appic

The Week in Celebrity Snapshots

Matt Cherette · 09/19/11 03:01AM

Every day, celebrities across the world are followed and photographed by the omnipresent paparazzi, often to entertaining results. Here are some of our favorite shots from the past week.

Join Our Virtual Emmys Viewing Party

Brian Moylan · 09/18/11 06:00PM

Hey everyone, why sit there and slog through television's biggest night on your own when you can enjoy it with the wit and humor of a bunch of strangers on the internet! Jump into the conversation about the 63rd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards here, and we'll make fun of the celebs, celebrate victories, and just generally talk smack about everything until the show is over.

Man Destroys Friend's Patio to Craft Him a 'Surprise' Skateboard Ramp

Lauri Apple · 09/17/11 03:37PM

A 22-year-old Swedish man has discovered the nicest way ever to impress a new friend: rip up their wooden patio, break into their locked car to procure their power tools, and craft them a personal skateboarding ramp out of the patio wood. As a bonus goodwill gesture, leave your ax sticking out of their house.

Republican Congressmen Accidentally Love Raising the Debt Ceiling

Jim Newell · 09/16/11 04:20PM

The unprecedented dumb carnival stunts that were struck as part of the deal to allow the government to issue debt for spending measures it's already passed popped up again earlier this week, as the House passed a meaningless "resolution of disapproval" for the latest $500 billion in borrowing authority. But some Republican members of Congress were so used to voting "no" on anything tangentially related to the debt ceiling that they accidentally voted against the resolution of disapproval, like clowns.

Michele Bachmann Unfazed by Bad Cougar Joke

Jim Newell · 09/16/11 12:00PM

Outrage at the University of Iowa Twitter Command Center! Because yesterday, after reports of mountain lion or cougar sightings near the Iowa City campus, the school's politics account tweeted, "I didn't know Bachmann was in town. Bah-dum-bum." Golly, what do those two things have to do with each other? According to the AP, "A cougar is a term used to refer to older women who seek out younger men." That simply cannot be true.

Fashion Week Goes Off into the Sunset

Brian Moylan · 09/15/11 05:09PM

That soft galloping you hear is the clack of a million pairs of high heels marching off into the distance. Yes, fashion week is ending. And while we'll miss our time in its glamorous thrall, we think we'll survive until February.

People's Champion Joe Lieberman Calls for 'Washington Spring'

Jim Newell · 09/15/11 01:50PM

A brave coalition of centrist senators defiantly took the stage today to save America, by asking for larger, more painful budget cuts to lower- and middle-class social programs in a horrible time of economic agony and uncertainty. Thirty-six of them, there were! Can you just feel the red, white and blue coursing through your veins?

Moron Student Who Accused Jewish Prof of Anti-Semitism: I Am The Victim Here

Hamilton Nolan · 09/15/11 09:19AM

Yesterday, we brought you the story of Sarah Grunfeld, the 22 year-old student at York University who ran out and publicly accused her (Jewish) sociology professor of anti-Semitism when he said the phrase "Jews should be sterilized"—as an example of a bad opinion. Grunfeld's reasoning: "The words, ‘Jews should be sterilized' still came out of his mouth, so regardless of the context I still think that's pretty serious."

Missing Cat Found After Five-Year, 1,800-Mile Journey

Jeff Neumann · 09/15/11 07:10AM

Willow the cat (pictured) was picked up on East 20th Street yesterday, and her microchip led Animal Control to her owners in Colorado — five years after she went missing. Willow's owners "still have her little Christmas stocking." [AP]

How Much Does This Hurt, Exactly?

Hamilton Nolan · 09/14/11 04:11PM

Pain measurement! Pyromania analysis! NASA rocket! Hefty bacteria! Galaxy shapes! Hot summer! Murderous bird! Flying snails! And scientists playing with hoses for fake experiments! It's your Wednesday Science Watch, where we watch science—in agony!

Herman Cain's Secret Gay Staffer Problem, Revealed

Jim Newell · 09/14/11 03:02PM

A strange report from early July about presidential candidate Herman Cain's troubles in Iowa mysteriously noted "swirling rumors between Cain's staff and volunteers in the Hawkeye State accusing each other of affairs, homosexuality and professional misconduct." And that was it! So what kind of gay shit was going down on the Cain Train? We're starting to learn.

Pennsylvania's Brilliant Plan to Screw Obama's Reelection Chances

Jim Newell · 09/14/11 12:39PM

Pennsylvania Republicans control the state's governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. What else is there for them to do at a time like this besides helping to screw over Barack Obama's reelection chances by instituting an audacious, illogical electoral system?

Fox News Troubled By Obama's Use of Paper Clip

Jim Newell · 09/13/11 04:00PM

President Obama introduced the American Jobs Act yesterday at the White House, clutching a print-out bound by a paper (or binder, fine) clip. Can you even believe that he would use a clip like that? What a jerk. Wait, what?