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Tag: New York Times

  • New York Times Buys Wordle for Low Seven Figures

    New York Times Buys Wordle for Low Seven Figures

    Word game Wordle has gone from viral hit to major moneymaker, with the New York Times (NYT) shelling out low seven figures to buy it.

    Wordle began its life as a gift from creator Josh Wardle to his partner, according to the NYT. First released in October 2020, the game had 90 players by November 1, and 300,000 two months later.

    The NYT has now purchased the game, making it one of those amazing success stories every app developer dreams of achieving.

    “I’ve long admired The Times’s approach to the quality of their games and the respect with which they treat their players,” Mr. Wardle said. “Their values are aligned with mine on these matters and I’m thrilled that they will be stewards of the game moving forward.”

    For its part, the NYT made it clear they’re big fans of the game.

    “If you’re like me, you probably wake up every morning thinking about Wordle and savoring those precious moments of discovery, surprise and accomplishment,” said Jonathan Knight, general manager for The New York Times Games. “The game has done what so few games have done — it has captured our collective imagination and brought us all a little closer together. We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game and are honored to help bring Mr. Wardle’s cherished creation to more solvers in the months ahead.”

  • Google’s Mail-In Pixel Repair Service Accused of Hacking Accounts

    Google’s Mail-In Pixel Repair Service Accused of Hacking Accounts

    A best-selling author has accused Google’s mail-in Pixel repair service of hacking her accounts and trying to find sensitive photos.

    Jane McGonigal is a New York Times bestselling author who sent her Pixel 5a to Google for repair. Although she couldn’t factory reset the phone, due to it not turning on, McGonigal took every other step she could to protect her data, including using Google’s Lock my Phone and Erase my Phone services.

    The problem started when Google said her phone was not received at the repair facility — despite FedEx tracking showing it was delivered — and proceeded to charge her for a replacement. Days later, someone used the phone to log into her accounts, even creating a Gmail filter to flag security alert emails as spam in an effort to prevent McGonigal from realizing anything was wrong.

    The perpetrator looked through McGonigal’s photos, looking for anything that included skin, cleavage or anything the person thought could be a nude or scandalous photo.

    https://twitter.com/avantgame/status/1467192779973398531?s=20

    This is not the first time Google has faced these accusations. The company had better take significant measures to improve security if it hopes to prevent a class action lawsuit — if it’s not too late already.

  • New York Times Pushes Back a Return to the Office

    New York Times Pushes Back a Return to the Office

    In what is becoming an all-too-familiar routine, The New York Times has announced it is pushing back its return to the office.

    After more than a year of working remotely, many companies have been eager to have their return onsite. Many were shooting for sometime in September as the deadline. The Times had set September 7 as the day for employees to return to the office, at least three days a week.

    Like Apple and Google, however, the Times is pushing that date back as the Delta variant of COVID leads to an increased surge in cases.

    “In light of the evolution of the virus, including new trends around the Delta variant and the updated guidance from the C.D.C. this week on masking, we have decided to push out our plans for a full return at this time,” Meredith Kopit Levien, chief executive of The New York Times Company, told staff in an email on Friday.

    The news comes a day after President Biden addressed the nation, urging individuals to get vaccinated. Biden emphasized that vaccination is not a political issue, but one of “life and death.”

  • Google Sued for Allegedly Selling User Data

    Google Sued for Allegedly Selling User Data

    Google is facing another privacy-related lawsuit, this time for allegedly doing something the company promised it would never do: sell user data.

    The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, and seeking class-action status, claims that Google is reneging on promises CEO Sundar Pichai made in a New York Times op-ed. In that article, Pichai said: “Google will never sell any personal information to third parties; and that you get to decide how your information is used.”

    According to Mercury News, the plaintiffs point to Google’s long history of privacy abuses and claim the company is “continually and surreptitiously” selling data via its digital ad “real-time bidding” system. In particular, while some companies are using the system as intended, the lawsuits claims others are siphoning off data for their own uses.

    “Many participants do not place bids and only participate to conduct surveillance and collect ever more detailed data points about millions of Google’s consumers,” the suit claims.

    The lawsuit is the latest scrutiny Google is facing for how it handles and administers the gargantuan amount of data it collects. Should the suit gain class-action status, it will only add to the company’s headaches.

  • Google Extends Remote Work to September 2021

    Google Extends Remote Work to September 2021

    Google has moved back its return-to-office date from July to September 2021, and is looking to make flexible work a permanent option.

