Gawker: glaring omissions

Reader Response: We Are All Racist For Not Hating that 'New Yorker' Cover

Pareene — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:42:08 EDT

A reader is upset with Gawker for wholeheartedly embracing The New Yorker's terribly offensive cartoon about how Barack Obama is a terrorist. She writes:

I've become accustomed to Gawker's racism [really? -ed] — from articles tagging black rappers with "HNIC" [that's the name of Prodigy's album! From an item about Prodigy! -ed] to videos of kids playing and adults having conversations with each other in Chicago accompanied by the headlines "Gun Warfare!" and "Drug Dealing." [Well, those were maybe a bit more questionable. We're charitable today! -ed] Sadly, I continue to return for the occasionally funny, entertaining and/or informative posts (which are becoming fewer and farther between).

We're so sorry for your inability to stop reading our site.

However, your coverage of the New Yorker Obama cover has been nothing short of appalling. The bloggers who put up the posts killed themselves trying to argue that no matter how offensive the images, artistic and editorial freedom justified any offense to the public or to the Obamas themselves. They even went so far as to add a third post lamenting the imprisonment of a Dutch cartoonist for posting sickening and degrading images of Muslims that lacked any political value and served no purpose other than to nauseate the viewer. When your bloggers are bending over backwards to defend someone whose images clearly demonstrate that he barely sees Muslim people as human, it is clear that Gawker has missed the entire point of the outrage over the Obama cover. This isn't about the New Yorker's right to print anything or the cartoonist's right to draw anything. It's about whether the New Yorker cover adds anything meaningful to the ongoing conversation about the Presidential candidates. It doesn't.

Let's call the images what they are: cookie cutter racist stereotypes pasted together onto a page. In the endless round of commentary, the Gawker bloggers and commenters debated back and forth on whether the images should be withheld simply out of fear that they would be misinterpreted by "dumb" red-state Americans who don't subscribe to the New Yorker. Aside from a single commenter (American Dreamer) not a singe individual recognized that the images themselves — a caricature of black and muslim people as armed, be-afroed and anti-American — are offensive and insulting. Whether intentionally or not, the cartoon mocks blacks and muslims just as much as it does right-wingers. Why not face the fact that the cover is not cutting edge or avant-garde, but actually reproduces the same old, tired stereotypes that have been around for decades? Taking a racist image and putting it on liberal magazine does not suddenly make it not racist. It's sad that Gawker isn't willing to acknowledge that fact in any way. It's even more sad that only one person in the Gawker "community" is aware enough to see this.

The absurdity of this is demonstrated by how different the blog posts and comments are on Gawker, as compared with Racialicious, Daily Kos, Jezebel and the Huffington Post, among others. Take a look and quit your snarky self-congratulatory statements about editorial freedom. When you've sunk so low that you have to justify your position by defending an image of Jesus sodomizing Mohammed, it's just embarassing. That is all.

This is the kind of condescending bullshit that does actually encourage us to agree with the idiots who think the covers are a problem because everyone else in America won't get them. The rightness of our position—that if people refuse to understand obvious satire because they don't trust anyone else to understand obvious satire then we might as well all pack it up and go home because there's no intelligent way to contribute to the National Conversation anymore, at all—is demonstrated by how different the blog posts and comments are on Gawker, as compared with Racialicious, Daily Kos, Jezebel and the Huffington Post, among others. No offense to those sites (well, no offense to Racialicious and Jezebel), but yes, we have a different position, which is that there is somewhere out there still a nation of adults. Adults who understand how irony, absurdity, and, yes, context work.

The entire point is that while we don't find anything edifying or amusing about an image of Jesus sodomizing Mohammed (except inasmuch as an image of Jesus sodomizing anyone is inherently hilarious), we shouldn't be throwing crackpots who draw such an image in jail. And furthermore anyone who'd equate said cartoon (provocation with no point other than provocation) with the New Yorker's cover (provocation in the name of getting you to think about your response to the image) in a blanket condemnation of both is dense and dangerous.

If the image is offensive, it's because the smears and whispers the image illustrates are offensive, and that is the point of illustrating all of them at one—both to call attention to these "dark imaginings," in Remnick's nice little phrase, and, by exaggerating them, to defang them, slightly. And the commentariat's outright refusal to get it is disingenuous and utterly unsurprising.

But in the interests of mending fences or building bridges or whatever, we've commissioned this totally inoffensive and not at all racist photoshop of Barack Obama, in a library, wearing a Harvard shirt, that we will use from now on. We wanted him maybe playing polo, waving a French flag (Happy Bastille Day!), and drinking a latte with his pinkie extended, but this will have to do, for now.

Photoshop Credit: Steven Dressler

Jakob Lodwick Defenders Weigh In

Pareene — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:57:44 EDT

No, reader, thanK. yoU. for this refreshing honesty. [Previously]

"You Probably Live in Yorkville"

ian spiegelman — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:27:44 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (that happens more often).

"You write about the McKibben lofts like a pussy. Was it that you got rejected by some hipster girl who lives there and you seek retribution by spewing your hate for the place on your lame fucking blog. I don't even live there, but I know you're nothing but little cunt. Oh, poor, poor Ryan Tate. You probably live in Yorkville you fucking assclown."

"You Are So Full of Bile and Hatred"

Richard — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:05:00 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (that happens more often).

"We've been making Who Would You Rather? a little too easy on you lately, asking you to choose between two sexy, talented people. But sometimes we like to take it back to the What Would You Rather of our youth (you know, like, go down on your mom or lose a leg?). These two candidates came to mind after a recent conversation with friends ended with an argument over who is the most obnoxious female in the history of the world, Nancy Grace or Rachael Ray."

"fuck/marry/kill:

chuck
nate
dan"

"You are amazingly sad, you clearly have very little going on in your life that you would be stalking someone on the internet. Of course it was clear that you are were an older woman jealous of Julia. The fact that she is successful and attractive and I imagine life did not turn out the way you expected, I almost feel sorry for you. The fact that you are so full of bile and hatred that is just eating you up inside, cannot at all be fun.

It then turns out that you are a fortysomething Seattle lawyer, divorcée, that certainly makes sense, older, check, uglier, check, husband kicked your ass to the kerb, check. Yep pretty much as expected.

Of course once you are exposed then turnabout will clearly be fair play and you can't cry about it then when people are analyzing you online and posting you for ridicule. I for one look forward to that.

Bye bye for now."

And, this lovely piece of something:

"We're Trying to Plan It So We Are Pregnant Together"

Richard — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:26:00 EDT

We're bringing Glaring Omissions back! We get so many missives each week, that some things slip through the cracks by accident or completely on purpose. Today we have three little bits for you (just gaining momentum, I swears). Shotguns, marriages, and a Real Housewife await you after the jump.

"Friends of mine, who work at Victoria's Secret, have been emailing me about the 'housewife' Alex, from 'Real Housewives of New York City', who claims to be "a high-powered career woman". Apparently, she's just a freelancer in the graphics department, working for VS's beauty division - and when she tried to get access to the Victoria's Secret offices for Bravo to film her in action, she was met with a resounding NO! I've also been told that co-workers bet on a daily basis, as to how horrible/tacky her outfits will be that day."

"My friend was on the L train this morning and apparently they arrested a guy (total hipster kid by the way) who had a shotgun in his backpack and there was a possibility of a bomb!"

Someone forwarded this email to us, for some reason: "Funny you should say the beach, yep that is our plan. hawaii, very small and quaint. The entire trip for everyone invited is paid for by him. His name is [redacted] (haha) he is from [redacted], went to harvard and is a venture capitalist. he makes SERIOUS $$$$. I'm talking in the hundreds of millions. he has 2 pvt lehr jets, one of which he asked me to pick out the interior color. (I chose gray) anyway, honestly $$ in his case matters very little. he is the sweetest most amazing man i've ever met. We met on match.com believe it or not. he found me actaully. His first email was titled: Hola from san fran. amongst all the emails i got daily i found his to be the most sincere and kind. so we started chatting and then phone calls and he asked me to marry him!! i'm in the process of picking out my ring. pink, princess cut 7 carat set in platinum. i have to out do [redacted]'s ring from [redacted]!!! lol did you know she is also getting marrie d?? we're trying to plan it so we are pregnant together. this whole thing is i'm sure very amusing to all who know me well. I never thought i would meet the man of my dreams and here I am. I can't even believe it's happening to me to be honest i have to pinch myself. I am THE luckiest girl in the world. He also has a horse running in the derby this year (we think) we find out tonight if it's in or not, i will let you know. if so i am going to be on TV in the owners box. I don;t think the horse is a favorite but we'll see it's name is [redacted]
So life is grand!! what about you?? whats up??"

Even More Moms Are Blogging

ian spiegelman — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:48:53 EDT

First Liz Smith and some other "Greatest Generation"-aged women launched Wowowow. Then former Gawker Doree Shafrir started Post Cards From Yo Momma. Now this: "I am e-mailing you because u are the first blog. The very first one. You set the trend. But web 2.0 has changed everything. Mom Blogs are a growing voice and they are 'oh my god' sunny. really sunny. Just read them. They don't talk about Omarosa sightings, they don't give us the 411 on Star Jones leaving the view. But they are growing." The rest of the email after the jump.

(sic throughout, obvs).

http://moms.alltop.com/
I beg you to link to my blog as I try to understand the future of blogging.
How Ann Coulter, Liz Smith and Mommy Bloggers can co-exist.
And my question is, will is still be... Gawker?
Will you give me feedback on my blog? maybe mention these topics in a post?
www.CoolWebMoms.com
Do you have any advice for cool web moms like the ones below?
Im dying to here and will tell every mom I know.

