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John Mack Is Totally Doing the Victory Dance Right Now Photo: Getty Images It's not yet noon, but you know who's already well into the Cristal on this fine Columbus Day morning? Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack, that's who. Faced with snowballing rumors about the firm's capitalization and collapsing stock, Mack managed to get Mitsubishi to close on its $9 billion equity investment in the firm on National Health Day — a day earlier than expected, and on exceedingly good terms. He couldn't resist writing some self-congratulation into the press release: The MUFG investment further bolsters Morgan Stanley's already strong capital position. Morgan Stanley's Tier 1 Capital Ratio is now estimated to be more than 15.5 percent on a pro-forma basis as of August 31, 2008. This is far in excess of the 6 percent required by the Federal Reserve to be treated as well-capitalized and is one of the highest Tier 1 Capital Ratios among bank holding companies peers. In other words, all y'all haters can suck it, because the Mack is back. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Closes $9 Billion Equity Investment in Morgan Stanley as Part of Global Strategic Alliance [WSJ] Source: Daily Intel | 13 Oct 2008 | 3:30 pm Paul Krugman Wins Nobel Prize for EconomicsTimes columnist and Princeton professor Paul Krugman was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics today, for his work on international trade and economic geography. "It’s been an extremely weird day, but weird in a positive way," he said this morning. We're not sure what he means by "weird." Maybe that the prize for helping the world comes with $1.4 million? Or, more likely, he just meant, "I'm an effing Nobel Prize–winning genius, and my column appears on the same page as William Kristol's." It is weird, when you think about it. [Economix/NYT] Source: Daily Intel | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:50 pm Taxpayers Inexplicably Upset About Having to Pay for Brad Pitt Movies Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. With the imploded economy putting a strain on local governments across the nation, budget cuts are inevitable. But if shuttering our jails and elementary schools doesn't get us out of this mess, could states' incentives for movie production be in jeopardy? Maybe! The New York Times reports that taxpayers in Louisiana are outraged over a $27 million bill they're footing for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the upcoming David Fincher–Brad Pitt film made possible by a completely insane incentive allowing Paramount to recoup even parts of the movie's $167 million budget that weren't spent in the state. And in Michigan, where nobody's had a job since 1986, lawmakers in both parties are trying to put a cap on movie-related spending after they made an offer to pay 40 percent of film costs incurred there and movie studios astonishingly took them up on it. Proponents of the incentives argue that they create jobs and stimulate local economies. Critics point out that this is completely stupid: "These are not long-term jobs," says Michigan Republican Nancy Cassis. "If just one state offers more, they'll be out of here before you can say 'lickety-split.'" She should probably just be happy that they're shooting potentially good movies (like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino and Michael Cera's Youth in Revolt) in her state, instead of obvious stinkers like the ones they're making in Rhode Island — taxpayers there help fund Hard Luck, a straight-to-DVD film starring Cybill Shephard and Wesley Snipes (ironic, given Snipes's noted appreciation for taxes). States' Film Production Incentives Cause Jitters [NYT] Source: Vulture | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:45 pm Sir Philip Green’s Next Move; Nicolas Ghesquière Nabs Accessories Award Sir Philip Green Photo: Getty Images • Topshop owner Sir Philip Green flew to Iceland over the weekend to negotiate a deal with retail investor Baugur. That's right — he's got dough to blow. He could get a big discount on stakes in London's High Street brands like Whistles. [Guardian] • Mary J. Blige will present at the Accessories Council Excellence (Ace) Awards on November 3. Honorees include Jimmy Choo's Tamara Mellon, Nicolas Ghesquière, and Stella McCartney. [WWD] • Model Lara Stone: "When I was 16, being naked was a problem, but it has never really been an issue for me. Better naked than wearing really tight corsets. I don't put myself in situations that I feel uncomfortable with, you know, someday my children are going to see this. My tits are not really that big. Next season I might go for a more dressed up Lara, like a librarian or something." [Fashionologie] • Kirsten Dunst was spotting wearing a piece of the new Prada spring 2009 collection but did not pair it with the shoes