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18
Aug

U2 Band Manager Can Blame Bono for Song Leak

By Holly Won't 2 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses and Musicians

Unauthorized copies of four songs on U2’s upcoming album made their way onto YouTube this weekend (although they’ve since been pulled).

Apparently Bono was blasting songs from the new album while chilling at his villa in southern France, and a passerby had the foresight to record it. So really, it’s Bono’s own fault that people have heard the tracks months earlier than intended.

Which is pretty ironic given that Paul McGuinness, the band’s manager, is virulently anti-piracy. In a speech earlier this year also in southern France, he went on a tirade about music companies that enable music theft, including this bit:

He placed much of the blame on tech companies, but also pointed a finger at record labels that “through lack of foresight and planning allowed a range of industries to arise that let people steal music.”

I wonder if McGuinness has the balls to put Bono in the doghouse.

17
Aug

Starting Off The Week With A Full Complement of Hypocrites

By The Oversneer 29 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Environmentalists, Newscasters, PETA, Socialites, Television Stars, U.S. Left-wing Politicos and U.S. Right-Wing Politicos

… because what fun would Monday be without a reminder that the famous and fabulous tend to have truck-sized chinks in their self-righteous armor?

12
Aug

An Olympics So Fake, I’m Doubting Michael Phelps Can Swim

By The Oversneer 45 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Newscasters, Non-U.S. Politicos, Sports Figures and The Naughty Bits

It doesn’t really bother me too much that the “footsteps of history” fireworks display during the Olympics opening-ceremony TV coverage from Beijing turned out to be a computer animation trick.

It’s not like they faked the fireworks themselves. They just “simulated” the broadcast because (they claim) it was necessary in order to see the whole grand effect. NBC’s commentators described it on the air as a “cinematic device” and “almost animation.” Fair enough.

But here’s some amateur video of the real footsteps. They’re still pretty cool. Couldn’t we have just seen those on TV?

Many people apparently thought the broadcast was the real thing:

Gao Xiaolong, head of the visual effects team for the ceremony, said it had taken almost a year to create the 55-second sequence. Meticulous efforts were made to ensure the sequence was as unnoticeable as possible: they sought advice from the Beijing meteorological office as to how to recreate the hazy effects of Beijing’s smog at night, and inserted a slight camera shake effect to simulate the idea that it was filmed from a helicopter.

“Seeing how it worked out, it was still a bit too bright compared to the actual fireworks,” he said. “But most of the audience thought it was filmed live - so that was mission accomplished.”

Still, I can forgive this one. It’s sort of like how the archer at the Barcelona opening ceremony in 1992 missed the cauldron with his flaming arrow. And Yet The Mighty Olympic Flame Was Magically Lit.

But here are some Chinese (and NBC) Olympic deceptions that genuinely get my kung pao in a wok.

Continue reading ‘An Olympics So Fake, I’m Doubting Michael Phelps Can Swim’

12
Aug

Trump Sues Law Firm for Taking His Name in Vain

By Holly Won't 10 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Legal Messes and Television Stars

Donald Trump is suing a NYC law firm for mentioning him as a former client on their website:

“They put my name up all over their ads like I’m in love with them, and I really don’t like them,” Trump told The Post’s Dareh Gregorian…. “If it was somebody I was happy with, that would be one thing, but I’m not happy with them.”

Because Trump is suddenly so picky about what products bear his name? (This one takes the cake — makes me gag every time.)

The Morrison Cohen firm won a multimillion-dollar settlement for him last year over a real-estate dispute. Naturally, the cheap bastard has not yet paid them for their services, so the firm believes this $5-million lawsuit is just a way to get out of paying $600,000 in fees.

Trump Trump Trump Trump Trump.

Let’s see how long it takes for him to sue me.

08
Aug

L’Oreal/Beyoncé Controversy Just History Repeating

By Holly Won't 28 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Movie Stars and Musicians

Cosmetics giant L’Oreal drew a lot of heat yesterday for their new Feria haircolor ad featuring a strangely white-looking Beyoncé. (And the controversy hasn’t even mentioned that her straight blonde hair looks absolutely nothing like it used to.)

TMZ fanned the flames by polling its readers: “Is the ad a slap to Blacks?” Fifty-eight percent said yes.

So of course, L’Oreal had to do some immediate damage control, denying that her features or skin tone were retouched for the ad campaign.

O RLY? Because this would not be the first time L’Oreal has gone out of its way to make sure its hair products are being promoted by light-skinned people.

Last year, the company was found guilty of racial discrimination in France for hiring only white salesgirls to push its Garnier Fructis Style line of shampoo. Among the evidence:

In July 2000, a fax detailing the profile of hostesses sought by L’Oréal stipulated women should be 18 to 22, size 38-42 (UK size 10-14) and “BBR”, the initials for bleu, blanc, rouge, the colours of the French flag. Prosecutors argued that BBR, a shorthand used by the far right, was also a well-known code among employers to mean “white” French people and not those of north African, African and Asian backgrounds.

After the ruling, the company said in a statement, “We believe that diversity and difference are a source of richness and we do not tolerate any form of racism or discrimination.” Except, I guess, when you have a highly successful spokeswoman whose skin is just too dark.

04
Aug

Deceiver Leftovers

By The Oversneer 18 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Environmentalists, Foodies, Sports Figures, Television Stars and U.S. Right-Wing Politicos

What’s your favorite “leftover” meal? Somewhere between Shepherd’s Pie and Pasta Puttanesca, there’s Deceiver Stew.

