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Happy Snow Day!

We'll admit, even though it was lightly snowing last night before we went to bed, we were dubious about what we would see when we woke up. Fool us once, shame on you, weather. Fool us twice, shame on you, Weather.com. But then we looked out the window and were pleasantly surprised to see heavy chunks of snow blowing all over the place, and actual accumulation on the ground! (Not on the sidewalk pavement at first, but come on, everyone knows that particular cement is heated from beneath by the fires of Gehenna). The snow is expected to intensify throughout the day and until early tomorrow morning, with a total of twelve to eighteen inches expected in the city. Even though we are adults and we have to work today, we couldn't help but get a little excited. Why should D.C. get all the fun this winter?

So what would you do if you had a snow day today? »

02/09/10

Homicide Ruling in Death of Kerrigan's Father

The death of former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan’s father was ruled a homicide today. The office of the Massachusetts state chief medical examiner said Daniel Kerrigan, 70, died after suffering a heart rhythm disorder after a fight with his son, Mark, on Jan. 24. The district attorney’s office has not yet determined if it will charge Mark - who pleaded not guilty after the incident - with the murder, as the investigation is still in process. Kerrigan’s family was not pleased with the news, calling the ruling “premature and inaccurate” in a statement. [NYT]

Monserrate Expelled from State Senate

After about five hours of deliberation, the New York State Senate voted tonight to expel state senator Hiram Monserrate, marking the first time since the 1920s that a sitting state lawmaker has been expelled from the Legislature. The Times reports that Monserrate’s lawyers are drafting a temporary restraining order which seeks to have him reinstated.

Read more »

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Google Generates 'Buzz' with New Service

Google announced today the launch of "Buzz," a new social networking service which is tied to Gmail. Through Buzz - which kind of seems like a whacked-out Twitter/Facebook/Google Wave hybrid - users can post links, photos, videos and status updates to be seen and responded to by other Gmail users (you can also link your Flickr or Twitter account to Buzz). When someone responds to one of your “Buzzes,” you’ll receive a notification right in your Gmail inbox.

Read more »

Paterson Defiant Amidst Rumors

“The only way I'm not going to be governor next year is at the ballot box... and the only way I'm leaving before that is in a box.” - Governor David Paterson, at a press conference (ostensibly to discuss tomorrow’s predicted snowstorm) this afternoon, in reference to The (Not-Yet-Completed) Story to End All Stories [Gothamist]

Update: The Times finally addresses the rumors in an unbylined piece tonight. Says Metropolitan editor Joe Sexton: "“Obviously we are not responsible for what other news organizations are reporting."

CNN Adds Unaccredited ‘Out of Home’ Ratings to Bolster Declining Viewership

This, for example, the advertisers could have predicted would be big.

At this year's UpFront, CNN will guarantee away-from-home viewers as part of its overall numbers, according to a report in MediaWeek. Basically, this means that as part of the exposure package it promises to potential advertisers, they'll count people who happen to catch CNN on screens at places like friends' houses, airports, bars, restaurants, and hotels. These numbers are hard to specify and are unaccredited by the Media Ratings Council, which is why no network has ever before used them as part of their viewership guarantee.

But when they're counted, they really help CNN. »

Hank Paulson: George W. Bush Was ‘Like a Mother’ to Me

We already know that during the crisis, Henry Paulson counted on the Big Guy to help him make it through. But he also counted on the other Big Guy. Dubya. The president at the time not only opened up the national pocketbook to Paulson, we learned today in the former Treasury secretary's chat with Warren Buffett in Omaha, he also opened his heart: "Sometimes he was almost like my mother to me. He told me I needed to work out, to get more sleep.”

Buffett on Paulson: I Admire Him More After the Job He’s Done [Barrons via Omaha.com via Dealbreaker]

Harold Ford Shifts on Something Else.

