Headlines: October 2002 - The Morning News

Headlines for Thursday, October 31, 2002

New York’s currently: making zombie jokes all day long

Sniper investigation leads back to killing last month in Alabama, where a third suspect is considered.

We would like to interrupt your current programming and introduce Sarah Hepola as a new Contributing Writer. Her picture will appear shortly on the masthead; until then, her stories for TMN are right here. Thank you.

Israel’s Labor Party quits the coalition, leaving Sharon in a partnership with hard-right Likud, or about to call elections.

Jam Master Jay shot and killed in a Queens recording studio.

Search for your family in the 1880 U.S. Census.

McDonald’s France tells fat kids to visit its restaurants no more than once a week; McDonald’s U.S. says ‘We don’t share this view at all.’

A giant, important thing: UNC’s Documenting the American South.

Another giant, vital thing: Making a Killing: The Business of War.

Then somebody used the G word. Jason Hawes, 30, the society’s founder and leader, winced. Mr. Hawes is soft-spoken and prides himself on his professional demeanor. ‘I wish you wouldn’t call us ghostbusters,’ he said. ‘We’re paranormal researchers.’ Real Ghostbusting team even has its own Egon. Related: Still a great American comedy, Ghostbusters.

How to survive a gas attack, for travelers going to Iraq.

Who says Thom Yorke is miserable?

For Halloween, why not try going as Nikki S. Lee, identity master? [ thanks kf ]

New favorite Web site: Trees New York, including the hotline for reporting Asian Longhorned Beetle sightings.

The history of Halloween.

The Sexiest Sentence Alive, by Mona Thibaut.

Extremely interesting: Dialect survey maps of the U.S., including the areas where people spell Elvis Presley as Elvis Prezley.

Headlines for Wednesday, October 30, 2002

New York’s currently: growing a beard for winter

U.S. and France getting close to a deal, requiring Bush to consult the U.N. if the U.S. goes alone against Iraq.

Federal appeals court rules government can’t punish doctors who recommend marijuana to their patients.

Winona’s trial starts, surprisingly with a former studio boss in the jury.

Only 20 percent of drugstores in New York’s minority neighborhoods carry common prescriptions for long-term pain control.

Genetic mutation responsible for beautiful buttocks.

Bush calls embryos ‘human subjects,’ announcing a win for the unborn-lobby. Related: What’s bald, has big clacking teeth, and wobbles? A zombie baby wearing the dentures of an elderly woman whose brains it just ate.

The financially undead: Japan’s Zombie businesses will never die.

American anti-abortion activist conceived while parents on vacation in Jamaica to have himself deported.

Double Lane Wednesday: Lane reviews insipid Truth About Charlie and zinger Roger Dodger, then reflects on the entire history of James Bond in time for the 20th film in the series.

AP reporter sacked for inventing extremely boring soundbites.

Mmmm…….. pumpkin pancakes.

Basic Web tool kit for international travelers.

Perhaps we all secretly yearn for fate to blow our lives off their prosaic courses to some spectacularly alien Shangri-la where our senses will be employed as nature intended them to be: gathering intelligence in the service of our unfettered predatory appetites. That, at least, was the reverie of Alexander McQueen. Fashion writing as it’s rarely done, by Judith Thurman.

Animal lovers save hens from being executed at the altar of German theater.

The history of Smokey the Bear. [ via ds ]

Just in time for Halloween, artist Myke Adams to show new series, Candy Coated Pill Popping Pedophiles, at Kim’s Uptown, today through Saturday.

Headlines for Tuesday, October 29, 2002

New York’s currently: determined to have a good day

U.N. weapons inspections chiefs tell Security Council they back the U.S./Britain resolution, even if some expectations of Iraq are not practical.

Editor & Publisher selects photos of the year.

Consumers should take the SNUTTIG bear soft toy away from young children and return it to IKEA stores to be destroyed. [ thanks jesse ]

New York City goes on hiring freeze.

Learn about cheese for free with the CIA. [ thank you sw ]

Westchester teens called on to turn in their fake IDs, or risk losing their real licenses.

97 Orchard Street, the first tenement designated a National Historic Site. (Plus, you can have your party there!) Related: Haunted house in the East Village once sent chills up caretaker’s spine; also, haunted treats for adults in NY.

