Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a peaceful 2007!




















smoskowitz

"Stop Woman Flow"

Two months ago, a young man named "Chuck" posted his tattoo which supposedly to be his daughter's initials in Chinese in BMEzine's tattoo gallery.

However, his choice of characters was not the best, and his tattoo proudly indicating to everyone that he menstruates regularly.


http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/A61204/high/bmepb404816.jpg

Today while browsing through the tattoo gallery, another young man is boasting his own (Dec. 4, 2006).

means "stop woman flow".

Is this some type of viral advertisement for feminine hygiene products? Perhaps I should forward it to my good friend, Steve Hall, at Adrants.com.

Seeking Tattooed Participants for Portrait Book

Two weeks ago I was contacted by Professor Kip Fulbeck of University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) about a tattoo portrait book project.

For those who are interested, here are the details:

SEEKING TATTOOED PARTICIPANTS

We are looking for individuals who may have had incorrectly translated (or applied) Chinese calligraphy tattoos for our upcoming book Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck to be published by Chronicle Books in 2008.

If you are in the Southern CA area and are interested in being photographed for the book please email to



Anyone with interesting or unusual (by subject, style, or just plain bad) tattoo work is also welcome to contact us. Please note: We have PLENTY of tribal, Japanese sleeves, lower back butterflies, kanji, mid-scapula crosses, and mother's names already.

CNBC - Game On

On Nov. 15, 2006, CNBC aired a special titled "Game On" talking about the history of video games and its $25 billion financial impact.

During the show, an American businessman was quoted "I was told the only Japanese I needed to know was , which meant 1,000,000 units." At the same time, CNBC showed 百万台 on the television screen with last two characters upside down.


video: 917 KB Windows Media (thanks to Yang Zongbao)

Gallery of the Absurd

























galleryoftheabsurd

Test Reveals Canine Fur on Diddy's "Sean John" Jacket Sold at Macy's


The test results are in on Diddy’s fur jacket: raccoon dog.

The HSUS tested the fur on a Sean John Hooded Snorkel Jacket sold on Macys.com that was originally advertised, incorrectly, as having an "imitation rabbit fur collar" and materials identified as "faux fur."

The jacket, part of a clothing line by celebrity rapper and music producer Sean "Diddy" Combs, was not only incorrectly advertised by Macy's but also labeled as containing "raccoon" fur, which has now been found to come from a canine species known as raccoon dog.

Macy's has reportedly pulled the mislabeled Sean John garments from its department stores and online shop, but The HSUS is calling on Diddy and other designers and retailers to stop using and selling fur trim altogether.

Previous tests conducted by The HSUS on fur-trimmed jackets from a range of other retailers and designers revealed the same problem—raccoon dog fur from China mislabeled as being from a different species, either "raccoon" or "coyote."

The mislabeling of a fur product is a violation of federal law.

China has no animal welfare laws. Animals killed for their fur in China—dogs, raccoon dogs and others—often face horrible abuse, and are too often skinned alive.

hsus

Update!

Sean "Diddy" Combs notified The HSUS through a representative Dec. 22 that the Sean John snorkel jacket containing raccoon dog fur (see video of raccoon dogs killed for fur) was being pulled from sales, and in the future, the garment will be made with faux fur trim only.

"I was completely unaware of the nature of this material, but as soon as we were alerted, the garments were pulled off the Macy's floor and website," Combs said. "I have instructed our outerwear licensee to cease the production of any garments using this material immediately. I appreciate the tireless work that the Humane Society does and would like to thank them for bringing attention to this issue."

The HSUS and the Sean John company are discussing the company's broader policy on fur trim.

Gus Van Sant enjoys too much egg nog; gets busted for DUI


Filmmaker Gus Van Sant, whose credits include 'Finding Forrester' and 'Drugstore Cowboy,' has been arrested here on a drunken driving charge, police said.

Sgt. Brian Schmautz, Portland Police Bureau spokesman, said Van Sant, 54, was arrested at 1:48 a.m. Thursday. A breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent, Schmautz said. That's more than twice the state limit, 0.08 percent.

An officer saw that the headlights on Van Sant's vehicle weren't on, Schmautz said. Van Sant, who lives in Portland, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and failed the sobriety tests, Schmautz said.

topix

Tara Reid at the Black Xmas Premiere - Va va voom!


Jessica Simpson Drops Out of Kennedy Broadcast



Unhappy with her attempt to pay tribute to honoree Dolly Parton with a rendition of the country legend's hit song "9 to 5," Jessica Simpson has withdrawn from the program, which was filmed Dec. 3.