There's such a glaring omission on nearly ...

Pareene — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:50:14 EST

There's such a glaring omission on nearly all the "best of 2007" movies lists. Why will no one understand that Nicolas Cage's "Ghost Rider" was one of the bestest, awesomest, coolest, hilariousest, entertainingest movies of the year? Because it so was. (If it weren't for that darned holiday release date of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," it might have been the best.)

There's such a glaring omission on nearly ...

Choire — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:42:06 EST

There's such a glaring omission on nearly all the "best of 2007" movies lists. Why will no one understand that Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" was one of the bestest, smartest, coolest, entertainingest movies of the year? Because it so was. (If it weren't for that darned "No Country For Old Men," it might have been the best.)

"I Can't Relate To You How Much I Hate Courtney Cox"

Choire — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:05:30 EST

Glaring Omissions sometimes reproduces tips received from readers that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (that happens more often).

I cant relate to you how much i hate courtney cox

all she does is stalk me and i cant get along with life. I hate it. I am in danger contantly , i am always reporting the mother fucking police for illegal harassment and for violence..

i am harrassed everywhere i go. I cannot eat, shit or without her knowing about it and sending a carryer to tell her and i hate her guts for following me. I hate her. i cant ask her to leave enough. There are at least two courtney coxs that i have met and i cant get rid or shake the one from freinds the TV show.

I hate her, and wish she would take off. Not with someone else?

I have nothing and all she does is steal from me. i am harrassed all day all night long even in my mind by her and i have only met her twenty times or so....... I have suffered great damage and identity fraud as a result of my interactions iwth her and i have never even spoken with her.

i used to date Jen aniston and i still see her every month... and i met Brad Pitt several times and had a confrontation with Vince Vaughn and several fo the magazines. can you help. she gives me no money.

All this is true.

D

Yo Gawker,

What is with all the white people committing crimes these days? You got Robert Chambers back in the news with his cocaine/crack den in which his acquaintance (another white) is involved? You got that irish fella in queens suspected of killing his infant daughter. And you got the usually crackers in Staten Island cracking the skulls and stabbing any non-white that comes their way? What's up with that?

Hi, is it possible to send me a list of all addresses of famous people in Hollywood I know it is sound not really normal ask, but I want to send them all a New Year and Christmas cards. It can be as e-mail, as a normal address.

Thank you.

You report on Media Events in and around NYC. How is your commentary regarding someone looking "jewier" in person relative to your mission? What does "jewier" mean exactly??? You obviously are not Jewish, since you feel it's OK to offer up anti-semetic commentary. Are you "Waspier" than most, plain Wasp, or mildly Wasp??

Perhaps you should go back to your roots as a reporter and report. You might have to open your Journalism 101 text to remember what reporting is. Leave the personal bias out of your reporting. Or better yet, buy a one-way ticket to Palestine, join Hamas and go blow yourself up. Perhaps your new status in the hereafter will give you what you're looking for here on earth but haven't yet achieved.

"They Gave Me A Crippled Dolphin"

Choire — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:10:53 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (that happens more often).

Please read below for the worst email ever. A friend of a friend was sent the below, from a dude she met at H&M. I know, very random, but clearly this dude is never getting a response - or a girlfriend, EVER:
-Don't print my name or email, please!

—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—

Dear [REDACTED],

Hi , this is David,I met uin the H&M clothing store last week. I thought u were very pretty. I don't have internet in my house. How long have u lived in N.Y. ? I studied advertising design.I do freelance design and customer service when the design field is slow.I also paint in oils.I know of a gallery i want to be rostered with in Soho.I started a design company, but have not made any money with the company yet. I have a business partner in China. My company name is Sciensun Inc. I designed 2 practical products and hope to sell them intens of thousands of stores accross america. If they are successful i will sell them in all of Asia , Europe and USA and Latin America. I have more products on the drawing board for the future.I was born and raised in NY. I live in Elmhurst Queens now. I eventually want to move to the upper east side of Manhattan or the Suburbs. Do u Have brothers and sisters ? Ilove dogs. I will definately buy a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd puppy in the future. Do u have pets ? How was it growing up in Armenia ? Do u like animals ? I like dolphins also and horses and girraffes, lions, tigers and salt water aquarium hobby. I paid to swim with a dolphin 3 years ago in Florida. They gave me a crippled dolphin , it swam with a limp fin. The dolphin had a fin cast on. I would like to try bull riding as a challenge to myself. I want to see if i can stay on the bull for more than 8 seconds. Bull riding is in Texas.What fun activities do u enjoy doing ? I like cafes/lounges, amusement parks, bowling, play pool, motorboating.I don't have internet in my house, i have to use library computers , i have limited time with one. I would like tohave drinks with uthis week, coffee, or tea,is this alright ?
E-mail me back..or call me [REDACTED]

Take Care
David

And here is what is also weird about this: HE SENDS VARIANTS OF THIS EMAIL TO OTHER WOMEN.

"NothingMore than an EmptyDiary of Words for the Vapid&Bored."

Choire — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:40:01 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often, particularly in the case of ad hominem Internet biliousness).

To Whom It May Concern:

Good morning,

My name is Carolyn [REDACTED]. I reside in Naperville, Illinois. I am interested in applying for a celebrity assistant's position, and hope you can assist me. I can be reached at [REDACTED].or [REDACTED]. I would also be willing to send you my resume if required.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[To: Perez Hilton] BET YOU WISH SOMEONE WOULD "THREW" YOU A BONE!!!

WHIP OUT THAT CREDIT CARD AGAIN, PEZHEAD, AND PAY / ORDER UP SOME
DICK....YOU SOUND LIKE YOU REALLY NEED IT!

YOU NEED TO GET YOURSELF SOME CHAD HUNT SIZED COCK UP THAT FAT SLACK
STRETCH-MARKED BUTT OF YOURS TO EASE TO OBVIOUS TENSION!

XOXO,
GOSSIP GIRL

Hello. Goodbye...Hello. I am MisterArteest and I am an ApprehensiveBlogger, I will Announce this at TheOutset. TheApprehension is borne from an IdealSpirit, an IdealSpirit that believes in the OldWay, in the Authentic, in TheClassic, in the Atavistic&Bicameral, in TheForms of Literary Conquests ByPaper and ByPen, not ByComputer and MostCertainly not ByBlog ...I would prefer to do It like HenryMiller did It or JimmyCarroll, or Baudelaire or Bukowski... Maybe an adequate Analogy could be that of an AspiringThespian of TheStage or SilverScreen attempting to become a RealityTelevision Star...Part of Me thinks Blogging to be a ShortCut, a Fad, a Trend, a PopularInstrument of ArmchairDilettants... Part of Me thinks Blogging is NothingMore than an EmptyDiary of Words for the Vapid&Bored...Part of Me believes there are NoLiteraryPoints to be Earned in this Arena...Part of Me wants to save MyMaterial for a HardBack in a Bookstore...Part of Me thinks by becoming a 'Blogger', I am choosing to Chop my IdealSpirit off at TheKnees and dive into ThePool of Self Dilution that is the 'Blogosphere'...Part of Me believes Life is a Series of Resignations...Part of Me wants to cease flooding the EmailBoxes of MyFriends&Family and instead give Them a Choice...Part of Me thinks I will be Unsuccessful in Attracting a Readership...Part of Me doesn't think I will adequetly or comprehensively Articulate my Positions, and in turn, Be Misinterpreted...Part of Me thinks this will open some Doors that might otherwise RemainShut...Part of Me doesn't...I may not be here long, this GrandBloggingExperiment may be ShortLived...We will see...Whatever my PersonalHangups may be, in TheInterim, I hope You All will, at least in some S mallWay, be left with something to ChewOn...Cheers...

It is only ten minutes past and I am watching the Real World, and I want to jump through the screen and smack these bitches! These girls are more than the usual catty girls you see on TV...Trisha...You have a boyfriend, get over the guy that "you saw first" and let somebody who doesn't have one have him. These girls are so blind that they are being played by a very hot Aussie...The girls need to get a clue...And
lastly, this girl Shauvon is on my last nerve. She is ready to blow up during every conversation, and it's
just a bit much. ALL three of the girls with the exception of Parisa, who is the only one with any
sense, are HORRIBLE 2-Faced bitchy little girls...I've said my piece...good night.

P.S. The southern boy always seems to soothe me...even though I slightly detest the sound of his voice 9
times out of 10.

Went to Launch of "Rigged" new monster book by Ben Mezrich! Can't wait for the movie!

Mick Jagger's well fed bodyguard.

Not that Taylor Hicks is on anyones radar right now but this is a pretty big scandal and you guys should break this story. In May 2007 Splash News released photos of Taylor Hicks with some woman on the beach. The girl was some piece of ass. But Hicks camp lied to save his priest like image and said it was some Milwaukee newsnanchor named Caroline Lyders that was his girlfriend. The real girl is some chick from Kansas City and she was just a fling. She set him up with those pictures. [And so on and so on.]

What the hell? I was all nice and signed in, and I was watching the comments go by and commenting... and then it demanded I reload... now I see the stupid party, but no comments no matter how many times I reload.

Denton is going to die. And I'll be the guy standing over his corpse with a confusing look on his face.

