Crapola purveyor Wal-Mart is locked in a contentious battle over its efforts to infiltrate NYC. But the company's representatives couldn't be bothered to attend a City Council hearing about Wal-Mart yesterday. Probably because Wal-Mart's already supported by literally everyone.

Yesterday we told you that a revolt may be brewing at National Enquirer publisher AMI, where employees are upset about furloughs, layoffs, and perceived management screw-ups following its recent bankruptcy. Did we get some feedback from AMI execs? Did we!

Placentas are nothing to be ashamed of. Four college nursing students demonstrated this, by posting photos of themselves on Facebook, posing with a human placenta. Their school kicked them out?! Say hello to a lawsuit, Johnson County (Kansas) Community College!

Three men charged with planning a "Mumbai-style attack" on the offices of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten appeared in court today, and denied the charges against them. We hope they're telling the truth. This cartoon-inspired terrorism is past its expiration date.

Will Christo ever announce a new art project that makes everyone say, "Sounds good"?

Yes, Wal-Mart is once again trying to build one of its nefarious "stores" here in New York City. We're not going to debate whether this is a good thing. We're going to jump right to "How do we stop it?"

Duncan Hines Amazing Glazes? More like Duncan Hines Amazing Racists. You know? This controversial ad for "Hip Hop Cupcakes" (the a capella singing group variety) is currently America's biggest cupcake-racism-related scandal. I don't know, those desserts sure can harmonize. [Eater]

William McGowan's new book, Gray Lady Down, is a right-wing work of media criticism directed against New York Times. The New York Times Book Review will not be reviewing it. But why not? Ah, there is a juicy controversy there!

Patently unqualified corporate CEO-turned NYC schools chancellor Cathie Black: "Give me a chance." No.

At The Benilde St. Margaret's School in Minnesota, the student newspaper wrote an editorial protesting the fact that their Catholic Archdiocese had sent out a DVD opposing gay marriage. What! Censor that, at once! That eloquent writing is anti-Catholic!

Should Muslim female students be allowed in America's college pools? The debate rages on.

MSNBC has suspended Keith Olbermann "indefinitely without pay" in response to this morning's disclosure that Olbermann made financial donations to three Democratic politicians. What was Keith Olbermann thinking? More importantly: What is MSNBC thinking?

What a week Juan Williams has had! From mild-mannered NPR analyst and Fox News liberal stand-in to multimillionaire full-time Fox News guy, thanks to one dumb comment. Fair warning, Juan: you're about to throw away your entire career. Needlessly.

This Australian Calvin Klein billboard is being pulled after the Advertising Standards Bureau there ruled that it is "suggestive of violence and rape" and "demeaning to women," as well as men. Yea, well, so is the fashion industry. [via Adfreak]

College newspaper cartoon controversy alert! We consider it our solemn duty to keep you, the bored public, up-to-date on the very latest unfunny cartoons causing outrage among humorless college students across America. Today: girls are skanks! Dudes love rape! Amirite?

A foundation that "promotes progressive causes" and owns $52,000 in News Corp stock has written the company to object to its donations to Republican political groups. Good of them to give old Rupert Murdoch something to laugh about. [NYT]

Disneyland has resolved the big controversy over its "no Muslim headscarves on employees" rule: workers can wear the hijab, as long as it's covered by a company-issued jaunty blue beret. Cruel. Would they make Christians wear that? Yes? Wow. [NYDN]

Not to alarm you, but forces beyond your control are working right now to limit your right to be bombarded with ads for dick-hardening pills during every televised sporting event and prime time show. Sex-hating Puritans? Even worse: doctors.

At a street fair in DC last week, a police officer shot and killed some guy's dog. Some called it "cowboy gunslinging"; others said it was necessary. What we know for sure: it's time to argue about dogs in public.

The Portland (Maine) Press Herald practically pissed on Old Glory on Sept. 11, when it ran a story about Muslin Ramadan on the front page—but no 9/11 anniversary boilerplate. This prompted an apology. Which itself prompted another controversy.