Simpson botched the lyrics when she originally performed the song live, then recorded it again for the broadcast show. However, ultimately Simpson's spokesperson, Cindi Berger, told the Associated Press after Simpson had viewed the tape, "She really wasn't happy with her performance, and she did want it to be perfect for Dolly, who she idolizes."

George Stevens Jr., the show's producer, said, "We appreciate the time and energy Ms. Simpson put into this event and respect the high standards she has for herself and that of the Kennedy Center Honors."

At the time Simpson flubbed the song at the Washington, D.C., tribute – which also recognized Andrew Lloyd Webber, Zubin Mehta, Smokey Robinson and Steven Spielberg, and was hosted by Caroline Kennedy – she fled the stage in tears in front of a packed house that included President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

"Dolly you make me so nervous. I can't even sing the words right," said Simpson, 26.

people

Brad, Angelina, Maddox, Zahara and Shiloh in HELLO! Magazine




These looks painful!


Anna Nicole Smith must return to CA for paternity tests


Anna Nicole Smith will be forced to have her baby daughter undergo paternity tests, after a Los Angeles court ordered her to return to the California city Thursday.

The former model's boyfriend, photojournalist Larry Birkhead, is challenging claims from Smith's partner and attorney Howard K. Stern that he's the baby's father.

His publicist released a statement saying: "Los Angeles Superior Court has ruled today that Anna Nicole Smith and three-month-old baby daughter Dannie Lynn are ordered to submit to paternity testing."

Birkhead added, "Christmas has come early, and I thank God that I will soon have the opportunity to prove that I am the father... and eventually hold her in my arms."

Smith's attorney Ron Rale would not deny or confirm the ruling.

kcoy

Pink Launches Global Boycott of Australian Wool


Pink launches her brand-new video exposé of the Australian wool industry before a concert in Paris and calls for an international boycott of Australian wool until the abuses documented in the video are ended.

You can learn more about this at PETA.

Diddy is a daddy again



Sean "Diddy" Combs and girlfriend Kim Porter welcomed twin daughters on Thursday, PEOPLE has confirmed.

"Diddy received an early Christmas gift! It gives us great joy to announce the arrival of Diddy's twin girls. The beautiful, healthy baby girls were born this morning with Diddy by mother Kim Porter's side," Sean Combs's rep, Robert Zimmerman, of Dan Klores Communications .

"The first arrived at 7:56 a.m. weighing 5 lbs., followed 2 minutes later by the second at 5 lbs., 4 oz. Diddy had a plane on standby in Toronto where he is filming Raisin in the Sun and made it just in the nick of time for the delivery. Both Kim and the girls are doing great."

In honor of two people who had an enormous influence on both Porter and Diddy, 5 lb., D'Lila Star Combs was named after Porter's grandmother, Lila Star, Zimmerman said Thursday afternoon. Her 5 lb. 4 oz. sister, Jessie James Combs, was named after Diddy's grandmother, Jessie Smalls.

On his MySpace page Diddy also posted a message announcing the birth of his girls, adding: "Thank you for all your support this year! I Love Y'all! God Bless."

people

Someone needs a manicure

Lara Flynn Boyle Gets Hitched


Lara Flynn Boyle and Donald Ray Thomas were married on Monday, a rep for the former star of The Practice.

"She's ecstatic," says the spokeswoman. She's "very, very happy."

The couple met two years ago and became friends before starting to date six months ago.

people

When will she learn to keep her mouth shut?


Britney Spears has reportedly signed a deal with Vanity Fair magazine to tell all about her failed marriage to Kevin Federline.

The singer was so impressed by the publication's heartfelt interview with Jennifer Aniston following her split from Brad Pitt, she plans to lift the lid on her two-year union with the aspiring rapper.

A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Britney has agreed to make Vanity Fair her first big statement about her new life.

"The interview will be very frank. She liked how they handled Jennifer's first interview after her divorce from Brad Pitt."

sfgate

Kimberlin Brown

Kimberlin Brown: Soap opera legend saves life of a baby!

Happy holiday season to all!

