Gawker: valleywag, megan mccarthy

Balloon Boy Floats Twitterati's Wits

Ryan Tate — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:00:58 EDT

A Wall Street Journal editor went nuclear on a leading content aggregator; Kim Severson developed a case of bee envy and someone said the Balloon Boy should basically die. The Twitterati were especially judgy.

The Wall Street Journal's Alan Murray ended an old-media/new-media fight with TechMeme's Gabe Rivera by comparing content aggregation to nuclear weapons, thus losing the tiff.

TechMeme's Megan McCarthy (an ex Valleywag), meanwhile, supplied a thoroughly-modern-fairy-tale ending to the saga of Baloon Boy.

Actor Rainn Wilson, meanwhile, called for corporal punishment, if by "corporal" you mean "probably lethal."

New York Times food writer Kim Severson came down with print-media kitchen envy.

The Chicago Tribune's Mary Kate Chambers found a good reason to be ecstatic about bad weather.

Did you witness the media elite tweet something indiscreet? Please email us your favorite tweets - or send us more Twitter usernames.

The Twitterati Get a Free Lunch from the MSM

Owen Thomas — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:07:07 EDT

Twitter is the ideal medium to express your own idiocy. Dan Abrams denounces the mainstream media which gave birth to his career, a Google-enriched entrepreneur eats its free lunch, and Alan Meckler discovers Twitter:

MSNBC commentator Dan Abrams inveighed against the horrors of the "mainstream media."

ABC's John Berman played Captain Phillips to his apartment's Somali-pirate rodents.

Techmeme editrix Megan McCarthy questioned California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's competence.

Web 3.0 fanboy Alan Meckler gave Twitter "big ups."

Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley mooched off of ex-employer Google again.

Did you witness the media elite tweet something indiscreet? Please email us your favorite tweets — or send us more Twitter usernames.

Don't Tweet on My Shoes, I'm Headed for Atlantis

Owen Thomas — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:35:57 EST

Today's sweetest tweets: CNET's Caroline McCarthy got ready to don a Snuggie. Valleywag alumna Megan McCarthy (no relation) dreamed of Atlantis. David Gregory of Meet the Press succumbed to Twitter peer pressure. And more!

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon producer Gavin Purcell hopelessly shopped for shoes.

CNET News reporter Caroline McCarthy stayed focused on the big, important story of the day.

Slate writer John Dickerson exhibited profound laziness.

Meet the Press host David Gregory fell victim to Twidiocy.

Techmeme editrix Megan McCarthy made a joke about Google's nondiscovery of Atlantis.

Anyone else's tweets we should keep an eye on? Send us more Twitter usernames, please.

Megan McCarthy unhired by Wired

Owen Thomas — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:55:47 EDT

Former Valleywag party girl Megan McCarthy's all-too-brief career at Wired: admired, hired, inspired, fired. (Photo by Scott Beale/Laughing Squid)

SXSW bar crawl begins in earnest

Owen Thomas — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:12:37 EDT

AUSTIN, TX — A confession: Between the rain pouring down and the rumors pouring in, I didn't even make it to the Austin Convention Center today for any of SXSW's official programming. A show veteran granted me absolution: "No one makes it to the third day." The third night, however, was not optional. The hot ticket: Facebook's Get.friends party at Pangaea. The Crush party at Six Lounge a half-block down Colorado Street was the chill-out alternative. Scott Kidder and I hopped between the two, snapping pictures all the while. Mazyar "Mazy" Kazerooni of OpenHulu fame joined up for the party tour. At Six, I found myself sandwiched between Sarah Lacy and Julia Allison, SXSW's two controversy magnets. Back at Pangaea, I spotted Dave McClure grooving ecstatically to BT, the electronica artist Facebook evangelist Dave Morin picked for the event. (Don't tell Morin: BT has a MySpace page.) The afterparty? It took so long to get going anywhere that we ended up having it outside on Colorado Street, where Wired's Megan McCarthy administered breathalyzer tests. More photos:

