Back in skinny jeans

Carmen Electra half naked swiging Coca-Cola

Whilst surfing through the Internet I stumbled across this pictorial of Carmen Electra drinking a cold, quenching bottle of Coke, the soda kind. These pics were taken 6 months ago, and I honestly find it hard to believe that Coca-Cola would do a campaign with Carmen THIS naked. This looks more like an ad for Scores, the strip joint, Howard Stern's favorite jaunt.

Perhaps these pics were just test shots that got rejected by Coca-Cola but nonetheless made it onto the Internet. Sex sells, and we get that Carmen is a hot tamale, but really, drinking soda loaded with high fructose corn syrup will not help you look like Ms. Electra. That is most definitely a fantasy.

Hillary Clinton is officially "In to Win" the Presidency

Today, Hillary Clinton announced on her website that she has launched a Presidential Exploratory Committee for her bid to become President and Commander-in-Chief of our great nation. What she emphasizes is that this isn't just an ordinary campaign, nope, it's a conversation. She wants to get the people of America talking, voicing their opinions, and sharing their feelings. And showing us that she is a savvy "with it" kind of leader, Hillary is using the web, social media, to get us talking.

Hillary's announcement today is exciting to me for two reasons. First, I get to see in my lifetime a woman run for the highest political post in the U.S., and one in the world. Watching Nancy Pelosi become the very first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House gave me goose bumps. Women are finally breaking into the upper-crusts of male dominated arenas, and that is thrilling for all women as a whole. Politically, though, I'm not crazy about Hillary Clinton the candidate. Is she capable of being a U.S. President? I'd say yes. Is she the right person to be our next leader, I'd say I'm not sold, and this is just my personal opinion.

The second exciting thing about Hillary's Political ambitions is that she is pro-actively using technology in her bid. You are now seeing the beginnings of savvy politicians who GET that social media, blogs, web video, and forums are crucial in their fight for the presidency. If you go to Hillary's Clinton's website, you will see that she has a blog area, she will get us talking by holding live video webcasts, she will help you get a "Hillary party" started in your own area, and she has made it very easy for us to whip out our credit cards and donate to her campaign. From the standpoint of being web savvy and using all these new social technologies, I am very impressed with Ms. Clinton.

The first live video webcasts start January 22-24 at 7pm EST. You can sign-up now to get the word on when registration for "the conversation" officially opens.

Ford Models has a YouTube channel

Ford Models, founded by Jerry and Eileen Ford, is an uber agency of models de jour. Some very famous models who were represented by Ford include Christie Brinkley, Rachel Hunter, Adriana Lima, and that cell throwing, assistant beating Naomi Campbell. Oops. Did I say that outloud? Yes, indeedy.

Ford is having some kind of "Next Supermodel" contest Jan. 13-18 where 44 girls from 44 countries are vying to get a Ford contract. Ford has set up a YouTube channel where you can see clips of the girls in their various competitions doing their catwalk thing.

What I found interesting about the contestants is that not one of them looks over 18 years old. Most of them actually look like they are 15-16, kids really. In this clip, they choose the finalists and all of them are Caucasian, and look the same, tall, waify, and hangerish. Literally, they look like slightly different flavors of really the same girl. Sigh!

Barbie's out. The Nicole Richie doll is in.

Jay Leno was having some fun promoting a Nicole Richie doll. This spoof is pretty ri-otus if you put aside the seriousness that some girls actually do admire Nicole Richie, and aspire to be like her. But don't fret, Nicole isn't alone in the spoof. Someone more famous for her crotchless antics joins in the lampoon.

Why do we love our beauty products?

I cannot leave the house without something on my lips whether it be lipstick or lip gloss. I feel naked without anything on my kisser. As vain as this is, I even wear a little lipstick or gloss to the gym. Yes, yes, yes, it is so vain but I at least wear a muted color or earthy tone to get that there-but-not-there look. What can I say? I can’t help myself. 