    Google was among the first companies to send its workers home at the outset of the pandemic. Like many companies that pivoted to remote work, Google has pushed back its return-to-office dates as the situation has evolved. The last date set was July, but the company is pushing that back to September, according to the New York Times.

    In an email to employees obtained by the NYT, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company is also looking to introduce a flexible work week post-pandemic. Employees would be expected to be in the office three days a week for collaboration, but could work from home the rest of the week.

    “We are testing a hypothesis that a flexible work model will lead to greater productivity, collaboration, and well-being,” wrote Pichai. “No company at our scale has ever created a fully hybrid work force model — though a few are starting to test it — so it will be interesting to try.”

    Hopefully many more companies follow Google’s example and make remote or flexible work options a standard.

  • Clearview AI’s Client List Stolen

    Clearview AI’s Client List Stolen

    Clearview AI has reported that its entire client list has been stolen by an intruder who “gained unauthorized access.”

    Clearview has repeatedly been in the news for its controversial practices over the last couple of months. The company has amassed a database of some three billion photos, which it has scraped from millions of websites, including the most popular social media sites on the web. Clearview then sells access to that searchable database, along with its facial recognition software, to law enforcement agencies around the country.

    The company is reportedly looking to expand its operation overseas, and has included oppressive regimes on its list of potential countries it may do business with. The potential harm the company’s software could do was illustrated when New York Times reporter Kashmir Hill asked police officers to run her face against the company’s database, which turned up no matches. After running her face, however, the police officers received phone calls from Clearview telling them they shouldn’t be talking to the media.

    Now, in a report The Daily Beast reviewed, Clearview says an intruder stole a copy of the company’s entire client list, including the number of user accounts each customer had created and the number of searches they had conducted. The company claims that its servers were not breached and that there was “no compromise of Clearview’s systems or network.”

    This breach perfectly illustrates the danger of a company rushing headlong into a potentially dangerous area where many other companies have feared to tread. Google, Facebook and others have certainly had the ability to do what Clearview has done and would no doubt greatly profit from it. Every other company, however, has acted with restraint out of recognition of the harm that could potentially be done.

  • NJ Bans Clearview; Company Faces Potential Class-Action

    NJ Bans Clearview; Company Faces Potential Class-Action

    Facial recognition firm Clearview AI is facing a potential class-action lawsuit, while simultaneously being banned from being used by NJ police, according to separate reports by the New York Times (NYT) and CNET.

    The NYT is reporting that Clearview has found itself in hot water with the New Jersey attorney general over its main promotional video it was running on its website. The video showed Attorney General and two state troopers at a press conference detailing an operation to apprehend 19 men accused of trying to lure children for sex, an operation that Clearview took at least partial responsibility for.

    Mr. Grewal was not impressed with Clearview using his likeness in its promotional material, or in the potential legal and ethical issues the service poses.

    “Until this week, I had not heard of Clearview AI,” Mr. Grewal said in an interview. “I was troubled. The reporting raised questions about data privacy, about cybersecurity, about law enforcement security, about the integrity of our investigations.”

    Mr. Grewal was also concerned about the company sharing details of ongoing investigations.

    “I was surprised they used my image and the office to promote the product online,” Mr. Grewal continued, while also acknowledging that Clearview had been used to identify one of the suspects. “I was troubled they were sharing information about ongoing criminal prosecutions.”

    As a result of his concerns, Mr. Grewal has told state prosecutors in NJ’s 21 counties that police should not use the app.

    At the same time, CNET is reporting an individual has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois East Division and is seeking class-action status.

    “Without obtaining any consent and without notice, Defendant Clearview used the internet to covertly gather information on millions of American citizens, collecting approximately three billion pictures of them, without any reason to suspect any of them of having done anything wrong, ever,” alleges the complaint. “Clearview used artificial intelligence algorithms to scan the facial geometry of each individual depicted in the images, a technique that violates multiple privacy laws.”

    It was only a matter of time before Clearview faced the fallout from its actions. It appears that fallout is happening sooner rather than later.

  • ToTok Co-Creator Denies App Is A Tool For UAE Spying

    ToTok Co-Creator Denies App Is A Tool For UAE Spying

    ToTok was recently removed from both Apple and Google’s app stores over allegations it was being used by the United Arab Emirates government to spy on users. In an interview with the Associated Press, co-creator Giacomo Ziani defended the app and denied it was a tool for spying.

    ToTok was released only months ago, and quickly rose to become one of the most popular social apps. Helping drive its popularity was the fact that it was the only app offering internet calling that was allowed in the UAE. Competing apps, such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and others are not allowed.

