris London & Deborah Schoeneman)
As our dialoque drew to an end, Amy said that she would reflect on our conversation, some notes she took and call me later on that day or in the next few days. She did and asked me to meet her downtown, somewhere which was mutually convenient. At the time I lived in Battery Park City and she lived in Brooklyn so agreed to meet at the Tribeca Grande Hotel. I felt like a celebrity sitting there being interviewed by Amy while being lubricated with cocktails courtesy of New York Magazine. We engaged in an earnest discussion of my dating life and experiences. Her questions were pointed. Amy was quite adept at delving into my psyche, so much so that I found myself watching my own interview, thinking to myself this girl totally gets it and gets me. I should have been unnerved but I wasn't. Amy asked if I could provide her with some female friends, ex friends and girlfriends who would agree to go on record about me. I hesitated but ultimately did so, knowing full well that it might open a can of worms and give these women who were not always the greatest fans of mine a reason to take shots at me. They did.
Needless to say the story came out. It was called "the Pickup Artist". In the story for a variety of reasons they changed my name to Tad Brock. Initially I felt humbled and somewhat embarrased by the story. Gawker even poked fun at me later on. I was angry at the ex girlfriend who was a Publicist. Her level of honesty or should I say spin in knocking me was all too obvious. But Amy even picked up on that and was somehow able to distill the truth out of it. We both came across looking what we were which was highly imperfect individuals. I eventually embraced Amy as having put forth a pretty honest yet entertaining account of my dating life. We added each other to our respective contact lists and periodically we exchange emails for networking purposes as I have no issues whatsoever referring anyone to Amy if she is doing a story. In fact, my brother took pictures at her book party for My Old Man last year. I saluted her originality and her continued success. She deserves it.
Amy Sohn's Progeny: Girls of Tragic Irony
The success of Amy Sohn combined with the accessibility of blogging or publishing platforms has led to the proliferation of female bloggers, many of whom are seemingly trying to find and cultivate a tragically ironic edge from their lives; some with more flair than others. In some cases, it is so readily apparent that their "craftsmanship" reeks of similarity to to Amy Sohn and Candace Bushnell. Some do not. Case in point, I read a blog called Ari Goes Down and subsequently met the writer of the blog. We even became somewhat friendly and flirted but the chemistry was lacking between us for a multitude of reasons.
Ari made assumptions about what my life was about and pointed me in the direction of a blogger who I had never heard of Stephanie Klein, who has a blog entitled Greek Tragedy. Immediately I was struck by how packaged the blog and the persona behind the blog appeared. It made sense. I later learned that she was a Creative Director at Young & Rubicam, a major Madison Avenue Advertising Agency. There was a striking similarity to the Sex and the City characters. It was so clear that she was modeling herself on the Carrie Bradshaw persona I had seen on the show and even had as a similar small entourage of three-four girlfriends that she regularly travels with and whom appear in her pictures. How ironic that they span the spectrum of blondes, brunettes and redheads I thought. This looks posed.... It is.
Although her blog seemed a little self absorbed, I sent Stephanie a nice email commending her on style and the appearance of her blog. It was different than most others in design. It seem massaged or crafted artistically. After a bout of emails, IM's and a brief phone conversation, we agreed to meet. I met Stephanie Klein for the first time, at Starbucks on Madison Avenue and 41st Street, which was near our respective offices. I was working at the law firm of Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch at the time. Stephanie than joined me at a Fun With Wine.com tasting event that I was invited to at the Union Square Wine Store.
Manhattan Society.com is among other things my humble attempt to document a certain element of the charitable and social under current in New York City. Stephanie is a talented photographer. Having Stephanie join me periodically at some upscale social, fashion and charity events that I was invited to cover by some major Society Publicists was helpful to my mission. Our social alliance of sorts never evolved into any kind of substantive friendship beyond that largely because sadly I could not ever find the the soul or essence of Stephanie Klein beyond the facade of the persona on her blog. My brief flirtation with developing a more meaningful friendship ended for me in the early part of 2005 when I realized that in the end it is really all about Stephanie Klein and nothing that is not about that is really of any interest to Stephanie Klein or bloggers of her ilk, such as Heather "This Fish" Hunter. Certainly there was an element of opportunism to her M.O. and that of getting her friends into cool parties. The purpose? Largely to create the screenplay of an alleged fabulous life that smacks of "Sex and the City" down to the Manolo's and traveling in a pack of three and four girls. Documenting a life that is scripted is the essence of her fabulousity but it sells to those who do not know. How it is so tragic escapes me. The fact that it does not escape a lot of other readers or even a New York Times Columnist who's research spans the depth of a Press Release is sad. (To be continued...Part II Greek'ed Tragedy, coming soon)
Thursday, November 13, 2003
THE NEW “PUB CHIC”
Sean Murphy of Murph Guide.com, known for connecting the fun to the fun people, invited to me serve as a Guest Bartender at the infamous "Mc Faddens Saloon".
Initially, I had some difficulty persuading some of my female friends to join me. Too many of my female “friends” spend every Thursday Night in Manhattan in pursuit of that illusive perfect scene jumping from one exclusive lounge spot to another, where they usually run into every other chic dressed in black, spend $12-14 on Cosmo's and kvetch and complain that there are no decent men around, but rather just a couple of metrosexuals who are better groomed and perhaps even prettier.
This is my advice......Give up the "Sex and The City" Fantasy for one night. First of all you are not Sarah Jessica Parker and second of all even if you are......Real Men are NOT looking for her. Leave the Manolo's at home girlfriend. The reality is that their search for the bigger better deal and MEN is sort of similar to the endless struggle and mind numbing stupidity of the guys doing the same thing in the movie Swingers.