Our “tips” in-box runneth over, and we haven’t yet mastered the intracies of the 25-hour day. So here’s a sampling of what’s been sitting in our e-mail Tupperware, gathering silicon dust:

Whew! And nary a word about the Breck Girl.

Discuss.

31
Jul

Condé Nast Is Behind the Times

By Holly Won't 5 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Environmentalists and Writers

An intrepid, possibly soon-to-be-axed reporter for Condé Nast Portfolio magazine let it slip that his employer empties their corporate recycling bins into a dumpster.

But that hasn’t stopped them from signing on to the Magazine Publishers of America’s campaign to get subscribers to recycle their old issues.

Jeff Bercovici on the Mixed Media blog writes:

At a certain major magazine publisher — because I work there, I won’t reveal its name other than to say it makes up the first two words in the name of my magazine — it’s an open secret that the ubiquitous blue recycling bins actually get emptied into the trash. I’m still waiting to hear back from a spokeswoman about just why it is this company, which is known for lavishing money on its top editors and executives in the form of clothing allowances and no-interest loans, and which always has a line of Town Cars idling outside its 43rd Street entrance, can’t seem to find a way to recycle the tons upon tons of paper it discards every year, as its two main competitors, Hearst and Time Inc., already do. And seeing as this company is a member of MPA, and thus a de facto sponsor of its “Please Recycle This Magazine” campaign, it would seem just a tad hypocritical not to address this matter in short order.

Truly, no snark here. It is really pathetic that in this day and age, they can’t figure out how to recycle paper.

28
Jul

Shia LaBeouf Arrested After Drunken Car Crash

By Holly Won't 16 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Activists, Bad Boys & Girls, Businesses, Legal Messes and Movie Stars

Transformers actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested early yesterday morning for drunk driving after he hit another car and rolled his SUV over onto its roof.

His passenger and the other driver were fine, but LaBeouf received “extensive hand surgery” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Still, his publicist says he’ll be back to work on the set of Transformers 2 within a month.

Maybe it’s just me but it seems like the 22-year-old has a bit of an alcohol problem. He was arrested in November for getting into a security guard’s face at a Walgreens in Chicago.

He didn’t seem too concerned about it, later joking with David Letterman:

“Drinking and driving is one thing, but drinking and shopping … it’s just as bad.”

Seems to me that drinking is the common denominator here, Shia. Look into it.

24
Jul

50 Cent vs. Taco Bell: Get Rich or Diet Ruined

By Simon Scowl 12 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Bad Boys & Girls, Businesses and Musicians

Last month, Taco Bell tried to launch what they thought was a funny, low-cost ad campaign:

50 Cent has been asked to change his name to 79 Cent by a fast food chain.

The ‘In Da Club’ rapper was challenged by Taco Bell to consider calling himself 79, 89 or 99 Cent to promote the restaurant’s new value menu. Taco Bell have promised to donate $10,000 to a charity of the rapper’s choice if he also agrees to stop at one of their outlets and rap his order at the drive-thru…

Taco Bell President and CEO Greg Creed said in a letter to the singer: “We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change. We encourage you to ‘Think Outside the Bun’ and hope you accept our offer.”

Okay, maybe the boss of Taco Bell isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. So sue him! Whoops, that’s exactly what’s happening. The roided-out rapper is taking the chain’s chalupa-chucking butts to court:

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, accuses the Mexican-style fast food chain of “diluting the value of his good name” and employing a guerrilla advertising campaign to fool consumers into thinking he had endorsed the chain, said the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court.

“Without seeking or obtaining Jackson’s authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nation-wide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell’s business and products,” court papers said.

I guess he’s in the right, but he’s got a lot of nerve complaining that they’re besmirching his “good name.” The former crack dealer who first became noted in the music industry for his uncanny ability to withstand gunshot wounds is worried about a fast-food joint making him look bad? Yeah, the steroid allegations, the lyrics about bitches and hoes, and the complete lack of flow really impressed me, but then I heard Fitty might be shilling for Taco Bell…

Compare and contrast this to a similar stunt Dr. Pepper pulled last March. They offered to give out a free can to everybody in the U.S. on the day Guns N’ Roses long-awaited Chinese Democracy album finally comes out. Everybody in the U.S., that is, except former GNR guitarists Slash and Buckethead. Funny idea, right? It’s probably what inspired Taco Bell’s attempt. And this was Axl’s response:

“We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr. Pepper with our album Chinese Democracy, as for us, this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr. Pepper with him.”

Dear 50 Cent: When you’re more litigious and self-serious than Axl freaking Rose…

23
Jul

Calvin Klein Calling Eva Mendes Fat (for Real)

By Holly Won't 19 Comments Digg! Digg this
Categories: Businesses, Fashionistas and Movie Stars

The Calvin Klein Underwear ad campaign starring Eva Mendes is out, just in time for the hefty September editions of every fashion mag. (More photos here.)

When CK announced their new Seductive Comfort bra line was for “fuller figure” women, I questioned their selection of Mendes, thinking it must have been a poor choice of words.

But no, apparently they really do think she’s fat:

Regarding the campaign’s image, [Calvin Klein president and CEO Tom] Murry said: “This is a departure from more slender body types that have typically been used in Calvin Klein Underwear ads. But this is not so much about a trend of being more curvaceous. This [bra] product is made for a curvaceous woman.”

Insofar as Kate Moss is no longer their body of choice, I get the idea. But Eva Mendes, being characterized as someone who isn’t slender?

These photos look absolutely no different than any other lingerie ad. I don’t see how any “curvaceous” women are supposed to understand that these bras are for them.

Epic fail.

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