    In a report by the New York Times—that was based on information from American officials who had access to classified intelligence—the app was accused of being a spying tool for the UAE to “track every conversation, movement, relationship, appointment, sound and image of those who install it on their phones.”

    Ziani, however, defended his creation and denied the allegations.

    “I was not aware, and I’m even not aware now of who was who, who was doing what in the past,” Ziani told the AP.

    Ziani attributed the allegations to professional jealousy, although he failed to provide any evidence to support his claim. It will be interesting to watch what happens with ToTok and whether Ziani is successful in getting the app reinstated on Apple and Google’s app stores.

    In the meantime, ToTok is a cautionary tale that illustrates the lengths some governments and organizations will go in order to spy on individuals.

  • TikTok Accused of Illegally Collecting Data and Uploading It to China

    TikTok Accused of Illegally Collecting Data and Uploading It to China

    A California student has filed a class-action lawsuit against TikTock, the wildly popular social media app from China. According to a report in the Daily Beast, the suit alleges that TikTok uploads data without user consent—in some cases without a user even creating an account.

    Misty Hong, a student at Palo Alto, claims she downloaded the app but never got around to setting up an account. According to the suit, TikTok created an account using her phone number, and began analyzing videos she took but never uploaded. These videos included a facial scan.

    “The app, she alleges, transferred all of her information to servers owned and operated by companies that cooperate with the Chinese government. She’s filed the lawsuit on behalf of all U.S. residents who have downloaded TikTok, roughly 110 million people.”

    The suit also alleges the app secretly gathers “users’ locations, ages, private messages, phone numbers, contacts, genders, browsing histories, cell-phone serial numbers, and IP addresses. That data was allegedly then sent to Chinese servers.”

    TikTok’s executives have tried to reassure the American public that their data is stored in Virginia, with a backup in Singapore. In a recent New York Times profile, they tried to reassure American users that their data cannot be accessed by Chinese officials. Nonetheless, previous user agreements did stipulate that data could be sent to China. The suit is alleging that practice has continued despite changes to the agreement saying it won’t.

    Convincing users of its independence is a tall order, given that Chinese corporations are required to cooperate with Chinese intelligence when requested. This is partly what has led to Huawei being blacklisted in the U.S. and under scrutiny in many countries around the world.

    U.S. senators have already warned of the threat to national security TikTok may pose, should it be sending data back to China. This lawsuit will only add to those concerns and could result in punitive measures taken against ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok.

    In the meantime, given China’s poor history of respecting individual privacy—including, but not limited to China now requiring facial recognition scans to open a wireless account—this news should come as a surprise to exactly no one.

  • Alphabet Board Investigating How Executives Handled Sexual Misconduct Cases

    Alphabet Board Investigating How Executives Handled Sexual Misconduct Cases

    CNBC is reporting that the board of directors for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is investigating how sexual misconduct cases have been handled.

    In recent years, Google has had some high-profile sexual misconduct cases, and the company has not always won praise for how it has handled them. In 2014, CEO Larry Page asked for former Android chief Andy Rubin’s resignation following an accusation of sexual harassment. Google’s internal investigation had found the accusation to be credible. At the time, Rubin’s departure was portrayed as amicable. When Google employees later learned the real reason behind the departure—not to mention the $90 million golden parachute he received—some 20,000 of them engaged in a “walkout” to protest the company’s handling of the matter.

    More recently, Alphabet Chief Legal Officer David Drummond was accused of misconduct following an extramarital affair with a subordinate, Jennifer Blakely. Despite promising to divorce his wife when Blakely became pregnant, Drummond reportedly “stayed married and later continued to have other affairs with other people from Google.” According to Blakely, Drummond then abandoned her and their son. Although his marriage did eventually end, he ended up remarrying another Google employee, although not a direct subordinate.

    In the midst of these accusations, Blakely has accused the company of having a culture that breeds sexual misconduct. Once the New York Times ran its expose of Andy Rubin, Blakely says other women she worked with at Google reached out to her and told her “how offended they were by the blatant womanizing and philandering that became common practice among some (but certainly not all) executives, starting at the very top.”

    In response to these ongoing issues, Alphabet shareholders sued the board for allegedly covering up its executives’ misconduct. In response, the board has opened an investigation and appointed an independent subcommittee, according to CNBC. An outside law firm has also been hired to assist in the investigation.

