“Even prosecutors in the Hague for the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone say Campbell has refused their requests to be interviewed about the allegations that they say could help directly link Taylor, the former president of Liberia, to the possession of uncut diamonds used to fuel a campaign of terror in Sierra Leone between 1997 and 2001.”

Diamonds are big business in Sierra Leone. Blood diamonds are diamonds which serve wartime purposes. Specifically used to finance insurgencies or warlords’ activities.

In fact, former Liberian president Charles Taylor was accused by the UN in 2000 of supporting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) insurgency in neighboring Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for diamonds. Now that he is facing trials charging him with 11 counts of murder, torture, rape, sexual slavery and the use of child soldiers and terrorism, he has stepped down as president.

So where do the supermodel and the actress fit into all of this? Taylor allegedly gave Campbell blood diamonds at a party in South Africa in 1997. Mia Farrow also attended the party, and claims that Campbell told her about the gift later. Prosecutors say the testimony would give “direct evidence of Taylor’s possession of rough diamonds from a witness unrelated to the Liberian or Sierra Leone conflicts.”

Taylor was once one of West Africa’s most powerful men. An estimated 500,000 people were the victims of killings, systematic mutilation or other atrocities in that war, with some of the worst crimes committed by child soldiers who were drugged to desensitize them.

I don’t blame her. I don’t think I’d want to testify either.

She won the match against Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder 6-3, 6-3. But the crowd was only interested in what she was (barely) wearing – lingerie that gave the illusion of being see-through. Really…. with sneakers?

She explained that her look was “about illusion.” She said that is “a lot of my motif this year.” This isn’t the first time she or her sister Serena have appeared on a tennis court and made even the awful ball girl outfits look good, in comparison. Who can forget these?

Obama was all about “Yes, we can.” And now we are in France, saying in our own way, “Yes, we can-can.” Ooh-la-la.

Any opinions?

The nickname: Also known as “The Run for the Roses.” Why? Ever since 1883, a blanket of 554 red roses is given to the winner. The garland (and the trophy) is awarded by the Governor of Kentucky. Pop Culture Trivia: the 1980 song “Run for the Roses,” composed by Dan Fogelberg is about the Kentucky Derby.

Location, Location, Location: If you go, get to the infield. The infield is the spectator area inside the track. The ticket is general admission, and you probably won’t be able to see much of the actual race. But on the other hand, the infield is the spot to be if you want to have a good time. People party here with reckless abandon. If you are looking for a more subdued experience, you might want to get a box seat in what is known as “Millionaire’s Row,” obviously named that back when a million bucks was a lot of money. This is where you will find the rich and famous, and ladies in amazingly elaborate hats. I’d hate to pay for a box seat and find myself sitting behind one of these hats.

The song: When the horses get paraded before the grandstands, the University of Louisville marching band plays “My Old Kentucky Home,” written by Stephen Foster.

The Drink: Mint Julep (a mix of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup). It is best served in a souvenir glass with the names of all previous Derby winners printed on it.

The Food: Something called Burgoo is the traditional dish served at the Derby. It is a stew of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables. The word “burgoo” comes from the high seas of the 17th century, where sailors lived on an oatmeal-like porridge made from bulghur wheat (a Middle-Eastern grain). The first known appearance of “burgoo” is in the 1650 book “Adventures by Sea,” by Edward Coxere.

Here’s a recipe if you wan to give your Derby-viewing party some authenticity:

• 1 pound mixed cooked meats (beef, lamb, pork, chicken)
• 1/2 gallon chicken stock
• 1/2 gallon beef stock
• 1 ounce Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 large potato, diced
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• ¼ cup lentils
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/4 cup okra
• 1/4 cup lima beans
• 1/2 cup yellow corn
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Combine all of the ingredients in a big pot and bring to a boil. Once Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours, skimming the top as needed.

The Desert: The Kentucky Derby Pie. This is chocolate nut pie that comes from the Bluegrass State. You can find many recipes and versions of it online. I think I may have to try them all.

It all kicks off at 5:00pm (EST) on May 1, 2010. This year, you can stream the action live online for free on the NBC website.

And most importantly – The Contenders:

• American Lion
• Awesome Act
• Conveyance
• Dean’s Kitten
• Discreetly Mine
• Dublin
• Endorsement
• Eskendereya (pulled from the race due to injury)
• Homeboykris
• Ice Box
• Interactif
• Jackson Bend
• Line of David
• Lookin at Lucky (Parcbench’s pick to win the race… pictured below)
• Make Music For Me
• Mission Ipazible
• Noble’s Promise
• Paddy O’Prado
• Rule
• Setsuko
• Sidney’s Candy
• Stately Victor
• Super Saver

His death was an epiphany. Fashion is not just about clothes. Sometimes it is about pure creativity, artistic genius and sheer technical innovation. McQueen embodied these elements in a way that no American designer ever has or quite possibly ever will.

McQueen’s shows (and clothing for that matter) were pure spectacle. But it was spectacle backed by talent and precise tailoring. He generally showed in Paris, the raison d’etre of the fashion world. And while Paris might be the most dramatic stage, New York’s stage is the most important. New York Fashion Week isn’t about creative genius. It isn’t about couture. It’s about sales.