that made the models fall. [Grazia] • Eva Longoria was spotted out in a pair of jeans from Victoria Beckham's dVb line. Maybe the line has a fighting chance after all. [Denimology] Source: The Cut | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:41 pm U.S. Decides ‘Sticking Capital in Banks’ Not Such a Bad Idea After All Photo: Getty Images Way back two weeks ago, when lawmakers were facing a decision on whether to pass the $700 bailout bill, “some said we should just stick capital in the banks, take preferred stock in the banks," Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson told the Senate Banking Committee. But the U.S. wasn't going to that. Why? Because nationalizing banks is for losers. "That’s what you do when you have failure," Paulson explained patiently. "This is about success." Or, um, not. After a long, hard week, this past weekend the Bush administration decided that "sticking capital in banks" wasn't such a bad idea after all. After meeting with finance ministers from G7 countries (otherwise known as the Coalition of the Ailing), they basically chucked over Paulson's original plan of buying troubled assets from banks in favor of taking equity stakes in banks, as the U.K. and Germany did this morning. Awkward. Barney Frank is appreciating the irony. "We took a proposal from the secretary, and frankly, it was the Congress that explicitly added the right to buy the equity," he told ABC's This Week. "Frankly, the Treasury was not too crazy about that." The Wall Street Journal also reminds us that "more broadly, Mr. Paulson didn't see a need for any type of government rescue plan until last month. As recently as May, Mr. Paulson was predicting that the 'worst is likely to be behind us.'" Ahem. While markets are closed here for Columbus Day, Dow futures are up and banking stocks worldwide jumped on promise of the new capital. But is Paulson's stock plummeting? Dow Futures Climb Almost 350 After Horrible Week [NYT] Quinn Is Gambling for Her Political Life [NYDN] Source: Daily Intel | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:06 pm Events and Sales: $50 Spa Treatments; 25 Percent Off DVF ShoesEVENTS • Don't miss Shecky's Girls Night out, a five-hour shopping experience featuring up-and-coming designer fashion at up to 75 percent off, as well as complimentary cocktails, spa services, and goody bags. Tickets can be purchased online for $10. Through 10/17. The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette St., nr. Houston St. (212-274-8900); Mon.–Fri. (5–10). • Meet Joan Hornig at Bergdorf Goodman, where she'll introduce her new jewelry collection in an exclusive trunk show. One hundred percent of all profits will go to a charity of the customer's choice. Through 10/17. Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Ave., nr. 59th St. (212-753-7300); 11–4. SALES ENDING TODAY • Diane Von Furstenberg is slashing 25 percent off all shoes. Through 10/13. 874 Washington St., at 14th St. (646-486-4800); Fri.–Sat., Mon. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6), and online. • Enjoy 25 percent off all boots by DKNY, both online and in stores. The black patent Knickerbocker rain boot is $87 from $125, and the lace-up combats are $332 from $475. Through 10/13. Check here for store locations. STARTING TOMORROW Source: The Cut | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:00 pm Brandon Routh Is Still Super, Thanks for Asking Photo: Getty Images Or Is He?: DC comics president Paul Levitz has told Latino Review that he's been meeting with Brandon Routh "to talk about Superman and what we want to do," which definitely sounds like he'll be playing Superman in any sequel that comes down the pipe. But when will that be? DC is waiting for "Nolan to sign on for another Batman" and then "the release date for Superman and all other future projects will follow." [Latino Review] Wahlberg May Not Fight Soon: In an interview with ComingSoon, Mark Wahlberg has cast considerable doubt on the health of Darren Aronofsky's The Fighter, saying that without a start date, "It's too depressing to talk about. I get up everyday at 5:00 a.m. to train for a movie that might not even happen. I get up to talk to animals every day, but they're no help either!" [ComingSoon] Ortega Keeps His Dancing Shoes On: High School Musical's Kenny Ortega has been "invited to re-imagine Footloose for Paramount," and he wants Tweenmerica's own Zac Efron to star in the Kevin Bacon role. "There's some genuine enthusiasm coming from the Paramount side," Ortega says, neglecting to add that "they're all a bunch of idiots who're scared to make anything original, but hey, it's a living!" [BBC] Scott Takes Forever: Fox 2000 has snagged the rights to Joe Haldeman's 1974 sci-fi novel The Forever War, for Ridley Scott to direct. Story follows a guy who goes deep into outer space to fight an alien race for a short period of time, only