Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Yet!

"Ed better not f-ing disappoint me!" commented a circumspect yet madly in love Jillian on the fifth installment of "The Bachelorette." On a previous overnight date, Ed presumably was unable to come up with the goods, leaving Jillian waiting for her next suitor.

Jillian had a last chance to make out with both Ed and Kyptyn before making a final decision. Ed and Jillian share some steamy time in a helicopter before a romantic rain forest picnic where a curious slab of beef is set before Ed. Maybe a joke by some production assistants? "Where's the beef?" Ed and Jillian frolic in the surf and Ed meekly asks Jillian if she would "like to come back to his place." Usually this question ensues when a man ponies up the cost of a few cocktails, but whatever. The couple ends up in a hotel room. Volcanoes erupt. Coincidence? Jillian will always hold this over Ed's head, no pun intended.

Ed and Kryptyn both meet with Neil Lane, famed jewelry designer, to select a ring should they receive a final rose. We get to see Kryptyn and his buff bod and amazing six-pack, clad at various times in either board shorts or a white towel. Maybe it is all in the editing, but I could swear I heard Jillian wax about her hot chemistry with Kryptyn. Shortly thereafter, she declared undying love for Ed. But not before Reid showed up in a rumpled 80s style suit and white sneakers. Maybe he planned on making a run for it should he be turned down?

If I am not mistaken, this is not the first time a spurned contestant "talked his way" into coming back on the show. Come on, are we supposed to believe he phoned from home. "Hey, Mike, listen. I am really in love with this girl. PLEASE, let me come back?" "Well, OK. Just for a few minutes while we wait for Ed. But, you don't get a limo! And you will have to use your own miles to get a ticket!" I vaguely remember a former contestant flying all the way to some remote location in Italy. Imagine the surprise when the bachelor opened the door!

Reid's "surprise" visit threw Jillian for a loop. "Let's take five so I can reevaluate whom I want to spend the rest of my life with..." Or at least the few weeks before the finale aired.

Guess we'll have to wait till "After the Final Rose" to see if Ed and Jillian are still together. Does Ed have a girlfriend back in Chicago? Did Ed disappoint Jillian on more than one occasion? Who will be the next Bachelor?

In the meantime, we can watch "Dating in the Dark," and "More to Love."

Sarah Palin, Mary Kay Consultant?

Yesterday marked Sarah Palin's final day as Alaskan governor, an event recognized by three down home picnics in her home state. Her highest profile speech took place at a closed "Alaskaland" park complete with recreated frontier Main Street mindful of Disneyland and a choo-choo. In her farewell speech, she blasted "delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity starlets", "partisan operatives," and a group which “seem to just be hell-bent on maybe tearing down our nation, perpetuating some pessimism and suggesting American apologetics.”

“Some still are choosing not to hear why I’m charting a new course to advance this state,” she spoke, “it should be so obvious to you.”

“It is because I love Alaska this much, sir, that I feel that it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics-as-usual, lame-duck session in one’s last year in office.”

When asked about Sarah's future plans, an elusive First Dude commented they would "play it by ear" while Sarah herself commented, "Let's just enjoy the ride." Her spokesperson Meghan Stapleton says there's no plan after July 26. (Aside from the reported $7 million book deal with HarperCollins, I presume.)

Since Ms. Palin seems to be at a crossroads, I took a few online career inventory quizzes on her behalf and came up with the following suggestions:

1. Food Service: At her farewell picnic, Palin spent hours serving up hot dogs. Coupled with her interest in hunting and fishing for food, this seems to be an ideal career path. "Mooseburgers, anyone?"

2. Outward Bound Instructor: Ms. Palin's dedication to the wilderness and survival skills would make her an ideal Outward Bound instructor. Unfortunately, the closest program is in Mazama, Washington but that shouldn't be a problem.

3. Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: Since 1963, Mary Kay Ash has been creating opportunities for women to become whatever they want to be. All that, plus discounts on eye shadow and a cool pink car!

4. Hunting and Fishing Reporter: Many of you might not know that Sarah Palin has a B.S. in Communications and a background in sports reporting. Coupled with her interest in guns, hunting, and fishing, she would be an ideal candidate as a reporter for Guns & Ammo or Game & Fish Magazines!

5. Abstinence Teacher: As an opponent of explicit sex education programs, Ms. Palin favors abstinence education with a passing mention to contraception. In her grading period, Ms. Palin could also teach the Creationism unit for the science class and coach the girls' basketball team!


