Gawker

Mayor Bloomberg Stands Up for Koran-Burning Pastor [Freedom Of Speech]

Max Read — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:13:12 EDT

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg says Pastor Terry Jones has the right to burn Korans on 9/11! (Even though Mike finds it "distasteful"). What is with Bloomberg these days, throwing his weight behind unpopular things, like "the Constitution"? More »

Christchurch, New Zealand Hit with Damaging Aftershock [Earthquakes]

Max Read — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:44:01 EDT

Christchurch, New Zealand was hit with a "severe" aftershock that further damaged the earthquake-wrecked city. More »

The Book Joe Francis Doesn't Want You to Read [Exclusive]

Max Read — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:20:45 EDT

Girls Gone Wild impresario Joe Francis is going to court over his former employee's new tell-all. But the book's publisher just came back with a motion calling Francis the "Douche of the Decade." (Sound familiar?) We've got the whole thing. More »

Too Good To Help Justin Timberlake [The Cinema]

Ryan Tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:17:31 EDT

Justin Timberlake needed some help preparing for his starring role in the forthcoming Facebook movie The Social Network. But when the young singer approached Facebook co-founder Sean Parker in a nightclub, seeking acting help, he got shot down. More »

These Are the Best Dance Moves, According to Science [How To]

Max Read — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:16:17 EDT

Men! Do you feel lost on the dance floor? Are you having trouble scoring hot babes at the club? Don't worry! Scientists have identified the sexiest dance moves. Want to see them? More »

Spin Control [Pic Of The Day]

Brian Moylan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:46:35 EDT

[Linda Celeste Sims skirts the issues while performing a tribute to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's artistic director Judith Jamison today at the inaugural event of Michelle Obama's White House Dance Series. Image via Getty] More »

Comment of the Day: Everyone in New York Is Fat [We Read You]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:40:55 EDT

Today we looked at the relative healthiness of New Yorkers. Yay!, we all said. Well, all of us except one foreign commenter who begged to differ. Agree? Disagree? Again, it's all relative. More »

Hostage-Taking Army Vet Threatened Obama [Crime]

Sergio Hernandez — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:07:42 EDT

Federal prosecutors have charged the ex-soldier who took three hostages at a Georgia military hospital yesterday with kidnapping, armed assault, and making threats to kill Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. More »

Castro Wishes Ahmadinejad Would 'Stop Slandering the Jews' [Anti-semitism]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:45:50 EDT

Fidel Castro wishes his fellow American enemy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would cool it with his anti-Semitism, he tells the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg during a rare, interesting interview. Ahmadinejad probably won't listen. But nice of Castro to try! [Image: AP] More »

Koran-Burning Church Ignores Petraeus' Plea To Stop, For Now [9/11]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:10:43 EDT

Florida's Dove World Outreach Center, the insane church that's planning a Koran-burning festival for 9/11, will go ahead with it for now, despite a rare warning from Gen. David Petraeus about their actions inciting waves of anti-American violence overseas. More »

Comrade Obama Is Selling Out the Revolution [Recessionomics]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:08:11 EDT

The Way We Live Now: hoodwinked. And bamboozled! Where is our revolutionary agenda? What do we get for finally electing a Manchurian Candidate-style socialist Muslim to the presidency? Business tax cuts! We are disappointed! And fearful! More »

World's Shortest Man Is Attracted to Tall Blondes [Odd]

Maureen O'Connor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:02:49 EDT

World's shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar visited New York and "confessed he was taken by the city's tall blonde women." When a 22-inch man from Nepal says tall blondes are the hottest women, international beauty standards are officially fucked. More »

How To Make a Killing While Your Startup Burns [Silicon Valley Users Guide]

Ryan Tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:01 EDT

Give Kevin Rose credit: The Digg CEO keeps a cool head. "Gotta take risk" was the tech playboy's cheerful response to Digg's mounting problems today. His secret to staying relaxed: Extracurricular investments with buddies hedge Rose well against Digg's death. More »

Oracle vs HP: Tech's Animal House War Begins [Feuds]