McQueen’s absence highlighted a fundamental difference between American spirit and fashion with that of the rest of the world. While we may not have the decadence and joie de vivre of the Paris couture shows, what we do have is American practicality that is sustainable and, more importantly, commercial. What we offer the world is a way to go forward, a stable ground from which to dream.

New York Fashion Week is about selling clothes…. wearable, attainable, livable clothes. And by that measure, the week was a smashing success.

Luxurious tweeds, beautiful tartans – clearly the key to fall 2010 is mixing textures, colors and patterns. The color stories were a bit somber for my tastes – too much drab fall and not enough glorious autumn. The highest accolade for collections these days is “retail-ready” and most collections were.

But in all the NY shows, I was missing that touch of McQueen. That touch of never-to-be-ready for retail. Dresses made of feathers, complete with wings. Headgear made from melted hubcaps. The technology and originality of the Armadillo pump – a shoe with a 10” heel, forcing the wearer on pointe, turning the feet into futuristic pods. I missed the whimsy. I missed the shock and disturbance of unfettered genius.

Many find McQueen’s clothes outrageous and un-wearable. I would argue that that is precisely the point. There are a lot of wearable, serviceable garments in the world. But it’s the dresses fashioned of live flowers that take your breath away. Watching models walk down the runway, attacked by taxidermy falcons, ripping their hair and clothing to shreds is macabre yet riveting. A hologram image of Kate Moss in a shimmering ballgown floating down the runway is both ethereal and clever. These unique creations feed our dreams, open up our own creativity and loosen the bonds of American Apparel leggings and Banana Republic.

We needed McQueen. What he offered was a dream, a nightmare, an escape. He helped us realize that more is possible. And while bizarre, larger than life statements are exciting, they must be bolstered by the every day, the maintainable. He needed us too.

Thank you for the fantasy, Mr. McQueen. We miss you.

Four years later, it begged the question, “What next?”

The updated styling of the retro Mustang has definitely been polarizing to Mustang fans, but it was a logical update that hinted at what Ford might have done had it not made the mistake of building the bloated 1971 Mustang.

Now, a year after the update, things get interesting. Ford’s got two new engines, and both are exciting.

First, let’s talk about the 5.0. When I was in high school, I had a red 1990 Mustang GT. It had a 205 horsepower 5.0 V8. The iconic 5.0 badges adorned the front fenders and lots of tacky plastic ground effects ran the front and sides.

The new Mustang’s 5.0 V8 is set to make more than 400 horsepower. The same 5.0 badges will adorn the new Mustang and similar side moldings are in the works. Retro is really meeting retro. The merger of the early 1990′s Mustang with the class 1960′s Mustang is a dream come true to some, and with 400 horsepower standard (before Carroll Shelby or Jack Roush start modifying them!), it’s going to be the best horsepower bargain ever.

Of course, we haven’t talked about the V6 yet. The 5.0′s biggest competition for bargain horsepower isn’t going to come from a Camaro. It’s going to come from Ford’s V6 – the engine makes 305 horsepower and gets nearly 30 miles per gallon. Compare that with the 5.0 V8 from 1990 – it made 205 horsepower.

Ford deserves credit for persevering in a tough economy, bringing new cars to the market that people want, and not allowing the government to tell it what to do. The new Mustang is a step in the right direction and it bodes well for the future of the pony car.

Sid Bridge, APR is the Senior Editor of Parcbench and the Editor-in-Chief of The Endive, a satirical news magazine. He’s also a teeny bit of a car nut.

First Lady Michelle Obama got more than she bargained for when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, better known as the Underpants Bomber, showed up as the guest of honor at her surprise birthday party.

“This is all, well, it’s a misunderstanding,” said President Barack Obama, who spent days arranging the party, “I really thought I had hired a male stripper. Someone misunderstood my instructions. I’m looking at you, Rahm.”

President Obama relied heavily on the assistance of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to arrange the party. Emanuel booked the restaurant and made travel arrangements for many of the honored guests, including Michelle’s mother Marian Robinson, Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett.

“Apparently, the President was trying to replicate Michelle’s 26^th birthday on her 46^th,” said Emanuel, “Her 26^th birthday was memorable because a stripper named the ‘Underpants Bomber’ leapt out of a giant cake wearing nothing but tighty-whities and a bow tie. I didn’t know this little factoid until after I made the arrangements to get Mr. Abdulmatallab out of Federal Prison. My fault. Sorry ‘bout that.”

Almost as shocked as the First Lady was Abdulmutallab himself, who had never actually jumped out of a cake before, much less done so wearing next to nothing.

“No amount of Jihad training could have prepared me for this,” said a still-shell-shocked Abdulmutallab, “When I finally managed to break free of the cake, at least 30 middle-aged women were staring at my mostly naked body. I think they noticed right away that my package just isn’t that, um, well-stuffed. I’m not sure what they were expecting. The only way anyone could sneak onto a plane with underpants full of explosives is if he had a small pecker that left plenty of room down there.”