Of course, she could always go back to being a Hockey Mom! You Betcha!

Bill Gates: Too Many Friends?

I just read on Yahoo News that Bill Gates is quitting Facebook because he has "too many friends." Now, I have never met Mr. Gates but I am going out on a limb that he may not have been Mr. Popularity in high school. Not that it matters. Most people go through their lives somewhere on the continuum between confident and completely insecure. We want to be liked. Heck, even Sally Field addressed an audience of celebs when she won an Oscar. "They like me!"

Maybe Mr. Gates has so much money and has achieved so much success that he is out of the game. I have always thought life tends to resemble the high school cafeteria. Bill Gates may be the guy with the cool car who left campus during lunch!

Welcome to Jersey

Did you think Tony Soprano had the exclusive on bribery and corruption? Guess again. Hoboken and Seacaucus mayors, two NJ state assemblymen, five rabbis (thrown in for good measure) and a bunch of others were arrested today as part of a two-year FBI corruption and international money laundering investigation.

My home state of New Jersey may have a reputation for Mafia capital of the U.S.A. HBO's Sopranos cemented this distinction and buried it beneath the Meadowlands along with the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. However, Tony and gang have nothing on the real politicos and Kosher crew from the Jersey shore and points beyond.

Apparently, the whole mess began with bank fraud charges against a member of the Syrian Jewish community in Deal, New Jersey, a very tight group known to purchase million dollar homes with a suitcase of cash. Seems the guy turned federal informant, posing as a shady real estate developer, serving up bribes to government officials. Hey, I grew up in New Jersey. Some things never change.

The acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey commented, "For these defendants, corruption was a way of life."

This cast of characters is taken away in cuffs. Charged with money laundering and bribery. Decades ago, my mother witnessed our mayor being thrown into the back of a van. Convinced he was being kidnapped, she later found out he was under investigation for similar crimes. The politico connection doesn't surprise me. However, I am always a bit shocked to find a posse of Rabbis thrown into the mix.

Five rabbis, including the national leader of the Syrian Jewish community in the U.S. have been charged with laundering over $3 million. In a separate investigation, key rabbis from the tight knit and wealthy Syrian communities in New Jersey and Brooklyn were also charged with laundering tens of millions of dollars through their religious organizations for a fee.

One Brooklyn man, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, was charged with conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for transplant for a $160,000 commission.

The arrests for public corruption and money laundering underscore "the pervasive nature of corruption in this state," Marra said.

While these scandals may further sully my home state's reputation, I see a new series for HBO.

Politics, Sex, and Knives

Yesterday was a surreal day for American politics. An SNL skit with the actual players. Satire cannot get better than this.

By now, unless you inhabit the moss-coated underneath of a rock, you have heard about The Governator's weird knife-wielding Twitter video. "I vant to thank all you creative Califow-nian's for your vunderful ideas to solve our state's budget crisis." Why not take advantage of Governor Schwartzenegger's celebrity status? Autograph some official state vehicles and sell to the highest bidder? I have seen this work on "Jay Leno." The presence of the knife perplexed even his aides and spokespeople. (I have heard that men waving about large phallus-like objects usually means one thing. But that may be hearsay.) Today, Aaron McLear, the Governator's press secretary commented Schwartzeneggar received the cutlery as a gift yesterday and simply picked it up from his desk, as one would a pen. Gives new meaning to the term "cutting the budget," I suppose. As a resident of the Golden State who has seen our already bottom of the barrel school funding decimated by the body builder/actor, I am not all that surprised. The slash and burn fix with the pledge not to increase our taxes. Perhaps I should Twitter my idea to the Governor. Why not sell the now famous knife on E-Bay?

Before I go on to Veep Biden's interesting quote, I need to remind you of an earlier quote by the Governor. In a 2006 taped conversation with advisers, Schwartzenegger described Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, at the time the only Latina Republican in the Legislature. "She's either Puerto Rican, or the same thing as Cuban, I mean they are all very hot. They have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them that together makes it." What is it about middle aged male politicians and sexist (and racist!) comments, cigars, and the like?

On to Russia or points nearby. I wonder if Sarah Palin could wave to Vice Pres. Biden and Viktor Yushchenko from her front porch. Since her last official day as Alaska Governor is fast approaching on July 26, she will have plenty of time on her hand to Twitter comments about Russian and Ukranian diplomacy!