Think instead, Midtown, reasonable drink prices, heavily poured, models.......hmm, I think that you just may find them at McFaddens from suits to Firefighters And that is why maybe you should pass on the W, The Monkey Bar, Mercer Kitchen etc and the like. Hey when you actually meet a guy…maybe you can go back to that cool lounge on a date. But then again perhaps even then you may think otherwise because your date will likely be exposed to a thousand other well dressed women who are mistakenly there in a vein effort to find a guy like the one you are on a date with.
As some of you know, I recently, guest bartended at Marcel's Fall Cocktail Party where the crowd and servings were upscale but the price of entry for an open bar with select delicacies was reasonable. Is this something new? NO! It seems rather that the upscale nightlifers are doing something which originated with "The Pub." generous servings, comfort and relaxation at value oriented prices which do not break the bank. These are things which are not often found at Manhattan Lounges these days which is perhaps why Marcel has had a successful run of private parties the last year or two. He is smartly and simply offering something which you cannot often find at upscale Manhattan Lounge.
Bar Talk (question open for discussion at the bar):
Anyway, on another issue why does it seem to me that gay men are dressing more masculine these days than straight men? And Straight men are too often attired as Ricky Martin clones. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just a question. See Post Straight: How Gay Men are remodeling regular guys (written before Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) Maybe I should write a piece called "Straight Pretty vs. Gay Masculinity?" It's no wonder that straight women are hanging with gay men. Have straight men turned into the real queens? Something for women to ponder next time you find yourself waiting for your man to finish drying & mousing his hair or getting waxed. In my estimation, Queer Eye is merely an infomercial for a clothes horse and otherwise completely missed the point, as it seems there are far more metrosexuals who discovered how to dress and style themselves like gay men long before the origination of this show. So despite these wonderfully flamboyant characters, the new straight guys usually already consult there other metrosexual friends. Only gay men have moved on and now look like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie Poster boys while many straight guys on the urban professional scene are caught in a time warp living and looking like la vida loca.
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, 6 pm-9 pm, Murph Guide Guest Bartending Night with Anheuser Busch Select Models at McFaddens on 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue: Rather than going to some obscure and exclusive lounge on Thursday Night, ditch the black dress and the manolo's and instead, join me and some friends at a NYC landmark, "Mc Faddens Saloon" and just kick back and enjoy a few cocktails amongst friends at reasonable prices served by me, "Master of the Heavy Pour." Let it be known that the Consigliere will never serve watered down drinks. I will serve for a couple hours and then hang out with my friends afterwards. Is this the new pub chic? Perhaps a trend is forming.
Included
-Models from Aneheuser Busch
-T Shirt give aways
-Drink Specials including $3 Pints of Guinness, Bass, Bud & Bud Light Bottles
-2 for 1 appetizers
Not Included
-Special Appearances by Straight Guy with the Queer Drink
-Men who drink Cosmo's and the women who love them (not really but I hear it happens)
-Apple Martini's: Is it really a man's drink?
-Girls who do shots and guys who love them
-Guys who can perform longer at the bar than the bedroom
-Celebrity Wrestling Match: Wall Street Trader vs. a Firefighter (watch these two chics go at it)
Sean Murphy of Murph Guide.com, known for connecting the fun to the fun people, invited to me serve as a Guest Bartender at the infamous "Mc Faddens Saloon".
Initially, I had some difficulty persuading some of my female friends to join me. Too many of my female “friends” spend every Thursday Night in Manhattan in pursuit of that illusive perfect scene jumping from one exclusive lounge spot to another, where they usually run into every other chic dressed in black, spend $12-14 on Cosmo's and kvetch and complain that there are no decent men around, but rather just a couple of metrosexuals who are better groomed and perhaps even prettier.
This is my advice......Give up the "Sex and The City" Fantasy for one night. First of all you are not Sarah Jessica Parker and second of all even if you are......Real Men are NOT looking for her. Leave the Manolo's at home girlfriend. The reality is that their search for the bigger better deal and MEN is sort of similar to the endless struggle and mind numbing stupidity of the guys doing the same thing in the movie Swingers.
Think instead, Midtown, reasonable drink prices, heavily poured, models.......hmm, I think that you just may find them at McFaddens from suits to Firefighters And that is why maybe you should pass on the W, The Monkey Bar, Mercer Kitchen etc and the like. Hey when you actually meet a guy…maybe you can go back to that cool lounge on a date. But then again perhaps even then you may think otherwise because your date will likely be exposed to a thousand other well dressed women who are mistakenly there in a vein effort to find a guy like the one you are on a date with.
As some of you know, I recently, guest bartended at Marcel's Fall Cocktail Party where the crowd and servings were upscale but the price of entry for an open bar with select delicacies was reasonable. Is this something new? NO! It seems rather that the upscale nightlifers are doing something which originated with "The Pub." generous servings, comfort and relaxation at value oriented prices which do not break the bank. These are things which are not often found at Manhattan Lounges these days which is perhaps why Marcel has had a successful run of private parties the last year or two. He is smartly and simply offering something which you cannot often find at upscale Manhattan Lounge.
Bar Talk (question open for discussion at the bar):
Anyway, on another issue why does it seem to me that gay men are dressing more masculine these days than straight men? And Straight men are too often attired as Ricky Martin clones. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just a question. See Post Straight: How Gay Men are remodeling regular guys (written before Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) Maybe I should write a piece called "Straight Pretty vs. Gay Masculinity?" It's no wonder that straight women are hanging with gay men. Have straight men turned into the real queens? Something for women to ponder next time you find yourself waiting for your man to finish drying & mousing his hair or getting waxed. In my estimation, Queer Eye is merely an infomercial for a clothes horse and otherwise completely missed the point, as it seems there are far more metrosexuals who discovered how to dress and style themselves like gay men long before the origination of this show. So despite these wonderfully flamboyant characters, the new straight guys usually already consult there other metrosexual friends. Only gay men have moved on and now look like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie Poster boys while many straight guys on the urban professional scene are caught in a time warp living and looking like la vida loca.
