The Lynnertic

US Army confirms Israel’s nuclear capability. Readers: yawn.

Military.com, March 18, 2009

On page 37 [or rather, p41 of online version linked here] of the U.S. Joint Forces Command report [which was completed last year] the Army includes Israel within “a growing arc of nuclear powers running from Israel in the west through an emerging Iran to Pakistan, India, and on to China, North Korea, and Russia in the east.”

…By law, the U.S. would have to cease providing billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel if it determined the country had a nuclear weapons program. That’s because the so-called Symington Amendment, passed in 1976, bars assistance to countries developing technology for nuclear weapons proliferation.

Commentors on this Military.com article assert that the Symington Amendment has been ignored in practically every instance of nuclear proliferation since it was adopted. Others suppose Israel had nukes before 1976 and so would be exempt.

Of note: the report also says that Japan and Taiwan would be able to build nuclear warheads very quickly if they ever felt the motivation to do so.

What a bombshell! Or not. If any good comes from the Army’s allusion, it would be that an open secret was finally spoken out loud.

Playing with Barbies at colette

I’m not surprised to find myself still on this topic. When I was a kid my elaborate Barbie fantasies spread across my whole room and took days to play out.

Super-haute fashion boutique colette in Paris, France plays like I do: their entire first floor has been realized as a larger-than-life Barbie shop for the month of March.

 
“Barbie celebrates her 50th birthday at colette,
March 9th-28th!

 

Barbie embodies glamour, fashion and femininity
for over 5 decades.

 

She naturally settles down at colette for her birthday,

 

where designers make theirs her environment.”

 

In the gallery, enjoy the “Barbie and Ken” exhibition
by Karl Lagerfeld.

There, I think I’ve got it out of my system. Want more Barbie? See Yahoo’s slideshow of the Real Malibu Beach House, and their March 9 party where (if you believe the pictures) maybe 6 people showed up. That’s not bad or anything, it’s about the attendance level of my Barbie events.

I hope more made it to Party Barbie colette last night. I wasn’t there, even in spirit, because it conflicted with the World of Noise radio show/chat party… it was a great one. If you missed it, write for access to the archives or get on Doug’s announcement mailing list.

“A plastic tan never fades” - Barbie.

Party Barbie colette at Régine, Paris, and Shara’s engagement at avec in Chicago

The Barbie Doll’s 50th birthday is being celebrated around the world!

Party Barbie colette

March 12th, 2009, at The Régine.

Come celebrate Barbie’s 50th anniversary at Régine this Thursday, March 12th, starting at 10pm, with Lady Bunny, Mister Rabbit, a live by Steed Lord, a warm-up by Olympia Le Tana & a dance performance by Dangerkat. The House of Dangerkat is a Canadian-based collective of arts professionals synthesizing fashion and styling with music and dance, further enhanced by video, photography and design. The House’s laissez-faire style of performance art has wowed the fashion, dance and music communities with their progressive approach to art making and rule breaking. Check out performances from Paris, New York and Canada at Dangerkat.

A very special thanks for providing champagne to Nicolas Feuillatte, for vodka to Girl By Necker and for lemonade by Lorina.

My friend Jason Williscroft saved me from getting too wrapped up in the trappings of this non-holiday by sending me the video of his evening at avec in Chicago last weekend, where he proposed to his girlfriend Shara with a self-described Barbie Diamond.** Congratulations to Jason and Shara! May you have a long and happy life together!