to find that tons of time has passed on Earth when he returns (because of special relativity and a little thing called SCIENCE). Scott originally intended to direct this immediately after Blade Runner and Alien, but the film got held up owing to rights issues — for two decades, although it only feels like a few months (see what we did there?). [Variety] Adams Tests the Waters: Mean Girls' Mark Waters will direct Eva Adams, an hour-long pilot for Fox, based on Kevin Falls's script he adapted from the Argentine telenovela Lalola. Series centers on a womanizer who somehow becomes a woman himself. Comeuppance ensues? [Variety] Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:29 pm How did DiCaprio and Crowe get chomped by 'Chihuahua'? - Chicago Tribune
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:28 pm AC/DC turns off iTunes for "Black Ice" - Reuters
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:25 pm Jamie Lynn Spears Denies Being Pregnant Again - ChattahBox
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:25 pm Christian Slater, 'My Own Worst Enemy' - Chicago Tribune
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:16 pm With new "Black Ice," AC/DC turns off iTunes (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:16 pm Tim Robbins gets star on Walk of FameRead full story for latest details.Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:09 pm Tina Fey As Sarah Palin Gets Huge Post-Show Viewing - MediaPost Publications
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:02 pm Booker means cash as much as kudos for authors (Reuters)Reuters - Whatever the winner of the 40th Booker Prize says, victory at the awards ceremony in London on Tuesday is as much about cash as literary kudos.Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:43 pm "Sex Drive" takes a familiar route (Reuters)Reuters - Trying for reheated "American Pie" if served up by Judd Apatow, the raunchy "Sex Drive" is by no means "Superbad," but thanks to a likable cast, neither is it superbad.Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:38 pm "Sex Drive" takes a familiar route (Reuters)Reuters - Trying for reheated "American Pie" if served up by Judd Apatow, the raunchy "Sex Drive" is by no means "Superbad," but thanks to a likable cast, neither is it superbad.Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:38 pm Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Renew Vows 4 Years Later - eFluxMedia
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:37 pm Veteran sportscaster-actor Gil Stratton dead at 86 (Reuters)Reuters - Veteran U.S. actor and legendary sportscaster Gil Stratton, remembered for his signature line, "Hi folks, time to call 'em as I see 'em," and for roles in such movies as "Stalag 17" and "The Wild One," has died at age 86.Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:34 pm "Quarantine" a tiresome zombie horror - Reuters
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:33 pm "High School" Stars Can't Crap in Peace - TMZ.com
Source: Google News - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:31 pm MovieTickets.com Inks Deal to Become Exclusive Online Ticketing Partner for Southern TheatresNew Orleans-Based Southern Theatres L.L.C. Boasts 18 Locations, 268 Screens LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- MovieTickets.com (Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:30 pm "Quarantine" a tiresome zombie horror (Reuters)Reuters - Oh, "Blair Witch," what hath thou wrought?Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:28 pm No. 1 hip-hop star: I'm 'anxious' about prisonEarlier this year, T.I. was sentenced to jail time and community service over his arrest on weapons charges last year. The hip-hop artist, who has the No. 1 song and album in the country, says he's ready to do his time -- and come out a better person.
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 10:40 am Sandra Lee, Star of Semi-Homemade Cooking on the Food Network Hits the Book Tour TrailHome & Food Expert, Sandra Lee, Cooks Up Three New Titles to Simplify Living: Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals, Semi-Homemade Desserts 2 and Semi-Homemade Fast-Fix Family FavoritesSource: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsEnter | 13 Oct 2008 | 10:30 am Stone says no malice intended in "W." (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 10:26 am Bollywood star Bachchan hospitalizedRead full story for latest details.Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 13 Oct 2008 | 7:48 am Showdown Set for McCain and Letterman Sen. John McCain launched his presidential campaign on the Late Show With David Letterman.
Will he end it there as well?
After canceling an appearance last month and causing...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 13 Oct 2008 | 3:45 am The Jonas Brothers Cowboy Up The Jonas Brothers just scored.