Dear Tionna, I have a question and I wanted to know your opinion. I produce a home amateur sex series using mostly teenage girls. ([URL REDACTED] ) I'm 40-something years old and my best friend thinks I'm too old for this line of work and feels that these girls need to be experiencing sex with someone their own age. I feel that as long as the girl is 18+ and she consents to appear in my videos, that's her free will choice and age should not be a factor in whom I'm fucking. I'm not forcing them. I feel no moral duty to showcase females in my own age group. I question is simple: Does using teenagers to appear in my videos violate some 'moral code' or do you feel that my friend is simply playa hatin the fact that I can still pull young shawties?

Awaiting your insight and wisdom,

Big Belly Rick

"Lindsay, You Have To Please Your Self First To Be Happy With You"

abalk — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:21:14 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

To: Perez Hilton. Cc: Gawker: "WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FUCKED???? PEZHEAD, 1999?"

"I really don't do this at all, but I saw this child who is so scared and full of hope on t.v. to night. I see a girl who is being pulled in all different ways who changes her looks to please who it is she's trying to impress the day before or the day she gets up. Lindsay you have to please your self first be happy with you? get to know your self frist.all the people who you hang around are just their to see there self's in your glory.you have your hole life a head of you but you seam to be on a road of self destrouction .you cant live your mothers life for her, i have been there too.my Mom said she gave up all she wanted to make sure i had the best, that she when threw a lot just to have me. Lindsay we did not ask to be born. can't change who we are but we can change our ways and stop hanging with trashy people. God says greater is he that's in me than he that's in this world.the bible is your basic instructions before leaving earth.laugh if you want but you need to find a sprit of God in you life be for the world takes your life a way. i see teens like you all the time in drugs alcohol and sex with who ever. there parents don't care or they have there own life's or there parents live in a 2nd child hood threw the child. trying to out smoke the child out drink the child or see how many boy friends or girl friends the parent can still. if your parents really love you they protect you from things that will destroy you not give the bad things to you. a good friend stops you from hurting your self so does a good parent. never saw any thing you have ever did in moves or any thing else just saw your eyeson t.v. so sad and looking for salvation. God is it so any time you need friends and would like to feel a high that is from God call freedomworship center in the small town of Gastonia n, c. it on oak hollow road in Gastonia off of new hope road. see God even gave you some NEW HOPE! get it look at the name."

"Is that jared kushner in the toyota camry ad I just saw?"

"GAWKER IS THE KKK YOU RACIST BASTARDS. YOUR PUBLICATION SMELLS OF UNINFORMED, LATE ON ART, NO CLASS, INFORMATION. YUCK."

"It occurred to me that Christianity was used as a bullshit get out of jail free card by those intent on harming others, but claiming to be working for a higher power, when in fact most that I have met are nothing more than carrying on their own devious revenge for the dissatisfaction with life, the eternal existentialistic question, so acting like the gods they pretend to worship to gain mass favor, they seek to be forces of nature.

Many groups use religion as a weapon although few actually believe in the theology. Many religions use angels and demons who ultimately belong to the same team, like an offense and defense similar to the tactic of good cop-bad cop in order to manipulate others, show the faiths strength or the ultimate goal in most religion seize power and make money. The church may forgive you but the demons from a similar sect will haunt you in order to prove a lack of vulnerability and God's principal of infallibility. The premise of being like God, infallible often supersedes the worship of the deity, there are many deities within the religion of Christianity, and if the U.S has its way of setting precedence with democracy, the seat of God will become an elected position.

My rumor started many years ago after being tormented my members of the mafia, the demon wing of the Catholic religion, playing on the same team as well fed evil henchmen. Catholics are not alone in their use of good and evil dining from the same trough, in fact, all religions have their henchmen who do the dirty work. My point was to show how Christianity, offering forgiveness by simply divulging to truth and exposing oneself to the evil henchmen although absolution is supposedly granted and the fact the sometimes by not prosecuting a criminal or alleged criminal, the outcome can be worse than the trial and possible punishment. My idea came from a film with Kevin Spacey playing a death penalty proponent who tricked everyone into thinking he murdered someone, sacrificing his life for the cause. I am not
that noble, I just wanted to prove a point. In my opinion the best case scenario for my experiment would have been to be charged with a high profile crime that I falsely admitted to committing, in fact the worst thing I ever did was juvenile delinquency, minor marijuana infractions and driving under the influence, supposedly. The crimes I slightly admitted to were murder, espionage, rape, being a drug lord, and I carefully flirted with being affiliated with Arabs who might be construed as enemy combatants, but in actuality I was attempting to generate a campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize through discussion and the enlightenment of atrocities of human rights, something that happened to me while being tortured and sequestered for no reason and while being charged with no crime.

So, I am admitting and my theorem was proven that confession is simply a way for the church to get inside of your head and make your punishment more direct and seemingly omnipotent. And there are worse things than being accused of a crime. In the US justice system, the some play good cop while the some do the dirty work and prosecute those that deviate from the law, or admit to things they never did. Like any scientist it takes years of trial and error, like looking at an X-Ray to see what lies beneath the skin of the religious affiliation or the judicial system. And by allowing the demons or the women to extract revenge and balance the equation, the Angels and the men stay clean and can scoff at the notions of injustice
that are the foundations of society. I learned that men and the church are not racist or gender biased they just do not want to lose their weapons while trying to keep a strangle hold on the building or development of current empires.

The separation of Church and state is a brilliant premise because it keeps each others hands clean of involvement and allows for the revenge factor. I often wonder when I watch people kneel in church and pray whether they are concerned for their own spiritual well being or are they praying for retribution and revenge upon someone who has done them wrong.

So instead of a fat lawsuit for being accused and persecuted for something that I never did, I am perusing the options for balancing an equation so heavily weighted that the outcome is astronomical in dimension."

Yeah, that occurred to us too.

"The Expectations That Truly Matter In This Word Are Your Own"

abalk — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:40:23 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"You are truly a group of imbeciles, worthy of contempt. not sure if you were aware, just thought i'd 'tip' you off to that just in case."

"Yeah thats who i want to meet..ugly lesbian socialist. Ill stick to bars in murray hill."

"So you guys added another Jezebel post to lifehacker & again with the misandrous, incoherent ranting!? I could fill pages with my thoughts on the issue, but that's not my point here. Why is any of this relevant to lifehacker? It's completely off topic for such an otherwise insightful blog. I think I'm not alone in visiting lifehacker for ingenuity and wisdom, not poorly constructed hate speech.
Solutions are more constructive than accusations, so to the article I would offer this: the expectations that truly matter in this world are your own."

"SIR I LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN SELL MY SPERM, YOUR REPLY WILL BE APPRECIATED, SAL"

"Have you heard about the new book "The Little Black Apron"? It is sort of Sex and the City meets Cooking Light...a fun, informational cookbook for hip single woman. I have added this to my "go to" gift idea list for my girlfriends and think everyone else should do the same! Check out the website..it is ADORABLE!!"

"Such a brutal act

I'm alarmed by the cool tone of your terse response regarding the disturbing nature of such a brutal act.

In what ways do you think you would respond if it was you or your child who was brutalized by a gang of armed zealots?"

[All from same sender] Sent Wednesday, Sept. 26, 13:48: "11:45am, L&O: CI filming on 70th btwn Park & Madison. 1:45, filming at 74th btwn Madison & 5th. Was told they're off to the park after that."
Sent Wednesday, Sept 26, 23:18: "What, just not interesting enough for you to post?"
Sent Thursday, Sept 27, 13:27: "Jimmy Kimmel is right about you guys"

"My name is Albert Howard.

This letter is an invitation to view my website at AlbertHoward.org

I am an official FEC candidate in the race to become the 44th President of the United States of America.

I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you in person regarding my 2008 campaign.

Check out this popular video, "Nigger: An Extremely Holy Word!" at break.com/nigger4prez

Thank you for your time.

Albert Benjamin Howard"

"please tell me mister that the things people say are not so about the Balk. if these things they say are so, i has some needs to tell my things to the Balk. the Balk owes me dolars that i am owed for the pig fights. there are 50 of the dolars to be very exact. the Balk knows about this thing and there are needs to tell him."

Scarily enough, I do know about this thing. And, no, I'm not telling you.

"He Enjoys The Life Of Having Many Prostitutes"

abalk — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:00:05 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"I just emailed you about that Bruce Willis sighting at San Gennaro. Since you guys do in fact look at the emails, do you know of where i can get an email to send my resume or know of anything job openings? I love celebrity gossip and really looking for some kind of work in it, even entry level? anything would help. thanks so much!"

"Quentin Tarantino takes a garbage truck ride in England. He has gained 50 pounds since the flop of Grindhouse and is worried that he won't be able to make another great film again and have children. It has been rumored that Cinematographer Chris Doyle has been angered at Tarantino's use of drugs and prostitutes in China. Since Tarantino lost his virginity to a prostitute as in stated in the movie TrueRomance which he wrote based on his life, he enjoys the life of having many prostitutes."

"Hey well i love reading celebrity gossip but i never thought i would be writing one of these to anyone. I know of a guy his name is fidel de leon toledo. he i guess is like an escort, he follows celebrities everywhere and tries to keep the media away. i see him a lot. i do concierge for the airport. and i know that he will be staring in lindsays new movie 'hippy'. now the thing about this is that one of my collegues said that it is a stunt. they will film it and start going out as his uncle is a big time hollywood writer. you can just go to imdb.com and search his name. I have seen Fidel work and he is actually very good. With fidel's job being keeping media away if any network like fox, enquirer, star, etc. state that they will be working together or "rumored" to be working together I can guarantee you he will have no choice but to stop so every other gossip will just come out. I can guarantee you that with my life!!!"

