People are understandably pissed off at a New York-based ad agency who has turned homeless people into Wi-Fi hotspots during SXSW. It's a blend of marketing cloaked in philanthropy with an infuriating element of "new media": how better than to use technology to exploit our fellow man? Word that Bartle, Bogle and Hegarty may bring "Homeless Hotspots" to New York has prompted a release from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. "BBH has crossed a line from cynicism to exploitation," de Blasio says. more ›

Remember The Komen! A recent CBS/New York Times poll [pdf] shows that 51% of voters support letting any employer "opt out" of covering the cost of birth control for religious or moral objections, with 40% saying that employers should pick up the tab. Will President Johnson Campaign Obama tack to the right, or will people realize that family planning is one of the top ten public health achievements of the last century? more ›

Forget giant rats or pizza-loving, petting zoo poseurs: feral boars are just (300) miles away in sleepy Peru, New York, feasting on apples and other crops and copulating like, well, pigs that start having sex at the age of six months. “There’s a real sense of urgency,” Ed Reed, a biologist at the DEC tells the Times. “Once the pigs get established, they are very difficult to eradicate completely.” When will Governor Cuomo follow Texas' lead and allow us to kill them with automatic weapons from helicopters? more ›

This week we became smitten with Karen, the "little Texan abroad" who stormed through Times Square thoroughly unimpressed with everything but the pigeons. The Tocqueville of her generation had said: "I'm afraid to talk out loud, it's kind of crappy here. I feel like an ant in an ant hill." Well, we're happy to report that there is a new video up, and she's found something about NYC she can actually appreciate: Central Park. more ›

It's that time of year when New York's "creative types" head to Texas to bake their translucent skin in the sun, daydrink and make many, many obnoxious tweets about tacos, all under the guise of "work." Or as one Austinite puts it, "South by Southwest is when 6th Street turns into Bedford Avenue and is just about the only time I consider moving out of Austin (besides ACL)." So BE COOL, people. The key to being cool is blending in, so you'll need these tips from former New Yorker/current Austin resident and Emo's Head Talent Buyer (if you don't know what that means cancel your flight) Jack "Skippy" McFadden. more ›

A 23-year-old editor of an online fashion magazine "accidentally walk[ed] too close to a small plane's propeller" and was seriously injured in McKinney, Texas. Lauren Scruggs' hand was severed and her head and shoulder were also hit. more ›

Yesterday, we heard the bizarre story of a Long Island man who is suing the fertility clinic which he claims his ex-girlfriend used to store his "stolen" sperm. Joseph Pressil, 36, says his ex Anetria Burnett used the stolen sperm to get herself pregnant after they broke up, and then sued him for child support. But Burnett's lawyer is firing back, telling the Post that Pressil's story of stolen sperm is ludicrous: “He injected her with hormone shots. How could he not know? They were in a relationship and were trying to get pregnant the old-fashioned way, and they couldn't," said Derek Deyon. more ›

Accidents will happen, but not all accidents are actually accidents: a Long Island man is suing the fertility clinic which he claims his ex-girlfriend used to store his "stolen" sperm. Joseph Pressil, 36, says his ex Anetria Burnett used the stolen sperm to get herself pregnant after they broke up, and then sued him for child support. “A gold digger is an understatement. She was trying to get community property and alimony. She’s ruthless...This is more than a nightmare—it’s a horror story," Pressil told the Post. more ›

This weekend, the who's who of people who think it's their business to tell you how to live your life are meeting in DC for the Value Voters Summit. Somehow, it makes CPAC look like Bonnaroo ("Don't take the brown Werther's, man") but the meeting received a jolt when Robert Jeffress, a Baptist pastor who backs Rick Perry, called Mormonism a "cult." When Politico asked Jeffress if he thought Mitt Romney was a Christian, he replied "No," and said, "Every true, born again follower of Christ ought to embrace a Christian over a non-Christian." OOH Savior fight! Savior fight! So it was Romney's time to shine: “The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate. The task before us is to focus on the conservative beliefs and the values that unite us—let no agenda, narrow our vision or drive us apart.” more ›

Rick Perry's 2012 Shoot 'Em Up Express has slowed significantly thanks to the candidate's poor debate performances and willingness to help illegal immigrants. Now, the Washington Post delves into the collar-tugging details of the former name of Perry's hunting parcel along the Brazos River: "Niggerhead." more ›

Rick Perry isn't the only Texan with a pair of famous balls: remember Lance Armstrong? You know, the guy who used to have sex with Sheryl Crow and may or may not have used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France seven times? No? Ok—the guy who made all those little yellow bracelets that people wear as a badge to let you know they're a good person? That's the one! Well he wants you to run "4-5 miles thru the city" with him, tonight at 6 p.m. more ›

Last night, Republican hopefuls debated for CNN and the Tea Party in Tampa, Florida. While Rep. Michele Bachmann, business executive Herman Cain, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Rep. Ron Paul, and former Senator Rick Santorum were there, the main attractions were former Massachusett Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry. Perry has been leading in polls, but Romney is the choice of the GOP elite. more ›