Photo: Getty Images

Harold Ford Jr., the quasi-candidate for U.S. Senate, has spun his changed positions on abortion rights and gay marriage as the product of healthy, open-minded evolution. Flexibility and growth on issues are indeed good things. Yet Ford's elasticity also seems to extend to his sense of time. Back on January 18, Ford said he'd make up his mind about challenging incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand within 30 days. The next day he began a monthlong leave from his job at Bank of America to travel the state from Butter to Buffalo weighing the possible campaign. Two days ago, in the midst of complaining that Gillibrand was engaging in actual politics to try to kill off Ford's maybe-bid, the former Tennessee congressman told the Times he'd announce his plans within 30 days — pushing D-Day from next week into March. Has Ford set any real deadline for ending the unbearable suspense? "As he considers whether to run for the opportunity to serve New Yorkers in the U.S. Senate, Harold Ford Jr. is thoughtfully taking the time to listen to New Yorkers talk about cutting taxes, creating jobs, and fighting terrorism," says a Ford spokeswoman. Hey, why rush when the state is in such great shape?

Lori Gottlieb’s Ex Accuses Her of Exaggeration, Fabrication

We've been ignoring Lori Gottlieb and her book, Marry Him, because it seemed like there were enough ladies getting worked up about it on the Internet. Also we could tell from the premise (something about how women shouldn't be too choosy, and should settle for the nice guy with halitosis and a harelip so they don't end up old and alone and getting hated on the Internet like the author) that thinking about it would just lead us to ponder questions for which there aren't any answers, and not the fun kinds of questions without answers such as "What does Bo Obama think about when he's frolicking in the snow?" But now "fatty cum" is involved, and so we're paying attention.

"Fatty cum that tasted like cream." »

Airport Security Officials Caught in Most Obvious Lie Ever

We almost missed this story over the weekend, but we're glad we caught it now. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan made headlines over the weekend when he caught airport employees at Heathrow passing around printouts of his naked body, as revealed by full-body security scans. "I saw these girls — they had these printouts. I looked at them. I thought they were some forms you had to fill. I said 'give them to me' — and you could see everything inside," he said on British television last Friday. "So I autographed them for them." Hahaha! Funny story, right? That guy must be well-endowed. But wait. This brings up a very important point, one that Intel guest blogger Lindsay Robertson made not long ago: There is no way that celebrities are not going to have images of their genitals recorded and shared because of this new machinery! (Robertson argues that this is a good thing.) The TSA and advocates of the full-body scan technology assure us Americans that the machines don't save images, but how can we believe this!? A Bollywood star has had his जबेरी छड़ी printed out! No one is safe!

Shah Rukh signs off sexy body-scan printouts at Heathrow [Yahoo]

Advertising

Erase Wrinkles Instantly


Estée Lauder introduces New Perfectionist [CP+] Targeted Deep Wrinkle Filler: a skin care "secret weapon" that allows you to erase even deep wrinkles instantly. With targeted accuracy, this high tech treatment smooths, fills and generally de-wrinkles the appearance of your most stubborn, unwanted creases. It's so effective that 100% of women tested reported a reduction in moderate to deep crows feet, lip lines and frown lines.


Leon Wieseltier Calls Andrew Sullivan an Anti-Semite, Again and Again, Again

The New Republic writer, in a 4,200-word screed against his former friend and TNR boss, calls Sullivan a "dishonest" Jew-baiter with a "cheap" tone who has been "deranged" by neocons, whose thinking is "repugnant" and who is either "a bigot" or "just moronically insensitive." (Either way, his mind is apparently "bankrupt.") Sullivan, who is busy composing a response, notes: "It's been fourteen years since I left TNR and Leon Wieseltier is still obsessed with his long-standing and at this point tedious personal vendetta against me." Judging by the level of vitriol in Weiseltier's prose, there's at least one person for whom this isn't tedious. (Or two, if you count TNR editor Marty Peretz.) [TNR] (Gawker's Alex Pareene has his own take on the squabble here.)

