Gawker: Cute

Cute Overload Dee Besh Uv Kitteh Media

Ryan Tate — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:59:30 EDT

It appears that the website Cute Overload is becoming a plushie-fueled media empire, judging by the story in the Times this morning. The Cute Overload calendar sold out on Amazon within 24 hours, advertising to its overwhelmingly female audience can cost $2,000 per week and the site claims 88,000 unique visitors daily, "about the same as the political gossip blog Wonkette." The Times says the site is a respite from the "vicious gossip" elsewhere (ahem) but really it's pretty much a respite from anything, up to and including all the bad news in the morning newspaper. It won't be long before a bitter laid-off reporter points the finger at Overload and all the other LOL-ish animal internet media for taking away his livelihood. And then perhaps he'll make it his mission to uncover the hidden truth about why Winston is such an angry widdle kitteh! [Times]

Cute Polar Bear Solves Energy Crisis

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:16:40 EDT

If you're an energy company trying to get the public to like you, there's only one way to go: cute polar bears. Forget about the energy crisis. Look at the polar bears! National Grid has wisely picked the salvation of polar bears as its charity of choice, and they have a sweet website full of sweet animated polar bears. Even better, they have a TV ad to fulfill every kid's dream: a nice cute polar bear pet! They're all so cuddly and friendly, we wuv them. Shortly after this commercial wrapped, four children were viciously mauled by polar bears (NOT REALLY). Below, the adorable ad that will make you visit the Arctic for a polar bear of your very own. Yay, energy companies!

Find more videos like this on AdGabber

[via Adrants]

Animal Cuteness Overload!

ian spiegelman — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:58:14 EDT

Happy Summer, everyone! The folks at nbc11.com have assembled a big ol' slideshow of totally adorable animals (and a couple of kids) being totally adorable. Cuteness run amok after the jump!

24's Chloe Soon to Be Gun-Toting Momma

ian spiegelman — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:36:57 EDT

Now that she's quite pregnant, 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub is doing what any red-blooded American mother would do—getting into firearms! As the adorable actress explains, "I have a family to protect." Video after the jump.

Dear Keith Gessen: We Got You a Kitten

Pareene — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:00:59 EDT

Beloved brilliant genius intellectual novelist Keith Gessen seems a little stressed out! He freely admits that he's losing, or has lost, his mind. (Just when the world needs it most!) He wants desperately to take back the internet, from the geighs, and he speaks for the elite trees. But he promised, last night, to do some things that will help. He will live an admirable life, and he will "adopt the kittens and date everyone." Ok, Keith! Here is your kitten. She is a stray from beautiful Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, right off the J. She lives on your Day Editor's stoop and loves people. Right now her name is "Sammy Davis Mewnior" but you could name her "George Meorwell" or "Mrs. Keith Gessen" or whatever if you wanted to. More adorable photos after the jump!

So! Keith Gessen! If you would like to start living a more admirable life right now, please email us to set up a date with Sammy. Like we said, Sammy loves people and is very friendly. She is kind of scared of other kitties, especially boys, but that could change with time and love!

(If Keith doesn't want the kitty, anyone else is welcome to pick her up! She needs a loving home, as she is not as street-smart as the other kittens of Bed-Stuy.)

Photos: Allyzay

The Cute Epidemic

Hamilton Nolan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:29:55 EDT

Kittens: they just won't go away. You must look at them! They and their assorted cute friends—puppies, monkeys, duckies, hippopotami—have taken over the internet, and have already become a leading addiction among men and women alike. Cute cravings must be fed, productivity be damned. A baby bear licking a swan! A parakeet wearing a tutu! A kitten roller skating on the back of a pink stingray! The Observer predicts a "cuteness surge." This will be our downfall. Our supposedly sophisticated elites have allowed their cutie wootie nom nom nuzzle muzzle urges to become their drug, their porn, their shame:

"It's embarrassing if you're a particular kind of person—a Manhattan media person, like somebody who considers himself to be thoughtful or have a generally elevated level of media consumption," said one such Manhattan media person who wished to keep his name out of this article. "You don't want to be aligned with moms. Because literally, this is the meat and potatoes of their Internet consumption."

(GUESSES?)

Some enjoy the cheap gags at LOLcats. But others, like [VH1 writer] Mr. Gottlieb (who says he likes LOLcats), see these images as mocking animals, and also people, via the animals. "Sometimes it seems like it's a proxy for making fun of retarded people," he says.

And Cuteoverload overlord Meg Frost admits the truth:

But for anyone still uncomfortable admitting their admiration for her work, Ms. Frost wants you to know one thing: "There's no shame in kittens. It's better than porn for sure."
"Oh, well, I guess I should say that for myself," she added. "Some 45-year-old guy might not agree."