When you've played some of the best soap opera vixens on tv, you've spent your workday trying to convince a television audience that you are mean, vindictive and spiteful.
However, beneath her actress persona the real Kimberlin Brown is simply a caring, doting wife and mother who is nothing like her onscreen character. As a mother of two, she adores her children and, like most moms, would do anything for them, especially if they were sick. She would also hope that if her own children were sick, someone would want to help save them. That’s why Kimberlin’s decision to donate bone marrow to help save the life of a toddler was a no brainer, no matter how painful or inconvenient it was.
It all started when an adult neighbor was diagnosed with leukemia. The community started a bone marrow drive and Kimberlin signed up. Although she wasn’t a match for this gentleman, she knew she could be called up at any time if she was a match for anyone in the registry. The odds of being a genetic match were incredibly thin, but Kimberlin agreed to keep her name in the registry.
One day, when Kimberlin least expected it -- while busy shooting scenes and living her normal everyday life – she got THAT phone call – the phone call that would change her life and eventually change the life of a very sick toddler.
“The toddler had leukemia and they told me I was a match for her,” says Brown. They took four or five vials of blood for further testing and I didn’t hear anything for three months and then they took more blood for more testing and it took more months.”
One year later (that’s right, one year later), Brown found out that she was the best match for this child – she matched all six markers that they were looking at!

How did you feel about actually going through the procedure now that it was real?
I’m a mom of two kids – I knew it had to be done. If it happened to my kids and someone was a match and didn’t come forward, I would be beside myself.

How did this affect your life?
I had a full physical and took only two days off of work during the procedure. It’s not an invasive surgery now. I had five days of injections that would force the cells to mature. It made me achy and my knees really hurt and gave me flu-like symptoms. I took some extra strength Tylenol but the pain was bearable.

Did you ever think of backing out once you started?
Not at any point.

When did you feel better?
There is some minor discomfort during it but afterward it goes away and it’s nothing compared to what the patient goes through.

What did the people at work think of you doing this?
My producer said I was a ‘hero’, but I don’t look at it that way.

Have you met the little girl?
Not yet. I did send her a letter and a blanket and told her the blanket was like getting a hug from me.

How do you think the little girl’s family felt?
I can’t imagine the emotions they went through to have potential matches and then their hopes skyrocket. If it's a definite match you have to wait until they contact you and the person commits to doing this. The donor still has to commit to going through the procedure before they get too excited.

What would you like us to know about this cause?
There is so much to know about bone marrow transplants. We need to get the word out that all you need to do is have one vial of blood drawn for bone marrow registry. Literally, it’s two seconds of your time and I never thought that I might get that call one day.

Would you do it again?
Absolutely.

Check out City of Hope for more information.

Ew. This creeps me out.


Sharon Stone and Christian Slater have confirmed rumors they're dating and now plan to spend Christmas together.

The star couple, who co-star in the new movie "Bobby," sparked romance rumors when they attended a string of events together, but refused to confirm their relationship.

But now 48-year-old Stone and her 37-year-old beau aren't hiding their affections for each other -- they recently attended a party for fashion label Dolce & Gabbana at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles arm-in-arm and made sure everyone knew they were a couple.

A source close to Stone says, "They're both really happy -- but they don't have long-term expectations.

"It's a fun fling for the holidays and Sharon is a good influence. She rarely drinks and has three kids. It's a good match for now."

sfgate

Who is she kidding with the good girl act?

Christina Ricci won't wear fur; PETA sends gifts


Christina Ricci has pledged never to wear fur again after being deluged with angry letters from fans.

The movie star was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Worst Dressed Celebrity of 2006 after she appeared in fur on the cover of W magazine, and now she's desperate to make amends.

In a letter to the animal rights organization, the star insists she'll be fur-free in 2007.

She writes, "After being named on the PETA worst-dressed list for wearing fur on the cover of W magazine, I have been deluged with angry and disappointed fans.

"I never meant to hurt nor anger anyone with my insensitivity. For what it is worth I have received the message loud and clear and will not be wearing fur in the future. I apologize for my offensive actions."

A Web site devoted to Ricci was recently shut down when the owner spotted the star posing in reindeer fur on the cover of the fashion magazine.

A representative for PETA says Ricci's name has been removed from the Worst Dressed list.

In addition, the animal rights group is also sending her a Christmas basket full of "cruelty-free goodies to thank her for her compassionate decision."

sfgate

Gallery of the Absurd
























galleryoftheabsurd

Eminem and Kimberley Mathers are divorced – again


The couple, who have been married to each other twice, reached an out-of-court settlement during a hearing at Macomb County Circuit Court on Tuesday. The pair agreed to share custody of their daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, who turns 11 on Christmas Day, the newspaper reports.

It's not clear if Kim was granted the financial support and attorney fees she'd been seeking from the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III.

The couple "conducted themselves with dignity and respect," Chief Judge Antonio P. Viviano told Free Press. Eminem declined to comment after the hearing.

people

Britney named Worst Celebrity Dog Owner of 2006


Britney Spears' parenting skills are being called into question once again. This time she's been voted the world's worst celebrity dog owner in an online vote conducted by two dog magazines.