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, 6 pm-9 pm, Murph Guide Guest Bartending Night with Anheuser Busch Select Models at McFaddens on 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue: Rather than going to some obscure and exclusive lounge on Thursday Night, ditch the black dress and the manolo's and instead, join me and some friends at a NYC landmark, "Mc Faddens Saloon" and just kick back and enjoy a few cocktails amongst friends at reasonable prices served by me, "Master of the Heavy Pour." Let it be known that the Consigliere will never serve watered down drinks. I will serve for a couple hours and then hang out with my friends afterwards. Is this the new pub chic? Perhaps a trend is forming.
Included
-Models from Aneheuser Busch
-T Shirt give aways
-Drink Specials including $3 Pints of Guinness, Bass, Bud & Bud Light Bottles
-2 for 1 appetizers
Not Included
-Special Appearances by Straight Guy with the Queer Drink
-Men who drink Cosmo's and the women who love them (not really but I hear it happens)
-Apple Martini's: Is it really a man's drink?
-Girls who do shots and guys who love them
-Guys who can perform longer at the bar than the bedroom
-Celebrity Wrestling Match: Wall Street Trader vs. a Firefighter (watch these two chics go at it)
Friday, October 31, 2003
SOCIAL ARTISTE' OR PIMP?
Someone asked me what it is I do the other day. Are you a Promoter? An Event Planner? A Fundraiser? A Producer? A web designer? Party Host? What the heck is it that you do? I found that to be quite an interesting question actually. At the time it, however, it came across as an indictment from someone who leveled a personal critque at me inferring that I collaborate (not her word) with too many different types of people living various different lifestyles in events of various genres, none of which are my own, that made me truly less of an event planner. Ok and your point is? I reallyhave no interest or desire to throw an event per week in order to fill some event quota for a social or dating business. Secondly, would that title of "event planner" if conferred bestow an illusive degree of honor in my life that was somehow illuding me?
Anyway, I got to thinking. Do we care about labels or how we are defined by those around us. Perhaps I do, admittedly maybe more than I care to admit. After a first draft of this piece which came across as more of a rant, I received a complimentary email in return from Lifestyle Guru Beth Schoenfeldt of Flo Inc., informing me that my undefined essence was really what she instructs to her core clientele as a part of a methodology to reach new heights in life, we must not live in carefully prescribed boxes and defined parameters. Not her exact words and perhaps there is a degree of embellishment here, but when you get a compliment from a intellectual female goddess who is a rising female self improvement motivational star, you listen and take note, unless of course she also leveled a critique . ;-)
The fact is that there are many promoters, event planners, producers, nightlife experts extraordinnaire of various stripes and persuasion. I have no desire to duplicate anyone's effort. If it is a crime to collaborate, instruct, empower, enlighten and involve oneself in and with people and who's art form you love, then I am guilty as all hell. If it is my desire to steer clear of hustlers and shameless self promoters that is consumer perogative.
Anyway, I diverge but it seems to me the one place where one who cannot necessarily paint, draw or write but who has some sense of style, a flair for interior design combined with the the gift of gab can with a moderate amount of time and effort throw an event. Although admittedly these days the flat economy has created a city full of event organizers, promoters, networking gurus, charity fundraisers and spinmeisters bombarding and saturating the social market with events of questionable quality chasing a social clientele who has grown numb from the down economy and endless promotions, comps, discounts, drink specials etc. The reality is that there are not enough people, dollars and creative events for everyone who endeavors to do so to profit from doing so. It is no surprise then that many of the self annointed event guru's who find themselves hosting events by necessity or passion do not seem to be having much fun at all, which is understandable given the pressure that exists to deliver as promised to sponsors and venue owners. In my humble opinion far two few planners are setting expectations at realistic and appropriate level given the current climate. Hype aside, it may be more productive to shoot for the stars but be a tad more candid about best and worst case scenarios as well as consider adding the Art of Networking and collaboration to insure the success of their efforts. Not that any creator/producer or designer is comfortable alleviating some of their craft to others but ironically those with the most intuitive skill whom I have encountered are the most willing to engage in a healthy degree of collaboration, while still others are caught up in their self promotion which only hampers their efforts. Prima Donna's need not apply, but likewise I caution rip off artists who merely seek to mimic or duplicate the art of others without paying a royalty or collaboration fee. That is genuninely not my cup of tea.
Needless to say I have been exposed who have more than a passing fancy and skill in the event organization sphere in Manhattan. There are some true artists who host events which are socially and culturally significant from the sensual realm to the charitable realm, including but not limited to Palagia of Onelegupnyc, FlirtNYC, Tatiana & 4PM Events, Mistress Evita, SF Management, Happy Hours.com, Rick Weissman's Fun with Wine, Gabrielle B. & The Women's Entrepreneurial Network, some of whom I have had the opportunity to collaborate with and others who's art I have appreciated from mere attendance at their uniquely themed and style events. In the cases of the folks mentioned above, their is a degree of meticulous care, planning and execution.