Meg, over at Faking Good Breeding, brought up some good questions in a post called, "Why I love Beauty Products." She asks: 

• Why do beauty products hold so much power over women?

• What leads someone to pay $100 an ounce for a face cream that carries no guarantee of working?

• What do you love or hate beauty products?

Meg asked other women for their opinion, and to blog about it. I thought that was a fantastic question to ask, so I’m going to share my thoughts, and ask you to do the same. 

Beauty = Power

Whether we like it or not, all through time, in all cultures, and in all space/time continuums, beauty is a source of power for women and men. What is considered beautiful is subjective to the culture and time, but if you are one of those who fit into the designated ideal image of beauty, then you get adoration, privilege, and access. This is why we all want to look pretty and handsome. You get to have a “better” life. 

When you hang out at Sephora or the makeup counters at the department stores, you immediately start to feel the possibilities. Makeup and other beauty products like anti-wrinkle creams, lotions, and youth potions are tools that help us look pretty so that we can feel alluring and desirable. Yes, it's that sexy thing. And you know what; there is nothing wrong with that. It is absolutely natural to want to feel desired, accepted, and cherished. Where it gets weird is when we think that we are only defined by our physical looks, and that the other parts of us like our minds, spirit, and kindness don’t matter as much, or don’t contribute to our overall beauty as well. 

Make-up is also a fun part of being a girl. It’s fun to have the Mary Kay type parties with your girlfriends. It’s amusing to have slumber parties and try each other’s lipsticks, blush, and eye shadows. It's dazzling to get a manicure and pedicure with your best friend and talk about the latest hottie you're dating. It’s a blast to go to the spa and get slathered with their mojo potions. It’s glamorous to go to the MAC counter and have a professional “do” your face. 

And do we get suckered into buying all those things, or even at least one thing, that the pro used to make our face shine. Absolutely! We're buying the dream, and it is a powerfully enticing dream. It's the same dream that keeps us from parting with our last pair of skinny jeans. Most of us can’t replicate what the pro did at the store, but we try, and we may or may not get there, but it doesn’t matter. We have our beauty tools and they make us laugh, and smile, and sometimes even cry.

I love my make-up and beauty products. They bring joy and pleasure to me. And yeah, when I put on fire engine red lipstick it makes me feel zesty. For enquiring minds, my favorite lipstick colors at the moment are MAC CocoNutty, Chintz, and Fetish topped with the Lustreglass Sinnamon. If you think you may have seen me at the MAC counter trying on lipsticks, you probably did.

Keira, Jessica, and Mary Kate in "Body Crisis"

The January 22 edition of In Touch Weekly has a cover story about the growing shrinking-ness of actresses Keira Knightley, Mary Kate Olsen, and Jessica Alba. Inside the magazine, you see pictures of Keira and Jessica in bikinis, and Mary Kate dressed in black leggings and a baggy sweater. All of these girls just do not look healthy at all. Although, if you ask them, they will all tell you that they think they are fine.

Jessica battled anorexia in her teens. Mary Kate has been to a treatment center for an eating disorder, and Keira has said that Anorexia runs in her family but that she herself is not afflicted. When Keira showed up to the European premiere of "The Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" looking extremely thin in a halter dress, the anorexia talk started.

The pressure to be thin in Hollywood is intense. Since the fashion industry is starting to set boundaries on health standards for models, perhaps it's time that Hollywood start doing the same.

Jake "Effie" Gyllenhaal does a pretty good Dreamgirls

Saturday night sure was drag. Jake Gyllenhaal hosted Saturday Night Live, and in his opening monologue, Jake did a rendition of "And I Am Telling You..." from Dreamgirls complete with wig and dress. I still don't get why guys in drag is such a funny thing, but Jake's American Idol-like audition is not bad at all. Not bad.