Unfortunately, there’s a big anti-intellectual strain in the American south, and there always has been. We’re not big on thought. And it’s worse for women, because it’s always worse for women, frankly. Interview with the superb Donna Tartt.

Businesses begin to charge for bills in the mail, expecting their customers to have computers and web connections at home, and to be comfortable with online billing.

THIS VERSION INCLUDES MATHEMATICAL PROOFS THAT REVEAL THE SECRET OF THE U.N.IVERSE and THE REJECTED ONE DID NOT… Cover letters for submitted novels.

Between North Korea and Japan: North Korea rejects dismantling its nuclear program; Japan says it will not return its kidnapped citizens, plus demands their children and spouses.

Classic designs reintroduced at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair.

Jonathan Lethem says: You don’t know (Philip K.) Dick. [ via cdl ]

Headlines for Monday, October 28, 2002

New York’s currently: losing leaves fast

Pentagon leak: Reserve call-up, if U.S. goes to war with Iraq, will activate around 265,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves, same amount as the Persian Gulf war.

Gas used to subdue Chechen guerrillas killed 115 hostages; 600 still hospitalized; government mum on gas’s identity.

Barbers association demands apology from Jesse Jackson for demanding apology from the makers of Barbershop.

American diplomat Laurence Foley gunned down outside his home in Jordan.

The PowerPoint Anthology of Literature.

U.S. signals it’s ready to lose U.N. battle; Bush heads back to the campaign trail.

British students get 100 pounds per term to test condoms for pleasure ratings.

Read the journals of MLB players, e.g., by Scott Spiezio, ‘I felt good this morning when I got up.’

Mash fun: Michael Jackson meets the Beach Boys.

Chronicle of Higher Education buys Web site Arts & Letters Daily for undisclosed sum; and so, A&LD returns.

NYT fashion and social photographer Bill Cunningham muses on his job, and his muses.

When I was in medical school I had some time to read…It worked pretty well with clinical rotations. They don’t work well with writing. It’s exhausting. At the hospital, if you are waiting around for a patient and it’s a slow day, books are great. Robert Birnbaum talks with Daniel Mason, author of The Piano Tuner.

Dorothy Parker’s New York, including her favorite hang-outs.

Headlines for Friday, October 25, 2002

[ please join us for a party ]

New York’s currently: switching gears, changing lanes

Two suspects arrested in D.C. sniper killings. Related: Who is John Allen Muhammad? Related: The NRA opposes ballistic fingerprinting.

Chechen rebels free eight children from Russian theater. Related: What it’s like inside the siege.

Reuters becomes The Onion: ‘Videotape of Girls Locker Room Probed.’

Images and descriptions of everyday peoples proposals for the World Trade Center reconstruction, from CNN. [via ir]

When trick-or-treaters come to your door, tell them you are no different than the Lord Jesus when it comes to playing host to sinners. Then, take them into your basement (where the heater is set as hot as it will go) and torture them. Halloween tips for Christians.

What did it buy?

Wine may be less likely than beer or sprits to cause cirrhosis of the liver. Related: Find out for yourself at the TMN party.

Kill twenty minutes with Eric Myer’s “Stereotypes” face-morpher. [via wdik]

Small Stories Online: Comics to make love to.

Dog shoots man. Related: Man bites dog. (old news)

Mac dorks don’t want rumors…they want crazy rumors. Related: Ellen Feiss look-alike competition.

Headlines for Thursday, October 24, 2002

[ please join us for a party ]

New York’s currently: wishing RBK a happy birthday

Chechan rebels take crowded Moscow theater hostage, including up to 700 people.

U.S. sends draft resolution on disarming Iraq to security council, includes threat of military action; U.S. and Britain say concessions were made to placate France and Russia.

You can already see a dearth of young crackpots who used to come here for summer after college, putting on shows in bars, walking the streets in really exotic garb … It’s like seeing a breed of butterfly or bird disappear. Michael Cunningham and his Provincetown house.

Golisano creeping up on Carl McCall’s run for governor.

France introduces anti-crime bill; left-wing groups say it attacks the poor and young.

‘Let’s Get Tricky With It,’ a video of two men performing Zippo tricks.

Knicks general manager Layden says Spree will definitely play this season.

What men want to know: How to hypnotize other men.