[All from the same person] 9/6: "Not my sighting, but someone else's...it's posted on youtube. Siouxsie Sioux at Thalias Restaurant 8th ave and 50th st Sept 5th...some time at night. She was in town doing promo work for her forthcoming solo album coming out in October."
9/11: "How come you didn't post this? Do you not know who Siouxsie is? Grandmother of punk rock!!!"
9/17: "Still didn't post"

"These are notes from a captive prisoner who has been trotured and had his life ruined by psychotics for nothing more than the pursuit of capitalistic business relationships on a global scale.
I sought to leave this country over ten years ago, and have been falesly accused, tortured, poisoned, threatened and homelsess on multiple occasions.

Miss USA, chikenshit, pyscho stalker bitch, a poem
A face so hideous only the devil could smile
Whispering lies, treachery and deceit to keep the hostages shackled and bound because in truth Miss USA is the biggest chicken shit coward in the world clutching to hostages to prevent the total collapse of the economic system or attack much worse than 9/11.
Evil coursing through the veins of oppression while holding the hand of your captor like a loyal bitch and doing his cowardly dirty work because he knows his place in the world is shit unless there is facilitated a global revolution overthrowing Religion, the royals, aristocracy and thus removing all blood claims to the land and making all men equal.
Litter of the world unite, Miss USA, spread your revolutionary disease with your cancerous mole covered hideous face.
An inferiority complex so big the only pill to swallow is to destroy historically relevant places in the world and create wars in regions that have historical value and act like the savior adult, when the world knows who causes the conflicts.
Hideous crooked teeth with gunk and slime emitted from herpes diseased lips
A whore so smelly, Miss USA, she spreads her legs and welcomes all semen , the fabric of the USA flag is like any whore house sheets at closing time. Don't mind the disease and the consequences; leave that for the abused bastard children to pay."

"I have been searching all over to find any leads there [the "Sex and the City" people] are filming. So far today 7 am and 3 pm, 100 extras were used outside of 1010 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street. The description of the scene is "actress sees ,actor and meets him." Could be Carrie and Mr. Big? If you have any other tips for the upcomming week(s) PLEASE let me know"

Oh, don't worry, we will.

Tom Cruise Is Not Fooling Anybody

abalk — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:50:33 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"That dead parrot story has been on the 'most read' list of the NYtimes.com all week. The editorial observer article about the parrot was also on the list for several days, but it seems off now. Why Gawker Why? Why parrots? sigh."

"In my opinion, when the story broke last week regarding Nicole Kidman's past miscarriage with Tom Cruise, I couldn't help think that it sounded "off" and out-of-place, for her to just bring up.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Tom Cruise, paid, pleaded or threatened her to bring up such a priviate, senstive issue, with him; especially, now. Maybe he solicited one of those psychologists that he's not glib about, on how to get sympathy through the media. Since, he made an ass out of himself and exposed his freaky, narcissistic, superior, alien-hybrid side; he knows he's got damage control issues big time. I think it's weird that the Beckhams and the "Cruises" actually think they are enhancing each other by displaying their super-hero friendships. Maybe, when Victoria realizes America could care less and she looks like a monkey with a skateboarder hair-do, she'll fire up her broom and go back to her Motherland and take Tom Cruise with her.

Those kinda tips?
I just think Tom's not fooling anybody."

"Dude the best place to get prostitutes is www.erosny.com... you can literally browse hundreds of girls. Its like Amazon.com for whores."

[Sent to Balk]"Hello, Sean —

My name is Jim Colucci — I'm a publicist working with the ensemble comedy team at the new hit weekly comedy show, "Shoot The Messenger."

The show is a political news satire created by "The Daily Show" co-creator Lizz Winstead — it has been running for about two months at the Under Acme theater on Great Jones St., and has been a big success, drawing very nice sized crowds. Now, we're particularly excited about this week's episode (on Monday, 9/17), which will feature guest star Chuck D, of Public Enemy.

I'd love to invite you to attend the show — and with such a fun guest star, we'd love to get the word out before the show, so any mention on gawker.com would really be great!

Thanks so much, and please feel free to call me at with any questions."

"after seeing that "pick-up" video, I finally see what rob townsend looks like. well, now I know why I've never seen him at any of the private house parties in the pines and why he has to keep writing about the public spaces!"

"do you think it is morally wrong to use as a joke-y prop in a photo shoot a dirty dead mouse hanging from a mousetrap?"

"Please pass along this message to Balk's cock.

Setting: Comm 101 GCC
Topic: The City and the Pillars by Adam Gopnik
Result: A complete class tribal meltdown worthy of quantam physics. What a self preening ass Gopnik is. He comes across as a Sesame Street character with an anti american bend, should this alone not cause a rift in the space-time continuum? I was one of two people expressing opinions in the negative regarding Gopnik. His benefactors came to his rescue singing his praises with exponential usage of the word like. This greatly helped their cause of course. Please make it stop. My life was moving along just fine in the era known as BAM. I was following basic Gawker law of strict avoidance of any of his work along with any other New Yorker happy-bile. *sigh* The terrorists have won.

In closing please pass along my love for commenters Momo, KarenUhOh, Ellagood, Sarahheartburn, conbon, Sexbot, Cajunboy, htotheomo, Mathnet, the demi-god known as Lolcait and the rest who make life just worth living after all. Oh yeah-please marry off Newtojezebel to Adam Gopnik-in theory the positive/negative should cancel each other out.
Got nothin' but love for ya,
GSpot (I can haz commentr privliges?)"

Whaddya think, guys? Can she haz them?

"I Think I Have An E-Crush On Balk"

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:40:08 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"der gwker,

i'm writing to pologie for not ommenting tody—beue you mut be relly upet. the dell tehniin jut fuked with my hit nd now i hve wek aaaaaaaa, wek ccccccc, i'm sssss-lesssssss, nd i'm hving hrd time getting ny zzzzzzzzzz. in ddition, i hould tell you tht i m entirely hiftlesssssssssssss now well.

i wnt the rel.

kthx bi."

"I just started working in publishing, and thus, I just discovered gawker (I'm a big fan of the snarky wit, so, holla). Getting down to it, I was reading the post about modern love, which reminded me of SAVAGE LOVE (in the portland mercury), which is amazing. I guess my point is, look at it and write more pithy goodness?

probably useless, but hey
sarah

p.s. i think i have an e-crush on balk. whoever the fuck he is."

"Seeking clarification on the Arriana Huffington/ Cory Booker relationship. Really, I like fusion, but I don't put strips of baloney in lime kool-aid"

"To the President and Editor,

I broke the story concerning the Bourne Ultimatum advertisement outside of Matt Damon's apartment under a pseudonym email address to GAWKER weeks before THE POST or ANY OTHER MEDIA outlet covered the story. Due to your ineptness and insulated coverage of a news worthy event (including the blockbuster movie of the summer), Gawker will receive no coverage or sprinkle of respite based on your poor or, rather, absent coverage.

[name reluctantly redacted]

P.S. All contacts with celebrities or newsworthy events will be streamlined unequivocally to your competition. Good luck.

Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful.
George Bernard Shaw"

"Why have you not mentioned Toni Senecal's triumphant return from maternity to schlock news on Fox 5? She virtually invented the "stand in the street and be really loud about a fake trend" style of journalism that's the lifeblood of our network broadcasts. Even after the part about wanting a "mocktail" b/c she's a nursing mother? Toni
puts on a few post-baby pounds and you don't acknowledge her - safe place for womyn my ass."

"Jesus Christ, I'm so yay'd up and I'm trying to go to sleep but I can't so I'm just writing to say that I love your website. Except that you should make more fun of that enormous pussy Foer and less of poor balding Frey, because poor balding Frey doesn't deserve it so much; he's just a cracked out and largely demented Hemingway; and Oprah is mostly a bull; and Nan T is incapable of a counter-HARPO blitzkrieg; and Frey is mostly a mediocre writer who unwillingly contracted Severe Over Hype Syndrome. THANKS DUMBSHIT MARKETERS! On the other hand, JSF is a fucking puss, and his nauseating sentimentalization and juvenile stylistics make him worse than that dude who wrote Tuesdays With Morie. Oh, and I cry every time I realize that I spent mad euro on his (Foer's) book — I was vacationing in Nice at the time and wanted a good 'beach book'; Extremely Dumb and Incredibly Lame proved a tragic let-down. Oh, and I think that chick that Emily chick or whoever appears sexily on Red Eye is as hot as they come. MORE RED EYE, PLZ.

P.S. Fuck that Ronson chick!! AND FUCK L.A. Less than zero fuckers etc..

Love from R.I. (yeah, that's right, that fucking tiny place). —P"

"I'm sure you guys will be unimpressed with this one, but US magazine has stolen your "signature analysis" spot....personnally, I would rather read about Kim France's supposed world domination than the Jessicas. omg, did you hear? She's totally datin Justin Timberlake!!! But really, who am I kidding. It's August, things are slow and I'm bored out of my mind too."

TV Watch's Rob Frydlewicz notices something ...

abalk — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:30:07 EDT

TV Watch's Rob Frydlewicz notices something sinister in monster Disney smash High School Musical 2: " However, one quizzical omission dawned on me as I watched. Despite its all-inclusive cast of characters (Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, mixed race, smart, dimwitted, overweight, jocks, even a kid with gay tendencies were all represented), where was the Asian-American kid?" Eh, you know how those kids are, Rob, he was probably studying quietly in the library. [TV Watch]

"The Night I Did Not Sleep with Cuba Gooding Jr."