    Industry experts, politicians and the public in general will no doubt be watching to see what conclusion the investigation reaches, and what changes will be made to alter the company’s culture moving forward.

  • Obama Joins the Rest of Twitter in Telling the New York Times to GTFO with This Peas in Guac Insanity

    Obama Joins the Rest of Twitter in Telling the New York Times to GTFO with This Peas in Guac Insanity

    At 1:51 pm ET on Wednesday, July 1st, The New York Times suggested to Twitter that they add green peas to their guacamole. The paper of record told us to trust them.

    The recipe, by Melissa Clark, is about 90% your basic guac recipe – complete with cilantro, avocado, lime (juice and zest, of course), and jalapeno (debatable). But it also involves pureed peas, as well as a whole pea garnish.

    Let’s be clear – this isn’t a food crime. Ok, it might be a food crime, but without making this myself I’m pretty sure this would taste fine. The peas would add sweetness, but it would probably taste like most guacamole you’ve had in your lifetime.

    Anyway, Twitter lost its collective shit.

    This goes on forever, by the way.

    The NYT lost the President, too.

    The woman responsible has spoken:

    I’d say this is the next “The Dress”, but it looks to be pretty one-sided.

  • Marijuana Legalization Debate Creates Sharp Divide

    “The Times They Are a-Changin’” sang Bob Dylan in the title track of his 1964 album by the same name. And very few issues underscore how much they’re changing in modern day America than the movement to legalize marijuana.

    Although marijuana has been regulated as a drug by every state since the mid-1930s, it was first listed as a Schedule I drug during the enacting of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Schedule I drugs are defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

    In 2014, the movement to legalize marijuana on a state and federal level has gained incredible momentum, with marijuana becoming legal in Colorado and Washington for recreational use and even the New York Times publicly supporting legalization.

    Here is a look at both sides of the divide, starting with the proponents of marijuana legalization.

    Proponents of Marijuana Legalization

    Who They Are: Many coalition groups formed to support legalizing marijuana, including the National Cannabis Industry Association; many publications, including the New York Times; and 58 percent of Americans, according to a 2013 Gallup poll.

    What They’re Saying: Arguments range from bombastic rhetoric to well thought-out and defined logical arguments about why marijuana should be legalized. The gist is that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, two drugs legal and widely consumed. Marijuana also has medicinal purposes in treating serious illnesses such as Lou Gehrig’s disease and multiple sclerosis. And there is also a social justice issue at play, as African Americans and Latinos, especially young men within those subsets, are disproportionately arrested for marijuana use, as shown in this study from California.

    Opponents of Marijuana Legalization

    Who They Are: Many coalition groups formed to oppose legalizing marijuana, including Smart Approaches to Marijuana; the American Medical Association, from a 2013 article; and 39 percent of America, according to the same 2013 Gallup poll.

    What They’re Saying: Arguments on this side of the divide can be equally bombastic but well thought-out and defined logical arguments pervade as well. The gist here is that marijuana can be psychologically addictive, can damage the development of the brains of people under the age of 18, and can lead to more road accidents when people smoke and drive. While the tide has certainly turned in the favor of legalizing marijuana in the court of public opinion, these staunch opponents of marijuana legalization still have their say, as when dueling advertisements were run in the New York Times, one for marijuana legalization and one against.

    It remains to be seen if marijuana will be legalized at the federal level, removed from the list of Schedule I drugs, and promoted for recreational use nationwide by companies that are now part of the booming marijuana industry. But in the end, both sides will have their say.

    The times, yes, they are a-changin.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Hilary Duff Rocks Bikini in “Chasing the Sun” Video

    Hilary Duff Rocks Bikini in “Chasing the Sun” Video

    Hilary Duff is rocking a black bikini in the video for her comeback single “Chasing the Sun.”

    The song and video officially released on Tuesday, although it leaked online the day before.

    Duff described it as a “light and fun summer song.” Colbie Caillat, Toby Gad, and Jason Reeves co-wrote the tune, which Duff hopes “helps people to feel a little more carefree.”

    The song marks Duff’s return to the music industry after a seven-year break.

    “I took a break from music for quite awhile, but it gave me the power to choose my next steps carefully and I’m really proud of the album I’ve made,” Duff said.

    “I’ve worked very hard and the album is a great representation of the experiences I’ve had in my life and where I want to go from here!”

    The upcoming studio album will be Duff’s fifth. The singer and actor, who rose to fame as star of Disney’s hit series Lizzie McGuire, released her first album (Santa Claus Lane) in 2002.