The singing siblings are set to provide the live halftime entertainment for the Dallas Cowboys matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day,...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:43 am Which Sci-Fi Series Should Return Next? Now that it's been announced that V is coming back to join other recently revived sci-fi franchises such as Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who and the upcoming J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot,...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:30 am Ridley Scott takes on 'War'Front Page: Film based on Haldeman novel 'Forever' -- Fox 2000 has acquired rights to Joe Haldeman’s 1974 novel "The Forever War," and Ridley Scott is planning to make it into his first science fiction film since he delivered back-to-back classics with "Blade Runner" and "Alien."Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:00 am Thomas Tull resigns Brash boardFront Page: Legendary topper exits videogame publisher -- Thomas Tull is Brash no more. The Legendary Pictures topper has resigned from the board of Brash Entertainment, the videogame publisher he co-founded last year after helping to raise $400 million in private equity funding.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 13 Oct 2008 | 2:00 am "Chihuahua" mauls DiCaprio and Crowe at box office (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 13 Oct 2008 | 1:33 am McCain to appear on Letterman after allLooks like they may be ready to bury the hatchet back at the Home Office.Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 12 Oct 2008 | 11:29 pm ‘Koltchak,’ ‘Eye’ top hot ‘Mamma’Front Page: 'Mia' drops from top spot in overseas box office -- Russian epic "Koltchak" and "Eagle Eye" knocked international sensation "Mamma Mia!" out of the top slot at the foreign box office for the first time in six weeks during a typically moderate fall frame.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 10:34 pm Specialty box office gets bumpFront Page: Audiences committed to 'Rachel,' 'Religulous' -- The specialty box office continued to pick up the pace over the weekend as Sony Pictures Classics' Anne Hathaway starrer "Rachel Getting Married" expanded successfully and Lionsgate's Bill Maher docu "Religulous" kept audiences rollicking.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:45 pm T.I. has dual No. 1s but claims underdog status (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:34 pm Campbell Scott portrays an unscrupulous journalist (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:05 pm Forced sale for Sumner RedstoneFront Page: Mogul plans to move shares in Viacom, CBS -- By the end of the worst week in the stock market's history, Sumner Redstone was forced to disclose plans to sell $400 million worth of nonvoting shares in Viacom and CBS to pay down debt at his holding company, National Amusements.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 8:23 pm 'Mars' attacks ratings raceFront Page: ABC drama bests CBS' 'Eleventh Hour' -- ABC's "Life on Mars" bested CBS' "Eleventh Hour" in Thursday's showdown of high-profile premieres based on British skeins, while a pair of comedy additions gave NBC a boost.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 7:56 pm SAG resolution in sightFront Page: Guild to decide on authorization balloting -- Strike or no strike? The fate of the Screen Actors Guild long-running contract negotiations drama could become much clearer by the end of this week.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 7:56 pm 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' No. 1 againRead full story for latest details.Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 12 Oct 2008 | 7:11 pm Travis Barker From Hospital Bed: "Every Step's Huge" (E! Online)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:52 pm The surprise film hit of the fallRead full story for latest details.Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:51 pm J.Lo & Marc: Magic and Marriage Redux in the Air Friday night, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony mugged with Criss Angel following his show in Vegas. The following day, the twosome worked their own magic.
The superstar couple completed...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:38 pm Quarantine, Chihuahua Shut Down DiCaprio, Crowe Leonardo DiCaprio? Russell Crowe? Nope.
If you wanted a movie star that turned on—and turned out—the young audience this weekend, then your best option wasn't DiCaprio or...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:36 pm Film interests expand in Middle EastFront Page: Execs seal deal with National Geographic -- Film execs in Abu Dhabi scored a one-two combo this weekend, announcing a $100 million production deal with National Geographic, and unveiling a multibillion-dollar media zone dubbed twofour54, with the aim of turning the ambitious emirate into a world-class center of content creation.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:15 pm Wall Street woes worry TV industryFront Page: Issues with ads, budgets overshadow Mipcom -- Worries about the triple whammy facing the international TV industry -- from the stock market rout, TV ad market downturns plus foreseeably ever-tighter budgets at many foreign broadcasters as they lose share to DTT, satellite and cable -- overshadowed the 24th Mipcom TV mart Sunday.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:12 pm Exterior of the after party for the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"Exterior of the after party for the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" in September 2008, in Hollywood, California. The pampered pooch forced to fend for herself on Mexico's...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:11 pm Travis Barker From Hospital Bed: "Every Step's Huge" Three weeks after narrowly surviving a Learjet plane crash, Travis Barker has taken to his MySpace blog to thank fans for their support and to update them on his condition.
"Like the...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 12 Oct 2008 | 4:56 pm Cheryl Burke: Weighty Issues Dancing with the Stars hoofer Cheryl Burke certainly doesn't sidestep the heavy issues about her weight that have been swirling through the news lately in this exclusive interview with E!...Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 12 Oct 2008 | 4:55 pm Oscar changes tune on music CDsFront Page: Hopefuls given clearance to send out discs -- The Academy has changed its tune: Oscar music hopefuls have been given clearance to send out CDs to voting members of the Music Branch.Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 12 Oct 2008 | 4:21 pm
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