Real women win Golden Globe Awards

The Hollywood Foreign Press loves real women. Two big winners at the Golden Globe Awards include Jennifer Hudson for Supporting Actress in DreamGirls, and America Ferrara for Best Actress Musical or Comedy. As well, America's show Ugly Betty, produced by Salma Hayek, won Best Series Musical or Comedy.

Woo-hoo! Hurrah! Boo-yah!!! Jumping up and down in ecstasy!

What is fantastic about Jennifer and America winning is that they were chosen by the press. Realistic looking characters are making it big. Things are changing. Oh yes, they are. As I said in my 2007 predictions, authenticity is the new pretty.

Lastly, I was thrilled that Kyra Sedgwick won Best Actress, TV Drama for The Closer. I love that show! Kyra is incredible as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a tough yet compassionate cop and leader.

Is it wrong for an active duty Air Force Staff Sargent to pose in Playboy?

Michelle Manhart, a Staff Sargent who has been in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years has been relieved of her duties as she is being investigated for posing nude in Playboy magazine. I'm sure Hef was proud to have one of our military's finest in all her nekkid glory.

In this ABC Good Morning America Weekend Edition interview, Michelle states that she thinks that the body is a work of art and that she sees nothing wrong in posing for Playboy while still on active duty for the Air Force. The Air Force on the other hand feels differently:

"The staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do," the statement said. "

So, what do we think? If a grown woman wants to pose nude for Playboy then that is her right to do so. Is she hurting the Air Force? I think what she is hurting the most is her ability to keep the respect of her fellow airmen/women, and her superiors. Until the Playboy spread came out, Michelle's job was to train new soldiers. She thinks that posing in Playboy will have no affect on her ability to do her job.

I don't doubt that Michelle can still do her job as excellent as she did before, but her students and colleagues will have an entirely different view of her now, and it will not be a view of equality or honor. Michelle works in a very macho, male dominated field, where women inevitably have to work twice as hard to get ahead and earn respect. Posing for Playboy has just reduced her to a sexual object, and who wants Playboy models training the young men and women who are going to war fighting for our country?

Should the Air Force strip her of her military career?  I would say that posing for Playboy is an incredibly career limiting move, and it is in very poor judgment. The military is not a place for beauty pageants and posing naked. Posing for Playboy when you are a soldier is not empowering, and it does not set as a good example for younger women in the military who are trying very hard to be taken seriously as soldiers and as leaders.

[ABC news]

Rob Lowe was supposed to be McDreamy and other nubbits around the skinny-sphere

• On Jan. 13, Happy 41st birthday Patrick Dempsey! Rob Lowe was the original pick to be Meredith's love Dr. McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy. However, Rob passed on the role, and Patrick Dempsey landed the gig. Rob Lowe is a fine actor but I think the chemistry with Dempsey is more sympatico. Here's Dempsey on the chemistry with Ellen Pompeo:

LIFE: Luckily, you and Ellen Pompeo must have had great chemistry during your audition.

DEMPSEY: They didn’t offer me the part. I got it because Rob Lowe turned it down. But first I had to test with her, so she had all the cards. She was very attentive during my audition, and I felt . . . welcomed. Also, she had a Boston accent, and I’m from Maine. I found that endearing. [Life.com]

• And speaking of landing cool gigs, my friend Valeria from the blog Conversation Agent has just landed a blogging gig on Fast Company.com on the topic of Customer Service. Valeria is a very talented writer and smart lady. Go check out her very first post, "From 0 to 60 at the speed of Liking." [Fast Company.com]

• Paula Abdul is bringing the Bratz Dolls to the big screen for a summer release. But this isn't going to be a cartoony thing. Oh no! They are going to cast four real-life gals to play Bratz girls. Great! I can't wait to see the ho-ish dolls come to life to inspire junior high-ers to dress like hoochies Bratz. [Celebrity Week]

• Code white. We have a code white. The Posh has landed. The Posh has landed...[Pop Sugar]