Sunday-night cocktail recipe: Sweet Caroline, dash of bitters, stir

Owen Thomas — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:40:30 EDT

Think of a high-school reunion held the day after you graduate: That was the vibe at the Side Bar Sunday night, where Gawker Media (publisher of fine weblog media products) threw a party for Valleywag and our sister sites, io9 and Lifehacker. We won Twitter praise for the free beer and minimal line out front, despite the wall-to-wall crowd in the Side Bar's expansive patio. Valleywag alumna Megan McCarthy, whom I never see in San Francisco — yes, she's been avoiding me — showed up toting Wired's award for best website started before most SXSW attendees were born.Vile videoblogger Loren Feldman showed up and didn't say anything truly nasty, to my disappointment.Julia Allison appeared, dressed as Julia Allison with a furry, green hat. Scott Beale and Brian Solis were on hand lensing everyone; Beale caught me and Caroline McCarthy of News.com having a moment, above. More photos, after the jump.

Were you there, too? Or just want to add a caption? Leave a comment here or on the photo page.

(Photo of McCarthy and Thomas by Scott Beale/Laughing Squid; Loren Feldman and Owen Thomas by Brian Solis; gallery by Noah Robischon)

Big-name bloggers cause a Stirr

Paul Boutin — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:28:00 EST

We'll have lots of photos from Stirr's $120-per-person holiday mixer once Owen rolls out of bed in the morning. For now, here's my filler shot of Wired newcomer Megan McCarthy and top Scoble-blogger Robert Scoble sharing holiday cheer even with the likes of us.

Megan McCarthy, what the puck are you doing?

Owen Thomas — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:29:16 EST

Get a few drinks in freshly departed Valleywag party correspondent Megan McCarthy, and she will start loudly insisting, no matter what the subject of conversation, that she was involved somehow. You're from New England? She's from New England. You think your friend is pretty? She's pretty, too. Valleywag had a scoop? That was her scoop! You played hockey in high school? She played hockey in high school. On that last point, we have obtained undeniable photographic proof. Enjoy! (Photo "courtesy" of jspepper)

Bulldog pup photo shortage rocks Silicon Valley

Paul Boutin — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:31:43 EST

You know, I'm perfectly fine with funtrepreneur-in-residence Jason Calacanis telling us to "please die." I'm totally OK when Calacanis emails me "Subject: Idiot," because I can take a joke, especially when it's true. But dammit, Janet, Calacanis has stopped posting pics of his puppies. Valleywag has been forced to outsource to Professor Chips (above), winner of last year's Babies vs Puppies showdown. After a week where the big stories were Larry Page planting one on new bride Lucy Southworth, Heidi Roizen singing her thighs thin, Google ripping off AOL — AOL? — the Times poaching yours truly, and Megan "Leggy" McCarthy leaving Valleywag for Wired, we could all use some face-blurpy time.

Megan McCarthy's greatest hits

Owen Thomas — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:39:34 EST

When I could roust her from a drunken stupor, Megan McCarthy would usually start complaining about our last five posts, my management style, or, for lack of anything else, my hairdo. But in between, she occasionally turned in brilliant work. After the jump, my favorite bits of McCarthyism.

And though it's not a story by McCarthy, I love this story about McCarthy. Hearing once again about her encounter with Kevin Burton's cell phone makes McCarthy cringe, but it shouldn't. Every reporter should be this fearlessly curious.

A snooper snooped

(Photo by Scott Beale/Laughing Squid)

My last damn calendar post

Megan McCarthy — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:17:45 EST

True story — back in October, Valleywag editor-for-life Owen Thomas and I were sitting in a coffee shop in North Beach going over party-correspondent duties and expectations and the future of the blog and all that other stuff that you talk about when you're talking with your boss. "I want you to do a Valleywag Calendar post every day," he declares. I try to steer him towards an occasional calendar post, because, let's face it, a calendar post is boring, and it ends up taking longer than it should because sometimes there's nothing worthwhile going on in this town. Anyway, I'm trying to explain to Owen that a daily post might not be the best use of my time, and, suddenly, he gets all quiet and still and the color drains from his face and his eyes roll up in his head so you only see the milky gray-white underside. And this loud, low-pitched, controlled growl comes out from the space within his goatee: "You will submit a calendar post every day by 11 a.m." And thus it was decided. So, let's take one last look at what's on today's Valleywag Calendar, shall we?