[Seamy underbelly of the cute world explored by the Observer's Matt Haber]

Howdy-Doody Time

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:08 EDT

Rather than buy a new television, a man in England has converted his walnut-encased 1957-model TV set to receive digital signals. Richard Howard "enjoys watching Madonna music videos on the tiny 17" black and white screen." [Daily Mail UK]

Airport's Disgusting Kitten Slaughter Proceeds

Ryan Tate — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:58:36 EDT

The demented incompetents a the Port Authority are proceeding with plans to exterminate hundreds of cats at JFK, according to the Humane Society and Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals. Various cat organizations have been trying, since 2004, to humanely control the feral animals, which live in a rusty truck near Delta's cargo area, but the Port Authority never gave them permission to start neutering the animals, a technique that swiftly reduced cat populations at Rikers Island and elsewhere. The port has been "negotiating" with the Humane Society since August, but broke off talks on Memorial Day, presumably because it thought the disturbing news would get buried amid the holidays (that tactic only works in the days just before a big holiday, monsters). Instead the port insists on sending the cats to a better place, where they will all die:

"They are telling folks that they are trying to adopt these animals out, but that is patently not true," said Patrick Kwan, New York state director of the Humane Society of the United States.

"These animals cannot be adopted out. This is an extermination program that sentences them to death."

Since the cats are feral, you're not allowed to adopt them from the shelter.

But you could try boycotting major JFK customers like, say, JetBlue, for not trying to exert more pressure on the port. It's not like that airline, in particular, is particularly humane to humans at that airport, either.

[am New York]

Jim McGreevey's Puppies!

Pareene — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:55:40 EDT

A tipster—who insists in no uncertain terms that he is not "friends" with the former governor of New Jersey and noted Gay American—forwards us this adorable image of Jim McGreevey's brand-new puppies. Sooo cute! Unfortunately, Dina Matos will sell them all to a puppy fur-obsessed heiress and use the money to buy more helicopters. [Facebook]

Please Stop Talking About Puppies

Hamilton Nolan — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:13:53 EDT

One of the things I never figured out about the internet is why certain sites have commenters, who those commenters are, and what compels them to do what they do. It's one thing to spend your time commenting on a site that has witty, engaging repartee, like this one. But some other places are inexplicable. Like one that came to my attention today: DailyPuppy.com. It exists to post puppy pictures. Okay, fine, I have nothing negative to say about that, dog Nazis. But do said puppy pictures require 90 comments just today, which all sound like this actual example: "Oh baby you are such a cutie-pie. A zillion biscuits and cuddles poppet and have a wonderful life. xxxxxxxxxxx." GOD. It really challenges your ability to even continue liking puppies. Below are some more of the deep thoughts on Chloe the Labrador Retriever, today's puppy (pictured). This dog can't read, you fools!

You are so cute! You remind me of my Duke and Sunshine when they were young. Hugs and slurrpy kisses to you.
You are so so so so cute Chole. Your my number 1 dog!!!!!!!!

She is absolutely beautiful, lots & lots of belly rubs for Chloe, please.

What a pretty little girl you are Chole, and educated too...MOJO's Dad

You can tell from every photo how alert and intelligent she is! Many ahppy years to come, Ihae a 12 year old black lab :)

I love squishy little labs with their loose puppy skin!! I hope you have many many years of love and play ahead of you.

You can just see the love and devotion in her eyes. I wish you many happy years with her. Tons of cookies and belly rubs to you pretty girl

Awww...look at the puppy lips!! I just wanna kiss her and squeeze her! Have fun.

Oh my, Chloe sure captured my heart. She is just BEAUTIFUL!!!! One of the prettiest Labs I've ever seen.. :) Chloe I'm giving you 11 trillion biscuits :)

"I'M SCARED OF YOU PEOPLE," says Chloe.

Chihuahua Vs. Karate Kid

ian spiegelman — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:09:59 EDT

It's on! Vid after the jump.

[via Cynical-c]

Super-Fun Easter Extravaganza

ian spiegelman — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:15:58 EDT

Awww... It's Peeps. And they're stripping. There's a whole gallery of this stuff? [asylum]

Littlest Hasselbeck Makes 'View' Debut

Pareene — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:14:11 EST

The crazy one's back on The View! Elisabeth Hasselbeck returned from her brief maternity leave, dragging her little half-quarterback baby onto the show with her. The ladies did an entire hour of "HOT TOPICS," also known as the "wait for Sherri and Liz to say something jaw-droppingly stupid" segment, just so that Hasselbeck would have an opportunity to say something stupid about Iraq. The baby, like most View guest hosts, just looked terrified.

This video about the unlikely friendship ...

Joshua Stein — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:54:20 EST

This video about the unlikely friendship between an 11-year-old Burmese little person and a 9-year-old kid from Atlanta named Dante is one of the most heartwarming things we've ever seen. [NYT]

Oh, so that's why there are flower decals ...

Sheila — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:22:21 EST

Oh, so that's why there are flower decals on all the cabs. They were produced by a group called Garden in Transit, and the flowers were designed by kids. Horrible, hateful, evil kids. "Many New Yorkers have been delighted" by these decals, claims Jennifer 8. Lee. We dispute that made-up characterization! In any event, the project celebrates the taxi's 100th anniversary. [NYT]

Adorable Feral Cats Newest Victims In JFK Murder Plot!

Pareene — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:25:43 EDT

OMG, there's a little village of stray cats and they all live at the airport in "makeshift cubicles made of plastic packing containers nestled in cargo carts that once carried transcontinental luggage" under a rusty old tanker truck. Airport employees, the most bitter and hateful people on this earth, have been taking care of them for years, as these cats are their last, tenuous connection to their own humanity. AND NOW THE PORT AUTHORITY IS ROUNDING THEM UP.

Everything bad and evil can be traced directly back to the Port Authority, so it's really no wonder that they're now forbidding cat rescue groups from approaching the "happy cat camp," but still, how wrong is this?

[Port Authority spokesman] Pasquale DiFulco said the cats were creating "an unsafe and unsanitary" environment. "You've got a situation where the cats are being fed, which then attracts rodents and, far more seriously, birds," he said. Gulls attracted to the food could end up colliding with sensitive aircraft parts, he said.

Cats eat rodents, DiFulco! And gulls are going to break all your precious airplanes? Cry us a river! Now the authority is trapping and killing all the scruffy little bros (the authority denies the "killing" part but they so are). But "volunteers" keep breaking all the traps and airport employees continue to feed the cats.

The whole situation is basically just like Fraggle Rock, with the Port Authority as the Gorgs.

Stray Cat Roundup at J.F.K. Worries Rescue Groups [NYT]
[PHOTO: Robert Stolarik for The New York Times]

Heads up. The taxi hacks are back on their ...

Choire — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:12:31 EDT

Heads up. The taxi hacks are back on their semi-strike today. While it's $10 just to open the door, beware if you're riding with someone else. For instance, Penn Station to the East Village is apparently in one "zone" and so just $10—but the cabbie will shrug and say "$10 bucks each" when you get out. Strike or grift? You decide!

You know that thing where sometimes when ...

Pareene — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:22:30 EDT

You know that thing where sometimes when you leave the subway you're kind of disoriented and you maybe walk half a block in the wrong direction? The City of New York and the Grand Central Partnership, inspired by an unnamed Upper East Side man quoted in the Times last year, have come up with a brilliant solution to that nagging problem: giant compass stickers with smallish directions printed on them and stuck right on the ground outside the stops. So now instead of wasting 30 seconds walking the wrong way every now and then you can claw through 500 retards stopping directly at the top of the stairs to study the goddamn ground in the middle of rush hour. [NYT]

Jared Kushner Gets The Trump Seal Of Approval!

Choire — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:20:05 EDT

On the Howard Stern show yesterday, Donald Trump noted that, according to a listener, his daughter "Ivanka was dating a 'very rich guy—not as rich as me, but a very rich guy' from a 'real estate family.'" Translation: That is basically a blessing from the goyim for New York Observer publisher Jared Kushner! ("Rich"="good.") Anyway, that's exactly the kind of Trumpism that we imagine gets the hackles up on Jared's daddy, New Jersey kingpin (and good pal of gay American Jim McGreevey) Charles Kushner. But hey, the real estate union of Jersey Jared and Manhattan Ivanka is good for everyone for now—just like an arranged marriage between little empires! Though we still don't think it's remotely possible that Jared will ever marry the shiksa. Prove us wrong, you adorable lovebirds! We want to believe.

"It's an outrage! The first time I saw one ...

Choire — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:21 EDT

"It's an outrage! The first time I saw one of these taxis, I smiled and shook my head, as in, you see such amazing things on the streets of New York. But I kept seeing more and more of them, and, while it is amusing to see your first one, seeing two or three on the same street is alarming, and the thought of all New York taxis being decorated with these kitschy flowers is horrifying. What's happening to us? Are we becoming Cute City? This is what comes of letting families live here." [Manhattan Street Project]

Does This Kitten Look Like Lindsay Lohan?

Emily Gould — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:45:11 EDT

When we first saw this picture on Cute Overload we were like, "nah." And then we looked at this picture of everyone's favorite embattled former child star and started to see a resemblance. We think this is such an important issue that it should be put to a vote.