The Stormin' Mormon has been eclipsed by Governor Goodhair, meaning that it's now two-for-one chalices of AFL-CIO blood at every Stonecutters meeting hall in Texas. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll, 27 percent of all Republicans and "GOP-leaning independents" back Texas governor Rick Perry, while Mitt Romney registers 22 percent. Tonight, Perry will face his first debate in five years, and while "the bar for Perry has been set pretty low," here are five tips for Perry to clear that "low bar," for Freedom. more ›

Starbucks is settling a discrimination lawsuit for $75,000 with a Texas woman who was fired because of her short stature due to dwarfism. Elsa Sallard claimed in an EEOC filing that she offered to use a stool or stepladder to work at the counter, but was "ignored." Reuters reports that later that same day, the manager fired her because "she would pose a 'danger' to customers and employees." more ›

Just in time for President Obama's lowest approval rating since taking office (39 percent according to Gallup) the Republican presidential race is beginning to heat up! And by "heat up" we mean "crowd the field with über-conservative candidates that think evolution has 'never been proven' and who believe states can just secede from the Union." more ›

Great, one more thing to worry about at fast food restaurants: bodily fluids being used as condiments. A woman got her order of fries with a side of human blood at a Cracker Barrel in Texas this week, prompting the restaurant to apologize and send the woman a $100 gift card, because, golly, that blood sure was delicious! more ›

On the morning of March 25th, air traffic controllers and other pilots in Texas were blocked from communicating with each other for two minutes because a Southwest airline pilot accidentally left his microphone on as he bitched to his co-pilot about homosexuals, women who wouldn't sleep with him, the elderly, and the ugly women in Houston. Houston TV station KPRC obtained a recording (below) of the hate-filled diatribe, which was unleashed by a guy entrusted with the lives of hundreds of people on a daily basis. Basically, he's the Bizarro World Captain Sully: more ›

In case you needed any reminding, terrorists would still really love to kill some people in New York. Wednesday's arrest of Saudi student Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari in Texas came with allegations that NYC was among the targets eyed by the one-man terror cell. And yesterday NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters that when it comes to terrorism, New York's still got it. more ›

We already knew that New Yorkers have been leaving the state in record numbers. Taxes are too damn high, after all. But once they pass the state borders, where do they go? We like to think most of them would be kicking it in another blue state, but according to IRS data there is a reason that Texas gained a whopping four House seats. more ›

The Centers for Disease Control confirmed the first American death from the swine flu—a 23-month-old child from Texas died. The CDC also said the child had recently traveled to Mexico. Acting CDC chief Dr. Richard Besser told the Today Show, "Even though we've been expecting [that there would be some deaths], it is very, very sad. As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family." He added, "I don't think it (the reported death in Texas) indicates any change in the strain. We see with any flu virus a spectrum of disease symptoms... It's very important that people take their concern and channel it into action...it is crucial that people understand what they need to do if symptoms appear." Here's the CDC's Swine Flu & You website, which points out, "Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods." (Children are also very vulnerable to the seasonal flu.) more ›

A man accused of stabbing his 21-year-old girlfriend to death over the weekend was arrested in Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Marshals had received information that 25-year-old Segundo Penafiel was on his way to Mexico, so they stopped and checked buses. Spokesman Deputy U.S. Marshal Alfredo Perez said, "Penafiel was the third person to walk off the bus, took one look at our Deputy U.S. Marshals and then tried to run away"--with Mexico just a few hundred yards from the bus stop. Victim Ebony Garcia's family said they were relieved he was arrested and added that Penafiel had called them, telling them he was sorry. The NYPD is asking that the suspect be extradited back to Queens. The case also garnered attention because Garcia allegedly was screaming for a half hour until neighbors called 911. more ›

Fresh off her big night of wins in Ohio and Texas, Hillary Clinton spoke on CBS's Early Show and mentioned the words "dream ticket" in relation to the heated Democratic presidential race. Harry Smith told Clinton, "We talked to a lot of people in Ohio who said there really isn't that significant a difference between you two, and they'd like to see you both on the ticket." After remarking how "incredibly close" the race is, she said pairing up "may be where this is headed, but we have to decide who is on the top of the ticket, and I think that the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me." more ›

Ohio and Texas are "too close to call" for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, which means it will be a long night - and very possibly another few weeks of primary madness. Obama did win Vermont (so far, 59% to Clinton's 39%) and Clinton won Rhode Island (currently 57% to Obama's 42%), which is her first win in a while, but those states aren't the focus. more ›

CNN, NBC, and the AP are projecting Senator John McCain will clinch the Republican presidential campaign, after winning the primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island and clinching the 1,191 delegates needed. A source tells NBC that President Bush has invited McCain to the White House tomorrow and will endorse him. McCain will be having a victory party in Dallas tonight, complete with banner that says "1,191." more ›

Today's big Texas primary, the Post has delivered a cover with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as old West gunslingers. And since Obama's hand in on his gun, it makes sense the headline for the story is, "Barack Goes For Hill Kill." (Obama believes in gun control, though he backed a law allowing retired cops to carry concealed weapons). more ›

Today's weather is a winner! Sunny and warm with a high in the mid-50s. Enjoy it if you can as tomorrow and Wednesday will feature varying degrees of wetness. more ›