Carla in London

First Lady of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy manages to find the camera as she and her Napoleon-sized husband Nicolas and Prince Chuck find their way to a statue of Charles de Gaulle in London, where they laid a wreath to commemorate de Gaulle's broadcast to Nazi occupied France on June 17, 1940, in which he declared himself the leader of the "Free French," which went on play a key role in defeating the Germans.

The full text of de Gaulle's speech is inscribed in a plaque on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:

"The leaders who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies have formed a government. This government, alleging the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy in order to stop the fighting. It is true, we were, we are, overwhelmed by the mechanical, ground and air forces of the enemy. Infinitely more than their number, it is the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans which are causing us to retreat. It was the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point of bringing them to where they are today.

But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No!

Believe me, I who am speaking to you with full knowledge of the facts, and who tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us victory one day. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.

This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not over as a result of the Battle of France. This war is a worldwide war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering, do not alter the fact that there are, in the world, all the means necessary to crush our enemies one day. Vanquished today by mechanical force, in the future we will be able to overcome by a superior mechanical force. The fate of the world depends on it.

I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the specialized workers of the armament industries who are located in British territory or who might end up here, to put themselves in contact with me.

Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on the radio from London."

France was occupied by the Germans for over four years. Paris was liberated August 25, 1944.

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Is the Pope Catholic?

Pope Benedict XVI, as seen greeting his followers in St. Peter's Square today.

Now honestly, does this look like the face of a man who would protect child molesters?

This excerpt from The Week:

Since the 1960s, four American-born Catholics have left the church for every one who has converted, according to a 2009 Pew study. In 2008 alone, Catholic membership declined by 400,000. More than 1,000 parishes have closed since 1995, and the number of priests has fallen from about 49,000 to 40,000 during that same period. Some 3,400 Catholic parishes in the U.S. now lack a resident priest. “Catholicism is in decline across America,” says sociologist David Carlin.

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Mississippi Goddamn

Gutsy teen lesbian Constance McMillen, 18, who with the ACLU sued her Mississippi school for prohibiting her from bringing her girlfriend to prom, has just been named one of the Grand Marshals for this year's NYC Pride parade on June 27.

US District Court Judge Glen Davidson ruled in favor of both McMillen and the Itawamba County School District, saying that the District did violate Connie's First Amendment rights by not allowing her to attend the prom with her girlfriend, and by not allowing her to wear a tuxedo and by canceling the prom, but also ruled that he would not force the school district to hold the prom.

Last month, lesbian icon Ellen DeGeneres had Constance on her show, and arranged with Tonic.com for a $30,000 scholarship for the soft-spoken teen activist.

McMillen's Co-Grand Marshals include "Don't Ask Don't Tell" battler Lt. Dan Choi, and hate crime legislation activist Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew.

Go Connie.

Chexy's Saturday Matinee!

Ethel Merman, born on this day in 1908. Seen here singing one of her many signature songs, "There's No Business Like Show Business" -- as a ballad with The Muppets c.1976.



And here's another, from her second screen appearance in 1931's "Be Like Me," singing "After I've Gone." Wait for the big finish.



Yup, you guessed it; more Merman. Here she is on the "Mike Douglas Show" with Tony Randall in 1970, with Cole Porter's "Ridin' High" and more.



And now, the only fitting close to this matinee... here's Ethel in one of her final performances at age 75, singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy."

Natural Born Killers

Foul-tempered paparazzi choker Woody Harrelson, 48, as he appeared at the National Board of Review gala in NYC on Tuesday, and not dead long enough Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsley.

So alike... in about ten years.

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images