SVASE is having a holiday party for "cash-strapped startups and entrepreneurs" tonight at Blue Chalk in Palo Alto. [Upcoming]
Copyright-challenged a capella group The Richter Scales are having a holiday concert tonight at 8 p.m. in the Noe Valley Ministry. [Facebook]
What started out as a meeting with my boss to go over expenses and whatnot has turned into a farewell party. (Though if he thinks I'm waiting until 4 to start celebrating, he's nuts.) Come on down to Moose's after work and share a drink, and I'll tell you all the stories I was too nice to put on the blog. [Valleywag]
Santacon is tomorrow! You have your suit and hat, right? Right?

Got a to-do that's a must-do? I'm not available to take your call, but you can leave a message after the tone.

Sending off Megan McCarthy at Moose's today

Owen Thomas — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:11:47 EST

Herb Caen's typewriter is gone from Moose's, but the recently remodeled North Beach hangout still hosts the beloved columnist's spirit, I'm convinced. So I picked the spot for drinks in honor of Megan "Leggy" McCarthy, our party correspondent who's headed to some print rag in SoMa. (In Soviet Russia, Wired gets you!) Drinking starts at 4 p.m. Drunk blogging starts at 4:15 p.m. RSVP on Facebook, or just show up with a juicy piece of gossip dripping from your lips.

This week was a wash

Paul Boutin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:57:24 EST

Ahh, that feels good right there. I don't think we'll be talking about this week next week. The Facebook pile-on continued. Amazon's Kindle reader suffered a surprise media backlash. I'd hoped for another bank-employee-in-tutu photo to liven things up. Instead we got Gerstmanngate. At least we still have jobs — oh wait, Valleywag party girl Megan "Leggy" McCarthy is heading to Wired. I think I'll go curl up in the tub with my INVISIBLE PUPPY. (Photo by Jason Calacanis)

Valleywag "party girl" lands job at Wired

Paul Boutin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:44:48 EST

Megan McCarthy, who since October 2006 has covered the Silicon Valley party circuit for Valleywag and become bizarrely famous in Germany along the way, starts at Wired in two weeks. Instead of drinking startup founders under the table, she'll be fetching doppio venti extra-hot raspberry white soy milk mochas for Epicenter blog editor Dylan Tweney, who himself once wrote for Valleywag — we're all dizzy now. Megan (pronounced meh-gan around here) will continue posting for us until she makes the switch. Please, please please send her out with a big scoop. (Photo by Mike Calore)

Fake Steve to face angry mob at book reading

Jordan Golson — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:28:29 EDT

Yes, tonight's the night. Dan Lyons as Fake Steve Jobs is meeting Segway-polo fanatic Real Steve Wozniak for an Options reading at the Menlo Park Keplers at 7:30. This is a party that we just can't miss. Some of us anyway. My boss is too cheap to let me expense a Virgin America flight cross-country. Owen "Mr. Bigglesworth" Thomas will be there, purring away. So will Megan McCarthy, the self-proclaimed "Princess of the Valley." Finally, very special correspondent Paul Boutin (boo-TAHN) will be there with his wife, Christina Noren, whom voters on Dig a Silicon Valley Girl have deemed the prettiest girl in the area. You don't want to miss that! Hit the jump to see what Fake Steve had to say the last time Woz crashed his party.

Isn't it just like Woz to show up and try to steal the spotlight from me on my big day? He's like the ex-girlfriend who shows up at the wedding dressed in a really hot sexy red dress, trying to take attention away from the bride. Fair enough. Apple geeks love Woz better than me. Always have. So of course he can't resist showing up on iPhone day to steal some of the love that was supposed to be aimed entirely at me. Plus, and this is really sad, Woz just thrives on the adulation and can't get enough of it. It's almost a sickness, the way he needs it.

