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00Dumbass
British Secret Agent Chief's Wife Outs Him As Speedo-Wearing Nazi Homie On Facebook
British secret agents are supposed to be exponentially smoother than their American counterparts. We get Ethan Hunt, they get James Bond. Except, not, because the chief of MI-6's wife had her Facebook profile set to public. Very public.
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phones
Google Voice Is Cool, But Do You Need It?
You've read about the features, you saw the invites going out, but you might be wondering what, exactly, Google Voice could do for you. Here's our guide for the curious and uninvited on whether your phones need some Google juice. [Lifehacker] -
bright ideas
Let's Screw Up the Entire Internet to Save Newspapers
The hot new idea among people who think about "journalism," and the sanctity thereof: let's ban linking, on the internet! Let's also ban wheels, in order to save the horse industry. Let's also ban talking about things!
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nerdspotting
First Sighting of Steve Jobs Officially Back at Work
Apple won't say whether Steve Jobs was at the office today as part of his official return to the company. But a Valleywag spy spotted the CEO on his company's Cupertino campus. Jobs apparently left early:
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Twits of fate
The Deadly Side (For Real) of Twitter
Twitter won't just give you a black eye; as Flavia Maria Boricea found out, Twitter also kills.
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books
Facebook Tell-All Has Founders Banging Groupies in Bathroom Stalls
Ben Mezrich's forthcoming Facebook exposé was sold to film producers before it was even written. The Hollywood influence helps explain why the book answers such pressing questions as, "Who might the co-founders have conceivably boned, and where?"
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the internet
Best Tumblr-to-Book Deal Yet
Look At This Fucking Hipster, a blog about looking at hipsters, and then making fun of them, has scored a book deal. Plus the formerly anonymous, self-loathing author has been revealed!
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don't call it a comeback
Steve Jobs Had A Liver Transplant
The Wall Street Journal reports: Steve Jobs had a liver transplant in Tennessee two months ago, he's in recovery, and is going to be back to work before the end of the month. Just like they said he would be.
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field guide
Peter Getty: Costumed Layabout Scion
Peter Getty's breezy, self-pitying musings on being idle righ infuriated fellow San Franciscans and, indeed, people across the country. Who is this heir, and why does he find copious wealth so unpalatable? Here's a quick rundown. More » -
publishing
The Facebook Status Update That Could End Up a Movie
Sure, people have made books out of tweet collections and websites about emails and fatty foods, but has anyone parlayed a lone Facebook update into old-media glory? This might actually happen, insanely enough.
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breaking
'Very Short List's Been Sold To Jared Kushner, We're All Fired.'
A source writes in: ink on the long-rumored deal selling IAC property Very Short List to Jared Kushner and The New York Observer's dry. VSLers have been fired, and the property's clumsily fallen into the Observer's hands, now. Update: confirmed.
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moguls
The Very Long Con of a Very Short List
Barry Diller's effort to pawn off Very Short List, his failed shopping newsletter for the rich, is turning into a classic New York media folly — a big drama over a puny digital property. More » -
cubicle culture
Inside the Startup Office from Hell
Frank Addante, the Los Angeles tech entrepreneur, has helpfully consolidated pretty much every terrible office idea and Web 2.0 startup cliché into one place: This video tour of his online ad company, Rubicon Project. More » -
tesla motors
Tesla Co-Founder Eberhard Sues Elon Musk, Tesla
Tesla Motors co-founder Martin Eberhard, ousted from the company in November 2007 by then-chairman Elon Musk, has now filed suit in Califonria Superior Court against both Musk and Tesla Motors alleging slander, libel and breach of contract. [Jalopnik] -
disasters
Yahoo Nukes Man's Photos Over Obama Comments
Flickr user Shepherd Johnson was browsing the official White House photostream one night when he decided to post a politically-charged comment. Then another, then another. Soon, without warning, Yahoo's photo-sharing service deleted his account, complete with 1,200 pictures.
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print is dead
Will the New iPhone Save Old Media?
It doesn't take a particularly creative publishing executive to imagine a big opportunity in the new iPhone software Apple showed off today.
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reporters in peril
North Korea Sentences American Reporters to 12 Years Hard Labor
Laura Ling, the sister of former The View co-host Lisa Ling, and fellow Current TV journalist Euna Lee have been sentenced to twelve years in a labor camp by a North Korean court for crossing that country's border.
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the rich
Inside 'Buffalo' Bill Gates' New Ranch
Bill Gates might be ready to truly retire: The Microsoft founder reportedly acquired Buffalo Bill Cody's old ranch in Wyoming. We've got picutres, and it looks like the perfect place for riding off into the sunset.
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the twits
"I'm Pregnant," And Other "Lies" Twitterers Say Women Tell
Need a healthy dose of gender stereotyping, with an added dash of creepy? Check out the newly-popular Twitter tag #liesgirlstell, where men and women list all the ways ladies are supposedly stretching the truth. [Jezebel] -
field guide
The 'Hard' Russian Oligarch Behind Facebook's New Money
The Financial Times reports that "among the biggest backers" of Facebook's new funder is Alisher Usmanov. He might be playing sugar daddy to a freewheeling social network, but the Russian oligarch is also known as a "devourer of websites" that dared to mention certain allegations about his past. More » -
diskeeper
Software Company's Scientology-Loving Handbook
Two former executives have been waging a court battle against Diskeeper, alleging the software company's CEO, a Scientologist, practiced religious discrimination. As it turns out, they have documents intended to prove it.