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:20:52 EDT

Sometimes we get an email so long and detailed that it fulfills our Glaring Omissions quota—in which we reproduce that which is accidentally or purposely overlooked in our inbox—for the entire week. This is that email.

So I checked my facebook account this morning and I have this new note from an NYU student detailing her wild night with Cuba Gooding Jr. (who is married with 3 kids btw) But apparently, not even an NYU
student would sink so low as to sleep with Cuba. I am copy-pasting her extensively detailed version of the event. She titled this note "The Night I Did Not Sleep with Cuba Gooding Jr." Try not to claw your eyes
out.

so after having what i'm 99% sure has been the most bizarre night of my life, hinna suggested i make some diary entry about it for posterity ("yo, you should put that shit in a blog and send it to me!"), so here it is.

the night started with a concert in central park. sam and i got tickets to see fiona apple and nickel creek. i had thought we could take the A train to 72nd street, but apparently after 59th the A goes crazy and goes straight to 125th st. as we began to panic (neither of us can do silly basketball tricks, we'll never fit in!!" one of the people no doubt leading the gentrifying charge basically told us to shut up and take the C back downtown.

once we get to the concert, we realize nickel creek is a tawngy bluegrass band. they were really great, and it was an amazing show, but our first thought was that we stumbled upon a hoedown.

after the first set, we decided that we definitely needed some alcohol, so sam went to get us drinks while i fiercely guarded the spots we shoved so many people aside to get. to my delight, an loud argument starts happening right in front of me. some really intense fiona apple/nickel creek fans were pissed at some other girl on her cell phone. these two girls are going back and forth arguing on and on, with the cell phone chick calling the other one "a stupid fat bitch" (undoubtedly she can't sing either), and "a fat cow". that doesn't seem to get the girl really upset, so the cell phone girl is fed up and THROWS HER BEER IN THE OTHER GIRL'S FACE. now these two ladies are pulling hair, slapping, scratching, wrestling --> a legit
catfight.

i was in heaven, despite being soaked with cheap beer. security didn't come forever and some random guy ended up holding the cell phone girl while the other girl's friends held her back. the cell phone girl
prompty called the guy holding her "a stupid old fag", but before she could toss out any more gems like that security came and took her away.

thinking that was the highlight of my night, i was ready to go home, eat some cheerios, and play nintendo wii. but sam is apparently well connected, and we got into this fancy private party at pink elephant,
which was super super swank. while i was stuck looking like a schlub, sam packed a fancy party dress in her purse, and sweet talked her way into the doorman's bathroom in this fancy luxury high rise apartment building where she changed and instructed me to put on lipgloss.

i hadn't had dinner that night, and i was DELIGHTED that there weredelicious finger foods being passed out. we spent most of the night scoping the room, and trying to put ourselves in the path of the free
drink and free food servers. i saw that guy who was the crazy plastic surgeon in nip/tuck schmoozing, and i was legit star struck.

so the whole time we were at the party, we were scoping the room for people who were dressed worse than me. since i didn't know i was going to the party, i was still wearing my plain jane cotton sundress, and my DIRTY REEF FLIP FLOPS. when you're at a party where there's a table reserved for harvey weinstein you feel a little self conscious about how you're dressed. standing across from me, i see this guy in camo
shorts, flip flops, t-shirt, and a bucket hat. sam and i do a double take, and realize that it's fucking CUBA GOODING JUNIOR!

sam, being the ballsy person she is, goes right over and introduces herself. now let me tell you this, cuba gooding jr is a 100% gentleman. he introduced himself to both of us, and then prompty bought us champagne/vodka cocktails. now that we're in cuba's entourage for the night, we get invited over to the VIP section where the OWNER of pink elephant (the club) and his wife are (she was super nice), these reps from liquor brand (who sponsored the party), and this fancy fashion designer and his boyfriend. i asked the designer where his clothes were, and he sassily replied "saks and bergdorfs", so we were not great friends after that.

now the music at the club was awesome. cuba and i bonded over our love for justin timberlake, and he's dancing all up on me. legit, cuba's crouch is up against me and he is grinding like it's nobody's business.

for anyone that even somewhat knows me, you know i'm the worst dancer ever, so i was having a serious panic attack about what cuba would think of my dancing skills. but he didn't seem too concerned and just
kept coming up to me every time a new song came on.

it's getting late for a tuesday, and the club starts emptying out. cuba's manager keeps coming up and asking sam and me what we're doing afterwards, and we keep giggling like idiots and saying "i don't
knoooow, we'll see!!". at this point i remember that sam had told me she'd eaten nothing more than a banana and half a salad all day, and it's almost midnight. the drunker she gets, the more and more
personable she becomes! that girl put so many business cards in her bra, i can not believe it. she was even asking the fashion designer to check out her boobs and say if he thought they looked lumpy with all
the stuff in her bra (he assured her she looked fine).

meanwhile, i've been texting jen all night, and i'm trying DESPERATELY to tell her what's going on. i'm trying to be super slick and not let cuba see how star struck i am, but i'm drunk and i'm bad at it. all
night i'm texting jen "WHATEVER YOU DO ANSWER YOUR PHONE WHEN I CALL YOU!!!", and she's freaking out. she keeps asking me if i'm ok and what's going on, and when i try to explain, all i can quickly send out is "cuba". so i leave jen with that thought and continue my night of partying with cgj.

all of a sudden i notice sam is coughing a lot. a lot. like if we were in a movie i'd start checking her handkerchief for spots of blood and weep when i discover that she has consumption. but it's not a movie,
and i think the girl is just drunk. sure enough, sam grabs me and tells me we have to leave ASAP. so i start making our goodbyes, and the owner of pink elephant puts his arm me and goes "you do know who
you guys are hanging out with, right?", and i make some lame excuse to get away. i go to cuba and tell him sam isn't feeling well (i know, i sold her out to look cool to cuba), and as we're talking he's running
his hands up my legs, pinching my thigh, etc. he asks me what i'm doing "later on", and then goes "i just want to hook up" (exactly what he said i swear on my life).

now, lord knows why, but i'm just not in the mood to have sex with an oscar winner that night (well at least THAT oscar winner, helen mirren - you know my number) so i tell him how i have to help my roommate move the next morning. sam goes and makes her goodbyes, and makes a giant liar out of me by spending a good five minutes cuddling with cuba, not looking one bit sick.

so we peace out of there, and jump in a cab. of course sam has to pee URGENTLY, so we split a cab home. the whole ride home she's asking me why we didn't stay, and why we didn't get cuba gooding jr's phone
number. i explained to her many times that he doesn't give out his number to random girls in nightclubs, but she was very disappointed.

of course in the cab we both called anyone we thought would still be awake. when i talked to hinna, her first comment was "yo, isn't that guy married? dude, that's low." so i do some wikipedia-ing, and sure
enough, cuba is married with 3 kids. for shame cuba!

Earlier: Glaring Omissions

"Don't Worry I'm Black So This Isn't Racist"

Choire — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:20:52 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often). N.B. What an amazing week of glare! Keep those cards and letters coming!

hi young and vivacious gawker. here's a photo of perez hilton at his party earlier tonight in nyc. celebrating something. my gift to you. maybe just credit it to me, and plug my book (the real meaning of life). people have heard of it, except not really. and be gentle. thanks, David Seaman

Urgent in re: Race-Baiting Craigslist announcement #392787232
Hello:

A most disturbing help-wanted announcement currently on Craigslist alleges that Gawker is teaming up with Jossip to create a new, race-baiting blog to be called Milk.

I am copying the announcement below in this e-mail.

Please reply to everybody receiving THIS message stating whether you actually intend to launch Milk or if this is some kind of a prank somebody is pulling on you.

Notice that I have included in the cc list an official of the NAACP, and Al Sharpton.

Your promptest possible response is expected, and refusal to supply one would become part of eventual news reports on this topic.

Note also that if you were to inform us all that this was a prank, we would expect that you would most energetically pursue those placing this announcement and any such announcements in the future, and we would expect never to see such a site as Milk started by Gawker and/or Jossip or any of their affiliates. In other words, were you to claim now that the announcement was a prank in order to throw us off the trail, there would be a comeuppance over that for you.

I apologize in advance if you knew nothing of this matter and actually object to the placement of that CL ad in your name. If you are decent, you will understand why we are being so forceful in this matter. You will also contact craig@craigslist.org and have the announcement removed immediately.

Sincerely,

Scott Rose
Don't worry I'm black so this isn't racist. I'm walking up to 125th on 8th ave and in the gravel open parking lot next to the magic johnson theater are assembled a group of people for a funeral. I see a "prayer station" so I as whose funeral it is. Homegirl says oh its a play. My face contorts live I've NEVER done. She says, "see that's what we want to draw attention" I walk away in shock disbelief terror etc. As I leave the actor who is the widow starts wailing progressively louder. I hear this over my ipod because it gets louder and longer. I hate us. I think I hate me for drawing more attention to it in hopes of something incredibly bitchy (via the comments if nothing) to read at work tomorrow.
Hey Gawker,
I wanted to check in, it's been a while since we talked. I found your blog to be a valuable source of information, and I liked your take on how would you blow up america.