Yesterday, Vice President Biden (on a State visit in Kiev to show support for the Ukraine's NATO bid) chatted up old pal Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Overheard in a bar, where apparently the two leaders were tossing Coke's. (Raised eyebrow!) Yushchenko commented on Ukrainian churches. A few moments later, in response, Biden was overheard complimenting Yushchenko on another of his country's comely resources. "I cannot believe that a Frenchman visiting Kiev went back home and told his colleagues he discovered something and didn't say he discovered the most beautiful women in the world. That's my observation,” Biden declared. "It's certain you have so many beautiful women." Do you think this means The Donald will invite Biden to judge his Miss Universe pageant?

Is SNL really on hiatus?

For Fashionistas with Philanthropic Hearts

Self Portrait, Circa 1940s

New York born and bred artist Saul Lishinsky is one of a kind. Born in the Bronx in 1922, Lishinsky was a social activist and founder of the Bronx Community Mural Project. Lishinsky headed everyday people and children to produce murals in public spaces throughout the Greater New York area, in addition to creating an impressive body of work.

Lishinsky's aspiration for art was inspired by his cousin, WPA painter Abraham Lishinsky as well as a passion for Rembrandt and Cezanne. His first show was in New York's 44th Street Gallery in 1946. He had eight one-man shows throughout the 1960s, culminating with a final exhibit at Westbeth Gallery in 2006. Before retiring to The Harlem Nursing Home in 2008, his studio and seven decades of work were sold.

Sea NYC and Best of 19 have launched a charity tee shirt, featuring a detail of a draft Lishinsky sketched of the Empire State Building for the Bronx Community Mural Project. All proceeds of the sale of this white long-sleeved tee will benefit the Harlem Nursing Home in New York and Damenstift in Munich. The fashion forward tee, featured in the August edition of German Vogue, is currently available only in Europe. U.S. fashionistas with philanthropic hearts can purchase the shirt for $39 by contacting info@seanycdesign.com.

SEA NYC Design features a line of hand drawn designs for men and women and are available at upscale boutiques such as Lisa Kline in Los Angeles.

DATING IN THE DARK

Reality dating shows pop up more often than zits on a teenager's T-zone. Nevertheless, a new ABC show, Dating in the Dark, piqued my curiosity, at least enough to spend an hour watching the pilot. My first thought was, "Isn't all dating in the dark?" Do we ever really know our dates, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers, even spouses? In one corner, Looks and Physical Attraction. In the other corner, Personality, Scent (?), Touch, Pure Chemistry. Let them duke it out and see who comes up the champ.

Not really.

What really happens is three guys, three girls spend a bunch of time in a wacky monstrosity of a house, complete with glass bricks, fun house colors, and an exterior of catwalks and white tubing, evocative of some late 80s apartment building in West Hollywood or Miami. The six singles meet in the dark and pair up, based on their initial reactions. "Relationship experts" of some type also pair the couples based on compatibility.

Alcohol flows. Conversation, flirting, touching and feeling ensue when the couples meet in the dark room. After an indeterminate amount of time, sketch artists draw portraits based on each single's perception of their "date." The men's perceptions were pretty much right on. One woman was clearly dreaming about commercial casting calls or her soap, maybe even one of the future "Bachelor's!"

Next step is the Big Reveal, probably first coined during Extreme Makeover, another summer reality show where a team of cosmetic surgeons, dentists, hair stylists, makeup artists, and others created a better version of what we had before. Kind of like "Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster." Well, at least better looking. I digress.

Each couple gets a chance to inspect his or her partner, spotlighted for a few minutes. The one being checked out doesn't get to see the other's reaction because he or she remains in the dark. This may have been my favorite part! One guy waxed on and on to his male counterparts about how "hot" his girl was. Shame the girl did not share his sentiments! The hippy chick with the frizzy hair, Granny glasses and poorly fitted dresses was blown away by the cute but insecure DJ from the U.K. She commented she never would have had the nerve to even approach a guy like him in real life. Departing the McMansion in a Bentley, arm in arm, smiling, they seemed like the couple "most likely to succeed."

It remains to be seen whether any couples of this show will end up in long term relationships. Of the fourteen seasons of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, only Trista and Ryan have wed. One plus to Dating in the Dark is the money saved on wardrobe, hair, and makeup. Perhaps they applied the savings to renting the Bentley!