Coyotes Taking to City Life

At first, Steve had trouble meeting people. Then he found a place he really fit in.Photo: Jed Egan; photos Justin Johnson's Flickr (coyote), holycalamity's Flickr (McCarren Park)

"They're pushing themselves into the city, and what they found in the city is that life isn't so bad." —Dr. Stanley Gehrt of Ohio State University to the Post, of the recent influx of coyotes to New York City

Related: Daily Intel's coverage of the coyote diaspora

In Heart of the Crisis, Bank of America Exec Bought Ferrari, Rethought It

"At Foreign Cars Italia of Charlotte, where cars run from about $100,000 to $1 million or more, bank bonus season used to provide a boost every February. But Gary Furnas, a sales consultant at the dealership, said he hasn't been involved with a sale to a bank employee since November 2008. That customer, a Bank of America employee, bought a black Ferrari, but then kept it on the lot for two months because he worried that it was too flashy. It wasn't a matter of money — "he could have bought four or five of them if he wanted," Furnas said. In the end, the customer asked the dealership to resell the car, and he opted for a less showy Maserati instead." [Charlotte Observer]

Earlier: Residents of Greenwich, Connecticut, Learn How to Settle for Less

Michelle Obama Declines to Take a Swipe at Sarah Palin

While First Lady Michelle Obama was on Good Morning America earlier today to talk about her campaign against childhood obesity, she was also asked about Sarah Palin's unjustifiably smug mockery of President Obama supporters at the Tea Party Convention over the weekend ("How's that hopey-changey stuff working out for ya?"). But instead of returning fire, the First Lady just stuck to the talking points about times being tough and change being difficult, etc., and made sure to mention that it's okay to criticize the president. Also, she referred to her husband as "Barack Obama," which we found kind of odd.

Read more »

Sports Illustrated Cover Captures ‘Organic’ Moment

At first we weren't sure what Brooklyn Decker was talking about when we heard her say this about the shot that became her Sports Illustrated cover, which came out today:

"It's one of those natural, nice organic moments."


Wha? »

Wild Chickens Take Over Bronx Highway

Did anybody else find themselves laughing hysterically for no explicable reason at the screaming chickens from the Denny's Super Bowl ads? Well, you wouldn't be laughing if you lived on Edward L. Grant Highway in the Bronx, where wild chickens have taken over an entire block of the city. Released from a coop that used to exist in a commercial parking lot two years ago, the chickens are now completely feral. "Walking up the street like they belong there," nearby human Danny Quinn told the Daily News. They scavenge for crumbs, and are so unafraid of humans that they have taken to trying to intimidate owners of a nearby body shop into giving them food by showing up at the doorstep every morning.

This is scary stuff. »

Google Plots Bing’s Downfall on Google

Whose heart wasn't warmed by Google's "Parisian Love" ad during the Super Bowl? The ad, which has racked up over 2 million views on YouTube, was but one from Google's "Search Stories" series, which demonstrate how Google can help you achieve your goals, realize your dreams, and just make your life better. But what if your goal is more sinister than wooing a Parisian, attending a concert, or fixing your town's potholes? Like, say, if you're Google, and you want to destroy your biggest competitor by any means necessary? Google can help you do that too.

Read more »

John Thain’s New Office Is Unconscionably Ugly and There Is Nothing He Can Do About It

Newly crowned CIT Group CEO and noted man of taste John Thain has responded to the snide comments about how he's planning on decorating his new office by saying he plans to leave it "exactly the way it is" this time around, but that must have been before he got a load of outgoing CEO Jeff Peek's decorating scheme, with its claustrophobic royal-blue fabric walls, heavy curtains, hideous mahogany trim, and permeating smell of of Gold Bond Medicated Powder (we imagine), at left. Holy moly. [Dealbreaker]

Should Alex Kuczynski Cut Her Hair Short or Leave It Long?

The Times fired a lot of good writers so that important questions like these could be posed on its website, so try to have an opinion. [T Magazine Blog/NYT]

Someone, Possibly a Terrorist, Has Stolen a Brooklyn School’s Fiberglass Cow

A life-size fiberglass cow originally created during the city's CowParade art project in 2000 has vanished from Seth Low Intermediate School in Bensonhurst. The cow had been bought by the school and repainted in a peace motif by the students in 2006. Now it's gone, people are reportedly crying, and everyone knows who to blame: terrorists. "I think it was terrorists, because they don't like peace," posits 11-year-old Niki Lam. That's right, Niki — whether the culprit is an official member of Al Qaeda or simply a common prankster, he (probably a he) has, in fact, inflicted terror in the hearts of you children, and is therefore a terrorist. Or some kind of sex pervert with a faux-cow fetish. Once they waterboard him, we'll find out the whole story.

Brooklyn kids cry over cow-ardly school theft [NYP]

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