Afternoon Greg: Back in LA

I Always have a little trouble saying goodbye to Palm Springs because it is such a fun and relaxing place. My pal Eddie and I had lunch downtown before hitting the road at this amazing place called Tyler’s Burgers. I’d walked by it so many times and people have raved but I had never been there. Let me just say this: the burgers are AMAZING. They have that In-N-Out freshness but meat is bigger.

Damned delish.

So here I am back in LA and doing a few blog posts from a coffee house on LaBrea called Mudspot that I’ve been wanting to try. I’m digging it and will most certainly put it into the rotation of Greg In Hollywood bureaus.

Okay,. some news items for your late afternoon enjoyment:

MISS CALIFORNIA CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESIGNS: Former beauty queen Shanna Moakler, probably the harshest critic of embattled Miss California Carrie Prejean, ann0unced today that she is stepping down from her pageant post. This doesn’t totally surprise me because it seemed so unbelievable that the state pageant officials could essentially try and fire Carrie at their press conference on Monday then on Tuesday, stand with her and the grotesque Donald Trump and say all had been resolved.

“Since the press conference yesterday, I had a chance to think about what has taken place, and I feel that at this time it is in my best interest to resign from the Miss California USA organization,” Moakler said in a statement. “I cannot with a clear conscious move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth. I want to be a role model for young women with high hopes of pageantry, but now feel it more important to be a role model for my children. I am sorry and hope I have not let any young supporters down but wish them the best of luck in fulfilling their dreams.”

You really can’t blame her. The Donald has gotta be jumping for joy since this development keeps the story alive.

NY STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES GAY MARRIAGE BILL: The same-sex marriage express continues to gain steam. The New York State Assembly approved a bill 89-52 Tuesday that could legalize marriage for same-sex couples in the state.

“Many of my colleagues who voted yes are individuals of profound faith who were able to draw a distinction between civil and religious marriage,” openly gay assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell – lead sponsor of the bill – said in a statement issued shortly after the vote. “I commend every one of them for casting this courageous vote. I am confident they are standing on the right side of history.”

If  passed by the state Senate, New York would be the sixth state to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples, five of which did so in the past year. That will not be an easy task. Five of the senate’s 32 Democrats have said they will vote against the bill which woulkd nullify the slight advantage Democrats have in the Senate.