As for others including the angry putz who leveled this critique at me, lets just say that there is a psychotic element in the Manhattan Nightlife scene. That is vaque enough. For some of you that will mean the same person and for others it will mean someone else. That is all I will say. A handful of event planners, producers and promoters who have an amazing sense of style taste as well as an intuitive feel for what will get people to come to an event or bring business to a venue or help bring revenue to a well needed charitable cause. For me that is critical because the sense of urgency I felt with regards to community building and enlightenment Post 9/11 in NYC was as great as an adoloscents lust for the obvious the first time he was exposed to visual art of the opposite sex...or the same sex, not that there is anything wrong with that.
I got to thinking of the scene in the movie Nightshift with Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton. You know the one....two guys working the morque who start an escort service because Michael Keaton fancys himself as a "love broker" rather than a pimp.
Since so many people have asked me what I am here is my answer. I am a Social Artiste'. Maybe some of you think of me as pimp. Well in fact to some of you, I guess I have effectively been a pimp although I would prefer to think of myself as hook up broker or matchmaker, although obviously not in the vein of one for hire as I have not charged anyone for regular or intermittent sex......yet!. On the other hand in the economy that may not be a bad thing.
I love people, I love culture, I love charity and bringing those forces together, especially those far more talented than I am in so many ways. Do I want to duplicate or mimic them. Perhaps sometimes. But envy is not a productive emotion besides which it precludes you from enjoying and loving beautiful things in life. Thus, I would rather and prefer to find synergies between members of the ever expanding London Network, business, romantic, financial, cultural. At the end of the day, the London Network is about community building and not always taking the credit. I will be the guy at your party, event or gathering trying to blend in so that I can better enjoy what it is that you designed or contributed to making. If I am hosting an event, it will still be essentially YOUR event. My world is not about me and perhaps even better you will not always know or feel my presence unless you feel love in the air, then that is where I want to be.
My contribution?....is to make sure the world and those that I know and interact with appreciate the full value of what they are being exposed to and the precious time that we have on this Planet Earth and the most amazing city in the world...and you know I am not referring to Miami, Dubuque or LA. That is the essence of my life and The London Network. If I love what you do and are about...I want others to also. I have linked some of my favorite folks in Manhattan Social Directory by placing their logo on my site and recommend you visit and patronize them if you have not already.
Salud! and L'chaim of course.
Someone asked me what it is I do the other day. Are you a Promoter? An Event Planner? A Fundraiser? A Producer? A web designer? Party Host? What the heck is it that you do? I found that to be quite an interesting question actually. At the time it, however, it came across as an indictment from someone who leveled a personal critque at me inferring that I collaborate (not her word) with too many different types of people living various different lifestyles in events of various genres, none of which are my own, that made me truly less of an event planner. Ok and your point is? I reallyhave no interest or desire to throw an event per week in order to fill some event quota for a social or dating business. Secondly, would that title of "event planner" if conferred bestow an illusive degree of honor in my life that was somehow illuding me?
Anyway, I got to thinking. Do we care about labels or how we are defined by those around us. Perhaps I do, admittedly maybe more than I care to admit. After a first draft of this piece which came across as more of a rant, I received a complimentary email in return from Lifestyle Guru Beth Schoenfeldt of Flo Inc., informing me that my undefined essence was really what she instructs to her core clientele as a part of a methodology to reach new heights in life, we must not live in carefully prescribed boxes and defined parameters. Not her exact words and perhaps there is a degree of embellishment here, but when you get a compliment from a intellectual female goddess who is a rising female self improvement motivational star, you listen and take note, unless of course she also leveled a critique . ;-)
The fact is that there are many promoters, event planners, producers, nightlife experts extraordinnaire of various stripes and persuasion. I have no desire to duplicate anyone's effort. If it is a crime to collaborate, instruct, empower, enlighten and involve oneself in and with people and who's art form you love, then I am guilty as all hell. If it is my desire to steer clear of hustlers and shameless self promoters that is consumer perogative.
Anyway, I diverge but it seems to me the one place where one who cannot necessarily paint, draw or write but who has some sense of style, a flair for interior design combined with the the gift of gab can with a moderate amount of time and effort throw an event. Although admittedly these days the flat economy has created a city full of event organizers, promoters, networking gurus, charity fundraisers and spinmeisters bombarding and saturating the social market with events of questionable quality chasing a social clientele who has grown numb from the down economy and endless promotions, comps, discounts, drink specials etc. The reality is that there are not enough people, dollars and creative events for everyone who endeavors to do so to profit from doing so. It is no surprise then that many of the self annointed event guru's who find themselves hosting events by necessity or passion do not seem to be having much fun at all, which is understandable given the pressure that exists to deliver as promised to sponsors and venue owners. In my humble opinion far two few planners are setting expectations at realistic and appropriate level given the current climate. Hype aside, it may be more productive to shoot for the stars but be a tad more candid about best and worst case scenarios as well as consider adding the Art of Networking and collaboration to insure the success of their efforts. Not that any creator/producer or designer is comfortable alleviating some of their craft to others but ironically those with the most intuitive skill whom I have encountered are the most willing to engage in a healthy degree of collaboration, while still others are caught up in their self promotion which only hampers their efforts. Prima Donna's need not apply, but likewise I caution rip off artists who merely seek to mimic or duplicate the art of others without paying a royalty or collaboration fee. That is genuninely not my cup of tea.
Needless to say I have been exposed who have more than a passing fancy and skill in the event organization sphere in Manhattan. There are some true artists who host events which are socially and culturally significant from the sensual realm to the charitable realm, including but not limited to Palagia of Onelegupnyc, FlirtNYC, Tatiana & 4PM Events, Mistress Evita, SF Management, Happy Hours.com, Rick Weissman's Fun with Wine, Gabrielle B. & The Women's Entrepreneurial Network, some of whom I have had the opportunity to collaborate with and others who's art I have appreciated from mere attendance at their uniquely themed and style events. In the cases of the folks mentioned above, their is a degree of meticulous care, planning and execution.