    She followed that up with Metamorphosis, her best-selling album to date, in 2003. It included two hit singles, “Come Clean” and “So Yesterday” and went triple platinum.

    Duff went on to release a self-titled studio album in 2004, a compilation album (Most Wanted) in 2005, her fourth studio album (Dignity) in 2007, and a greatest hits album (Best of Hilary Duff) in 2008.

    Duff has kept busy acting and being a mother during her break from music.

    Besides starring in a spin-off movie of the Lizzie McGuire series, Duff stared in Agent Cody Banks (2003,) Cheaper by the Dozen (also 2003,) and A Cinderella Story (2004.)

    She guest-starred on series such as George Lopez, Gossip Girl, Joan of Arcadia, and Two and a Half Men.

    Most recently she’s been attached to TV Land’s upcoming single-camera comedy series Younger. Written and executive-produced by Darren Star (Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City) the series will also star Sutton Foster (Bunheads, Shrek the Musical,) Debi Mazar (Collateral, Goodfellas,) and Miriam Shor (Bedazzled, The Cake Eaters.)

    Duff also provided voice for the animated film Wings: Sky Force Heroes opposite Josh Duhamel and Rob Schneider, and starred in the yet-to-be-released Flock of Dudes with Skylar Astin, Bryan Greenberg, and New Girl’s Hannah Simone.

    Duff is also a New York Times best selling author. In 2010 she released Elixir, the first installment of her young adult trilogy, a collaboration with Elise Allen. Devoted released in 2011 and True in 2013.

    Duff and her estranged husband Mike Comrie have a son, Luca, who was born in March 2012.

    Image via Instagram, Hilary Duff

  • Maureen Dowd’s Paranoid Pot Ramblings, at Your Fingertips, for Just $6 per Month

    Yes, I’m kind of mixing a couple of stories here, but two interesting things happened today in New York Times land.

    First, the venerable newspaper launched a new digital subscription for Opinions only, and second, columnist Maureen Dowd got really, really high (and lived to tell the tale!).

    The New York Times has focused their paywall options to allow readers who presumably only care about the various op-ed columns the paper regularly publishes to gain all access. For $6 a month, the new nytOpinion option gives you access to the full Opinion section online and on the new iOS app, as well as “curated commentary from around the globe and new features like Q&A with columnists.”

    If you jump on it now, they’ll let you have your first three months for just $0.99.

    And if you do, you can (hopefully) expect more articles like this.

    In Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude, veteran columnist Maureen Down shows why you should always ask someone who knows about the drug you’re about to ingest, before you ingest said drug.

    Dowd flew up to Denver to sample the newly legal cash crop, and didn’t have a great time. Edibles can be tricky, Maureen.

    For an hour, I felt nothing. I figured I’d order dinner from room service and return to my more mundane drugs of choice, chardonnay and mediocre-movies-on-demand.

    But then I felt a scary shudder go through my body and brain. I barely made it from the desk to the bed, where I lay curled up in a hallucinatory state for the next eight hours. I was thirsty but couldn’t move to get water. Or even turn off the lights. I was panting and paranoid, sure that when the room-service waiter knocked and I didn’t answer, he’d call the police and have me arrested for being unable to handle my candy.

    I strained to remember where I was or even what I was wearing, touching my green corduroy jeans and staring at the exposed-brick wall. As my paranoia deepened, I became convinced that I had died and no one was telling me.

    Good lord.

    It was only the next day that she thought to ask someone about how much she should eat, considering she was a novice.

    The rest of the op-ed…well, you can go read it yourself–unless you’ve already used up your free views for the day. With the new Opinions only subscription option, this won’t be a problem.

    I can’t wait for Thomas Friedman’s op-ed on that huuuuge bong rip that completely changed his thinking on globalization.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • NYC Teacher Contract A “Landmark” Agreement

    NYC Teacher Contract A “Landmark” Agreement

    Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a “landmark” labor deal on Thursday with New York City’s largest teachers’ union, the New York Times is reporting. The deal will set the framework for other outstanding contracts with the municipal workforce, officials said.

    The teachers’ union known as the United Federation of Teachers has been without a contract for four and a half years during former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s tenure in office and must ratify the agreement.

    The deal grants $3.4 billion in back pay to the union, in exchange for a substantial reduction in health care costs and an easing of classroom work rules. Teachers will also receive raises totaling up to 10 percent over seven years.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio hailed the deal as a victory for educators and tax payers, though it is still unclear if the city will have savings from the reduction in health care costs. Officials said that if other teachers’ unions agree to the same deal with a reduction in health care costs, the city will save $3.4 billion, off-setting the back pay given to the union.

