Pia Quarterly is the latest venture by Pia Wilson. PQ is a magazine, but it's not just about Pia. Fiction, photography, art, rants and raves — by Pia and friends or friends of friends.
12.19.2008
In Which We Wish We Were Lois Lane
This is a nice way to start the weekend, isn't it? Hmmm, David Gandy can pick us up anytime! He can bring the tights too!
You can catch the spread, shot by Mario Testino, in the January issue of Vogue. If you can't wait, you can spy some pics via models.com. By the way, that's Carolyn Murphy playing Lois Lane. What a lucky dame!
Maybe you like flame-broiled burgers a lot. Maybe you love them. Maybe you love them so much that you want to smell like one. Yeah? Is that your bag? Well, Burger King has just the thing for you! The home of the Whopper has launched a new men's body spray called "Flame."
Yes, they did! The company peddles the spray as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat." Get your bottle(s) at New York City retailer Ricky's NYC in stores and online for a limited time for $3.99. And if you want to giggle further, you can see an actual moving clip of the King character as posed above at firemeetsdesire.com.
Saw this gem over at Wikihow! This is a great resolution for anyone tired of the same humdrum routine. Start your own country!
VIA WIKIHOW
Anyone can start their own country. That doesn't mean that people will recognize it, but hey, they generally won't stop you from trying--as long as they don't see it as a threat. So if you'd like to do your own thing in your own country, here's how to establish a micronation.
Find territory for your micronation. Most micronationalists use their houses, land no one wants, or land on other planets. Some micronations exist on land unclaimed by other countries because of a loophole in a treaty. The Republic of Indian Stream, for example, was on land between the U.S. and Canada but is not under the jurisdiction of either because of ambiguous terms in the Treaty of Paris.[1] If you can't find land, though, make some! One millionaire activist piled sand onto a reef located in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji and created an artificial island to start the Republic of Minerva.[2] But if you're not rich enough to make land, then just make it up--some of the more lighthearted micronations claim land on imaginary continents or planets.
Declare your independence. If you have land, a declaration of independence will serve to claim that territory. Keep in mind, however, that actually sending your declaration of independence to gain recognition can lead to legal or military action if anyone disputes that claim. For example, when The Republic of Minerva issued a declaration of independence in letters to neighboring countries, the neighbors were very perturbed, and one of the countries decided to send their people to the island to take down the Minervan flag.[2] Besides, you can still function like an independent nation without actually declaring independence, like Taiwan does![3]
Looks like elementary school love guru Alec Greven has gone Hollywood. Alec's book, "How to Talk to Girls," has been optioned by 20th Century Fox.
The deal is asking for three more follow-ups to the first book, which, according to Variety, sparked the interest of 20th's production co-president Alex Young. While the studio hasn’t committed a writer or assigned a producer to the project, PQ can't wait for the movie to hit the big screen.
I forget what I was doing when it happened. But somehow, I saw an old clip of Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter. I had the impulse to spin around, like I did when I was a little girl and heard the theme song. I loved Wonder Woman, and I loved Lynda Carter. To be honest, I still do. And when I see her, I still see her with those little girl's eyes. You know, when a little girl tugs at the bottom of your skirt and says, "You're pretty." That's how I feel about Lynda Carter ... and Jayne Kennedy ... and Jaclyn Smith.
Those three ladies helped shape my vision of what a beautiful woman looks like. And, now that I think about it, they all remind me of the way my mother looked in the 70s, with her long, straight hair going down her back (or piled up into a loose knot on the top of her head) and those huge sunglasses.
See, girls, you don't have to starve yourself to be gorgeous!
Fellas, forget paying hundreds of dollars to those dating gurus like the creep you see on VH1 with the big hat and eyeliner. Drop $3 on this little gem of a book, How to Talk to Girls, from elementary school love guru Alec Greven.
His is the best spot-on advice I've seen for boys of any age. These are the things that grown-up men forget. Take his bon mots from Chapter 2: Crushes —
It is very hard to get a girl to like you. Sometimes it takes years to get a girl to like you. Girls can get crushes on boys. (Tip: How to get a girl to like you, talk to them and get to know them.) Sometimes show off your skills, like playing soccer. Anything that you are good at.
Gentlemen, this is the truth. From the mouth of babes. I particularly like Chapter 6: Compliments, Flowers & Other Things. And best advice, in my humble opinion, "You also have to be aware that girls win most of the arguments and have most of the power. If you know that now, things might be easier." Right on, sweetie!
Valkyrie (In Which We Discuss the Genius of Tom Cruise)
Look, Tom Cruise is out of his gourd. We know that. So what? There is a thin line between madness and genius. Like a Weeble Wobble, Tommy Tom-Tom vacillates between the two, and we here at PQ love him for it. We also love his upcoming movie, Valkyrie. We saw the trailer for it this weekend. It's genius, folks.
Here's the plot, as per the Wikipedia entry:
During World War II, German Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) is severely wounded in Africa and returns home to Nazi Germany. Stauffenberg helps conceive Operation Valkyrie, a plan approved by Adolf Hitler which, in order to manage turmoil within Germany, would implement a shadow government in the event of the Nazi Führer's death. The Colonel eventually joins the German Resistance and becomes part of the July 20 plot, a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler and execute Valkyrie in order to take control of the country and make peace with the Allies. Stauffenberg finds himself taking on not only the responsibility of leading the coup, but also the task to assassinate Hitler himself.
Does Tom bother with a German accent? Egads, no! Do some of the other actors sport a British accent. Why, yes — yes, they do! Are they all supposed to be Germans? Well, yes. But who cares?! This! is! Valkyrie!
There are so many little delicious moments in the trailer, that it's only fair to let you see it for yourself. So, we've embedded the YouTube version at the bottom of the post.
Back to Tommy Tom-Tom and his madness ... what you must realize is that Tommy is the consummate actor of the universe right now. Dare you scoff? Naysayer, I submit this to you: other actors are only "acting" when the cameras are on; Tommy is acting all the time! There is no break in character because the character IS Tom Cruise. Sometimes he does what we here at PQ call meta-acting, in which he takes on another character on top of the Tom Cruise meme. Who else is that dedicated? Think about it, people.
Anyway, we welcome Tom Cruise back to the big screen. Valkyrie, you had us at hallo!
“I was learning the importance of names — having them, making them — but at the same time I sensed the dangers. Recognition was followed by oblivion, a yawning maw whose victims disappeared without a trace.” —Josephine Baker
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