Happy Memorial Day from the Ministry and 'Chloe Sevigny'

 
And so another holiday passes for which we can bring you a tribute from the Ministry's beloved Chloë Sevigny impersonator.

"Chloe" defines Memorial Day as a time to reflect on her favorite things past — like friendship with Julia Stiles, stirrup pants and sunflower hats, jackal-feedings in Kilimanjaro and her grandmother's dinner prayers.

"Let's take this time to remember our memories," Chloe encourages. 

While the spoof makes us smile, let us not forget what Memorial Day actually represents. And here's wishing you a safe one.

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

 

Daniel Craig dons drag, is interrogated by 'M' about gender equality

Daniel Craig has donned a sundress, clip-on earrings and a blond wig as James Bond in support of Tuesday's 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. 

In the video, Craig stands expressionless in a suit looking straight into the lens as an off-camera narrator recites a litany of statistics illustrating injustices faced by women. And who might the holier-than-thou narrator be? The one and only Judi Dench as "M," the 007 character she has portrayed for more than a decade.

The actor was commissioned for the two-minute clip by Equals, a British coalition of organizations that work together to celebrate holiday on March 8 annually.

About halfway through the clip, M asks, "For someone with such a fondness for women, I wonder if you've ever considered what it means to be one?"

Craig then walks out of frame and comes back dressed in drag — or as the organization puts it, "quite literally, in women's shoes." As the statistics get harsher, he removes the wig and continues to stare off into space.

Sorry, ladies. The dress stays on.

Presidents Day: Celebrating Monica Lewinsky, Judith Exner and other man-made celebs

Presidents Day, which honors the births of Washington and Lincoln, seems to be commemorated now with a day off work for some and a light commute for the rest of us -- plus, of course, sales on furniture and cars. But isn't there something more dignified to it all?

We should, in theory, spend some time thinking about what our presidents have done to give us the country we have today, right? And yes, we thought about it. And then we decided that we were less interested in presidential achievements than we were in regular folks who achieved fame, or infamy, thanks to an association with a leader of the free world.

In that spirit, the Ministry has compiled a Presidents Day photo gallery of average Joes -- or, more often, average Janes -- whose names we know thanks to high-level improprieties. Click the photo of CIA agent Valerie Plame, right (whose relationship, admittedly, was more with the White House in general than with a president in particular) and take a trip down memory lane with the likes of Monica Lewinsky, Judith Exner, Sally Hemings and more.

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-- Whitney Friedlander

Photos: (Top) Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton. (Right) Valerie Plame. Credits: Associated Press

MLK Day: Celebrities share Martin Luther King Jr. quotes

As the United States honors the birthday of slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., it's no surprise that some celebrities (and normal folk as well) have taken to Twitter to pass along his message either verbatim or by showing what the day means to them.

Here's a look at what some of them had to say Monday:

Sean Combs asked you a question, Ministry readers. Don't leave him hanging; share your dreams in our comments section.

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-- Whitney Friedlander

Photo: Martin Luther King Jr. addresses 15,000 people at the Los Angeles Coliseum during an interfaith rally in 1964. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds pal around on New Year's Eve

Looks like Sandra Bullock had a proposal Ryan Reynolds couldn't refuse — a friendly invite to spend New Year's Eve at her restaurant in Texas.

Reynolds announced his split from actress Scarlett Johansson just before the holiday rush and took himself down to Austin to hang with his costar and her friends.

"A group of old friends that included Ryan and Sandra spent New Year's together at Sandra's restaurant Bess Bistro," a Bullock rep told People. "They all had a great time ringing in the New Year as they have in the past ... as nothing more than friends."

Friends, friends, friends. We think that's the message?

Regardless, the two must be thrilled to welcome a new year (and perhaps a new project). How better to do so than as a team?

If you've got an answer, tell us in the comments section below.

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— Matt Donnelly
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Photo: 10!...9!...8! -- whatever, we're just friends. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in "The Proposal." Credit: Touchstone Picture.

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson share New Year's Eve -- again

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson likely wouldn't be the types to rage out in Las Vegas or jet off to Cabo to ring in the new year -- but that shouldn't suggest they don't love a getaway.

For the second year, the "Twilight" stars enjoyed some time off together on England's Isle of Wight, a large and lovely resort town right off the mainland. 

Clad in jeans and black jackets, Pattinson and Stewart surfaced several times at the Isle's Spyglass Inn (the irony) lunching on New Year's Eve, then returning for a spot of music and the countdown with a group of friends that evening.

The on-screen lovers returned the next day, where according to People they were recognized by "several fans." 

So why this rather obscure location, for two years running?

One possibility is England-native Pattinson's love of music. The island has a legendary rock festival, with roots in classic rock performances from the likes of Jimi Hendrix. There's also plenty of draw for romantics -- Queen Victoria's gorgeous Osborne House is situated on Wight as well. 

Tell us your thoughts on the two's New Year's tradition in the comments section below.

