On my usual Sunday real estate tour, I stumbled across an open house listed for $2.7 million in the prime “Bird Streets” section of the Hollywood Hills. Upon entry, the place is a bad late-70s, early 80s Spanish clone, in five levels, about 3,000 sq/ft. Turns out (no listing in “Hot Property,” nor even the classic real estate agent “whisper”) that this house belongs to Mariska Hargitay, of Law and Order: SVU and “I was in the car when my mom Jayne Mansfield was killed” [Ed.note—Too soon.] fame. Surprising.

The only “swank” feature is the requisite bachelorette “speakers in the walls in every room” for those “girl’s night” parties - no Viking, no Sub-Zero, no pool, no fine finishes. Instead we’ve got “take your shoes off, new Berber carpet” signs and wallpaper printed to look like books in book cases and lamps with leopard-spot shades. A little investigation reveals that her dad, Mickey, ex-Mr. Universe and home builder, had this house built for his little girl about 25 years ago. And she’s owned it ever since. Now, with her newfound money (many years on a network show as a lead) and an underemployed actor/husband in the family (Peter Hermann), they’re selling to find a place that’s “theirs” and not “hers,” even though the money will most certainly not be 50/50 on the new place. Even more interestingly, this house shares a cul de sac with two other “Daddy built it for me” houses (but with differing definitions). It sits right next to the house Dr. Phil built for his son and the house Danny Sugerman built for his now-widow Fawn Hall Sugerman. Only in LA…

For a $2.7 million listing price, we at least hope that the all of the fake tomes on the wallpaper are selections from Oprah’s book club. They wouldn’t want a prospective buyer to think this is a home that doesn’t foster culture and class.

http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/real-estate/defamer-real-estate-mariska-hargitays-classy-home-in-the-hills-132873.php

Current Mood:

amused

Meet the Press

Update: I added a link to a commentary by Bill Sheiffer.

Face the Nation

The federal official in charge of the bungled New Orleans rescue was fired from his last private-sector job overseeing horse shows.

 And before joining the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a deputy director in 2001, GOP activist Mike Brown had no significant experience that would have qualified him for the position.

 The Oklahoman got the job through an old college friend who at the time was heading up FEMA.

Boston Herald

The Bush Admin. can spin all the want but the facts are slowly coming to light

WASHINGTON - Another 10,000 National Guard troops are being sent to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, raising their number to about 40,000, but questions linger about the speed with which troops were deployed.

Several states ready and willing to send National Guard troops to the rescue in New Orleans didn't get the go-ahead until days after the storm struck — a delay nearly certain to be investigated by Congress.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco help from his state's National Guard last Sunday, the day before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Blanco accepted, but paperwork needed to get the troops en route didn't come from Washington until late Thursday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050903/ap_on_re_us/katrina_national_guard

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9177352/page/2/

or

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2678975

Last year, when the hurricanes hit Florida, Bush was chomping at the bit to get relief here. Of course, with Charley in particular, it hit an affluent Republican stronghold during an election year so aid was on the ground before the wind even stopped blowing.

With this disaster we have Bush hiding out at his ranch until someone said, you may want to go back to D.C. and look like a leader. You also have Condolezza Rice up in New York taking in a Broadway show and getting private tennis lessons from Monica Seles up until yesterday. I'm sorry but this administration has shown they just don't care and everyone is starting to point fingers.

I better stop ranting or my blood pressure may go through the roof.

If you haven't read Ray Nagin's interview he gave yesterday, do. I have more respect for a politician who tells it like it is, than any of the ass kissers I saw today touring the damage with Bush.

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/ray-nagin/index.php#nagins-nightmare-full-transcript-123683