We have new features and resources coming on line all of the time. Our most recent developments out of our pipeline include the ability to send any property searched on our website to your cell phone... [etc. etc.]
playgirl has a website - playgirl.com.
New York magazine error: If you compare page 53 of the Ten Little Cities feature in the new issue w/ the online version, you can see that #9 Cuckoo Club is missing from the web version. Probably because they got the item totally wrong. The Cuckoo Club party is still going strong @ Maritime, not at Gansevoort, at least it was 4 nights ago. They must have gotten confused w/ the early evening party ONO does.
Dear Gawker Media,
Thank you for not running any stories on the Gawker site about the "news" of Caroline Hanover and her facebook antics. While I figured that schlock like that would end up on one of your sites (I just checked Wonkette about three minutes ago), I am very impressed that you chose to bypass the coverage, despite the story being on the front page of every second-tier newspaper in New York City. This shows a lot of diginity and class on your behalf, and by not running the story, you have proven yourself better than several other institutions, including Harvard University, The Harvard Crimson, Slate, the Washington Post, and CNN to name a few. As an avid reader and frequent commenter, I greatly appreciate this and hope that you continue to keep up the good work and high standards I have come to expect.
HI TONIGHT THE MGR. (MARTIN) AT A PRIVATE PARTY ON THE ROOF AT SUSHI SAMBA # 87 7TH AVE SOUTH.. NYC. FOUND OUT THAT ONE FAKE BIIL CUNNINGHAM FROM THE NY TIMES WAS IN EATING AND DRINKING FOR FREE WHEN CONFRONTED PETER GIANQUINTO RAN FOR THE DOOR SO FAST MARTIN DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO "HAVE HIM ARESTED" HE AS ALWAYS HAS GAINED ENTRANCE PLUS 2 OR 3 GUESTS WITH THE POWER OF USING THE NY TIMES AS HIS SCAM... THEY CAN ALMOST NEVER GET TO CALL BACK TO CHECK OUT IF BILL REALLY DID CALL PETER G ALSO SCAMS CONCERT TICKETS BY USING DAVE BROWN MGT OR OTHER BAND MGR. NAMES FOR COMP SEAT THAT HE THEN SELLS AT THE GARDEN FOR TOP $$ A CALL TO SUSHI SAMBA WILL PROVE THIS TRUE GOOD LUCK IN LOCKING UP THE SCAM ARTIST....
Reggie Cameron has sent you a News Story from the PoliceOne daily News.
Message: This is just too good. I wish all I had to do is give a BJ to get out of tickets/arrest! And on a cop..i''''ve got a semi just thinking about it
i know i can't substantiate this claim with a photo or any other witnesses, but take it as you will: today, when when i realized i couldn't catch the 4 train from 86th street due to floods, i headed west in hopes of catching the 2 train downtown on the other side of the park. before i could get there, i black SUV pulled up as I was waiting at a light with a woman trying, hopelessly, to catch a cab. the man driving was the actor kevin kline. he offered both of us a ride....said he was headed to midtown. the other woman was a physical therapist in her thirties. he told us in the car "in times like these, we all just need to help each other out". He told me about the early days of his acting career, I told him about my band [NAME REDACTED] and invited him to our show at Cake Shop on the 31st of August. He said he plays in a band himself, is a big music fan and would love to! We'll see...anyways, I figure most people only write in to report the moments celebrities would rather not have hit the papers and that they deserved credit where credit's due. Believe me or not, Kevin Kline was offering rides to strangers to help out when the subway was down.
Deborah Schoeneman added you as a friend on Facebook... Deborah added you as a friend on Facebook. We need you to confirm that you are, in fact, friends with Deborah.
To confirm this friend request, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?reqs.php

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

"Just Like Fresh Needle Marks On A Heroin-Addicted Hooker's Toes"

Choire — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:15:29 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

This joker should send his latest efforts directly to Lifetime TV. I am sure Robert Browning would have done the same thing had Elizabeth Barrett run off with Algernon Swinburne. Or better yet, maybe they should get their own reality TV Show. Ah, when two needy egocentric idiots collide, Sweet music fills the air!!!

i was really drunk last night. oh shit! it is still last night. and now i am really fucking wasted, dammnit. i am, SO in fucking trouble.

I read your commentary about cab drivers and thought you'd find the following interesting.

Last night around 830 PM, en route to an amazing event sponsored by the Clinton Foundation I got a cab. Just after getting in the following initial dialogue with the cab driver took place:

Me: 51st and 7th
Cupid Cab Driver ("CCD"): OK, how are you sir?
Me: Great, how are you
CCD: Great
Silence for about 3 minutes as I check my e-mails/voicemails (noticing that he is looking at me a lot, which seems odd)
CCD: Are you single?
Me: Yes
CCD: Are you Jewish?
Me: No
CCD: Do you know who I am
Me: No
CCD: I've been on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, on the Today show

He then goes on to tell me he is Ahmed Ibrahim and he is the "cupid cab driver" He shows me a copy of the WSJ he was featured in, photos of him on the Today show, etc. He also explains that he finds it interesting that there are so many amazing single people in this City and that he estimates that there are about 5 single women for every man in NYC. He asks me how old I am and I tell him 30 and he then says that I should start thinking about getting into a serious relationship and he has several women he thinks I might like. He shows me pictures of some of them but says that he does not currently have a photo of the one he thinks I would really like but he will e-mail it to me. I later give him my business card and he said that he will set me up with up to 5 (if the previous presumably don't work out) but said that he would suggest counseling if none of them work out (kidding).

Oh he also said that he may have his own reality show soon and then we talk about my ALMOST 15 minutes of fame (I was called by ABC Studios to do "The Bachelor" about a year and a half ago but turned it down because my serious gf at the time said that i was not allowed (exact quote you are SOOOO not a bachelor, alas).

Soooo cabbies can be helpful AND entertaining...

Also, I must say that the event last night was amazing, Jeffrey Wright spoke about his experiences visiting Africa (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942482/) as did Bill Clinton (he gave a speech that actually had a broader focus) and John Legend played some songs (fantastic).

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm copying this letter to the most read and respected MEDIA INDUSTRY news blog I know of in Manhattan for their excerpt and publication at will.

It's not shock to me or anyone that Kinko's customer service policy seems to generally reflect the attitude that "the customer is always wrong and often completely S.O.L." However, I was still surprised tonight by the following: After being informed by two of your floor associates at 72nd and Broadway (Zip 10023) that neither they nor I could perform the fairly simple task of scanning some B&W documents with the use of a document feeder, I approached the front desk and asked a third employee, "is there a manager I can speak with?" His response was, "Hold on and just calm down a minute." I then explained, "Nothing is wrong, and I just want to know if there is a manager I could speak with?" His second response was "Don't give me your Tough Man attitude," and then he walked away.

I'm just writing to tell you that I have had at least a dozen experiences like this at that location and others. I was also called "A LIAR" on one occasion when I complained about some misinformation one of your employees gave me that resulted in my requesting a credit, and the manager just shrugged his shoulders then too!

I want share my opinion of your operations with you and others. I'm as a 31 year old New Yorker that has used that location only about 15 times (and I repeat, have had appalling experiences on at least 12 of those occasions) Your employees have a customer service ethic that is worse than that of any employee at a McDonald's or any other fast-food restaurant I have ever been served at. They are less present as fellow human beings during a transaction than the proprietor of any corner newsstand in Manhattan. They are slower and less friendly than the employees of any of the chains of drugstores at every corner of this island. They are angrier than any mass transit employee or any other state or local employee of New York City (including the Sanitation Dept) that I have ever encountered in a crowdc. And every one of them is consistently less helpful than a cab driver with a dented fender coming to a complete stop in the middle of traffic in Times Square causing a mile wide radiating backup at 8:45 on a Monday morning so that he can get out of the vehicle and argue with the bleeding bike messenger he just hit about whose fault the accident was despite the fact that neither of them speaks a lick of any common language, and all the while pointing a gun at the rider and demanding payment for the fare that continues to increase on the running meter and having not so much as a dime to his disposal to make change for the payment he's demanding in the most absurd of all possible scenarios that I or anyone could possibly think of. Scary thing is, it's not absurd. These things happen all the time, and just like those traffic jams, and the incomprehensible loudspeaker announcements that the subway is skipping your stop, things like this will continue to happen at Kinko's every hour of every day. Just like fresh needle marks on a heroin-addicted hooker's toes, there's always one open somewhere.

Anonymous

Yesterday I had a surreal experience.... I had a PLEASANT shopping experience in a Duane Reade - the employees were cheerful, helpful, and competent! And now I'm realizing that this is always the case at this particular store branch - It's the one on Broadway near Bleeker Street. Phrases such as "Can I help you find anything?" (followed by the employee actually walking me to where they keep the contact solution) and "Let me know if I can help you find anything else." and "How is your day going today?" and "Have a great evening." were spoken by several employees within the 10 minutes I was there shopping.

I just wanted to see if others have had the same experience and also to give these employees the recognition they deserve. And here's to be a jaded New Yorker, where this actually makes me happy enough to take the time to write an email about it.

My name is Kelly and I represent Grail clothing. I have noticed that you often feature Leigh Lezark on Gawker.com and I would love to send her some goodies. Do you happen to know her publicists information or how I could get a hold of her to send some clothes her way?

Did you homos know that Gawker.com is listed as a news outlet on the left side of the Drudge Report? I guess that means you've arrived. Homos.

"I Just Joined Yesterday. How Can I Be Banned?"

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:30:46 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"Actually, I have to tell you, there really are no fat people at Wesleyan. I went there and I didn't know one fat person. I even talked about it with my friends a couple of times - why are there no fat people here?!?"

