Gawker, Manhattan Media News and Gossip

what we need more of is science
Nate Silver In Georgia Stats Shame
FiveThirtyEight.com: "'We think when it's all said and done Martin will lose by around 10 points." Kaus: "The actual margin is looking more like 14 points."

10:08 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Ryan Tate
335 views, 7 comments
disasters
Obama Hung Up On By Congresswoman, And It's All Sarah Palin's Fault
Meet Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, an inept Republican politician on the order of, say a Katherine Harris. The Congresswoman hung up on Barack Obama twice today, and then put out a press release about it, and THEN mis-spelled "Barak's" name (and the name of his chief of staff) in the press release. Surely what's going on here is that Ros-Lehtinen, the longest-serving woman in Congress and no stranger to embarrassment, has learned all too well the apparent lesson of Sarah Palin's crank call from fake Nicolas Sarkozy: Dense politicians should not attempt to talk to famous strangers on the phone. But she's still incredibly stupid, as revealed by the hilarious chronology of events she published today: More »

9:15 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Ryan Tate
2,528 views, 28 comments

Most discussed Banjo Kitten: It seems that there would be a different protocol here. Doesn't Obama have his fluffers? A staffer to make the more »
adventures in live blogging
Live Blogging Top Chef, Week 4
Multitalented — that's one of many qualities I like about the crowd that gathers here each Wednesday night to comment on Top Chef (starting at 10 Eastern.) They can drink. They can tell jokes. They can … presumably do something for a living. And many can cook! And cook fancy stuff, even! So tonight, my "highlights from last week" involve the culinary feats performed not by "cheftestants," but by my fellow commenters. The fact that it was Thanksgiving Eve likely played a role, but everyone seemed to be cooking something special while they were live-blogging last week. Here's a sampling: More »

9:00 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By MisterHippity
1,363 views, 340 comments

Most discussed The Glad Family of Products: Looks like it's just you and me, Hip more »
Jobs
Eliot Spitzer To Write Non-Sexual Column
Eliot Spitzer has a new job! John Koblin reports that starting tomorrow, the scandalized ex-guv is going to be writing a column for Slate called "The Best Policy." It will be about "the financial crisis and fixing financial markets and the economy generally," and will almost certainly be very informative (Spitzer was once a populist hero, remember!) and very boring. Because really, do you think Spitzer's going to run down his hooker stories (which is what everyone actually wants to hear) in Slate? He's saving that for the book. They should have gone after Ashley Dupre as a columnist instead. "THE SEX POLICY." It's a win-win. [NYO]

5:53 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
498 views, 26 comments

Most discussed GirlCat: Remember back in the olden days when it would take decades before a shamed public figure tried to rehabilitate his more »
Heroes
Gays, Bostonians Love Barney Frank
Barney Frank is now the recipient of two lengthy, glowing magazine profiles—though each in magazines aimed only at his constituents. One is Moe Tkacik's Boston Magazine piece, and the other is in The Advocate, which also gives Frank the cover. Unless you are a right-wing dick convinced that black people buying houses is what caused the economic meltdown, you will only love Barney Frank all the more more upon reading each. More »

5:36 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
2,738 views, 43 comments

Most discussed Midwesterner in NYC: I have a question about Moe that, perhaps, someone knows the answer to. OK, So Moe was one of the original more »
Movies
Sundance Is In Love With Journalism
Although the business of journalism is currently in the process of imploding, the romance of journalism remains. So while journalists can't find jobs any more, they can at least take comfort in the fact that they are very attractive subjects for Hollywood! The Sundance Film Festival released its lineup today, and there are no less than three documentaries that are all about the drama of the A-list press. They could all conceivably be good, although Anna Wintour sounds like a far more compelling subject than Nick Kristof: More »

5:10 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
1,114 views, 8 comments

Most discussed contradicto: I thought we were supposed to boycott all things Utah? more »

Most Popular Stories
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3. Whose Relationships With A Transsexual And A Rent Boy Threaten His Career? (10,186 views, 97 comments)
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5. Martin Amis Says He Can't Be Racist if He's Kissed Muslim Girls (106 comments, 2,297 views)
5:00 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
end times
Al Franken Might Actually Be a Senator(!)
Yesterday we said the Democrats would not get to the magic 60 in the Senate, and we were right because then Jim Martin lost to Saxby Chambliss, the senator from Mos Eisley. But over in Minnesota, the recount is almost done. And comedian Al Franken might win. More »

4:41 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
5,979 views, 30 comments

Most discussed Lucky in Love: I am actually surprised the people of Minnesota would send Franken to the White House. Franken is going to be more »
GAWKER STALKER
Latest Gawker Stalker Sightings

Submit your Sightings: stalker@gawker.com
- Al Sharpton
  59 Grand St
  At lucky strike's in manhattan tonight at a party for sunshine and sachs!
- Harry Connick Jr.
  42 E 58th St
  I just returned from Tao on 58th and Harry Connick Jr and family where there. He was right behind us as we waited to seat. His gorgeous wife, Jill, was there as well as some other people and their kids.
- Taylor Momsen
  76 Mercer St
  Little Jenny Humphrey was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Opening Gala looking less like a raccoon than usual. Also, Molly Sims and Hunter Parrish.
- Adrien Brody
  3rd Ave
  Saw Adrien Brody walking into the 92nd street Y at about 9PM. He looked good and was with an attractive young woman.
More »
Pop Culture
Ask the 'Real World Brooklyn' Kids Anything
The cast members (and executive producers) of the MTV's Real World Brooklyn will be doing a very, very important Q&A at the Paley Center for Media this Friday. They are actually charging money for tickets. If you go to the website you can write in the questions you would like the panelists to be asked. We had a few "questions" of our own! More »

4:36 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Sheila
5,290 views, 243 comments

Most discussed Nard: Hey, can you guys ask Svetlana from Real World: Key West if she likes any Gawker commenters, like, more than more »
Gurus
Joining Seth Godin's Cult Is Better Than Business School!
Fancy business school degrees—who has time for them? Instead of an MBA, wouldn't you rather have some sort of laser-printed homemade certificate stating that you spent six months hanging out with a dude who writes books about "Purple Cows" and "Small is the New Big" and "Meatball Sundae" and other made-up marketing terms? Well Seth Godin's game-changing new "Alternative MBA" is just the program for you! "This sounds as good as summer camp, MBA school, and a spot on 'The Apprentice' mixed together," says one of Seth's enthusiastic minions. Yea, that sounds about right! More »

4:31 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
1,315 views, 26 comments

Most discussed Nard: My little magnet-pen won't drag the metal shavings up to his face. May I borrow yours? more »
we hate your kids
Santa Claus Horrifying Children Fills Our Hearts With Cheer
What would you do if an old man broke into your house in the middle of the night and tried to pleasure your children? We would leave him milk and cookies. No, silly! We're not talking about creepy Mr. Pryzborowski down the street. We're talking about Santy Claus! Who, actually, can be pretty creepy himself. What with the beard and chortling and likely booze-stink. In fact, just in time for the holidays, Flabbergastedly has a little gallery of photos of children being terrified by Father Christmas (culled, it seems, from this bigger list) that we find delightfully funny. Look at a couple of our favorites after the jump. More »

4:28 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Richard
4,423 views, 44 comments

Most discussed Molly Holly: Oh God. Those Santa's are terrifying. The second one looks like V. more »
celebritards
Luke Wilson just another bored Twitter user?
FROM VALLEYWAG.COM: Stars — they're just like us, if by "us" you mean "people who use the Internet too much." Luke Wilson, the Hollywood B-lister best known for playing a schlubby everyman, also appears to be a typical user of Twitter, the blogging service which sanely limits its users' oversharing to 140 charac... More »

4:20 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
things we actually like
Why We're Obsessed With This Fake Rockefeller
Forget cover girl Tina Fey and her scary scar story. The most interesting tale in this month's Vanity Fair is that of Christian Gerhartsreiter aka Christopher Chichester aka Christopher Crowe aka Clark Rockefeller. He's the mystery fellow who was arrested this summer after kidnapping his daughter, Snooks, whom he lost custody of during his messy divorce. Though he's a nefarious conman, he's also a brilliant one, with a fascinating story, as detailed by VF's Mark Seal. And we're kind of obsessed with it. It's a crazy, crazy thing. More »

4:14 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Richard
4,190 views, 73 comments

Most discussed ElvisWorley: Yea, but who plays him in the soon to be indie smash hit? more »
Niche Media Folds Atlanta Mag Glossy city magazine publisher Niche Media had layoffs at several titles in October. Now the company has folded Atlanta Peach. Neither Niche Media nor the South can have nice things. [AJC]

2 comments
Economics
Can This Gay Sex Maniac Fix the Economy?
John Maynard Keynes is one of the most important economists ever, and after a lengthy period during which rejection of his ideas of government intervention led us directly to financial ruin, he is suddenly back in favor. Barack Obama's economic team, in particular, will be looking to Keynesian economics for a way out of the current crisis. But did you know he was a ravenous sex fiend who obsessively recorded each and every one of his hot gay hookups? It's true! And his secret second sex diary is in code! More »

3:52 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
4,374 views, 59 comments

Most discussed Iceland_Spar: Its posts like this in which ADS will be missed most. I'd like to think he would have (correctly) told more »
Trend Alert
Disgraced stockpickers picking stocks
FROM VALLEYWAG.COM: If the government hasn't investigated you, why should anyone listen to your stock tips? That's the lesson of three Wall Street chatterboxes who once faced SEC scrutiny — More »

3:40 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
Advertising
Is Lucifer A Credible Source?
There are so many ad messages out there that in order to break through and stick in your mind, sometimes companies have to use a little old tactic that experts like to call "Reverse Psychology." It's an advanced technique, and you might not know it when you see it—but you'll be able to tell when you find that you've unwittingly played right into the marketer's hands! That's why you should be very careful to watch out for some sneakiness in this ad for a new religious TV network. There's Satan, urging you not to watch the new channel. Is he giving an accurate assessment, or is there some underlying message here that's not being said? See if you can pick up on the psychological subtleties of these clever, Jesus-based media masterminds: More »

3:17 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
1,212 views, 56 comments

Most discussed Lucky in Love: Has anyone else noticed a decline in holiday party invitations for this season. My social secretary is normally fielding hundreds of more »
Zomg
Barack Obama Uses a Zune
FROM GIZMODO.COM: After all of the misinformation and dirty lies spread about Obama over the course of the presidential campaign, this is the most shocking I've heard about him: More »

2:45 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
solidarity
Union Leaders Fly to DC Instead of Taking Crappy Union-Made Cars
The CEOs of Detroit's Big 3 got in a spot of trouble for taking their private jets to DC to beg for bailout money. So now, this time, they're carpooling! What a stupid publicity stunt to overcompensate for their stupid PR gaffe. The union leaders are flying commercial, because they care not what you think of them. (The price difference between flying coach and driving your FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 500 miles is like $100 a head, but they are probably flying business class on the backs of the worker.) [Jalopnik]

2:31 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
708 views, 17 comments

Most discussed inflammatorywrit: The three execs in the shitty hybrid driving all the way from Detroit to DC would be a kick ass more »
Dude Scientists have found a 2,700-year-old, two-pound stash of weed in a grave in China. Dude. [MSNBC]

31 comments
internet famous
Why there's no money in being a Web celebrity
FROM VALLEYWAG.COM: We like to watch people trying to be famous. And we're so desperate for a shred of authenticity that we'll watch just about anyone doing anything, as long as it's live and on the Internet. More »

2:20 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
Scandal
Who's Behind the Campaign to Smear Wendi Deng Murdoch?
Sometimes the mere existence of a rumor is as interesting as the rumor itself, and the recent surge of people breathlessly telling us that Wendi Deng Murdoch is cuckolding News Corp. Rupert Murdoch certainly falls into that category. In the last couple weeks, three separate people have come forward to tell us Deng is having an affair with Chris DeWolfe, a MySpace founder who now works for Rupert after News Corp. purchased the social network three years ago for $580 million. It's pretty clear there is a campaign underway to get this story out. And whoever it is has finally found an outlet to bite. There's certainly no shortage of people who might have an ax to grind against Murdoch, Deng or even DeWolfe. If you have any idea who's behind it, please email me. More »

2:15 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Gabriel Snyder
9,610 views, 49 comments

Most discussed bytememehard: Even their shadows say she's fucking around on him. more »
The Brand Called You
Your Life Is A Picture
You know what's important these days? Appearances. Reality is something you're stuck with: you're ugly, out of shape, and none too charismatic. But appearances—now there's something you can do something about! That's why selecting the right online avatar to represent yourself on Facebook is now the single most important choice that you will make in your life, according to some people willing to be quoted spouting bullshit theories about any old thing: More »

2:04 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
4,618 views, 89 comments

Most discussed CodePink: An avatar picture of lots of pink candies infers that you're sweet through and through--except for that part of you more »
Midweek Madness
This Week In Tabloids: Britney's Deadly Diet, Heidi's Hoax, Mary-Kate Knocked Up?
FROM JEZEBEL.COM: This is Wednesday, therefore this is Midweek Madness. Britney's comeback, crisis and "deadly diet" dominated the covers this week, with three out of five magazines using her as the main image. More »

2:00 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
2008 Bailout Costs As Much As Several Large And Famous Government Projects Combined
FROM CONSUMERIST.COM: This graphic demonstrates how the 2008 bailout, so far, costs as much as several large and famous government projects added up together. Yes, these numbers are inflation adjusted. Marshall Plan, Louisiana Purchase, the Moonshot, S&L Crisis, Korean War, and even The New Deal, which has been derided ... More »

1:38 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
Booze
DC To Celebrate Change With Mass Public Intoxication
Washington DC is already the most fun place in the world, what with its many free museums, intoxicated douchebags in popped collars, and Sassiest Boy in America Ian Svenonius. But for one magic week, next month, when the city is choked with hundreds of thousands more tourists than usual, you will be able to drink all night long. The DC City Council approved a 5 a.m. bar close! More »

1:37 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
2,838 views, 48 comments

Most discussed tunamelt: So D.C. is like LA with the midnight public transit ending...? more »
open caption
That Twinkle In His Eyes Means He's Sad About the Divorce
[Film director Guy Ritchie, former husband of Madonna, in foggy London towne yesterday; image via Bauer-Griffin]

1:20 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Richard
2,063 views, 45 comments
Trendwatch
Pirates Focus On Robbing Rich In Savvy PR Move
We can all agree that East African pirates are the new role models in a world with few economic options. But even though they have their own PR man, their wanton buccaneering is starting to give them image problems in some quarters. The media loves them, but world governments would like to blow them out of the water. Don't underestimate that old pirate savvy, though. They're going populist! More »

1:13 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
2,425 views, 30 comments

Most discussed Truculent: So Blackwater is looking for new opportunities to blow away brown people without fear of legal recourse? Sounds about right. Still, more »
Beardos
Obama Cabinet Scandal: Where's Bill Richardson's Beard?
Today, Barack Obama had his, what, fifteenth press conference in two weeks or something, to introduce America to his Secretary of Commerce, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. The assembled press had a very important question for the president-elect and his appointee: what happened to Bill Richardson's awesome primaries beard? Obama acknowledged his frustration with Richardson's decision to shave: "We're deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard," he said. Is this why Richardson didn't get the State job? Sure, the beard and also the fact that he's kind of a buffoon. More »

1:07 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Pareene
4,228 views, 49 comments

Most discussed contradicto: You know, as a Mexican, the tizzy some Latino groups have been getting in over the lack of Latino appointments more »
Layoffs at Simon & Schuster A memo from Simon & Schuster president Carolyn Reidy: "Earlier today we enacted a reduction in staff in which 35 positions across the company were eliminated, from areas including our publishing divisions and international, operations and sales."

22 comments
Hackers
YouTube users in virus panic
FROM VALLEYWAG.COM: Hasn't YouTube always seemed too good to be true — all those video clips, for free? We must be getting away with something. That's why rumors about a new YouTube virus have spread so far, so fast. Some people viewing YouTube videos have gotten an alert saying antivirus software has detected a ... More »

1:00 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
Maghag
3 Reasons We Hope The Wintour/Roitfeld Rumor Is True
FROM JEZEBEL.COM: Ever since Anna Wintour's third decade atop the masthead at American Vogue began in June, rumors of her imminent retirement have intensified. Signs offered in support of this include the fact that her contract is ending, the shuttering and/or draw-down of spinoff titles Men's Vogue, Fashion Rocks, ... More »

1:00 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
Books
New Boss' Big Change Arrives at Random House
Random House has a new CEO, Markus Dohle (who previously worked for a printing company owned by corporate owner Bertelsmann AG), and he's finally made the big changes people have been expecting for months, reports Leon Neyfakh at the New York Observer. Dohle just released a "jaw-dropping memo" that was decidedly un-cheery—as well as "effective immediately." The memo is too hard to read in its corporatespeak ("created a plan for our future that aligns existing strengths and publishing affinities and fosters teamwork throughout the company") so we will translate: More »

12:31 PM on Wed Dec 3 2008
By Sheila
4,831 views, 60 comments

Most discussed belltolls: Hey, what's going on here? The main attraction to being a Doubleday writer was they eventually morphed into Random House more »

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