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-- Matt Donnelly
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Photo: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Credit: Kimberly French / Summit Entertainment / Associated Press 

Snooki Polizzi's New Year's Eve ball drop booted to Jersey

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, she of "Jersey Shore" and disorderly-on-the-beach fame, will be shoved into a ball and dropped at the stroke of midnight in New Jersey, not New York's Times Square, as MTV had originally planned.

Seems begging forgiveness wasn't going to work -- seems you have to ask permission, and when the network did, Snooki was kicked out, a source told PopEater.

"At midnight, the crowd and the media will be watching Mayor Bloomberg, Dick Clark and the official ball drop, not a cast member of the 'Jersey Shore,'" the insider said.

"We love our Times Square home, and while we're disappointed there won't be a Snooki ball-drop there, she cannot be denied!" MTV said in a statement. "So we're taking a road trip to the place where it all began, Seaside Heights, and droppin' it all there."

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Oprah top charitable celebs of 2010

Megastars like Sandra Bullock, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey and Prince William have a lot to be thankful for this holiday. The luminaries are getting a little shout-out for their generosity as well.

DoSomething.org, an online portal that helps link youth with volunteer opportunities, has publishing a list of "Celebs Done Good" for 2010. 

Bullock scores points for her support of education for low-income kids in Louisiana, Bieber gets big ups for his work with children's hospitals, and so do Gaga for her very public support over the repeal of DADT, Winfrey for her overwhelming generosity in general and the newly engaged William for his work with homeless youth in Britain.

Rounding out the list are Leonardo DiCaprio, getting props for his interest in endangered tigers; Ellen DeGeneres for her support of the Trevor Project and its efforts to prevent anti-gay bullying; Nick Jonas for his activism around diabetes; and Matt Damon for his longtime passion project in providing clean water water around the world.

Jake Gyllenhaal's main squeeze, Taylor Swift, gets a nod for her flood-relief efforts in Tennessee, Alicia Keys gets props for her much-covered "Digital Death" campaign in support of Keep a Child Alive, and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are recognized for their efforts to prevent child sex trafficking.

Check out the full list here, and tell us your favorite charitable celeb in comments below.

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-- Matt Donnelly
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Photo: Lady Gaga attends the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Credit: Robyn Beck / Getty Images

 

Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz: bikinis, bonding in Cabo

  Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz, they of the on-again-off-again-no-we're-not-but-we-really-are relationship, have been luxuriating in Los Cabos, Mexico, this fine holiday week.

Diaz departed from a rainy Los Angeles on Sunday in her boots and jeans only to peel off the layers at a luxurious Cabo resort where she greeted the New York Yankee and his  daughters, Ella and Natasha.

While November rumors had the pair broken up after seven months, the bonding time south of the border would suggest the two are as strong as ever.

On Wednesday, Diaz greeted her pal George Clooney, who was staying at the resort in his own fabulous quarters -- with his fabulously built girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis. Thursday, Diaz and her man A-Rod got physical.

As in, the two were spotted paddle-boarding in the ocean.

Sounds like a lovely long holiday in the sand, no?

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-- Matt Donnelly
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Photos: Alex Rodriguez after a win over the Baltimore Orioles in Maryland on Sept. 17, left; Cameron Diaz promotes "The Green Hornet" in Spain on Dec. 2, right. Credits: Joe Giza / Reuters, left; Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images, right. 

Celeb holiday sightings: Jennifer Aniston sips, Kyle Richards shops -- plus elephants!

Deck the halls with the Ministry's sightings -- despite an embarrassment of awards, nominations and the umpteenth December movie premiere, we have our eyes on what and where celebs are playing this magical holiday month.

Jennifer Aniston made an outing in Los Angeles with a slew of other stars for an audience Dec. 10 with Prince Robert of Luxembourg. The prince, who is the chairman of Domaine Clarence Dillon wines, hosted the actress for a formal dinner and tasting at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles, along with Adrien Brody, Sacha Baron Cohen, Quincy Jones and Debi Mazar. 

On the same day in New York City, fashionistas turned out for the 10th annual David Barton Gym toy drive. The fitness honcho and Bing search engine welcomed the likes of designers Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Narciso Rodriguez, photog Steven Klein and actress Abigail Breslin, all bearing gifts for less fortunate kids.

Speaking of the younger set, Jake T. Austin celebrated his 16th birthday this month at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with "Beacher's Madhouse," emceed by David Arquette. The "Wizards of Waverly Place" star welcomed friends including Jaden Smith, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Stone, "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up Kyle Massey and Booboo Stewart of "The Twilight Saga" for the Onitsuka Tiger-sponsored bash. 

Channeling their own inner children on Wednesday were Gavin Rossdale, Holly Robinson Peete and Slash, who attended the grand opening of the Elephants of Asia habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo. The multimillion-dollar project had Elton John, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves on its launch committee. The boldface names and their little ones enjoyed the opening and first look at the tusked trio: Billy, Tina and Jewel.