Vicki Iseman, the Washington lobbyist who was linked romantically to John McCain in a New York Times cover story back in February, is now suing the paper for $27 million. [Fox News]

Today brought news in two murder cases: the death of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, and the mysterious shooting of Mark Ruffalo's brother, Scott.

Is Steve Jobs dying? Larry Ellison thinks so — the prospect reportedly moved the Oracle CEO to tears. A Gizmodo source thinks his "health is rapidly declining." For Apple, it could be good news.

· The Flight of the Conchords Season 2 premiere has logged 250,000 hits since premiering ten day ago on FunnyOrDie.com, 247,000 of which all came from the disconcertingly named domain, "JemaineBretSoccerMomSandwich." [THR]

This guy named "Chip" who is friends with Mike Huckabee mailed a CD to some friends with a terrible song called "Barack the Magic Negro" on it, and now he will lead the Republican party.

The accompanying video really requires no comment beyond a statement of its simple, almost otherworldly concept: Andy Warhol interviews Steven Spielberg. On a hotel bed. Bianca Jagger looks on. And something is swallowed.

Two more victims of Bernie Madoff's giant Ponzi scheme: Kevin Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, reports New York's Daily Intel, news that Bacon's publicist confirmed today. But there's good news for one other Madoff victim: Crain's reports that Yeshiva University, which previously indicated it had lost $110 million as part of the scam, now says it "only" lost $14.5 million, an error the school attributes to "fictitious numbers provided to it by Ezra Merkin."

12/28 — That dude (GARY DOURDAN) from CSI who got busted for drugs. He was at Maxfield trying on a hat and a jacket... but he was spinning around in the jacket and tipping his hat like Justin Timberlake... looked like a total douchebag and was REALLY loud in the store so people would pay attention. Alas, the sales were so good that no one did and he left. [Hollywood PrivacyWatch is written by and for Defamer readers; send your sightings to tips@defamer.com.]

• Jim Lahey's Co., backed by JGV and Phil Suarez, opens Friday. [Eater]
• City Winery is hosting (another) sneak preview from 6 to 12 tonight. [Eater]
• At Vermilion's going all out tomorrow night with a seven-course menu. [TFB]
• A guide to food shopping along 14th Street. [Urbanite]
• Margaret Palaca Bakes in Cobble Hill is closing. [BP]
• Just a few of the spots mentioned on The City last night: Nero, Cafe Noir, Thom Bar, Extra Virgin, Tenjune, and Philippe. [Metromix Twitter]

Still wondering why Terrence Howard was summarily fired from Iron Man 2? Jamie Foxx has a few ideas!

The United States of Tara, legend goes, was an idea that popped into the mind of Steven Spielberg, who then handed it over to screenwriting phenomenon Diablo Cody to flesh out into a half-hour pilot.

A Very Noel Christmas [NYM/Daily Intel]

It's brand new as of yesterday. What they're (they = the Israeli Defense Forces' Spokesperson's Unit) using it for is to, well, show instances of successful bombings in Gaza. Because, you know, they're doing that whole fighting with Hamas thing again. Apparently YouTube administrators took down one particularly graphic video, but the IDF remains committed to showing horrible bombings to drum up some positive PR. The channel's profile reads:

It's getting ugly out there for celebs who branched out into the hospitality business. Robert De Niro's Ago is on the ropes, Jay-Z's plans to open a hotel in Chelsea have been derailed, and now after 10 years in business, Chris Noth's Cutting Room will be closing in January. The sudden closure probably comes as disappointing news for Noth but he can always drown his sorrows at Noel Ashman's Plumm, where he's an investor and which is still in business, in case you were wondering. [Page Six]

Not long after we reported on Tara Reid getting free rehab at Promises, a rep for the rehab facility contacted us, took us into a quiet, seaside-adjacent massage room, and began a healing confrontation.

Forget protecting the city from terrorist attacks or solving crime. The NYPD's biggest concern these days, at least according to People magazine? "The mob scene that could result when the Jonas Brothers perform in Times Square" on New Year's Eve. The only thing that will save New York's Finest from the utter mayhem? The weather forecast of 17 degrees and a chance of snow and rain. [People]

Hahahaha criminal Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has exercised his right to make an appointment to the US Senate.

It looks like Maimon Kirschenbaum didn't make any plans to take time off for Hanukkah. The lawyer famous for filing suit against just about every other restaurant in town for underpaying employees has picked the Japanese sushi chain Haru (which, in turn, is owned by Benihana Inc.) as his latest target. According to a complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court on behalf of former Haru waiter Jin-Yi Hong (as well as any other Haru employees who have yet to come forward, naturally), Kirschenbaum argues that the restaurant failed to pay its waiters minimum wage, withheld overtime pay, and forced them to share tips with managers. Haru is in fine company, of course: Kirschenbaum's previous targets have included Nobu, Jean Georges, Bouley, BondSt, Balthazar, BLT Steak, BLT Prime, and BLT Fish. The details of his latest legal offensive after the jump!

If and/or when Hollywood makes the definitive movie about victims of Bernard Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme, we're sad to report that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick can be recruited to play themselves.

Alternate-universe President-elect Cynthia McKinney hopped on a boat to Gaza with 3 tons of medical supplies and then they were rammed by Israelis and forced to dock in Lebanon, where CNN cameras were waiting.