The First Lady gave her husband a look that witnesses described as “an icy stare of death” as she watched Abdulmutallab emerge from the cake, stand there awkwardly for a few moments, before waving once, smiling politely and excusing himself to the safety of awaiting Federal Marshals.

The attending Federal Marshals were surprised at Abdulmutallab’s sudden complicity.

“He just walked right up to us and said, ‘Please return me to my holding cell and provide me with a jump suit. No longer will I ever hurt Americans. Tell Usama that it’s just not worth it. And hurry because I want to cry now,’” said Federal Marshal Sean Briggs, “We even felt a little bad. I gave him my coat.”

President Obama was unavailable for comment. He was last seen standing outside the locked door to the Lincoln bedroom promising that he would make things all better next year.

Read more satire at The Endive…

Jennifer Love Hewitt glamed out her bajingo and isn’t afraid to talk about it. In fact, she included an entire chapter about it in her book. Yes, she has a relationship book. (Dramatic pause for laughter.)

“Vagazzling” is the little known practice of waxing your lady-cat and applying crystals to the area. In a thousand years, archeologists will be dusking off Swarovski-encrusted remains of a pelvic bone and pondering the strange cultural practices of the American middle class.

Hewitt admitted to engaging in the activity in the wake of a break up. If a sparkly snizz eases the pain of a broken heart, go for it. I’m all about this idea. In the range of bizarre, nonsensical things one could do for a thrill, this rates pretty low.

It is less permanent than tattoo and no one will see it -  unless you want someone to see it. In which case, you might want to warn them. Setting eyes a glittering va-jay-jay might be shocking at first.

(Did I mention how excited I am to use every hilariously vulgar euphemism for the picachu I could think of?)

In the past, I’ve suggested ladies rock sassy lingerie whenever possible. What a confidence booster. This is a whole new level of commitment to covert sexy.  Try something new. Blow some cash on something that will only last a week.

I attempted to hunt down the pricing. But it’s not widely offered and likely ranges depending on the establishment. However, I can impart this piece of advice: if you price compare, pay the maximum. This is your little lady, treat her well! Getting a hack job at a shady salon might result in some uncomfortable complications. That might be counterproductive if you’re aiming to show her off.

A vivid, oversized floral print cocktail dress isn’t simply an accident. One almost has to work to be this impractical. Maybe her House minions mixed up her schedule? She thought she was going for Mojitos with Hugo Chavez. Color her embarrassed! Time to get new minions.

Other than being a smidgen too skimpy for the chilly September fall day this picture was taken on, there’s a bigger crisis with MO’s fashion misstep. It’s the Medal of Honor ceremony. This might not be the right occasion to bust out the spunky cocktail number. This particular event was to pay tribute Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti for his heroism in Afghanistan. He gave his life. It is a time of somber reflection on our nation and freedom.

Whoops.

Maybe she wanted to make the statement: I’m serious and classy, but I’m also here to party. No one can rock a keg stand like Girl President! Check out those arms. You don’t get those from just pulling weeds from the vegetable garden.

This isn’t her first crime of fashion. Remember that time she wore the $540 sneakers to the food bank? Next wardrobe change might be a tight, red silk gown for a tour of Arlington National Cemetery. The fun never stops on the Michelle Obama: Let’s be Pointlessly Inappropriate Tour. Maybe later she can mock handicapped kids.

(By the way, check out the President’s tie. Going matchy-matchy doesn’t atone for MO’s assault on tact. Just thought I’d point out who’s obviously wearing the pants here. )

But let’s not fuss about style and practicality. Let’s get down and dirty. What’s with the green shoes? They don’t coordinate by any stretch of the imagination. Are you just messing with me now? Did a blind drag queen with a penchant for mischief dress you? I am not amused, Girl President. Not at all.

Models International

Joined by

Hollywood Studios International, Fame Game, New York City PR and John Simon Daily

present

“Gifts for Gorgeous”

a

charity benefit for

Toys for Tots

Toy Drive

Bring one unopened, unwrapped gift

Silent Auction

Place your bid on artwork as a portion of the proceeds will be donated

About Models International

Models International is a premier boutique modeling agency, our bookers and agents have over 60 years of combined industry experience in fashion, commercials, celebrity endorsement, film and television. Models International has a selective board of over 250 male and female models internationally and divisions include Women, Men, New Faces, Kids, Talent and Celebrity representation. Models International offices are located in Beverly Hills and New York. For more info, please visit www.mi-agency.com

Thank you for your attention

We are very excited about this event and hope to see you there!

Event Details

What: Models International “Gifts for Gorgeous” charity benefit for Toys for Tots

Where: Collective Hardware 169 Bowery New York, NY 10002

(Corner of Delancy & Bowery)

When: Thursday, December 3rd 2009 from 8:00pm- 11:00pm

(Red carpet and guest arrival from 8:00pm- 9:00pm)

Please RSVP by via www.Guestcode.com please enter guest code 349

After Party:

ONE

1 Little West 12th Street

New York, NY 10014

(Corner of Little West 12th & 9th Avenue)