As for others including the angry putz who leveled this critique at me, lets just say that there is a psychotic element in the Manhattan Nightlife scene. That is vaque enough. For some of you that will mean the same person and for others it will mean someone else. That is all I will say. A handful of event planners, producers and promoters who have an amazing sense of style taste as well as an intuitive feel for what will get people to come to an event or bring business to a venue or help bring revenue to a well needed charitable cause. For me that is critical because the sense of urgency I felt with regards to community building and enlightenment Post 9/11 in NYC was as great as an adoloscents lust for the obvious the first time he was exposed to visual art of the opposite sex...or the same sex, not that there is anything wrong with that.
I got to thinking of the scene in the movie Nightshift with Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton. You know the one....two guys working the morque who start an escort service because Michael Keaton fancys himself as a "love broker" rather than a pimp.
Since so many people have asked me what I am here is my answer. I am a Social Artiste'. Maybe some of you think of me as pimp. Well in fact to some of you, I guess I have effectively been a pimp although I would prefer to think of myself as hook up broker or matchmaker, although obviously not in the vein of one for hire as I have not charged anyone for regular or intermittent sex......yet!. On the other hand in the economy that may not be a bad thing.
I love people, I love culture, I love charity and bringing those forces together, especially those far more talented than I am in so many ways. Do I want to duplicate or mimic them. Perhaps sometimes. But envy is not a productive emotion besides which it precludes you from enjoying and loving beautiful things in life. Thus, I would rather and prefer to find synergies between members of the ever expanding London Network, business, romantic, financial, cultural. At the end of the day, the London Network is about community building and not always taking the credit. I will be the guy at your party, event or gathering trying to blend in so that I can better enjoy what it is that you designed or contributed to making. If I am hosting an event, it will still be essentially YOUR event. My world is not about me and perhaps even better you will not always know or feel my presence unless you feel love in the air, then that is where I want to be.
My contribution?....is to make sure the world and those that I know and interact with appreciate the full value of what they are being exposed to and the precious time that we have on this Planet Earth and the most amazing city in the world...and you know I am not referring to Miami, Dubuque or LA. That is the essence of my life and The London Network. If I love what you do and are about...I want others to also. I have linked some of my favorite folks in Manhattan Social Directory by placing their logo on my site and recommend you visit and patronize them if you have not already.
Salud! and L'chaim of course.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
INFORMATION SOCIETY TO ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY, NYC 1995-2003
“I wanna know what your thinking…there are some things you can’t hide. I wanna know what you’re feeling. Tell me what’s on your mind. Here I am in silence….looking round without a clue. I can see behind your eyes. The things that I don't know
If you hide away from me How can our love grow?—Information Society, "Pure Energy" Circa 1980 something.
Mr. Bush...Mr. Bloomberg....Ms. Rodham-Clinton, I wanna know what you're thinking. Please for once, tell me what's on your mind.
Who is the Grinch that stole the economy? 9/11 terrorists? Enron executives? Corrupt Wall Street executives? Incompetent politicos and a government bureaucracy gone wild? I write this even as some are beginning to write about the present bull market. Terry Keenan recently provided her Top 10 Reasons to be bullish again highlighting most significantly that "corporate insiders are selling like crazy" and that "after three years it just feels good to be bullish again." Did it ever occur to Terry that perhaps corporate insiders are selling because they figure this might be as good as it gets for a while thus making it a prime time to liquidate some of their insider stock into cold hard currency?
I wonder how we have gone from Silicon Alley Nights to Networking for our Survival. Does it seem to you like everyone is seeking their 15 minutes of fame in the spotlight of “Reality” TV, while still others have turned to even more questionable pursuits, including entrepreneurial predatory schemes? If you ask me…it is a mad, mad world. Recently in fact, the Consigliere was lured to a casting call where he was “cast…..aside” in favor of some truly beautiful actors, actresses and models. I am not complaining. In fact, if I were the director, I would probably cast them rather than me as well. The fact remains that reality TV is not reality when reality TV casting calls are filled with a multitude of actors, models and performers with “previous experience” on “reality TV.” This is nothing more than creative and cost effective programming by The Entertainment Industry which has finally figured out a way to bypass the SAG Actors and union wages to exploit the plethora of free talent that will work merely for the exposure. Why import oil by the barrel from overseas or cross country when you can turn on the tap anywhere at any time. In fact, one observation is clear, there are not nearly as many “reality TV” programs as the talent search would seem to suggest. It’s turned some casting businesses into stockpiling data and a talent pool for future reference. One of my actor friends pointed out how mind boggling it was to her who she saw on a recent casting call, lawyers, bankers, business owners, etc, many of whom were unemployed or "in transition."
I do not even want to get into my experience networking with a Sociopath for several months who’s weapon of mass destruction or “WMD” was something right out of a Bret Easton Ellis American Psycho novel. I emerged unscathed but psychologically battered nonetheless. Just more evidence of a world gone mad.
All I know is that there remains a huge pit and wide open air space where a chunk of New York's economy, both real and symbolic, once stood. Our psyche as a people remains in flux at best and perhaps turned the entrepreneurial class in to scavengers feeding off the bones of a dead carcass, remnants of the New Economy. All while a handful of elities dine at the 21 Club and travel the world on book deals arranged to promote their hypocritical and self absorbed lives...(Case in point: Hillary Clinton). The fact that anyone listened to the "Living History" slop and P.R. that she offered on Barbara Walters and will even read her book amazes me. Lest anyone have any doubt, before you shower the Clintons with any more sympathy etc, this is nothing more than the second phases of a business/political partnership between two obviously over ambitious individuals. And if they truly do love each other, the drama of their type of love/political arrangement whether Anthony & Cleopatra or Juan Peron and Evita should be the subject of an Oprah episode and not hog the news headlines.