"Britney was the overwhelming choice," Hilary O'Hagan, editor of The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines, said in a statement picked up by the Associated Press.

"She once had three Chihuahuas … and never left home without at least one of them on her arm," O'Hagan said. "As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids they (the dogs) disappeared."

Paris Hilton placed second for "treating her dogs like accessories.”

Oprah Winfrey, who owns five dogs (not including Stedman), was voted this year's best celebrity dog owner. The talk-show host replaced 2005 winner Joss Stone, and beat out fellow dog owners Tori Spelling and Nicollette Sheridan.

us

Tawny Kitaen Enters Drug Rehab Program


Actress Tawny Kitaen has entered a drug rehabilitation program after pleading guilty to possessing 15 grams of cocaine.

The 45-year-old actress will be allowed to change her plea to not guilty after completing the program, under terms of a plea agreement, officials said. The plea change will remove the conviction from her record.

Kitaen was charged with felony possession after sheriff's deputies said they found cocaine in her apartment in May.

topix

Wedding of the Year

Washington, Dec 15: The grandeur of TomKat's Italian nuptials not only caught guests by surprise, but it also found its place at the top of the In Touch magazine poll.

The couple's star-studded wedding that took place on 18 November, 06 topped a new list of the Weddings of The Year, followed by punk-pop couple Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley.

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson's five-minute St Tropez, France wedding came in third, while Tori Spelling's second big day with new husband Dean McDermott on a beach in Fiji went on to claim thefourth slot, reports Contactmusic.

And, while Cruise's Italian wedding crashed in at number one, actress Patricia Arquette's marriage with Thomas Jane in Venice, Italy made the top 10 at number five.

The top 10 weddings of the year, according to In Touch are:

  1. Tom Cruise + Katie Holmes in Italy
  2. Deryck Whibley + Avril Lavigne in Montecito, California
  3. Kid Rock + Pamela Anderson in St Tropez, France
  4. Dean McDermott + Tori Spelling in Fiji
  5. Thomas Jane + Patricia Arquette in Venice, Italy
  6. Brigitte Nielson + Mattia Dessi in Malta
  7. Anna Nicole Smith + Howard K Stern in the Bahamas
  8. Pink + Carey Hart in Costa Rica
  9. Oliver Hudson + Erinn Bartlett in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
  10. Nicole Kidman + Keith Urban in Manly, Australia. (ANI)

Jerry Mathers

Jerry Mathers is the granddaddy of all washed-up celebrities. For all intents and purposes, he was the "Dustin Diamond" of the 1950s, reaching the pinnacle of his life before he even hit age 15 when he starred as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver on the hit TV show "Leave It To Beaver" from 1957-1963. Here are some early pictures of a young Mathers:America loved the inquisitive young tyke on Leave It

More Celebrity Sitings

I love brunch at Celebrity Centre International. It's a great brunch -- the best in town for the quality of the food and the ambiance.

And one fun thing about it is the occasional celebrity siting.

Of course we all try to act like nothing happened, and give them some space so they don't have to feel like their privacy is being violated. After all, they are entitled to a relaxing couple of hours over the best food in LA.

But it's still lots of fun!

2006 flashback

Session 3 On Me Piece...Gallery Getting A Write Up In UK



2hrs yesterday, with a total so far of 5 hrs....one more session to go and we'll be done!! In some worldly news I recieved this email yesterday:

Hi Squirrel,

My name is Nick Howes and I write the news pieces for the Extreme Sports Channel's website over here in the UK. We came across your Cycling Tattoo Gallery blog and have written a story in homage of it. As soon as its posted I'll send you a link to it.

Hope we're cool using the photos and quote from your website. Expect a deluge of photos from the Brit boys and good luck in the future!

Thanks,

Nick


Hell Yeah Mates......bring on the INK!!

Peace

Who's Dat Cat?



"My Name is Earl" star Jason Lee appeared as a cat in Christmas Stories held at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood, in support of the Hollywood Police Athletic League's youth programs.

2006 flashback

Christina Ricci wears fur; fansite shuts down



The animal-loving owner of actress Christina Ricci's fansite has shut the cyberspace tribute spot down after learning her movie heroine is a fur wearer.

The site www.christinaricci.info now features the message, "offline due to fur usage" followed by a note from the owner, explaining her reasons for shutting the 8-year-old tribute page down.

