Newspapers Are So Hot Right Now

Newspapers are being used in all manner of creative endeavors lately, in addition to their normal status as news delivery systems. Recently, there was the fake New York Times courtesy of the Yes Men and the six issues of a one-off newspaper that the Lower East Side's Dexter Sinister recently produced in Penn Station—right under the nose of the New York Times.

And now Twitter user AustinHorse alerted me to an interesting advertisement atop a taxi cap, for the A&E television show Hoarders. The campaign utilizes clear panels on the rooftop ads, and fills them with old newspapers. You can get a good look at them below, in photos posted by blogger Ask A Copywriter.

Interestingly, he also spied the same advertisement removed from the roof of a cab, left alone and abandoned on a sidewalk of New York City. So many metaphors, yah?

Perez Hilton and His Hundreds of Adoring Fans

I traveled to Columbus Circle by foot, bus, and finally train, arriving 15 minutes early, not wanting to miss what I thought was surely going to be...something. Perez Hilton was signing his new book, Perez Hilton's True Bloggywood Stories, at Borders, in the Columbus Circle shops. Maybe someone would pie him? Maybe only 23 people would show up, ask him to sign their Beanie Babies, and he would leave sad and dejected? The Frisky hopes no one buys his book. I found out that hundreds in attendance did.

Perez was behind a podium, cheerful, and graciously taking questions from whomever had one. "What do you think about blogging in relation journalism?" someone asked. "When did you come out to your friends and family?" "What do you think about the failed amendment on gay marriage in the New York Senate?" Question after question came from fans. FANS! Perez Hilton has appreciative fans, and they were all there to see and support him. College age fans. Nice fans. Fans from NYU. I guess I knew this, I just never saw it play out in real life before.

Mayor Giuliani said to WALK NORTH. Over Half A Million U.S. Text Pager Messages From 9-11 Released

"I waited to wave at you at the doorway and you didnt :( I paged you...you didnt call :( Did I make you angry with me? I love you."

On Nov 25th, WikiLeaks began releasing over a half a million intercepted U.S. text pager messages, covering a period surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. CBS News filed a well written report on the leaks shortly after the story broke online, as did the Village Voice. Together, those reports offer a comprehensive review of the issues raised, as well making note of some of the more notable messages.

Over the holiday weekend, NYC The Blog spent time going through the leaked pager messages, paying particualar attention to localized messages. A selection of those are below, and include a link back to the messages page on Wikileaks.

2001-09-11 11:34:14 Skytel [002372343] B ALPHA
I am leaving for home. I will be walking thru the park at 86th street. When you can pls. call. I love u!

2001-09-11 11:11:12 Metrocall [0133877] B ALPHA
Please be very careful, I know you might not be coming. I think I know where you are. I'm deeply sad, I imagine how you feel

2001-09-11 08:45:39 Metrocall [002324586] C ALPHA
I love you and miss you very much!!!!!!xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo I waited to wave at you at the doorway and you didnt :( I paged you.... you didnt call :( Did I make you angry with me? I love you

2001-09-11 11:15:40 Arch [0479469] D ALPHA
"Ryder, Michael | Are you OK? | Stephanie- In case any of your pagers or phones are working... Mayor Giuliani said to WALK NORTH. If you can, I recommend you keep walking until you can get to a hotel somewhere, check in and call us. Call me at

2001-09-11 16:44:43 Skytel [005435226] C ALPHA
Just wanted to let you know I just heard from my godmother & she is OK. She was crossing the street and about to go into the building when the second plan crashed into the tower.  She ran for cover and is now safe at -1/2

2001-09-11 12:21:06 Arch [0915886] D ALPHA
"EXT-Tolman, Mel | people are taking money out of ATM, people are crying, it's so weird, i just want to go home and be with you.

2001-09-11 11:43:33 Skytel [004477339] C ALPHA
Soden, the two of you are booked at the Four Seasons, you have a 6:12 am Acela train from Boston tomorrow. PLEASE do NOT try to make it back, the city is in lock down everything is closed. I'll keep trying the cell phones.

2001-09-11 11:11:42 Skytel [005349993] C ALPHA
How r u doing? They said that communication out of the city is very limited. Let me know if you hear from her. They interviewed people who were on the 87th floor and got out so I'm sure they evacuated surrounding buildings.

2001-09-11 16:55:40 Metrocall [0044092] D ALPHA
Dave, I just got home a few minutes ago. There was no train service early this afternoon. i had to walk the 59th street bridge. then walked to northern & 46th st. By that time the trains were again.

2001-09-11 11:49:46 Skytel [005254896] A ALPHA
MOMMY, CALL ME PLEASE...JEANIE

2001-09-11 11:58:37 Skytel [005213476] B ALPHA
NTS IN NEW YORK, THE MONEY TRANSFER FACILITY (MTF) HAS BEEN SWITHCED TO THEIR BACKUP SITE. DIASTER MODE.

2001-09-11 12:02:22 Arch [1622749] D ALPHA
Janice Sharp We have been told to evacuate the building. Is this accurate?

2001-09-11 12:00:05 Metrocall [1695646] D ALPHA
Frm: Lawrence.K.Forrest@bankofamerica.com Sub: Update Txt: Bank of America has ordered the evacuation of all bank HIGH RISE BUILDINGS only.

2001-09-11 11:16:43 Arch [0916223] D ALPHA
At 1112hrs. Code Red is now in effect, Situation Room is now open. Northbound service estimated to resume in about 20 minutes.

2001-09-11 16:44:39 Skytel [004406474] C ALPHA
STOP! CONNIE RICE PULLED THE PLUG. CIA ADVICED. ASAP (74

2001-09-11 11:11:41 Skytel [005507037] D ALPHA
Bill is okay and on his way home...Mary will call us later. Evacuating NSA and Ft. Meade now. K

2001-09-11 11:13:39 Skytel [0000068] B ALPHA
ENSURE ALL EMPLOYEES KNOW ONCE THE AIRCRAFT ARE UNLOADED THE DOORS WILL BE SHUT AND STAIRS PULLED AWAY. DO NOT APPROACH ANY AIRCRAFT.

2001-09-11 11:13:04 Weblink_B [1567911] B ALPHA
Lines to Washington & Saudi are blocked or jammed. Couldn't get thru. Jim at the FBI had no info - he suggested we watch Fox or CNN. Chris.

2001-09-11 09:02:40 Arch [1338779] C ALPHA
small plane crashed into the world trade center towers no request has been made for NJ EMS response DO NOT CALL REMCS unless emergency. From: REMCS Supv.