Hillary, please stop selling the American public fictional accounts and dramatic stories of your profound romantic love for each other and the challenges to your marriage, lest this be labeled a left wing bullshit conspiracy. I did fundraising on your husbands campaign in Boston and even I am tired of seeing and reading your crap. The bullshit flows equally from the left as it does from the right I am afraid. Fortunately some are “Unmasking Hillary.” Sharon Lerner recently pointed out Why She Enrages Feminists and Joy Press calls Hillary’s self absorbed promotional book nothing more than a 500 page resume in “Living History: A Lifeless Letdown” . Establishment shall have no fear over Ms. Clinton. Relax, while Hillary settles comfortably into the power structure in American Government, she is no where near the revolutionary or the threat that some consider her. The evidence is in. In the opinions of her most ardent supporters, she is basically a White Collar Tranny, an old boys club male who just figured out how to play the game in a dress. She was after all a Goldwater Girl in her youth. While people’s politics do change, the evidence suggests that much like her husband and perhaps even to a greater degree, she is the consummate political pragmatist, consumed with one end and one end only power and higher office. Before all of my female friends again clamor for me to support the idea of a woman for President, show me what the distinction is in this case, other than that she has a Vagina and Bill has a penis. As for who wears the pants, is it really all that relevant now anyway?
Where is the morality, shame, indignation or focus on real priorities which affect how people live, breathe and survive in our society. God bless Michael Bloomberg but even as a non-smoker who has a disdain for the activity doesn't it strike you as bit odd, misguided and somewhat self righteous that the mans first few symbolic acts upon getting into office in one of the most fragile periods of this city's history were to enforce a smoking ban on an otherwise stagnant nightlife industry, which was already crippled, embrace the cities most blatant race baiter and self promoter in Al Sharpton and to separate himself from the legacy of Guiliani by his statement that he wanted to be a kindler and gentler Giuliani. I mean really what the fuck does that mean anyway?
Those who have theorized that the decay of civilization as we know it has begun in earnest point to those pursuing open or alternate lifestyle arrangements. Though misguided, it is perhaps an excellent way to take focus away from some of our corporate and political leaders who are completely devoid of a leadership vision beyond their self interest. Despite all of their flag waving they otherwise continue to fuck us. Yes, I said fuck. Moralists are often quick to demonize “sensualists” who are free and open with their sexuality rather than focus in earnest on the true corruption and immorality which lay at the center of our bloated government bureaucracy and those in corporate America who engage in ponzie schemes to defraud the taxpayer. That type if immorality is of greater concern and consequence to me than whether some executive wants to have his ass spanked by a dominatrix or a swinging couple that shares their bed with additional partners.
The real fraud and decay in our civilizations morality lay at the heart of the seat of power in this country and some of the board rooms of the Fortune 500 and not in the bedrooms of those who lead an open lifestyle. In fact, one can argue that our government is actually doing a better job of fucking us. I only wish that they had asked whether we like anal sex before they bent us over and took us for a ride. This is the largest full time gang bang in history, one government schtupping nearly 300 million Americans daily. If the modern era in America feels somewhat like Caligula's reign at the dawn of the fall of the Roman Empire it may be more a result on the lack of principled moral leadership and less so on the sexual indiscretions of the proletariat.
Consider the issue of “social security.” As recently brought to my attention by my friend Palagia of Onelegupnyc who forwarded a poignant dissertation from Debsfunpages :
“Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congress men & women do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. Nada. Zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds-our tax dollars at work!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid)into every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ...then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.
Shamanta in in Exposing Corruption in the Global Monetary System, suggests that we have been Unless There Is A Global Movement For Gold And Silver
GOLD STANDARD AS A HUMAN STANDARD --ALTHOUGH THE GOLD STANDARD IS STIPULATED AS THE ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES --THAT CONGRESS SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO COIN (CREATE) MONEY AND REGULATE THE VALUE THEREOF -- THE PRINCIPLE IS UNIVERSAL
SECTION 19 OF THE COINAGE ACT OF 1792 "…. IF ANY OF THE GOLD OR SILVER COINS…SHALL BE DEBASED.. EVERY SUCH OFFICER OR PERSONE WHO SHALL COMMIT ANY OR EITHER OF SAID OFFENSES, SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF FELONY, AND SHALL SUFFER DEATH." -
So, while we fight about the cigarette ban, the Hillary chronicles, strive for our 15 minutes of fame on reality TV and assorted other distractions, there remains a huge hole in the ground, unemployment and underemployment of mythic proportions and a degree of insecurity and malaise in the population not seen since the Carter Administration. Before, we have any wag the dog distractions to the real issues at hand in our lives……listen up baby, it is the economy stupid and my simple request that our government stop raping us as a people with ponzie schemes that will ultimately bankrupt our society, all while asking that we continue to make greater sacrifices. My answer will simply be shut the fuck up when you tell me about belt tightening when some Washington insider is walking away with millions in misappropriated retirement funds, while at the rate we are going the average yuppie will be living in a cardboard box without any retirement safety net.