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electric cars
No Chevys For Old Men: Lutz Vs. Letterman
After Tesla fan-boy Dave Letterman brought Tesla's Elon Musk on the Late Show and both of them ripped into GM, CBS called Letterman, saying, "Hey, jackass, don't you know GM advertises with us?" The result: outgoing product czar Bob Lutz brought the Chevy Volt to last night's show. Blow-by-blow below. [Jalopnik] -
sex trade
Craigslist's Brilliant Defense of Its Hookers
Law-enforcement officials have been slamming Craigslist's prostitute ads for years. CEO Jim Buckmaster's response has been benign: We don't profit from the ads, we're very nice and friendly with the cops, etc. No more. Push Buckmaster too hard, and he will cut you, as South Carolina just learned.
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flackery
Julia Allison Shills for Sea World (Updated)
Julia Allison sounds so excited: The professional "lifecaster" is headed for "an adventure" at Sea World. As it happens, she's also showing other bloggers how not to make money in a recession.
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Shut Up, Twitter
Today's Twitter Hysteria Says Patrick Swayze Has Died; He Didn't
Patrick Swayze is alive and well, his spokesman has confirmed. How did false reports of his passing consume the internet for several hours today? Through the false rumor's vehicle of choice: Twitter.
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never forget
Peter Thiel: 'Valleywag is the Silicon Valley Equivalent of Al Qaeda'
Peter Thiel, the Facebook investor and PayPal co-founder, has never been shy about making incendiary statements. Now he's turned his guns on us.
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badvertising
Dell Discovers Ladies Use Computers For More Than Diet Tips
In response to widespread internet backlash, Dell has revised "Della," its website marketing netbooks to women, purging it of references to calorie counting and shopping. [Jezebel] -
Shut Up, Twitter
Finally, Twitter Learns When to Shut Up
The Twittersphere is up in arms over a move the message-broadcasting service made to make its site a bit less noisy: You can no longer easily eavesdrop on conversations with strangers. Hurrah!
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blogging for dollars
Perez Hilton Wins Ruling That Says His Blog Is Illegal
Color us confused: Hollywood gossip Perez Hilton, aka Mario Lavandeira, the queen of the knockoff disguised as parody. So why is he suing PerezRevenge to get it to change its name?
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politics
Is Google Heading For an Antitrust Trainwreck?
Everyone has misunderstood why Google, from CEO Eric Schmidt on down, is cozying up to Barack Obama. It's not out of some likeminded geekiness. It's out of desperation and fear.
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rumormonger
Could Apple Buy Twitter?
Facebook tried to buy Twitter. Google and Microsoft have been giving the red-hot Internet-messaging startup the eye. But we hear it's Apple that's closest to sealing a deal, possibly for as much as $700 million.
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hackers
The Latest Facebook Scam
Oh no! There's a site which tricks you into handing over your personal information for its own nefarious, moneymaking schemes! It's called Facebook. Oh, also, people are all upset because FBstarter.com is stealing their passwords.
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politics
Gavin Newsom Erases His Wife's Threesome Movie
Every political résumé polished and fluffed. But why is San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, running for California's governorship, stretching the truth about his actress wife's show-biz career?
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silicon valley tool
Facebook Backer Wishes Women Couldn't Vote
Peter Thiel, foremost among Silicon Valley's loopy libertarians and the first outside investor in Facebook, has written an essay declaring that the country went to hell as soon as women won the right to vote.
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crime
Did Julia Allison Break the Law in Search of Facebook Fame?
Former dating columnist Julia Allison, an Internet microcelebrity now famous for not being particularly famous, has finally gone too far in her attempt to acquire Facebook fans. She may even have broken the law.
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leaks
Salma Hayek's Hacked Emails Reveal Celebrity's Quotidian Existence
Hackers have broken into Salma Hayek's email, revealing the actress's iPhone-app obsession, designer-clothes habit, travel plans, and more. (Her billionaire husband, François-Henri Pinault, who's throwing a second wedding for her this weekend, pays the bill!) More » -
valleywag
Hear Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz Drop the F-Bomb
There is so much to admire about Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, who is giving the Web company a needed kick in the pants. But more than anything, it's her garbage tongue that we love. Listen. More » -
Shut Up, Twitter
Did Ashton Kutcher Cheat His Way to a Million Twitter Pals?
Ashton Kutcher, we wish we could quit you. The model-actor-director-wantrepreneur has been racing CNN to attract a million followers on Twitter, and he barely won this morning. People are already suggesting the contest was rigged. More » -
valleywag
Why Is Yahoo Laying People Off? The Answer Is on an Engineer's Desk
After thousands of layoffs last year, Yahoo's gearing up to cut more staff. Here's an idea: Why not trim outrageous spending first? One Yahoo engineer has helpfully, if unwittingly, shown where to start.
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flackery
Amazon.com Says 'Embarrassing' Error, Not Hacker, Censored 57,310 Gay Books
After gay-themed titles disappeared from Amazon.com's search results this weekend, everyone looked for someone to blame. One hacker took credit. Some faulted an Amazon engineer in France. One source thinks it was the Conficker worm.
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