Who's dentoned himself now, Lyons? We can't wait to see you make nice with the Woz. He might run you down with his Segway if you aren't careful.

Your Twitter makes my heart go flitter

Megan McCarthy — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:24:19 EDT

FROM THE DESK OF MEGAN MCCARTHY — Is it possible to have a crush on a Twitter stream? Cause I do. Whoever you are, mysterious TC40 guest posting as "TechCrunch40" on Twitter, you need to call me. Now. A girl has needs.

Kara Swisher, the ambush journalist of Silicon Valley

Owen Thomas — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:32:53 EDT

A warning to all you Valley types: If a short, dark-haired woman with huge sunglasses gets near you, run. It could possibly be Kara Swisher of AllThingsD. The Wall Street Journal reporter turned conference organizer has a videocamera, and she's not afraid to use it. To get an idea of the kind of damage she can do to your company's image with this device, look no further than this clip featuring yours truly and colleague Megan McCarthy.

News flash: Valleywag's editor revealed as...

Owen Thomas — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:49:26 EDT

News flash: Valleywag's editor revealed as "snarky," party correspondent "leggy." Who knew? We're still hoping for a swanky receptionist, though. [The Inquirer]

The Valley at its pushiest gathers at TechCrunch9

Megan McCarthy — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:45:12 EDT

Newsweek, from 3,000 miles away, bills TechCrunch editor Michael Arrington's parties as "harder to get into than Studio 54 in its heyday." So much for the periodical's vaunted factchecking: I waltzed right in. And the scene? Last Friday's TechCrunch9 was, at heart, the same meet-and-greet that takes place several times a week somewhere between San Francisco and San Jose. Except on steroids. A reported 900 people showed up on the Sand Hill Road patio of August Capital to schmooze, deal, and — oh, yes — sucking up to Arrington in the hopes of a mention on his site.

It was the same small talk, the same pitches, and the same scanning of nametags before faces as any other Valley networking event. With one small hitch — partygoers were asked to fill out their own nametags, and most neglected to include their company information. That omission perplexed at least one venture capitalist in attendance. "I feel like I'm walking socially blind," he confessed. "I don't know how important these people are to me." You mean Arrington's velvet rope-holders let in some hoi polloi who aren't worth your time, let alone your capital? Quelle horreur!

Still with a headcount inching towards quadruple digits, there were bound to be a few gems in the crowd. MySpace cofounder Chris DeWolfe was on hand to support Fox Interactive alumna Heather Harde, now TechCrunch CEO (and proud owner of a a blinged-out TechCrunch rhinestone nameplate necklace). Ning CEO Gina Bianchini, while sampling the samosas, warned me away from the sickeningly sweet frozen margaritas doled out by an overeager PR firm.

But for the most part, it was midlevel business developers trolling the crowd for victims. The pitches from official TechCrunch9 sponsors and invited guests mostly went ignored, but it was harder to miss some pushier in-person come-ons. One annoyed CEO told me, "Three times I've been talking to people and interrupted by pitches. These people just don't get it!"

Confession time: Yes, I went to the party even though I was technically disinvited. I thought it was a cute Valleywag tradition, but apparently Mike wasn't kidding about taking my name off the list. Other guests were well aware of this, and commented on my presence, often, once I graced the patio. One guest half-jokingly said to me, "Arrington's right there, I can't be seen talking to you." At least, I think he was joking. As soon as he pronounced that, he turned and bounced away to the next conversation. Wanker. I'm hoping he got cornered by biz-dev types in blue shirts for the rest of the evening.

Prickly, volatile tech blogger Michael Arrington...

Owen Thomas — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:45:47 EDT

Prickly, volatile tech blogger Michael Arrington has disinvited our party correspondent, Megan McCarthy, from this Friday's TechCrunch gala. Anyone care to report from the scene and tell us what he's so desperate to hide from the Valley's eyes?