NBC, Family of Child Predator Take a Seat, Settle Lawsuit

If we had to think of three things that are incredibly embarassing, they would be wearing a speedo, this, and appearing as a “guest” on To Catch a Predator.  One guy who appeared on the show was so overtaken with grief and humiliation that he actually killed himself before the cops could arrest him.  Then, his family sued NBC for making him break down and do it.  Well today, that lawsuit finally got settled, and although the plaintiffs were hoping to gain over $100 million in damages, an NBC rep reported that, “The matter has been amicably resolved to the satisfaction of both parties,” or whatever we’re supposed to gain from that.

After The Jump: The story in detail (Warning: Serious Article Ahead)(NSFW)

We Know Brits Have Their Own Slang, But Come On…

This article was posted on BBC Online about five years ago.

And it is the funniest fucking thing I have ever read online.

Ever.

WTF #10: The Waterfalls Project

Today marks the “grand opening” of the city’s latest massive installation art project: Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls.  In an article in today’s New York Times, Mayor Bloomberg has been touting the project all morning and was making the rounds to get New Yorkers excited about seeing water (because we obviously don’t see enough of it, being that our city is a freakin’ archipelago).  It is the largest public art project to be displayed in New York City since The Gates, and pumps 35,000 gallons of water a minute.  Bloomberg calls it a triumph of human imagination, and expects the privately (and partially publicly) financed project (which cost $15.5 million) to generate about $55 million in economic revenue for the city.

Today I saw the waterfall that’s on the north shore of Governor’s Island.  All I can say is: that shit’s weak.  From a distance, it barely looks like anything’s coming out, and furthermore, its just a giant metal frame that’s messing up the landscape.

Plus aren’t we in like some sort of economic crisis anyway?  How can we spend money on stuff like this?  And I really hope these aren’t being powered by gas.

(Photograph via The New York Times)

Upcoming Movie: The Wackness

Amidst the blockbusters and big budget movies that summer is generally known for, The Wackness is here to fill the slot as the “independent film that’s edgy and cool and has a lot of young up and coming stars with a few famous ones.”  This looks like a movie that high school stoners will either adore or flat out hate, but needless to say, somewhere down the road, seventeen year-olds will be quoting it nonstop thinking they’re deep and philosophical.  All we know is that it has quite a cast:  the formerly fat guy from Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh, the girl who plays the BFF in Juno, and Michelle Tanner…oh and some guy named Ben Kingsley, but he’s old so nobody cares.

After The Jump: What Makes “The Wackness” Whack

Beastie Boy Film Angers Nestle, High Strung Reps

So lets say you produce a great film about the dangers of big corporations that are ruining the environment to make profit over a certain commodity.  No, we’re not talking about Halliburton, and this isn’t an ambitious college film project either.  But common sense usually tells us that when you submit the film to various festivals and showcases, it usually isn’t a good idea to screen it at a festival where one of your targets is the festival’s biggest sponsor.

That is precisely what happened at the Nantucket Film Festival recently.  Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch recenlty screened his newly produced film “Flow”, which attacks major corporations, like Nestle in particular, about privatizing fresh water and harming the environment.  According to Page Six,  a female rep from the movie “spun on one heel and stamped out in full view of the producers” as soon as Nestle was mentioned an hour into the movie.  Said one attendee:

The company obviously had no idea this content was in the movie.  She told an audience member, ‘That was one sided,’ on her way out and didn’t come back for the Q&A session afterwards.”

Man, that bitch must LOVE polluting the envrionment to make overpriced bottled water.  That, or maybe she was just a little miffed that Yauch’s biggest sponsor was the target of his investigation.  We’re really not sure how to call this one.

(Photograph via Reuters)

The Mighty Wrath of Kanye West

Last week we reported that rapper and frequent troublemaker Kanye West pissed off a lot of hippies and privileged college kids at Bonnaroo when he took the stage after Pearl Jam at 4:30 am.  He was greeted by angry fans, people throwing trash at him, and all around boos.  Well, a week and a half after his infamous performance, Kanye finally took off the stunna shades and spoke out on his blog, and let me tell ya: it ain’t pretty.  The rapper blames Pearl Jam, the fans, and the road crew for making his highly anticipated performance a night an early morning that will live in infamy…until he does something pompous and retarded again.

After The Jump: Kanye gets up all in our grill