President Obama...State Dinner for President Hu! Barbra Streisand comment offensive to Chinese?

Handshakes across the water!

President Obama toasted Chinese President Hu, the 1st Lady looked stunning in a red silk organza gown with delicate black flourishes, and the tony elite nibbled on a five-course dinner (before saunering off for an evening of live entertainment) under a distinguished-looking three-quarter-length portrait of President Lincoln who stared down on the goings-on from a far wall.

The occasion?

Why - a State dinner at the White House in honor of Chinese President Hu who is currently visiting these shores - of course!

There was a lot of pomp and circumstance throughout the course of the heady evening, too!

President Obama saluted the people of both Nations on the auspicious occasion, for starters.

"May they (the Chinese & the Americans) grow together in friendship. May they prosper together in peace. And may they realize their dream of the future for themselves, for their children and for their grandchildren," he stressed with great poignancy.

The glittering affair was attended by the "Who's Who" of American Society.

Well, supporters of the Democrats, to be sure!

Former Presidents Clinton and Carter were spied mingling among a host of celebrated luminaries who dressed-to-the-nines for the dazzling don't-miss event.

Mainstays on the political scene - Henry Kissinger and Madelaine Albright, for instance - put in appearances, too.

Not to be outdone, the Hollywood red-carpet-crowd turned out in full force to get up-close-and-personal with power brokers on Washington Hill.

The guest list included - Barbra Streisand, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, Cellist Yo-You Ma, film star Jackie Chan, Fashion Designer Vera Wang, and Walt Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger  - to name a few.

The rarefied uppercrust who attended supped on a menu featuring mouth-watering entrees such as Maine Lobster and dry-aged rib-eye.

"Typically American," according to White House officials.

In spite of growing controversy in recent years over China's use of dangerous lead in children's toy exports, the shameful shunning of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a tendency to use real animal fur in fashion offerings to the dismay of animal activists, and allegations of unfair competition by U.S. Lawmakers - most scrambled at the opportunity to sashay into the tony affair.

When Barbra Streisand was asked how she wangled an invite, she allegedly quipped to a reporter:

"I used to work at a Chinese restaurant."

Ooops!

I wonder how the Chinese feel about the stereo-type and being slighted by big-bucks-bab?

I expect there will also be an outcry later in the week when an investigative journalist turns in on a report on the cost of the Hu dinner during  these tough economic times.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/



Shannon Tweed...tweets with me! Heh, don't tell Gene...

There's something about a woman with a cigar!

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an e-mail over the weekend informing me that statuesque beauty - Shannon Tweed - was now following me on Twitter!

A few weeks ago, our paths crossed at the Roosevelt Hotel, when Ms. Tweed & Gene Simmons appeared on the red carpet to show their support for a "Rally" to raise funds for the Los Angeles Children's Hospital.

In spite of the fact my new HD Video camera was fresh out-of-the-box that afternoon, and I was frantically trying to fathom how to operate the amazing gizmo, I managed to capture a handsome shot of the winsome twosome which I proudly posted on YouTube that night for the madding crowds to peruse.

Post: 05/03/2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSZUVWKkP78

By the way, eyes light up when I preview the clip for friends & acquaintances around town, so maybe I am on the right track creatively with my insightful "third" eye.

Of course, turn-about is fair play, so I cruised over to the Twitter home base of operations (and with the sweep of a deft finger) ceremoniously tapped Shannon's - um - "follow" button, too.

Now, I can keep track of Shannon's "tweets" without the need for a press release.

Thought I would get up to speed on the actresses' scuttlebutt, so I perused a couple of the latest updates.

I nearly fell out of my armchair when she noted in one post she'd just been in Las Vegas!

Golly, I just cruised back from "Sin" city bright and early yesterday morning.

Do you suppose we passed each other in traffic on Highway 15?

I was in a black SUV.

But, I expect that Ms. Tweed was in a sleek limousine.

A white one, just betcha!

I was really impressed when Gene's better-half casually mentioned she zipped in to say hi to "Hef" when she was in town.

I don't know many people - in fact, no one - on a first-name basis with the Playboy King!

However, I do have one small connection with the trail-blazing pioneer from yesteryear.

For example, I reported in a post a few months ago that one of the first modelling gigs I landed in Hollywood was through an agent at Playboy Models which was located on Sunset Boulevard in its early heyday.

Post: 10/08/2008

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/10/hollywoodmy-first-job-in-show-biz.html

Like me, it appears that Shannon is a bit of a "newbie" when it comes to tweeting.

In one update, she mused that she wasn't sure how to use the social tool effectively just yet, so she offered up the suggestion that followers could use the Twitter phenomenon to ask her questions about her life, career, what-have-you.

Great idea, for starters!

And, her reflection on the matter, triggered some thoughts of my own on the issue.

Twitter may be a potential substitute for a sort-of social register - or introduction service - for instance.

If you recall, years ago, folks - upper crust ones in particular - thought it very low class to chat a stranger up in an elevator, on a busy city street, or without a formal introduction by way of a trusted confidante, family member, or social contact.

In the wild & woolly world of today, it makes sense therefore to sign up with a social hub like Twitter, then casually "follow" an individual at a safe distance without any obligation until such time as there has been an opportunity to establish a sense of who the person is, determine what their hopes and dreams are in life - and ultimately - fathom if there is a place for that individual in the social, political and/or spiritual circles they travel in.

In the event the experiment doesn't pan out, well, no foul - eh?

Looking forward to more "tweets" Shannon; after all, they've been a joy thus far!

And, at least we have Vegas, right?

Laughter heals!

http://www.julianayrs.com