    In addition, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the agreement would increase teacher retention, while staying within the city’s budget. It’s a stark contrast in negotiating tactics when compared to his predecessor Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who promoted pay freezes and other stringent tactics.

    The substantial reduction in health care costs without raising premiums comes from an idiosyncratic approach, according to city officials, such as increased use of prescriptions by mail, which saves money in the long-run. The hope is that the other 151 municipal bargaining units that have open contracts with the city will adopt a similar approach.

    This is Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first year in office, and city officials hope that this agreement with the United Federation of Teachers will set the tone for other agreements during his tenure in office.

    The agreement is expected to stretch over nine years, which is substantially longer than the most recent municipal contracts in New York, and a way city officials hope to spread the impact of the wage increases over many years’ worth of budgets.

    But it’s still unclear if the savings generated by a substantial reduction in health care costs will materialize.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Paulina Gretzky Makes Cover Of Golf Digest

    Paulina Gretzky has made the cover of Golf Digest, dressed in a sports bra and form-fitting white pants, much to the dismay of LPGA tour players who believe they don’t get the respect as golfers that they deserve.

    The issue has come under fire for featuring Paulina Gretzky, who has yet to earn her LPGA playing card and whose claim to golf fame comes as the fiancé of Dustin Johnson of the PGA tour, who has eight wins on his record.

    According to the USA Today, the last three women to have appeared on the cover of Golf Digest are Golf Channel anchor and personality Holly Sonders (May 2013), Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl Kate Upton, and Gretzky. The last LPGA player to make the cover was Lorena Ochoa in 2008.

    According to the New York Times, when asked about Gretzky, Inbee Park, the world No. 1 in women’s golf, asked, “Who is that?”

    Julie Inkster told Karen Crouse of the New York Times, “It’s frustrating because it’s Golf Digest; it’s not Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. I think they should maybe recognize some of the great women golfers that we have. It’s like, What do you have to do to get a little respect? I’m guaranteeing you right now, it was not a woman editor who chose that cover.”

    Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked American in the world at No. 3, added, “”It’s frustrating for female golfers. It’s the state of where we’ve always been. We don’t get the respect for being the golfers we are. Obviously, Golf Digest is trying to sell magazines, but at the same time you like to see a little respect for the women’s game.”

    Sam Weinman of Golf Digest wrote an article addressing the concern titled “What’s Paulina Gretzky Doing On The Cover Of Golf Digest?” He writes that Gretzky is a “certified celebrity within the golf world” and that when it’s factored in “that she’s an attractive, fit woman who — like many of our prospective readers — is fairly new to golf, and she seemed a natural cover subject for our second annual issue devoted to fitness.”

    “Sports figures, celebrities and models have appeared on Golf Digest covers since the magazine’s beginning,” Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde said. “Paulina ranks at the high end of the golf celebrity scene today, and she has a compelling story to tell. She also might get some new people interested in the game.”

    Paulina had her own comment on Twitter:

    The issue will be available on tablet edition April 8 and on newsstands April 15.

    Image via Twitter

  • James Franco Comments On Shia LaBeouf’s Behavior

    James Franco may poke fun at himself a bit when he’s with his buddies in films like “Pineapple Express” and “This Is The End”, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken a lot of criticism regarding his artsy inspirations and creative decisions. Labeled at times as pretentious and others as unfocused, Franco seems to shrug it off in favor of doing whatever his passions lead him to, and if that means a gallery show or a stint on a soap opera, then so be it.

    That may be why he’s trying to explain fellow actor Shia LaBeouf’s recent bizarre behavior, then, choosing to write an op-ed piece for the New York Times about the seemingly troubled young man and his actions of late.

    “Actors have been lashing out against their profession and its grip on their public images since at least Marlon Brando,” he wrote. “Brando’s performances revolutionized American acting precisely because he didn’t seem to be ‘performing,’ in the sense that he wasn’t putting something on as much as he was being. Off-screen he defied the studio system’s control over his image, allowing his weight to fluctuate, choosing roles that were considered beneath him and turning down the Oscar for best actor in 1973. These were acts of rebellion against an industry that practically forces an actor to identify with his persona while at the same time repeatedly wresting it from him.”

