The New York Post
God is Dead (And Other Explanations for The Love Guru)
In a recent New Yorker essay on the subject of theodicy, James Wood wrote:
Theologians and philosophers talk about 'the problem of evil,' and the hygienic phrase itself bespeaks a certain distance from extreme suffering, the view from a life inside the charmed circle. They mean the classic difficulty of how we justify the existence of suffering and iniquity with belief in a God who created us, who loves us, and who providentially manages the world.
With this philosophical framework in mind, let's look at some of the reviews of Mike Myers' The Love Guru.
"A whole new vocabulary seems to be required. To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious.
Report: Judge Throws Out Jared Paul Stern Lawsuits
The Associated Press is reporting that the defamation lawsuit brought by former New York Post writer Jared Paul Stern against Ron Burkle, The New York Daily News, and Bill and Hillary Clinton has been dismissed by State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub. (This comes via Jim Romenesko.)
In April 2006, The Observer's Choire Sicha profiled Mr. Stern at his Catskills cottage and reported on his book deal which was subsequently cancelled .
Magical Mystery Junket a Blogging Success
This was a tough weekend for a certain segment within the media community, but together, they got through it.
It started out with excitement on Friday: A journalistic fact-finding mission to Las Vegas. But even before the plane took off, some key members of the expedition almost didn't make it. Thankfully, they arrived safely and twittered word that others had arrived as well (perhaps a bit blurry), despite the fact that the trip's sponsors did not pay for their transportation to the airport. read more »
During the flight, something happened on the ground involving someone in media, which they agreed was
A Very Local Angle On Times Climb-gate Story
While The New York Daily News and The New York Post had identical takes on yesterday's double publicity stunt at The New York Times Building, one Post employee managed to find a new angle on the story. Herself. read more »
Obama on Murdoch and Media Consolidation
Barack Obama said today that voters had a right to be concerned about media consolidation and when “Rupert Murdoch has his eyes on a lot of different media outlets.”
The comment, made at an outdoor talk with a few dozen voters in Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, was in response to a question from a voter concerned about how media consolidation impacts the freedom of the press. read more »
Bidding War Over Newsday?
Ante up!
Now suddenly everyone is interested in Newsday. The New York Times is reporting that a Manhattan media blockbuster trio is "in discussions" to buy the Melville-based newspaper: Rupert Murdoch, James Dolan and Mort Zuckerman. Sam Zell decides who's the winner.
It sets up a satisfying auction between Mr. Murdoch (Post-owner) and Mr. Zuckerman (Daily News-owner) and Mr. Dolan, who owns MSG, the Knicks, Rangers and Cablevision. read more »
New York Post Editorial Writer A Stand-Up Guy
Robert A. George is an associate editor for the New York Post's editorial page and he needs your help. He's performing stand-up comedy tonight at the New York Comedy Club on East 24th Street and he sent out an e-mail to friends and supporters: read more »
Eye Witnesses: Reporters Figure Out Hillary's Muskie Moment From Behind
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Reporters were mostly only half-listening moments before Hillary Clinton's eyes welled up with tears in a coffee shop here early this afternoon.
It was another of the increasing number of hour-plus gatherings put on by her campaign, and the majority of the reporters were scrolling around on Blackberrys or reading the newspaper or whispering to one another about the ubiquitous but somehow unmentionable Chelsea Clinton. read more »
After a Dramatic Departure, Post Names New City Editor
Last week, the New York Post’s deputy metro editor Michelle Gotthelf was on vacation, renovating her home in New Jersey. Meanwhile, the editorial structure of her section of the paper was falling apart: On the night of Monday, Dec. 10, metro editor Dan Colarusso unexpectedly quit, leaving a team of assistant editors to fill in on the fly.
And so, on her first day back to work on Monday, Dec. 17, Ms. Gotthelf hastily met with editor in chief Col Allan, who named her the new metro editor. read more »
Post City Editor Quits, Says Gawker [UPDATED]
According to Gawker, New York Post city editor Dan Colarusso quit last night. One source inside the newsroom describes the mood: "Devastated. No one's too happy, not a good day."
Media Mob has an e-mail out to Post spokesman Steven Rubenstein, and is awaiting comment.
UPDATE: A spokesman declined comment.
A source familiar with the details confirmed, however, that Mr. Colarusso handed in his resigntion.
Post’s New Gossip Glossy Struggles for Traction
More than eight weeks since Page Six Magazine went weekly, a portrait of the Sunday supplement’s prospects is beginning to emerge—and it’s decidedly mixed. read more »
Julian Schnabel's Pink Palazzo Snags Richard Gere
When The Post reported earlier this week that Richard Gere wanted to buy into Julian Schnabel’s glorious new Palazzo Chupi in the far West Village, they said the Buddhist thespian needed to sell his Sullivan Street townhouse before he could afford a new place with Schnabel.
But as we pointed out Wednesday, Mr. Gere actually sold his Sullivan townhouse ages ago--and for a record price. So naturally news comes today, from the Wall Street Journal, that the actor has gone and bought a sprawl at Chupi (which Mr. Schnabel oddly insists is not pink but red.)
Sadly, no Gere purchase price is given.
Is he somehow a more appropriate buyer than the banker William J.B. Brady? When The Observer reported that Mr. Brady had paid $15.5 million for the first Chupi apartment, Curbed pointed out that Mr. Schnabel’s building “was supposed to be the rebirth of the salon--an exclusive enclave of the most talented and creative (and wealthy) minds around."
My Roommate, the Streaker
My old roommate Josh Drimmer was on the cover of The New York Post this morning—naked.
For about a year, starting around the fall of 2003, Josh was one of my roommates in a three-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg (which I’m sadly leaving very soon to move to Washington D.C.). read more »
Poll: Governor Bloomberg Beats President Bloomberg
Here's a statistic that'll be meat and drink to the New York Post, if not to the mayor and his aides:
More NYC voters said they would back Mike Bloomberg for governor than for president, according to a poll released today by the Quinnipiac Polling Institute.
13 percent of people surveyed said they would definitely vote for Bloomberg if he ran for president. 24 said they probably would vote for him.
That’s compared to 27 percent of people who said they’d definitely support Bloomberg for governor, and another 33 percent who said they probably would support him in that race.
They Stoop for Quarters
Rival tabloid editors’ latest price-chop catfight. read more »
Tehran's Taste in Web Sites
Observer contributor Niall Stanage, who is currently on assignment in Iran, sends an email for our "general amusement" to say that it is possible where he is to access the sites of the New York Times, Washington Post, the Guardian and the Times of London, but that attempts to get to the New York Post, the Sun, Gawker or Wonkette are met with "a disappointingly literal 'Access to this Site is Denied' together with some Farsi script presumably saying the same thing."
