In today’s youth culture, how many 80-year olds would be voted as their country’s greatest living person? Not many, I suspect.

Not so in the UK, however. The British public has selected the Queen as “the Greatest Living Briton 2007″. The ITV show was broadcast live and viewers asked to vote for their choice. The awards ceremony was to celebrate British achievement.

The Queen finished top of a list of other famous — but perhaps less worthy — Britons, including Paul McCartney, Julie Andrews, Margaret Thatcher and pop singer Robbie Williams.

Elizabeth II wasn’t present to receive her accolade. Her son Prince Edward paid tribute via a video transmission.

Coincidentally, Helen Mirren, 50-ish, who claimed an Oscar earlier this year for her portrayal of the Queen in the film of the same name, took the top prize for The Greatest Briton in Film.

A clean sweep for the Monarch who has been on the Throne for 55 years. And a very good result for 50-something women too.

It’s so hard to put some things to rest. The media keep them before our eyes constantly and we often complain that they focus too much attention on certain people and events.

But let’s be fair about it. The media show us what we want to see, what will attract viewers and keep them. I don’t care if I never hear about Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears again, but it’s unlikely that I can escape. Although they have gone from sex symbols to jokes to tragic figures - the perfect “don’t let this happen to you” example for young girls - the media keeps them ever before our eyes.

Even the fact that the AP vowed not to report any Paris Hilton news for a week made news. So while the AP weren’t talking about her, everyone was talking about how they weren’t going to talk about her.

Anna Nicole Smith’s continuing death saga captivates the public’s attention equally. In death she has risen above the sordid details of her life to evoke public sympathy, become a tragic figure and inspired a kinder and gentler opinion, especially from women. All those who sneered at the Playboy Playmate who at age 26 married an 89-year-old oil billionaire, no longer viewed her as a bleached-blonde golddigger but as a young woman who had lived a hard-knock life and was being cheated of her due by the son who fought her bid for a share of his deceased father’s estate.

There was only slight interest when Anna Nicole gave birth to her daughter 5 months ago. But when her 20 year-old-son died mysteriously in her hospital room just 3 days later, the tragic spin of her life and the media coverage of it was set into high gear. Speculation about the paternal parentage of Dannielynn took center stage with even Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband claiming to have fathered the baby.

But Anna Nicole’s death three weeks ago stunned everybody. It has been three weeks of investigation and speculation, court dates and arguments over custody of the body and burial location. After all this, the only thing we knew three weeks ago that is still true today is that Anna Nicole Smith is dead.

Now, finally, pallbearers have carried Anna Nicole to her final resting place. I hope the media obsession is buried along with her.

Yvonne De Carlo (1922-2007)

Lily Munster, matriach of the strange sitcom family known as The Munsters was an attractive, strong, loving mother and vampire. Remarkably vibrant for one of the undead, she stood by her man - ahem, monster - through hare-brained scheme after goofy foul-up. Lily was the glue that held her eccentric family together.

Yvonne De Carlo, who played Lily, was born Peggy Yvonne Middleton but took her mother’s maiden name as her professional name. Half Italian, Yvonne had the kind of exotic beauty that shone through even the thick horror film makeup she wore for the show.

The Munsters were a less sophisticated version of another unusual group, The Addams Family. They were silly and corny and a part of everyday life for baby boomers. Amazingly, although the show only lasted two years on the network (1964 - 1966), they made 70 episodes in that short time, allowing it to remain on the air in reruns for years.

Munsters Trivia

Marilyn Munster, the only non-monster Munster and considered “plain” by the rest of the family, was played by two actresses. Beverley Owen originated the role and Pat Priest took over in Episode 14.

Munster Links:

The Munsters Theme

Another version of The Munsters opening theme

Yvonne’s page on Munsters.com

Italy has produced some of the most famous beauties that the world and Hollywood has ever seen. Film stars such as Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren represented the sultry and voluptuous woman.

Now Italy joins Spain in regulating the health and weight of fashion models. The Italian Fashion Chamber has teamed with the Italian government to produce a code that would ensure that models are healthy by requiring that models produce medical proof that they do not have an eating disorder. It would also ban models younger than 16. Interestingly, the code asks for fashion houses to add larger sizes to their collections.

In the photos of these famous Italian beauties it is clear that their clothes were designed to accentuate their assets. What you notice about clothes on fashion models today is that these sorts of assets would get in the way. The clothes seem designed to be draped over the stick figure clothes hanger that is the model. Which, I wonder, would men consider to be more attractive?

It would be wonderful if this code could be adopted internationally. It could save the lives of many young girls who develop eating disorders in trying to emulate these models and it would finally allow real women to assert their beauty.