Ryan Tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:41:19 EDT

Think of it as Delta Tau Chi vs. Dean Vernon Worner in Animal House: Buttoned-down tech giant Hewlett Packard has filed suit against its scandal-tainted former CEO for joining Oracle, home to the most infamous skirt chasers in Silicon Valley. More »

Charlie Crist's Pleasant New Ad Is Full of Lies [Campaign Ads]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:36:08 EDT

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who's running for Senate as an independent, has this new ad out in which he takes individual letters from "DEMOCRATS" and "REPUBLICANS" to spell "AMERICANS," in alternating colors. How lovely! Too bad he cheats like hell. More »

NYC's Health Is Terrible, But Not as Bad as the Rest of America [Health Watch]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:07:07 EDT

NYC's stressed! And obese! And un-restauranty! Vending machines kill! Personal trainers chill! Depression is ill! The dentist is for girls! Medical student hobos! Money and happiness! Punches in the nose! It's your Tuesday Health Watch, watching your health—degenerating! More »

Minka Kelly's Airplane Freak-Out: Happening Right Now! (Updated) [Star Behavior]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:04:12 EDT

Former Friday Night Lights star and current Derek Jeter-dater Minka Kelly is currently on a flight from JFK to LAX and apparently had an enormous dog-related meltdown during takeoff preparations. It's the best kind of starlet story. More »

Tom Cruise Makes an Offering to the Great Xenu in the Sky [Open Caption]

Maureen O'Connor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:03:12 EDT

[Tom Cruise and his preternaturally adorable daughter Suri have a play date in Central Park. Image via Pacific Coast News.] More »

Gawker.TV: The Five Best Videos Ever of the Day [Clipjob]

Whitney Jefferson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EDT

Today at Gawker.TV, Louis C.K. dances alongside Bristol Palin a night after insulting her mother on twitter, the new Justin Bieber CSI promo, "Hey Brother," and Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul uses his newly-won Emmy to beat up Joel McHale. More »

Today in SNL: Amy Poehler In, Jenny Slate Out? (Updated) [Casting]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:47:48 EDT

Two interesting Saturday Night Live news bits came over the wires today. Well, one of them is a rumor. What's fact is that Amy Poehler will be hosting the season premiere on the 25th. The rumor? No more Jenny Slate. More »

Retiring Chicago Mayor Lays Groundwork for Rahm Emanuel's Conquest [Mayors]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:43:42 EDT

Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley announced today that he won't seek another term for the office he's held since 1989. How modest! So: Will Rahm Emanuel leave the White House to run for this vacant office in 2011? Probably. More »

Anna Wintour Never Leaves Anything to Chance [Stalker Deluxe]

Brian Moylan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:18:42 EDT

A tipster sent us a few photos of Anna Wintour checking out the rehearsal today for Fashion's Night Out: The Show, the catwalk extravaganza timed to the Vogue editor's annual charity event that's taping tonight in Lincoln Center. More »

James Franco Is a Chronic Masturbator [Self Love]

Maureen O'Connor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:11:34 EDT

"I do masturbate a lot. I don't know why," James Franco tells the Hollywood Reporter, describing the rationale behind having a "four- or five-time day," which he apparently does with great frequency. More »

Oh, Is This a Bad Time for a 9/11 Ad? [Badvertising]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:03:05 EDT

Do not make 9/11-themed ads. How many times must it be said? At least one more, apparently. (And this one's French! Bring back Freedom Fries, argh!) [Copyranter] More »

Jon & Kate Plus a Bunch of Other Wives: The TLC Polygamy Show [Strange People]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:59:35 EDT

TLC, which used to be about learning and is now a gentle freakshow, has released a preview reel for their upcoming real-life Big Love series, Sister Wives, about a Utah family with one husband and three wives. Yay weirdos! More »

Why Is This Famous Man's Daughter Getting So Many Puff Pieces? [Fameballs]

Maureen O'Connor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:48:59 EDT

Ellie Scarborough is making a comeback! Which is weird, because she only became famous last week. Chuck Scarborough's daughter and founder of PinkKisses.com—providing "empowering" merchandise to pathetic females post-breakup—just got a second puff piece in the Daily News. More »