She writes, "I recently found out Christina doesn't appear to have a problem wearing fur. Well, I do. I also have a problem with people who wear fur. Conclusion: I have a problem with Christina."

The former fansite now links to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Web site, where fans can read what the animal rights group had to say in its worst dressed feature about Ricci this year.

PETA activists were appalled when Ricci recently posed for a magazine cover wearing fur from slaughtered reindeer, and voted her one of the Worst Dressed Celebrities of 2006

sfgate

Natasha Lyonne turns herself in to NY court


Actress Natasha Lyonne, the star of "American Pie" accused of threatening to sexually molest a dog, turned herself in at a New York court on Friday.

A bench warrant was issued for her arrest in January after Lyonne, who has also appeared in "Blade," and "Scary Movie 2," missed four court hearings.

The 27-year-old faced a number of charges including criminal mischief, harassment and trespassing after accusations she threatened to sexually molest her former neighbor's dog and ripped a mirror off the wall during a 2004 argument.

At the Manhattan Criminal Court appearance, drug counselor Heather Hayes said Lyonne had completed an in-patient drug program in February and continued to attend outpatient rehabilitation groups.

Judge Anthony Ferrara said the charges would be dropped if the actress stayed out of trouble for the next six months.

In the court complaint, Lyonne's former roommate claimed Lyonne trashed their apartment and then banged on a neighbor's door, rushed into that apartment and picked up her dog, telling the woman, "I'm going to sexually molest your dog."

boston.com

Former "Phish" singer busted for DWI



Trey Anastasio was accused of driving under the influence of drugs in an upstate New York town near the Vermont border early Friday.

The former Phish frontman was pulled over by an officer who saw his car failing to keep to right side of the road at about 3:30 a.m., Whitehall village police said.

A search turned up quantities of the painkillers hydrocodone and Percocet, as well as the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, that had been prescribed for someone else, police said.

Anastasio, who was driving with a suspended New York license, was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and driving while intoxicated-drugs, police said.

The 42-year-old guitarist was released and scheduled for a court appearance at a later date.

Anastasio lives in Vermont and has been performing solo since Phish broke up in 2004.

The Phish tour was well-known for its active drug scene, and Anastasio said in a 2005 Associated Press interview that part of the reason he went solo was to escape that atmosphere.
Asked how sobriety had affected him, he said, "It affects you positively in every possible way that you can imagine, 'cause it's YOU. ... Any feeling you're trying to achieve using hard drugs you're gonna achieve through sobriety."

sfgate

Celebs: Out & About





Mary Kate continues to wear the ugliest shoes on earth

























tmz

Mary J. Blige: I love her music... but the fur has got to go


Madonna can't take a joke



Madonna seethed the other night when British TV personality Jonathan Ross made fun of her adoption of a Malawi urchin.

"Congratulations on your little lovely black baby, David," Ross gushed as she made a surprise appearance at the British Comedy Awards. "Are you stopping there, or getting more? When I went to Africa, all I got was a wallet."

The furious Material Mom shot back, "You might go home with a black eye!" She later skipped the after-party.

pagesix

Jolie-Pitt family goes Christmas shopping

Money brings Anna Nicole Smith back to the US


A fat wad of cash has managed to do something that a paternity suit, an ex-boyfriend and a very angry lawyer couldn't: get Anna Nicole Smith back in the country.

The formerly zaftig Playboy Playmate left the extradition-exempt comfort of her Bahamian hideout to appear in a San Francisco court Friday morning, lawyer Ron Rale confirmed to E! Online, marking the former reality star's first time back in the U.S. since the birth of her daughter and death of her son in September.

Smith showed up at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to participate in mediation between a judge and the family of J. Howard Marshall II, her late oil tycoon hubby, over her much-disputed share of his $1.6 billion estate.

Legal sidekick turned committed partner Howard K. Stern accompanied Smith to the proceedings, the latest in a contentious, and seemingly never-ending, legal battle—though he may now wish he'd stayed home.

Larry Birkhead, Smith's litigious ex-boyfriend, confirmed to E! Online that Stern was served with legal papers outside the courthouse for allegedly giving perjured statements in connection with Birkhead's paternity suit—yet another contentious and seemingly never-ending legal battle.

As for Smith, her is-she-or-isn't-she-entitled case finally made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court this year, and in May the high court justices reversed a federal appeals court decision, virtually reinstating the $88.5 million Smith was originally awarded back in 2002.

It's unknown what was brokered in Friday's closed-door court tête-à-tête, though it's not the first time Smith's name has been featured on a docket this week.

yahoo

Tara Reid in the pages of Vegas Magazine