    Franco also addressed the speculation surrounding LaBeouf’s behavior, saying that many reasons could be involved:

    “This behavior could be a sign of many things, from a nervous breakdown to mere youthful recklessness. For Mr. LaBeouf’s sake I hope it is nothing serious. Indeed I hope — and, yes, I know that this idea has pretentious or just plain ridiculous overtones — that his actions are intended as a piece of performance art, one in which a young man in a very public profession tries to reclaim his public persona,” he wrote.

    LaBeouf hasn’t commented publicly on the speculation surrounding his behavior, but has taken to posting “I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE” on his Twitter page repeatedly. The same phrase was written on a paper bag which he used to cover his face at a recent “Nymphomaniac” screening.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Woody Allen Responds To Molestation Accusations

    Woody Allen asked last week to be allowed to respond to adopted daughter Dylan Farrow’s claims that he molested her in a public forum, and on Friday the New York Times published an op-ed piece containing his defense, plus accusations that his ex, Mia Farrow, coached Dylan to accuse Allen of sexual abuse.

    Dylan Farrow’s story hasn’t changed over the years, from the time the criminal investigation began in 1992 up until January of this year, when she spoke up on the matter again after her brother, Ronan, mentioned it on Twitter the night of the Golden Globe Awards. Ronan Farrow was none too pleased that Allen was given the Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award and immediately posted on the micro-blogging site about it.

    “Missed the Woody Allen tribute – did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?” he wrote. Soon after, a media frenzy ensued.

    While Dylan Farrow says she isn’t bringing the allegations back into the spotlight to smear Allen’s name during Oscar season or to gain notoriety, Allen says he thinks there’s another reason: she’s being coached by her mother, actress Mia.

    “One must ask, did Dylan even write the letter or was it at least guided by her mother? Does the letter really benefit Dylan or does it simply advance her mother’s shabby agenda? That is to hurt me with a smear. There is even a lame attempt to do professional damage by trying to involve movie stars, which smells a lot more like Mia than Dylan,” he wrote.

    Allen still maintains his innocence and references the fact that the investigation concluded that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing; however, state prosecutor Frank S. Maco said at the time that they wouldn’t pursue the case anymore due to the toll it was taking on then-7-year old Dylan.

    “This group of impartial, experienced men and women whom the district attorney looked to for guidance as to whether to prosecute, spent months doing a meticulous investigation, interviewing everyone concerned, and checking every piece of evidence,” he wrote. “Finally they wrote their conclusion which I quote here: “It is our expert opinion that Dylan was not sexually abused by Mr. Allen. Further, we believe that Dylan’s statements on videotape and her statements to us during our evaluation do not refer to actual events that occurred to her on August 4th, 1992… In developing our opinion we considered three hypotheses to explain Dylan’s statements. First, that Dylan’s statements were true and that Mr. Allen had sexually abused her; second, that Dylan’s statements were not true but were made up by an emotionally vulnerable child who was caught up in a disturbed family and who was responding to the stresses in the family; and third, that Dylan was coached or influenced by her mother, Ms. Farrow. While we can conclude that Dylan was not sexually abused, we can not be definite about whether the second formulation by itself or the third formulation by itself is true. We believe that it is more likely that a combination of these two formulations best explains Dylan’s allegations of sexual abuse.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Woody Allen Finally Responds to Abuse Claims

    Woody Allen doesn’t attend award shows and rarely gives interviews. However, the normally shy, reserved 78-year-old film director cannot stay quiet any longer. Finally, after two decades, he is giving his side of the story.

    On February 1, his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, 28, renewed her claim that Allen molested her as a 7-year-old child. She posted her accusation in an open letter in The New York Times for all the world to see. Now, Allen has posted a letter of his own, published on Friday on The New York Times website, in response to his daughter’s scathing claims and ultimately pinning the blame on Dylan’s mother and Allen’s ex-partner, Mia Farrow.

    Allen contends in the letter that Mia Farrow is responsible for putting the horrid molestation story in Dylan’s head. That, in fact, 21 years ago when the allegations of abuse first surfaced Mia took Dylan to the doctor. The young child told the doctor that she was not abused. And it was only after a trip to an ice cream shop with her mother that young Dylan changed her story. Allen also writes in the letter that Mia Farrow was upset with the relationship that Allen started with Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon-Yi, and amid their bitter breakup, Farrow put the story in Dylan’s head as a form of retribution.