"Honestly, I just joined yesterday. How can I be banned?"

"79th btwn 1st./2nd. Two people who have been getting it on for the past hour in the small patio/park. not famous yet but they will be once i sell this video i just made. sleazy cool summer night table top public park sex. does that count?"

"So anyone can comment now? It used to be one had to prove their wittiness, but now the comments section is no better than Perez Hilton or WWTDD. WTF? Homos."

"MY NAME IS JENIFER BUTLER, I AND MY HUSBAND ARE ON A CHRISTAIN MISSION TO AFRICA AND I CAME ALONG WITH MY PUPPY. AFTER A WHILE I NOTICE THAT THE AFRICAN WEATHER IS NOT GOOD FOR THE PUPPY AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF HIM THE WAY I ALWAYS DO BECAUSE OF MY JOB. I NEED A SOMEONE TO ADOPT HIM AND TAKE CARE OF HIM THE WAY I ALWAYS DO. IF YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM DO SEND A REPLY AND I WILL EMAIL YOU HIS PICTURES. I HOPE TO READ FROM YOU.
REGARDS,
JENIFER."

"Would you please consider sending readers to my site to participate in a poll about water conservation and toilet flushing. Thanks"

"The ugliest women in HR win hands down at the NYSE...forget about brown baggers, try industrial size black heavy duty garbage bags or dumpsters. Dale Bernstein, who testified that she played with the numbers for Dick Grasso's compensation runs NYSe, she is known as the Refridgerator with Arms and claws, he deputy Diane Moreno, is a creature so ugly, the cracks compact mirrors a mile away."

"Emily,

My client, Chris Fabricant is an expert at criminal drug law and the author of the irreverent "Busted! Drug War Survival Skills" (HarperPerennial) He's got some funny/smart things to say about the Lindsey's "The coke in my pocket wasn't mine" defense. Though that defense has worked well for other celebs (Carmelo Anthony - drugs in his knapsack, Willie Nelson - drugs in the tour bus) being in her own jeans pocket sets a new standard for places others would stash their drugs. Chris can be reached at [redacted] or call me if you want to talk about it.

Thanks and I hope you are well.

Adam"

"If I want your approval, ..... Where are my comments?"

"post a video of Josh dancing, shirtless if possible. if that is not possible just post more pictures of him. And demand that he grows his hair. I think we all miss the curls."

Earlier:Glaring Omissions

Forgive My Pardiness

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:50:01 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"Do Want to Meet the Gawkers—I'm new here so please forgive my pardiness, but the following comment on the Double-Beardedness post got me thinking: "karen uh-oh and tedsez" ARE there any good Gawker/Gawker-commenter love connection stories to tell?"

"You got an email from Sam Rauch? But...Sam Rauch has been dead for 15 years."

"To Whom It May Concern,
I am outraged by the 'Harry Potter' And The Jewish Problem article posted on Gawker.com. The article does not objectively report a story, but is clearly Anti-Semitic and written in an extremely derogatory
tone. I am aware that you can never please all readers —but a respectful publication like Gawker, should not publish hate articles. Please take the article down, as it is offensive."

Hello,friend. We are china supplier .we sell a lot of goods.If u need crocs,we have real anc copy beach style now. Real 13$ each with shipped,minimum 100 pair.copy beach 10$ each wit shipped."

"Aren't there supposed to be weekend editors? Then where the hell are the weekend posts? MUST. HAVE. MANHATTAN. GOSSIP."

"Its official, google thinks of you as a news source... Instant credibility!"

"We're so glad we have been in contact with you over the past month about Women Center Stage, a multi-disciplinary festival featuring women artists whose work calls attention to human struggles globally."

"Dear Ladies and Gentleman:

Thank you very much please for your inquistion about our October 2007 group rates. They are here:

0-10 peoples: $7.99 for hour
11-20 peoples: $7.59 for hour
21-30 peoples: $6.99 for hour
31-40 peoples: $5.99 for hour (they must be clean before and after)

Please send numbers now so we can save the space for you and your group."

"Does Gawker have a softball team? Homos."

Earlier:Glaring Omissions

There Aren't Any Gay People Where I Come From

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:00:41 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"Dear Choire,
I was impressed with your wonderful site. It really helps me keep up to speed with current trends and news."

"magnolia bakery shutting down!—what's going on and why am i first hearing of this on cbs 2 instead of "oh so hip and cutting edge" gawker.com?"

"Seeing a lot of petty insults and name-calling on comments lately. Would you guys please consider reminding commenters about common courtesy, etc. etc? It seems many have forgotten their manners."

"Tim Gunns Tips for over Forty??? That was the most ridiculous list I have ever seen. I can understand not showing, navels, or under garments, too much cleavage, or mini skirts, short shorts..... But, that list was not even fair for Grandma. Give me a break.......where are you sending us boomers back to? The 50's? You need to fire the gay guy that wrote it for you.... Shame on you Grandpa..."

"Found this on Craigslist today, in Retail Jobs/NYC. I work in retail. This as is a microcosm of what's wrong with twenty-something women in NYC today. They are daffy, ditzy, cupcake- eating, over-sized sunglass-wearing airheads who think a pair of flip-flops and a smile will get them somewhere when in reality, the only place they're going is deeper into debt on their credit cards and deeper into a cesspool of STDs, social ignorance and twatwaffledom. I have gas, so I'm a little cranky. But please...this ad!

"how do i unsubscribe?"

"Good for your pop. Corporations have been screwing people into the ground for a long, long time. It is an affront to society that bitches and assholes continue the charade, and make it WORSE for others and future generations by allowing it to continue. There aren't any gay people where I come from. Really. There aren't. He totally lives in fag town. Good god. It was over in December after his worthless pathetic ass and his gay fag crew did that. Mature, I tell ya.

Who wants to get between a nasty dried up whore and nasty brown twenty something fag. Not I. He's a total bitchin loser, and not normal, so Hemmer & Co. have been telling me. Whatever. Do you want your dad, or cars and ipods? Cause that's what it is. No chance-ery in hell I'm contagious. I just don't like anyone."

"Firearm Related Link Exchange—My name is Kyle and I am the administrator of a new and fasting growing firearms discussion forum. I am writing to you today to inquire about a link exchange between our two websites. This is not a bulk spam message. I searched for specific websites and found your e-mail address through your website. We are being very selective on who we contact and how many links we exchange with to avoid link farming.

If you are interested please e-mail me back and let me know what description you want me to use for your website. Here is the wording we would like for you to use:

FirearmsTalk.com - Firearms, Guns & Weapons community discussion forums. Galleries, Reviews, Articles, Links and much more."

Earlier:Glaring Omissions

You Pompass Prick

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:30:05 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"Where is your coverage of Miss New Jersey and her extortion story, and where are the Facebook pics?? Can Donald Trump save Amy Polumbo too??? We want pics!
Yours,
The unwashed"

"To be honest, I haven't figured out how to use it, but one more syntactically advanced than me should be able to apply this to your posts and KarenUhOh's comments that reach a certain level of pithiness: Sargasm. Take it. It's yours."

"Hi, I came across your blog this morning through Salon.com's Broadsheet, and the content seems to mesh well with the mission of Women Center Stage - a multi-disciplinary festival featuring women artists whose calls attention to human struggles across the globe."

"Fall Preview Issue—Dear Choire Sicha,
My name is Paula Navratil and I am writing from Columbia University's Office of Public Affairs. We would like to be able to submit arts events for your Fall Preview Issue, if you have one. We need to know the deadline, to whom (contact info) and how we should submit events. Thank you for your help!"

"I have "written" an empty book to see if a book with almost no words can become a bestseller. I need help finding someone to fund a little advertising for the book. do you like the idea."

"Dear Sirs,

In keeping with Gawker's "fresh" and hip content I'd like to introduce you a unique sister blog concept.

Introducing Miamihattan.

Miamihattan connects the historical, emotional, and cultural vibe between these two dynamic cities as never before.

MIAMIHATTAN would add to your content and further distinguish Gawker as the premier New York blog, continuing to bring your readers the VERY best content!"

"I have a video of paris shopping in hawaii if interseted email me"

"Check out Salon today, they've peppered their page with pictures of asses — literally."

"Do you know what's so special about the date 6/21/07?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuFR3vxoVkk

It's the official date of probably the best holiday
America has to offer: Go Skateboarding Day!"

"Hey, you know you pompass prick who runs this site, I have submitted several sightings to you in the past and you have never posted them on your site! What's the point in having a site if you don't post half the good shit!???!! I'm not sending you anymore tips, I am using another site now, that's what you get for ignoring some of us asshole!"

"So maybe the gays are into the next best phone but so are a lot of low income families. I am a Head Start teacher (which is an "income eligible" preschool program if you didn't know) and I amazed at how many of our parents who don't work have the latest and greatest cell phones. They all have the blue tooth thing-y too. My best home visit story was about 3 years ago when we walked into an apartment with no furniture but they had a giant plasma screen mounted on the wall so we sat on the floor and discussed whatever."

Earlier:Glaring Omissions

Lorenzo Borghese Is Not A Prince

Doree Shafrir — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:55:15 EDT

Glaring Omissions reproduces tips received from readers in the last week that weren't covered on Gawker, either by accident (it happens!) or by design (it happens more often).

"No one has seen Maura Tierney??? She is in NYC and I have a site description of her walking a new black pug."

