Fresh Loaf

On Sept. 15, 2008, the stock market’s death rattle was amplified by Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers’ decision to file for bankruptcy.

One mysterious man named “Reinhardt” predicted the date and details of the collapse on a Google finance message board months before the fact. He also explained — in great detail — that the crash was caused by an organization with Catholic ties. And that one of the group’s founders was Tom Monaghan, the brains behind Domino’s Pizza. So there’s that.

Yesterday, Gawker reported that “Reinhardt” has revealed his identity on his blog. He says another financial asteroid is approaching and will strike on Feb. 9. Thank God people are buying pitchforks and learning Tae-Bo!

What’s the local angle, you ask? Well, according to his blog, “Reinhardt” lives in Atlanta. The “Real Housewives” don’t have anything on this dude.

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Rick Sanchez, the CNN anchor who is the living, breathing embodiment of truth and hope, says via Twitter that his account was hacked. Also targeted: President-elect Barack Obama (”What is your opinion on Barack Obama? Take the survey and possibly win $500 in free gas.”), Fox News (”Breaking: Bill O Riley is gay”) and Britney Spears (”HI Yall! Brit Brit here, just wanted to update you all on the size of my vagina. Its about 4 feet wide with razor sharp teeth.”) Valleywag says posters at 4chan are claiming credit for the Spears hack.

Below, the “hacked” Sanchez update. Honestly, I thought this would’ve cleared up some of his earlier tweets. (Kidding! We love ya, Rick! And kind tip of the sombrero to Waxmuseum for the find.)

After the jump, Sanchez’s tweets reacting to what happened. (”Something about crack? great??”)

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The New York Times, with much gravitas, and Gawker, with much faux-condescension, are reporting that, in politics, the South no longer matters.

Says Gawker:

Good news, Fake America—we’ve marginalized The South! The New York Times reports today that based on the totally conclusive 2008 election results, no longer will The South have any impact whatsoever on National Politics, and we can safely ignore them.

Best Gawker comment:

Well, if Florida is America’s penis, it’s the “balls” of the Redneck Riviera that has the rash.

Most reasoned Gawker comment:

This is not the south that went Red. This is the really, really, really racist part of the south. Missississippi, Ga and SC went more blue.

Most obvious display of Deep South stereotyping by a Times photographer:

This guy.

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In what is widely considered a colossal display of bad taste, Murfreesboro Post columnist Stephen Lewis has compared Barack Obama’s ascent to the presidency to the “movin’ on up” jingle from “The Jeffersons.”

Both Romenesko and Gawker have called out Lewis on his idiotic column. The Gawker post also alludes to a similar though unrelated display of alleged racism toward Obama, this one with Georgia roots.

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Well, maybe “world” is a bit of an exaggeration. But the New York media have chimed in!

Jerry Portwood, editor of New York Press and CL’s former assistant A&E editor, had this to say about our parent company filing for Chapter 11:

I once worked at Creative Loafing in Atlanta but left long before I had to witness its diminishing editorial or advertising power in the region.

Ouch.

Gawker.com, of all unlikely sources of commiseration, was more empathetic:

This may be just a foreshadowing of some painful days to come for alt-weeklies in general—we also hear the Village Voice may be on the verge of some layoffs.

The New York Observer took the silver-lining angle in response to news of the bankruptcy relief sought by Creative Loafing Inc., which also owns the Chicago Reader, Washington City Paper, and Creative Loafings in Charlotte, Tampa and Sarasota:

According to [City Paper Editor Erik] Wemple, it’s really not that big a deal—in fact, it might be a good thing—since, according to Creative Loafing C.E.O., Ben Eason (whom Mr. Wemple paraphrases), the fiing “would allow the six papers in the Creative Loafing portfolio to establish a greater online presence while the company reorganizes its operations.”

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The Atlanta Critical Mass ride last month received a lot of attention because city police shadowed the slow-rolling gathering and ticketed cyclists out of the blue. That sucks, yes, but turn your eyes for the moment toward New York City, where police and Massers have never really had a peaceful go of things.

A video recorded during Friday’s Critical Mass in the city shows cycle-riding revelers pedaling through Times Square. Fun and games until a police officer pushes you off a bicycle for no reason.

According to Gawker, who gets the thanks for the video:

City Room reports that the unidentified officer was puts on “modified assignment” while they investigate; the AP says they also took away his badge and gun for now. (He should be fired.) Meanwhile, Gothamist reports that the cyclist was arrested and held in jail while being charged with assault.

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