Every 4 years we listen to the party out of power tell us how the party in power is the party responsible for the current bust or downturn, only this time it is worse and the pain is more pervasive. The boom bust economic cycles occur because if the system in place and not because of one party or the other. Clinton came into office in the early 1990's vowing to stamp out the pervasive greed of the Reagan years that crippled Bush's economy. The only problem with that inference is that the 1980's were an appetizer compared to the feast of capitalistic explosion that occured in the 1990's, the longest growth spurt in he nation's history was prolonged by the Fed. 9/11 and the cycle of boom and bust precipiated the malaise that we suffer from today. If coincidentally a Democratic administration should wrestle power from the Republicans, are we going to once again give credit for the resulting boom to the Democrats? It is this circle jerk political process that prevents us from seeing the truth about what is happening in our country and the Global Economic Disorder. Who is to know how to Manage Global Economic Disorder.
If you think I am out of order, then in the words of Al Pacino in And Justice For All ……this is whole fucking world is out of order! And if you are too blind to see it or to passive to change it as a people then we as American deserve the shaft that is being placed up our tukhis on a regular basis, whether it be a Republican or Democratic Administration. The American public is seemingly bi political…we enjoy being fucked equally by Donkeys and Elephants. If nothing else is clear, Shamanta may actually be quite right that the lack of sound moral economic fundamentals reduces the probability that we will have a future which will provide Justice for All. Perhaps we can find solace in our societal bankruptcy and our fifteen minutes of fame on a realty TV show.
Well as I expect, when you take on the left, right and everything in between in one column, you are not likely to be left with many friends. After this I may need a course from Dale Carnegie on how to make friends and influence people.
“I wanna know what your thinking…there are some things you can’t hide. I wanna know what you’re feeling. Tell me what’s on your mind. Here I am in silence….looking round without a clue. I can see behind your eyes. The things that I don't know
If you hide away from me How can our love grow?—Information Society, "Pure Energy" Circa 1980 something.
Mr. Bush...Mr. Bloomberg....Ms. Rodham-Clinton, I wanna know what you're thinking. Please for once, tell me what's on your mind.
Who is the Grinch that stole the economy? 9/11 terrorists? Enron executives? Corrupt Wall Street executives? Incompetent politicos and a government bureaucracy gone wild? I write this even as some are beginning to write about the present bull market. Terry Keenan recently provided her Top 10 Reasons to be bullish again highlighting most significantly that "corporate insiders are selling like crazy" and that "after three years it just feels good to be bullish again." Did it ever occur to Terry that perhaps corporate insiders are selling because they figure this might be as good as it gets for a while thus making it a prime time to liquidate some of their insider stock into cold hard currency?
I wonder how we have gone from Silicon Alley Nights to Networking for our Survival. Does it seem to you like everyone is seeking their 15 minutes of fame in the spotlight of “Reality” TV, while still others have turned to even more questionable pursuits, including entrepreneurial predatory schemes? If you ask me…it is a mad, mad world. Recently in fact, the Consigliere was lured to a casting call where he was “cast…..aside” in favor of some truly beautiful actors, actresses and models. I am not complaining. In fact, if I were the director, I would probably cast them rather than me as well. The fact remains that reality TV is not reality when reality TV casting calls are filled with a multitude of actors, models and performers with “previous experience” on “reality TV.” This is nothing more than creative and cost effective programming by The Entertainment Industry which has finally figured out a way to bypass the SAG Actors and union wages to exploit the plethora of free talent that will work merely for the exposure. Why import oil by the barrel from overseas or cross country when you can turn on the tap anywhere at any time. In fact, one observation is clear, there are not nearly as many “reality TV” programs as the talent search would seem to suggest. It’s turned some casting businesses into stockpiling data and a talent pool for future reference. One of my actor friends pointed out how mind boggling it was to her who she saw on a recent casting call, lawyers, bankers, business owners, etc, many of whom were unemployed or "in transition."
I do not even want to get into my experience networking with a Sociopath for several months who’s weapon of mass destruction or “WMD” was something right out of a Bret Easton Ellis American Psycho novel. I emerged unscathed but psychologically battered nonetheless. Just more evidence of a world gone mad.
All I know is that there remains a huge pit and wide open air space where a chunk of New York's economy, both real and symbolic, once stood. Our psyche as a people remains in flux at best and perhaps turned the entrepreneurial class in to scavengers feeding off the bones of a dead carcass, remnants of the New Economy. All while a handful of elities dine at the 21 Club and travel the world on book deals arranged to promote their hypocritical and self absorbed lives...(Case in point: Hillary Clinton). The fact that anyone listened to the "Living History" slop and P.R. that she offered on Barbara Walters and will even read her book amazes me. Lest anyone have any doubt, before you shower the Clintons with any more sympathy etc, this is nothing more than the second phases of a business/political partnership between two obviously over ambitious individuals. And if they truly do love each other, the drama of their type of love/political arrangement whether Anthony & Cleopatra or Juan Peron and Evita should be the subject of an Oprah episode and not hog the news headlines.
Hillary, please stop selling the American public fictional accounts and dramatic stories of your profound romantic love for each other and the challenges to your marriage, lest this be labeled a left wing bullshit conspiracy. I did fundraising on your husbands campaign in Boston and even I am tired of seeing and reading your crap. The bullshit flows equally from the left as it does from the right I am afraid. Fortunately some are “Unmasking Hillary.” Sharon Lerner recently pointed out Why She Enrages Feminists and Joy Press calls Hillary’s self absorbed promotional book nothing more than a 500 page resume in “Living History: A Lifeless Letdown” . Establishment shall have no fear over Ms. Clinton. Relax, while Hillary settles comfortably into the power structure in American Government, she is no where near the revolutionary or the threat that some consider her. The evidence is in. In the opinions of her most ardent supporters, she is basically a White Collar Tranny, an old boys club male who just figured out how to play the game in a dress. She was after all a Goldwater Girl in her youth. While people’s politics do change, the evidence suggests that much like her husband and perhaps even to a greater degree, she is the consummate political pragmatist, consumed with one end and one end only power and higher office. Before all of my female friends again clamor for me to support the idea of a woman for President, show me what the distinction is in this case, other than that she has a Vagina and Bill has a penis. As for who wears the pants, is it really all that relevant now anyway?
Where is the morality, shame, indignation or focus on real priorities which affect how people live, breathe and survive in our society. God bless Michael Bloomberg but even as a non-smoker who has a disdain for the activity doesn't it strike you as bit odd, misguided and somewhat self righteous that the mans first few symbolic acts upon getting into office in one of the most fragile periods of this city's history were to enforce a smoking ban on an otherwise stagnant nightlife industry, which was already crippled, embrace the cities most blatant race baiter and self promoter in Al Sharpton and to separate himself from the legacy of Guiliani by his statement that he wanted to be a kindler and gentler Giuliani. I mean really what the fuck does that mean anyway?
Those who have theorized that the decay of civilization as we know it has begun in earnest point to those pursuing open or alternate lifestyle arrangements. Though misguided, it is perhaps an excellent way to take focus away from some of our corporate and political leaders who are completely devoid of a leadership vision beyond their self interest. Despite all of their flag waving they otherwise continue to fuck us. Yes, I said fuck. Moralists are often quick to demonize “sensualists” who are free and open with their sexuality rather than focus in earnest on the true corruption and immorality which lay at the center of our bloated government bureaucracy and those in corporate America who engage in ponzie schemes to defraud the taxpayer. That type if immorality is of greater concern and consequence to me than whether some executive wants to have his ass spanked by a dominatrix or a swinging couple that shares their bed with additional partners.
The real fraud and decay in our civilizations morality lay at the heart of the seat of power in this country and some of the board rooms of the Fortune 500 and not in the bedrooms of those who lead an open lifestyle. In fact, one can argue that our government is actually doing a better job of fucking us. I only wish that they had asked whether we like anal sex before they bent us over and took us for a ride. This is the largest full time gang bang in history, one government schtupping nearly 300 million Americans daily. If the modern era in America feels somewhat like Caligula's reign at the dawn of the fall of the Roman Empire it may be more a result on the lack of principled moral leadership and less so on the sexual indiscretions of the proletariat.
Consider the issue of “social security.” As recently brought to my attention by my friend Palagia of Onelegupnyc who forwarded a poignant dissertation from Debsfunpages :
“Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congress men & women do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. Nada. Zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds-our tax dollars at work!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid)into every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ...then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.
Shamanta in in Exposing Corruption in the Global Monetary System, suggests that we have been Unless There Is A Global Movement For Gold And Silver
GOLD STANDARD AS A HUMAN STANDARD --ALTHOUGH THE GOLD STANDARD IS STIPULATED AS THE ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES --THAT CONGRESS SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO COIN (CREATE) MONEY AND REGULATE THE VALUE THEREOF -- THE PRINCIPLE IS UNIVERSAL
SECTION 19 OF THE COINAGE ACT OF 1792 "…. IF ANY OF THE GOLD OR SILVER COINS…SHALL BE DEBASED.. EVERY SUCH OFFICER OR PERSONE WHO SHALL COMMIT ANY OR EITHER OF SAID OFFENSES, SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF FELONY, AND SHALL SUFFER DEATH." -
So, while we fight about the cigarette ban, the Hillary chronicles, strive for our 15 minutes of fame on reality TV and assorted other distractions, there remains a huge hole in the ground, unemployment and underemployment of mythic proportions and a degree of insecurity and malaise in the population not seen since the Carter Administration. Before, we have any wag the dog distractions to the real issues at hand in our lives……listen up baby, it is the economy stupid and my simple request that our government stop raping us as a people with ponzie schemes that will ultimately bankrupt our society, all while asking that we continue to make greater sacrifices. My answer will simply be shut the fuck up when you tell me about belt tightening when some Washington insider is walking away with millions in misappropriated retirement funds, while at the rate we are going the average yuppie will be living in a cardboard box without any retirement safety net.
Every 4 years we listen to the party out of power tell us how the party in power is the party responsible for the current bust or downturn, only this time it is worse and the pain is more pervasive. The boom bust economic cycles occur because if the system in place and not because of one party or the other. Clinton came into office in the early 1990's vowing to stamp out the pervasive greed of the Reagan years that crippled Bush's economy. The only problem with that inference is that the 1980's were an appetizer compared to the feast of capitalistic explosion that occured in the 1990's, the longest growth spurt in he nation's history was prolonged by the Fed. 9/11 and the cycle of boom and bust precipiated the malaise that we suffer from today. If coincidentally a Democratic administration should wrestle power from the Republicans, are we going to once again give credit for the resulting boom to the Democrats? It is this circle jerk political process that prevents us from seeing the truth about what is happening in our country and the Global Economic Disorder. Who is to know how to Manage Global Economic Disorder.
If you think I am out of order, then in the words of Al Pacino in And Justice For All ……this is whole fucking world is out of order! And if you are too blind to see it or to passive to change it as a people then we as American deserve the shaft that is being placed up our tukhis on a regular basis, whether it be a Republican or Democratic Administration. The American public is seemingly bi political…we enjoy being fucked equally by Donkeys and Elephants. If nothing else is clear, Shamanta may actually be quite right that the lack of sound moral economic fundamentals reduces the probability that we will have a future which will provide Justice for All. Perhaps we can find solace in our societal bankruptcy and our fifteen minutes of fame on a realty TV show.
Well as I expect, when you take on the left, right and everything in between in one column, you are not likely to be left with many friends. After this I may need a course from Dale Carnegie on how to make friends and influence people.
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