German criminal falls for smart cop.

The Morning News, explained.

Dude….Grad student watches black hole eat star.

The great point that I try to make is that in fact Orwell isn’t a very great writer. He’s a very honest and courageous writer and he does a lot of work and he does have a certain gift of phrase, there’s no doubt about it. But he’s not in the first rank of writers. And that’s a good thing, because it shows what average, ordinary people can do if they care to, and it abolishes some of the alibis and excuses for people who aren’t brave. Hitchens on George Orwell, an uncomfortable man.

Headlines for Wednesday, October 23, 2002

New York’s currently: trying to focus on what’s important

With recent bus-bombing, Palestinian statehood seems less likely.

Post carries full details of sniper’s communications with police, including blunders on the switchboard when the killer called in.

French court acquits writer Michel Houellebecq, not guilty of inciting racism when he called Islam ‘the stupidest religion.’

Washington ships oil to North Korea, taking its time in condemning nuclear program to allow Asian allies breathing room. Related: New Republic on how real nuclear threat in North Korea changes perceived nuclear threat in Iraq.

Garrison Keillor takes on Ron Popeil, when his Inside-the-Shell Egg Scrambler ‘doesn’t work for shit.’

The top 100 political donors since 1989. Also, the top 100 recipients of the money.

As named prematurely last week on web site, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi wins Booker Prize (link includes news report, interview, and excerpt).

Fox News, in what is probably not a marketing scheme to boost ticket sales for Red Dragon, asks the Son of Sam David Berkowitz for advice on the sniper attacks.

Cat starts fire, feels bad, rescues family.

Robin Hood Foundation and Weiss/Manfredi build new library in PS 42 in Queens; a dialogue about design and construction.

New York Times buys out the Post’s stake in the International Herald Tribune, after it threatened to start its own international paper as a competitor, says the Post. Related: More details in the Observer.

Surgeon tells patient, ‘you have cancer, I have asthma, we all have to die some time.’ Surgeon fired. Related: Jerome Groopman in this week’s New Yorker ‘How should doctors deliver bad news?’ [thanks provenance]

I have a lot of respect for what J.K. Rowling’s done in her books. They’re very pleasurable and enjoyable, but if I had a criticism of them it would be that Harry is too good and too talented too quickly and seems to take to the idea that he’s the special one too easily. It’s always about Harry winning. Interview with Michael Chabon about his new book Summerland.

Headlines for Tuesday, October 22, 2002

New York’s currently: having lunch in Mount Vernon

Man shot in Maryland.

Supreme Court refuses to reconsider executing juvenile offenders, though Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Souter all dissent.

Sprewell and the Knicks look like they’re breaking up.

The most astonishing thing is, here we’ve brought the entire world to a halt to deal with Iraq, plus terrorism, the Middle East, and North Korea—and the president is taking 12 days out of Washington to campaign. No one has called him to account. President Bush’s fundraising and political campaigning succeed unnoticed where Clinton’s was widely criticized.

Catch up on the episodes you missed of the Late Show’s Biff’s Tour of America.

Deals get done in Albany with pressure from lobbyists in backroom whisper-sessions.

MTA Chief says Israel-style suicide bus bombings are on their way to New York. Related: At least 14 killed, 25 wounded, when jeep filled with explosives slammed into an Israeli bus.

Mexico prefers criminals to grow up and use real guns, not fake ones like children.

Christian Dior gives free shoes to ~~the needy~~ socialites in New York.

News Page design, with many uploaded scans from designers around the world.

For the football enthusiast and online gamer: Super Soccer.

North Carolina inducts five authors into NC Literary Hall of Fame, including Reynolds Price.

I shook his hand on the way in! It was all sweaty! You can still see his sweat on my hand, even! Look! Wanna feel? The madness around Dave Eggers.

Cigna Foundation donates money to breast cancer research based on your clicks.

Headlines for Monday, October 21, 2002

New York’s currently: evanescent

Hussein sets free thousands of convicts.

Jewish settlers harass all the Palestinians out of town in Khirbat Yanun.

U.S. used unwitting U.N. weapon inspectors as spies in Iraq.

I have this strange ‘obsession’ with Dave Matthews, so much so I feel that one day I will marry him. His voice turns me on, even the sound of his name for that matter. I want so badly to have sex (preferably with him!), but I feel no man matches up with him. Help!

Ex-Marine goes on crime spree from Jersey to Maine, labeled a ‘copycat’ killer with similarities to the D.C.-area sniper. Related: Manhunt for sniper is the largest of its kind. Related: Newsweek label ‘The Tarot Card Killer’ just not catching on.

Musician Ryan Adams not only hates being called Bryan Adams, he also hates Tennessee rednecks (scroll down to ‘You’re not going to…’).

Even in Anaheim, home of Disneyland, the Rally Monkey is eclipsing Mickey Mouse in popularity. World Series ignites monkey-fever. Related: Robin Williams entertains troops.

Jesse Jackson tells Church, re: Colin Powell, ‘He’s not on our team. If he wins, Trent Lott wins … If he wins, poor folks lose.’

On a global scale, I’m still in the majority, but a lot of people out there have been present on occasions when Phil and Joanne weren’t wearing clothes. Naked swimming contested in Vermont.

Kenneth Koch’s (best book: Hotel Lambosa) last interview, with Dean Young (best book: Strike Anywhere).

Every crack we make against our investment banker friends is entirely true, warranted, and not up to snuff: Some laid-off Wall Streeters have even adopted a name for themselves: the 405 Club, a reference to an evening last year when a group of unemployed investment bankers jestingly tried to pay an $800 dinner bill at Craft, in the Flatiron district, by signing over their $405 unemployment checks—the maximum benefit offered by the Labor Department.

Deborah Treisman succeeds Bill Buford as the New Yorker’s fiction editor, expected to publish more interesting stories, more women.

Yes, it’s an offer for a digital organizer, but still.

Headlines for Friday, October 18, 2002

New York’s currently: wearing coats again

U.S. offers France final compromise, concerning resolution to disarm Iraq, to break deadlock in the Security Council. Related: U.K. foreign secretary Jack Straw says Britain and the U.S. will strike alone against Iraq if they fail to get new U.N. mandate on weapons inspections.

German engineer designs ‘airbag table’ for people who want a quick pillow.

A nation with guns: Sniper shootings around Virginia renew debate about a national database of ballistic fingerprints, opposed by Bush and the NRA. Related: Virginia police have to toss out theories, after man who claimed to see sniper on Monday deliberately gave them wrong information.

Clinton back in politics, to help Democratic candidates.

Blair tells the IRA to stand down (seemingly meaning disbandment) in order for Sinn Fein to be allowed back into the Northern Ireland Government.

Today in 1980: Danielle Steele Publishes First Through Eighth Novels.

Jeb Bush’s daughter Noelle, 25, gets 10 days in jail for violating drug treatment program. Related: Everyone’s favorite Lizzie Grubman off to Suffolk County jail for 40 days. (the News practically claps its hands with glee.)

Seven sassy steps to showing your artwork.

Amon Tobin ‘Tron’ videos.

Condom that contains an anesthetic to delay ejaculation breaks sales records.

National Security Archive publishes documentary history of U.S. aerial espionage during the cold war. Related: Searchable database of baseball salaries, and one of architecture. [via ts and nt]

Great MP3s (monthly mix) and things to read at Jeans and a T-shirt.

Headlines for Thursday, October 17, 2002

New York’s currently: cute enough to put your mouth on

North Korea admits to having nuclear program, including ‘more powerful things as well.’ U.S. and other countries taking it cool for a moment.

Republicans raised more hard money than Democrats this year.

Ryan Adams pays fan to leave show after being accused of writing ‘Summer of ‘69.’

Tired of meeting the same boring people at parties? You really should have invited some nice Irish young men.

Candidates for National Book Awards announced; fiction finalists exclude major PR’d-novels, besides You Are Not a Stranger Here, Franzen’s pick for the Today show. Related: Need to advertise your product? Why not hire Narration Ltd. to write a novel about it!

‘An American transforming Mexico—what’s happening here?’ Marcela Yturria of Monterrey wrote in a letter to the editor of El Norte, a regional newspaper. ‘Giuliani says he can stop crime and corruption. These problems have gone on for centuries. No Mexican leader has stopped them.’ Mexico City to pay Superman Giuliani 4.3 million to clean up town, enforce order.

New issue of Whalelane.

Iranian women fight for rights, looking for equal blood money.

They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships: Photographs of sailors.

Interesting take on the role of foundations and private money in NYC schools.

Professors invent wacky ways to cope with cell phone-equipped students.

Currently coveting: A real Crombie.

Glen Sanford is Glen Sanford.

The calendars all have one thing in common: They aren’t beefcake or cheesecake calendars featuring thong-clad stick figures with breasts, but ones that show the bags and sags and every last wrinkle of do-gooders of all ages. Charities find money in authentic nude calendars.

Headlines for Wednesday, October 16, 2002

New York’s currently: gloomy

Virginia sniper left clues this time, was noticed by witnesses; Pentagon to deploy surveillance planes.

Illinois Prisoner Review Board starts back-to-back clemency hearings for many of the state’s 159 death row inmates.

Attention wedding planners: Etiquette allows for the bride’s father to dress like Darth Vader, because it will be funny.

Aperture mounts citywide celebration for 50th anniversary (visit the official site).

Arthur Andersen to be sentenced today.

Modern Humorist to run un-seen TV at the Knitting Factory this month, mostly pilots that never made it on-air, with writers like Conan O’Brien, Dana Gould, Judd Aptatow, and Ben Karlin.

Governor candidate Golisano wants medical marijuana legalized in New York.

Cute: Traumatic Halloweens. [via ds]

Organic products go official on Monday, with two labels: ‘certified organic’ and ‘made with organic ingredients.’

Chekhov will survive the adulation of his admirers, and the limitations inadvertently placed on him by such homage direct our attention to the gigantic range of his intelligence. Valentine to Chekhov as genius, beyond range of biographer.

Former Imitation of Christ designer and founder calls the label a one-trick pony, now DJs with, you guessed it!, Paul Sevigny.

It was unlike anything the village of Emmonak had ever experienced: All over town salmon berries, blackberries and blueberries were disappearing from freezers. ‘We knew something fishy was happening,’ said Darlene Andrews. Berries go traded for pot. [via ir]

Will someone please just go ahead and send Kevin to college?

Headlines for Tuesday, October 15, 2002

New York’s currently: a giant drive-through liquor store

Woman shot outside Home Depot store in Northern Virginia probably the sniper’s ninth victim.

Bombing in Bali linked to al Qaeda by Indonesia’s defense minister, and Bush.

‘He is sending a signal of dominance, so that the others will know he’s the alpha,’ Mr. Conniff said, gesturing with a forkful of crab cake. ‘Wow, he looks really good.’ More strikingly, Mr. Conniff said, Mr. Perelman’s posture and behavior were similar to that of the male Bonasa umbellus, the ruffed grouse, a forest bird found in the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere known for its chest-puffing and wing-thumping displays. Applying rules for natural observation to the study of the mega-rich.

Bloomberg opts out of parade, dines with the Sopranos.

Iraqis vote for the President tomorrow, though the ballot has one candidate.

The first sign of being a hipster is self-hatred.

A.S. Byatt on a Europe that is only united when opposing American foreign policy.

Have a digital video camera? Why not make something for WeeklyDV.com? Capsule 1’s theme was ‘orange;’ Jason Zada had a nice response.

Old but great article by Susan Orlean about tigers in New Jersey.

If the term is to be used, it should be used in all lower-case letters to distinguish it from our trademark SPAM, which should be used with all uppercase letters. The SPAM company’s official response to the use of SPAM as slang. [thanks dm]

North American Wife Carrying Contest awards winner five times his wife’s weight in cash, plus her weight in beer.

New photos posted at the Cross Atlantic Report. (jewel 1, 2, 3, 4.)

Wallace & Gromit release new films.

Headlines for Friday, October 11, 2002

New York’s currently: enjoying Columbus day by not publishing

Congress passes Iraq resolution, authorizing the president to ‘use the armed forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.’ Resolutions to curb president’s warmongering largely curbed; little debate in resolution’s passage; Kennedys divided.

Defense department typo results in U.S. attack on Ira. (bottom, center column)

When I am thinking about a new novel, I always think of Auschwitz. Imre Kertesz wins Nobel Prize in Literature. Related: Jimmy Carter wins Nobel Peace Prize.

Former leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, responsible for 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo, sentenced to death.

Buy your family custom-made action figures, in their likeness!, for Christmas this year. Only $7,500. [via ms]

Being a nerd is about caring too much. In that Breakfast Club era my whole life away from school was a secret—I had a Debussy poster over my bed, and no way would I have told that to the kids at junior high. Questions for Sarah Vowell.

Republican candidate for Senate race in Montana drops out, says Democratic ad showing him as a hairdresser is a character assassination.

Bloomberg heckled by bar-lobby, and a silent giant cigarette, over his proposed ban on public smoking in New York.

Northern Virginia stricken with fear over sniper.

Novels to be printed on toilet paper, where they belong.

Many great quotes: The Onion asks lots of interesting people: Is there a God?

Photoshop Tennis at 11am NYC-time.

A word of advice: If you plan on seeing The Truth about Charlie, please, no really, please first see the film it’s ripping off, Charade, and enjoy snip-snap dialogue, incredible cast (Walter Matthau! Audrey Hepburn! James Coburn! Cary F-n Grant!), score by Henry Mancini, neat titles, great scenery, and huge payoff at the end with Mr. Grant & Co., not Marky Mark and the flunky bunch.

Headlines for Thursday, October 10, 2002

New York’s currently: finalizing the details on a party next month

The Bush war machine is about to roll out of Washington, but if plans for a Post-Saddam Iraq have been designed, they are not being shared.

‘There have been no rapes,’ [Russian General Moltenskoi] noted, evidently meaning none since the case of a 43-year-old Chechen widow who told Human Rights Watch that she had been gang-raped in February by drunken Russian soldiers. Differences in Chechnya between reality and what Russian officials describe. Related: Russia takes census.

Elvis sues Elvis in northeast Ohio, after one goes after the other’s fans with charges of sex offenses, broadcast at the Quaker Steak & Lube.

Hey, give me two gallons of a nice chip butty… Welsh police go sniffing for drivers who fuel their cars with oil from fish and chip shops.

On being Asian-American and frequently wanded: Racial profiling in airports.

EU to add 10 nations, most from the former Communist bloc, in 2004.

Nobel prize in literature to be announced today. Related: Literary scandal in Spain: Nobel-winner Camilo Cela accused of using ghostwriters.

Mark David Chapman, John Lennon’s killer, kept in jail.

Issue 23 of Tiger, a screen magazine.

Drive-In theaters around the country. [via cdl]

Anish Kapoor is renowned for his enigmatic sculptural forms that permeate physical and psychological space. Though Anish Kapoor’s Unilever Series sounds interesting, crap art-writing really has to stop. [via ak]

Headlines for Wednesday, October 9, 2002

New York’s currently: so glad it’s fall

Health officials say Africa needs more condoms to fight AIDS.

Study on Saddam says he won’t attack unless he feels a U.S.-led attack is inevitable. Related: Anti-war-with-Iraq but not sure what to do? You can always count on The Nation for resources. Related: We no longer expect our politicians to be smart, wise, or even concerned, but it is still disappointing to be reminded that American democracy is a pageant where very few hold power, and the rest glam, lie, and shadow-box, hoping for a turn in the big chair.

The Fragmented Case Files of Brock Showalter, Fundamentalist Christian Detective. Related: Ian Frazier’s ‘Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father.’ [via mfp]

U.S. pushes for complete exemption from international criminal court, despite last week’s EU-endorsed blind-eye to military personnel and diplomats (e.g., Kissinger).

There is now no moment in American life that cannot be connected to The Simpsons: Man sticks cash cannon on top of store, shoots a thousand dollars, crowd tramples children to catch money. (see Simpsons episode ‘Money Can’t Buy Me Love.’)

How do you settle who’s better? (you know, God vs. Satan; Mary-Kate Olsen vs. Kate-Mary Olsen…) With Googlefight of course. Related: Battle royale of the middlebrow chains: Cheesecake Factory vs. Outback Steakhouse vs. Olive Garden.

Many opinions published at PublicScrutiny.net, and they’re looking for yours.

Amanda Hesser discovers grocery shopping, Costco outside the city.

The inside, nasty dealing when writers start agent-hopping.

Neumu streams the entire new Beck album, Sea Change, on your desktop (blue box, on the right).