Posner's Publisher Calls His Rampant Plagiarism 'Limited' [Media Crack]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:28:04 EDT

In your terrific Tuesday media column: Simon & Schuster stands up for its in-house plagiarist, Jon Capehart pranked on the Twitter, the force behind David Westin's departure, and bad times in newspaper-land. More »

Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion Pt. 2: The Last Dance of Danielle Staub [Recaps]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:09:10 EDT

Well, that was that. We are done now. All have spoken their piece, all have hugged and wept and screamed, and now we are done. Let's peer at the rubble and see what we can make of it all. More »

'New Republic' Editor Unsure If Muslims Deserve First Amendment Rights [Muslims]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:02:22 EDT

Longtime Muslim-despising New Republic editor-in-chief Marty Peretz has come through again. He's disappointed that liberals characterize hatred or mistrust of Muslim-Americans as a problem, when Muslims have no respect for human life and maybe shouldn't have First Amendment rights. More »

Ambassador Angelina Jolie to Save Pakistan from Its Water Issues [Humanitarians]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:52:21 EDT

U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is in horribly flooded Pakistan today to "highlight the continued urgent need for help." And Pakistan does need help! Jolie's leaky pail can't scoop out all of that water alone. [Image via AP] More »

Behold the $1,555 iPad Case [The Way We Live Now]

Ryan Tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:44:17 EDT

Carrying an iPad around might make people think you're a trend-chasing spendthrift. So why not buy an $800 or $1500 iPad case from Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent — and prove it? More »

Mad Men: Meeting in the Ladies Room [Recaps]

Brian Moylan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:30:16 EDT

Of all the relationships on Mad Men, Don and Peggy's has always been one of the most complex and compelling. On Sunday night, it got even deeper and served as a catalyst for their own personal development. More »

Real Journalism Threatened by Knowledge of What People Like [Media]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:14:47 EDT

Newspapers are thinking about the internet! Now, in 2010. America's greatest broadsheets are having Very Sober Discussions of the implications of "web traffic" on Serious Journalism. Will you internet hordes destroy Real Journalism, by reading things you like? More »

Steven Slater Appears in Court, Begs for Mercy [Pleas]

Maureen O'Connor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:14:12 EDT

Steven Slater—the JetBlue flight attendant who stormed off the job via inflatable slide—reported to court today as he negotiates with prosecutors to avoid jail time. While awaiting their moment before the judge, Slater's lawyer shared some new details. More »

Why Your Google Looks Freaky Today [Explainer]

Ryan Tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:55:21 EDT

Some people are seeing their Google.com logo turn into a bunch of jumping balls this morning. Don't panic. There will be time for that tomorrow, when Google announces changes to how everyone searches the Web. More »

It's Time to Deal with Those Bush Tax Cuts [Congress]

Jim Newell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:45:56 EDT

Members of Congress are finally heading back to their jobs after an entire month of summer vacation. And, to their disgust, they have important work ahead: determining the future of the expiring Bush tax cuts. What will they do? More »

Jingles Are Back, Why Not? [Advertising]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:34:52 EDT

Hey, advertising jingles are back in fashion! That means fewer once-cool real songs corrupted! More »

Superplagiarist Gerald Posner Sued by Plagiarism Victim [Exclusive]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:52:09 EDT

Former Daily Beast writer and world-class plagiarist Gerald Posner is being sued by Frank Owen, an author whose book Clubland was plagiarized by Posner. We have selections from Owen's complaint, filed in New York district court this morning, below. More »

America Finally Defeats Mexico In Historic Labor Day Battle [Tuesday Box Office]

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:08:24 EDT

Yup, it's been decided. You're next, Europe. Elsewhere this weekend, some old has-beens fared pretty well, people just kept on taking stuff, and a romantic comedy turned out to be something else altogether. More »

College Painted Professor as Child Porn Freak Despite Evidence of Innocence [Higher Learning]

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:54:15 EDT

Rev. Mark Gruber, a Benedictine monk and former professor at Saint Vincent's College, was fired last year after the school accused him of downloading underage gay porn on a shared computer. Did the school knowingly accuse an innocent man? More »