"HELLO
PLZ DO U CARRY couch WHAT SIZE WHAT TYPE DO YOU HAVE AND WHAT IS THE PRICE OF IT AND WHAT TYPE OF CREDIT CARDS DO YOU TAKE FOR PAYMENT?
THANK YOU"

just wrighting coz i read that article about the team zissou shoes. [Ed. Note: Umm from like three years ago. I think I wrote it and I don't even remember it.] your a god damn no talent ass clown. maybe someone just liked the way the damn shoes looked and wanted them, not just coz they saw them on the screen in there living room that feeds them bullshit. my advice to you is stop tellin people what you think they should do, or why you think they like something and go ahead and kill yourself. thanks [Ed. Note: P.S. Didn't you already get in touch with us?]

"Balloon fetish: Attn Emily Gould—Hi Emily if this has reached you. Caught your comments on balloon fetish on Fox news. Was hoping to follow up. I didn't catch it on TV, but clips get around that community quick as it is larger than you may think. I was thrilled it had a defensive tone to it =) The person you were responding to didn't seem to have done much research on it, but did have a good guess with associating it with inflatable exercise equipment. Wasn't sure if you were doing a piece as well on your site, but I have a oddly addressed site with more information you may be able to use at http://carefreeblowjobs.net The links section may be able to aid you as well. Take it easy"

"Sir/Madam,

The BBC's report on the lack of social mobility in the UK (10 o'clock News 25/06/07) was a triumph of government propaganda. The BBC said that this lack of social mobility was due to the dominance of our private schools - but it studiously FAILED to mention that this dominance of private schooling and lack of social mobility is also directly coincident with the destruction of our grammar schools.

[Ed. Note: Five insanely dull paragraphs deleted.]

Repeated failures by the BBC to reveal the whole truth to the people of Britain means that it is time the BBC was closed down. It has long ceased to be the independent arbiter of balanced news, deep investigative analysis and instructional documentaries that it once was. Indeed, it has no purpose now except to regurgitate government propaganda, and so it should be put out of its misery. Close it down and expel all those luvvies from their liberal BBC bubble, and let them see what the real (selective and competitive) world is all about.

Yours, Ralph Ellis"

"I know the time to bring this fact to everyone's attention has come and gone, but Lorenzo Borghese is not a prince. There is currently only one Princess Borghese, living in Rome, and her son (then his son) will be the next to inherit the title. The family doesn't recognize the American "di Borghese" branch, and give them no honor whatsoever. ABC was clever enough to market this guy (would a real Italian prince graduate from some shit-hole college in FL?) as a prince based on the fact that his American grandmother married the cousin of the real prince, came to the states, used his money to build a cosmetics business, and left a very middle-class legacy. Do some research, you'll see this guy is just another Jersey Eye-talian lucky enough to have been a Network Ho for a season, bought and paid for.
M :o)"

"I did not get to see the finale until last week since I was on vacation. I had to watch it several times to absorb it. I went online to read the theories about the finale, one of which was yours, and was disappointed that not one person picked up on a major storyline: that regarding AJ.

First, let me say, I feel there was a lot of foreshadowing in the episode. As to AJ, first, I believe that when his SUV went up in flames, that was foreshadowing AJ watching his dad being gunned down right in front of him. Right after AJ and his girlfriend rolled down the embankment and were watching the flames engulf his SUV, the Bob Dylan song that was playing was right at the lyrics that said, "and with nothing left to live up to." I feel the car symbolized the death of Tony allowing AJ to not have to live up to him anymore. Also, perhaps the flames represent the flames of hell that Tony will be soon burning in.

Second, when AJ was in his therapy session discussing the burning of his SUV, he tells the therapist that he is kind of glad it did burn up. The therapist asks him if that is because the SUV was polluter and he replies that he feels cleansed with the loss of the SUV and that we need to get rid of our dependence on foreign oil. This scene is really about what AJ is going to feel about the loss of his father. The word polluter refers to Tony since he worked in waste management. This clearly foreshadows AJ's feelings that he is going to have with the loss of his father.

AJ could never live up to his dad and now that Tony is gone, AJ is free to be who he wants to be. This brings me to my third point. After witnessing his dad's murder right in front him sitting in that booth (despite the conflict he had with his dad), AJ becomes angry and ends up going into the "family business" and actually succeeds him as acting boss (at some point). I believe this because there was time spent dealing with AJ's desire to join the army after being angry about things happening in Afghanistan which foreshadows his anger over the wacking of his dad and consequently his desire to join mob family. The scene where Tony picks him up while jogging up the hill, Tony tells AJ to get in the car. This getting in the car foreshadows AJ getting into the family business. When Tony is watching AJ run, he starts singing the Rocky theme, "gonna fly now." AJ is going to fly now in succeeding his dad in the mob family. Also, in the final scene in the booth, Tony reaches out and grabs AJ's hand. I believe this is symbolic of AJ becoming a made man. Tony's gesture here foreshadows this. Thus, AJ will become a made man and become acting boss which is one reason for the Journey song which contains the lyrics, "it goes on and on and on." In other words, the mob family and mob life keeps going on and on.

Paulie retires and lives life in the sun (remember Paulie holding up the reflector to get tanned?)

As to Carmela, she finds life in her real estate business. Towards the end when she is looking at the blueprint of a house that foreshadows her new house and new life to come sans Tony.

As to Meadow, I think her difficulty in parallel parking foreshadows that she will be having difficulty in her career since she was going to work at a law firm that conflicts with Tony's businesses. There are some hard times ahead for her.

But David Chase wanted us to "don't stop believing(that the mob way of life can come to end and not go on and on), and hold on to that feeling (our feeling that things can be good from seeing Tony, Carm & AJ happy together in that final scene)." Unfortunately, due to the criminal Tony was, which David Chase reminded us all season long, it did suddenly stop with his death and the death of our very beloved show which was forever taken from us. (There will be no movie.) But life does go on and on.

That's what I learned.
Thanks.
Leslie R."

"Dear Gawker,
Orzo: pasta or rice? Need to know by 5:15 p.m. ET today.
Thanks,
Brock"

Earlier:Glaring Omissions

Now We Also Hate Miranda July

Emily Gould — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:30:50 EDT

A bunch of people are perpetually and loudly super-annoyed by indie director-author Miranda July, who is inevitably described as "elfin" or "pixieish" or "ethereal" in profiles, but we've only ever been able to get mildly peeved at her. Mostly because the ))<>(( scene in Me You and Everyone We Know made us actually squirt Coke out our nose (no, not into someone else's nose forever). But on page 32 of this month's Jane, she squandered that goodwill by recommending a book by someone that you've never heard of but who we absolutely despise. The reason you've never heard of him is that we have been doing our utmost to protect you from his spammy, retarded, deceptive, always on the verge of interesting but never actually interesting Internet stunts. But we've long been planning an all Tao Lin edition of Glaring Omissions and, well, today's the day.

It begins:

Hello,

I'm a hot young (b. 1983) writer who went to NYU. My forthcoming books have ironic covers. Miranda July is inside the novel. I'm ambitious, sexy, and intelligent. My IQ is 173. I recognize both existential truths and the necessity of politics for a meaningful existence.

Though all meaning is arbitrary it can still be used as a tool just like arbitrary rules can be created to make life "better." I hope you understand.

I hope you recognize that I'm hot, young, that I went to NYU, and have ironic book-covers. I think you know what all this means.

Sincerely,
Tao Lin

More spam along these lines followed. MUCH MORE. Like, sometimes every day. And then, there was a Craigslist ad so obnoxious it almost had to be fake, about five writers looking to share an intern. We pursued it for four emails until we got this one:

This is Tao Lin right now. I shouldn't speak for the other people. I wrote the posting. It cost $25. It is "for real." I have assigned tasks to many interns already. If you want to help me get more interns that would be good. I want army of interns. I met my publisher today and he kept saying, "Army of interns."

Tao Lin strikes again! Oh, and: a sincere applicant to the"intern army" forwarded us this email Tao Lin had sent her in response to her email about employment:

Dear Alice,

Thank you for applying to be an intern. I accept you. I am one of the five writers. My name is Tao Lin. My books, EEEEE EEE EEEE and BED, are forthcoming from Melville House Publishing. I have flyers for those books with Miranda July blurb on them. I would like for you to superglue flyers for my books onto Starbucks windows and also inside Starbucks, on their sofas and walls. It would be good if you could cover an entire glass window with my 4x6 glossy, two-sided flyers. You can do this at 3 a.m. If you get caught and get in trouble that is okay. That is part of this internship. Let me know if you are interested and I'll mail you about 200 flyers. You can start with the Astor place Starbucks. I'll have more tasks for you after this.

Sincerely,

Tao Lin

Of course Alice was surely Tao Lin too. Since then, Tao Lin has kept us apprised of his daily activities way more than our actual friends do. "good morning. i am going to baltimore today. i am going to read in baltimore. at atomic pop. have a good day. i will be emailing you again soon," reads a representative missive.

It's like being poked on Facebook every hour by someone you don't know or like but the Facebook is your email.

Tao Lin, I know you're reading this. I just want you to know that because of your ill-conceived self-marketing strategy, you have 100% guaranteed that I will never read your damned book with its oh-so-wacky title. Dennis Cooper might love you, but that doesn't mean a thing to us. (Hey, maybe he'll chop you up!) Your publicity games aren't a play on fame-seeking or celebrity culture. Actually, you're maybe perhaps the single most irritating person we've ever had to deal with—and you wouldn't believe our in-box. Stop it. Stop it now. And now we will go back to never mentioning you again.