Japan’s toilet wars started in February, when Matsushita engineers here unveiled a toilet seat equipped with electrodes that send a mild electric charge through the user’s buttocks… Design, industry, and nirvana found in the Japanese toilet industry. [thanks mom]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez—holder of Nobel prize, Macintosh computer, lymphatic cancer—about to release the first volume of his memoirs.

Headlines for Tuesday, October 8, 2002

New York’s currently: finally reading Jane Austen

13-year-old boy shot by D.C.-area sniper, becomes eighth victim.

Israel employs new strategy, attacks Gaza, killing 13 and wounding more than a hundred.

Dick Armey tries to attack the Dallas Morning News because he didn’t like the way it covered his son’s failed campaign.

Man stabs girlfriend, believing she was sent by the internet to kill him. Related: Man dies in his own booby-trapped house.

Sprewell fined $250,000 and ordered away from the Knicks, until he can make ‘a positive contribution.’

Paul Shambroom, photographer of government meetings.

When does the writer become a part of the university? Neither Shakespeare nor Ben Jonson could have taught at Oxford or Cambridge. If you had gone to what Harold Bloom calls a ‘strong poet,’ a real, undeniable poet like Thomas Hardy, and said, ‘Mr. Hardy, will you give lectures?’ he’d probably have said, ‘Are you mad?’…You could slay a Dane with laughter by suggesting that Kierkegaard might have held a chair in theology. Good Paris Review interview with Guy Davenport.

A little late to the party, but definitely worth noting: Mark Pilgrim does a good job.

Completely strange: Messages from the Philosophers of America, read by John Cleese over MP3s.

New York streets are actually dirtier than they used to be.

Unique welding helmets.

Headlines for Monday, October 7, 2002

New York’s currently: now aware of Texas

Predictably, Congress to approve Bush’s powers to disarm Iraq. Related: Thomas Friedman asks, ‘Seen Any Democrats Lately?’

Former labor leader takes big lead in Brazil’s presidential election, panicking foreign investors.

Maybe the plan is to feed all the hungry Afghans using the bodies of dead Iraqis? Get Your War On returns for one-year anniversary.

The power of New York, as seen through movies that pull people here: Molly Ringwald, Judy Collins, Diane Von Furstenberg remember.

I want to write, direct, and act in films that have a social conscience. ‘Pornographer’ carries a huge stigma, so I was really wishing we’d done ‘Pro Wrestling ‘n Chicken.’ How Porn & Chicken went from a dorm room at Yale to a Comedy Central movie.

Contemporary literature in Zimbabwe, focusing on novelist Yvonne Vera, and its life beside politics.

South African whites who want apartheid back listen to Radio Pretoria. Related: Bizarre Italian casino in Johannesburg, including fake sky.

Ever wonder what your Social Security Number meant? [via ir]

Things to look at: CA Interactive Winners.

How some foods stay alive: Oreo turns 90 this year, Kool-Aid, 75.

Ellen Feiss, the real reason to get a Mac.

Headlines for Friday, October 4, 2002

New York’s currently: ready to feel like it’s fall, not summer

Chief U.N. weapons inspector to delay inspections in Iraq, while security council debates; says inspectors are ‘ready to go at the practical earliest opportunity.’

Iraqi vice president suggests Hussein and Bush duel, with Kofi Annan as referee.

College newspapers publish sex columnists, though not all students are in favor.

Conservative but anti-war? Why not turn to Pat Buchanan’s new magazine?

Portrayals of African-Americans as maids or athletes (except for Jackie Robinson), of women as housewives, of Mexicans as farm laborers or of Jews as businessmen are not permitted. Interesting story as the Texas Board of Education decides which history books will be used in schools.

Vote for the Grand Caesar award for most outrageous lawsuit, named after NY resident Caesar Barber who sued fast food restaurants for making him fat.

Why do articles about pretension invariably prove the author pretentious, and no one else?

Nice snap and snark in this week’s Observer’s city-gossip section, The Transom.

People often ask me about Franzen, and when I answer with a question of my own, namely, ‘Have you read anything by Montherlant?,’ they look at me funny. But why is the one question more relevant than the other? Because the media tell us to read Franzen? Well, last year they told us to read Rick Moody. The day I let the media set my reading list is the day I want someone to creep up on me with a big blunt instrument. Interview with B.R. Myers, author of last year’s hot article in the Atlantic, ‘A Reader’s Manifesto.’

Busboy stole identities of the rich and famous, not from greed, but a sick compulsion.

Analysis of Flaubert’s list of cliches.

Nice photographs on Clandestina (beware the music).

Headlines for Thursday, October 3, 2002

New York’s currently: having bizarre fever-dreams

$18 million worth of reduced-price HIV drugs, intended for Africa, intercepted by pirates to be sold in Europe.

Stupid hurricane threatens Womack/Cotton wedding.

Ex-cop in Stuyvesant Town snipes preschool teacher.

When you hear a rumor about Barbara Streisand (attributing Shakespeare to a Web writer, misspelling Dick Gephardt), turn to Streisand’s Truth Alert! Related, but not really: Lunching with Tina Brown: I’m suddenly reminded of a dinner party in our garden in New York last summer, when Martha Stewart’s chair collapsed and she went flying—head over heels, legs in the air—into the azaleas. Without dropping her canapè, and without the slightest change in her politely-interested facial expression, she rose without a crease from the flowerbed.

McSweeney’s, Open City, Fence, and Verse to open a group site, Big Small Press Mall, to sell books, promote authors. Site is located here, but does not seem to be ready. Related: McSweeney’s interview with Kurt Vonnegut, part one, part two, part three. [via wdnc]

EPA drops effort to impose security regulations on chemical manufacturers.

Lovely short movie: Today I Found a Red Passport. [via coudal; check out slowtron]

Photos taken by Richard Russo to reflect Empire Falls, including this bridge that we have crossed. Related: What it’s like to translate Haruki Murakami. [via bs]

You will admire Anthony Lane, even if he may need some help with his suits.

Nigella Lawson, now writing for the Times, has recipes for British home cooking: Toad-in-the-Hole and Fish Pie. We hope she finds better recipes soon (and we do not mean pasta with clams). Related: A fairly useless batch of lessons on how to open and decant wine. Want to learn about wine, the internet way? Try Purple Sunshine.

In case you haven’t heard, blonds actually will survive the next 200 years.

Sven Birkets discusses his new book, a memoir, and being bullied by Joseph Brodsky.

The world’s funniest joke is not very funny, and certainly does not beat the zero and the eight joke, nor the gay horse, and it’s miles from the welder joke.

American conservationists fight strip-malling, town by town.

One way to build a house: Invite design students to camp out.

Headlines for Tuesday, October 1, 2002

New York’s currently: not updating the headlines today, Wednesday, 2 October 2002, because the author’s head is exploding with viruses.

U.N. and Iraq negotiate return of inspectors.

Hudson River proves fine for swimming, north of Manhattan (say, Washington Heights).

If you like Gossip! you’ll love a large collection of celebrity mugshots.

South Africa grapples with professional flight, as doctors go overseas for better pay.

Attention Detroit-ers: Haypenny Anniversary Party, this Saturday.

Fed warns drug companies to stop sending doctors free gifts (e.g., junkets, entertainment tickets, conferences).

An argument for not classifying chemical and biological weapons as ‘weapons of mass destruction,’ change preferably to ‘nasty but not so deadly.’

Venice has always suffered lesser floods and dealt with them—‘a republic of beavers,’ Goethe called it. Italy’s controversial plan, the MOSE program, to save Venice.

Joseph Epstein actually should switch to bricklaying, given his straw arguments, and the editor who approved his column gets high marks for controversy (let’s also hang an elephant in Coney Island!); Thankfully, Onna Weissman will keep at it.

Ooh! Ooh! You can hear TMN contributing writer Paul Ford discuss his work on NPR, with RealAudio. (starts around minute 46)

Love, Novoselic, and Grohl settle Nirvana lawsuit.

George Plimpton on traveling as Fitzgerald, keeping Mailer away from Hemingway, and the time he got his hands around the neck of Robert Kennedy’s assassin.

But the [NY Post] may have gone too far in a caption under a photo of paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve and his Hollywood pals celebrating at a birthday bash last week. ‘None of them could move the next day,’ the caption read. Good catch by the Daily News gossip team (last item).

Repairman takes customer’s car for a joyride, posts on message board. Then, customer finds out and is more than a little pissed. [thanks to mp]

Sunday, November 8, 2009