    The director continues his letter chronicling the police investigation that ensued and the decision by the local authorities and experts that Allen did not molest his daughter. Even still, Allen lost custody of his children. He wrote, “I never saw her again nor was I able to speak with her no matter how hard I tried. I still loved her deeply, and felt guilty that by falling in love with Soon-Yi I had put her in the position of being used as a pawn for revenge. Soon-Yi and I made countless attempts to see Dylan but Mia blocked them all, spitefully knowing how much we both loved her but totally indifferent to the pain and damage she was causing the little girl merely to appease her own vindictiveness.”

    Allen also insists in the letter that he doesn’t blame his daughter for the accusations. “Not that I doubt Dylan hasn’t come to believe she’s been molested, but if from the age of 7 a vulnerable child is taught by a strong mother to hate her father because he is a monster who abused her, is it so inconceivable that after many years of this indoctrination the image of me Mia wanted to establish had taken root?”

    Finally, Allen closes his letter with a final denial and a plea to Dylan. “Of course, I did not molest Dylan. I loved her and hope one day she will grasp how she has been cheated out of having a loving father and exploited by a mother more interested in her own festering anger than her daughter’s well-being.”

    Image via Wikimedia

  • Dylan Farrow Had Op-Ed Piece Turned Down

    Dylan Farrow Had Op-Ed Piece Turned Down

    Dylan Farrow, who saw her op-ed piece containing allegations of sexual abuse against Woody Allen published by the New York Times on Saturday, initially had it rejected by the LA Times.

    Farrow, who was adopted by Allen and Mia Farrow as a child, says in the piece that Allen began abusing her when she was just seven years old, and that it lasted for years, unbeknownst to Mia. When she got older, she came forward with her story, and the allegations were brought back into the spotlight last month when, following a loving speech given by Diane Keaton as she accepted the Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award on his behalf at the Golden Globes, Ronan Farrow took to Twitter in dismay.

    “Missed the Woody Allen tribute – did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?” Ronan wrote.

    The op-ed piece came after the Golden Globes, due in part to the media frenzy surrounding Ronan’s comments. But according to LA Times op-ed editor Sue Horton, they took a look at it before it was published and decided against accepting it.

    “We got it, we considered it, we ultimately decided not to use it,” she said.

    The news is upsetting to some, especially after word broke on Wednesday that Allen has asked for an opportunity to write his own op-ed and may be granted the chance to do so by the New York Times.

    “They asked and we said, ‘Yes, send it in,’ ” Andrew Rosenthal, The Times’s editorial page editor, said, noting that just because there is a request, that doesn’t mean it will automatically be published. “It comes down to the editing process,” he said. “Normally, we don’t publish a direct response….in this case, it was so personal, we thought that we should.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Woody Allen May Get Op-Ed Piece Published

    Woody Allen May Get Op-Ed Piece Published

    When Woody Allen was honored with the Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award at this year’s Golden Globes–by his good friend Diane Keaton, who praised him during her speech as she accepted on his behalf–his son Ronan Farrow and ex-wife Mia took to Twitter to express their dismay.

    “Missed the Woody Allen tribute – did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?” Ronan wrote.

    Shortly after that, the media went into a bit of a frenzy covering the scandal, which has laid dormant for a number of years, and the alleged victim came forward with an open letter detailing the abuse she suffered at Allen’s hands. Dylan Farrow, Allen’s adopted daughter with Mia, says he repeatedly assaulted her as a child, and now Allen has asked for the opportunity to defend himself with an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times.

    “They asked and we said, ‘Yes, send it in,’ ” Andrew Rosenthal, The Times’s editorial page editor, said, noting that just because there is a request, that doesn’t mean it will automatically be published. “It comes down to the editing process,” he said. “Normally, we don’t publish a direct response….in this case, it was so personal, we thought that we should.”

    After the allegations re-surfaced, friends of Allen came to his defense, including Barbara Walters, who says she never saw him be anything but a doting father.

    “I have rarely seen a father as sensitive, as loving and as caring as Woody is and Soon-Yi to [their daughters]. I don’t know about Dylan. I can only tell you what I have seen now…she’s doing it now because he’s up for an [Oscar]. And so the question is: Does your personal life interfere with the awards that you may get?” Walters said on “The View”.

    But, as co-host Sherri Shepherd pointed out, Allen does have a preference for young women, as seen in his relationship with Farrow’s other adopted daughter, Soon-Yi.

    “Barbara, when you say, ‘I’m speaking from what I’ve seen,’ there are so many things that go on behind closed doors. We also know that he was with Soon-Yi when she was very young. Mia had adopted this girl when she was young and Woody was around her. You’ve also got a man who’s got a track record. He liked younger women,” Shepherd said. “So it’s not that far off.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons