Zen Koans Explained: "The Tunnel"

Hamilton Nolan · 04/18/14 01:46PM

A man who runs around town talking about "Zen" is considered to be wise. But a man who runs around town talking about "Zip" is considered to be a zipper salesman, or perhaps a mathematician. Or perhaps a foreigner. If asked to write an essay on this topic, what would you say?

Sarah Hedgecock · 04/18/14 12:58PM

Former Ukrainian prime minister and presidential hopeful Yulia Tymoshenko speaks to journalists after her press conference in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Friday. Tymoshenko came to the city in a bid to defuse the tensions and hear "the demands of Ukrainians who live in Donetsk." Image via Sergei Grits/AP.

Jay Hathaway · 04/18/14 12:25PM

Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA has responded to the news that formerly Wu-affiliated rapper Christ Bearer cut off his own penis and jumped out of an apartment building. "I don't make music with him nowadays. But the story—what he did—is incredible. That shit sound mythical," RZA told XXL.

The Mega-Rich Get the Best Government Welfare

Hamilton Nolan · 04/18/14 11:42AM

It's great to be rich. It's extra double great to be super rich. And not just because you have all that extra money—because being super rich actually lets you pay lower taxes.

Rich Juzwiak · 04/18/14 10:50AM

The good news is that Prince has regained ownership of his back catalog. The bad news is that he had to reteam with Warner Bros.—the company with which he waged public war with in the '90s—to get it. But whatever, we're getting a remastered and expanded version of Purple Rain soon!

Dustin Lance Black Is Slut-Shamed By Alma Mater, Shames Back

Rich Juzwiak · 04/18/14 10:45AM

Over a month ago, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was invited to speak at the commencement of his alma mater, Pasadena City College. And then, after the PCC Board of Trustees found out that in 2009, pictures of Black having unprotected sex with a boyfriend leaked on the internet, he was disinvited.

Sarah Hedgecock · 04/18/14 10:40AM

Pilgrims walk with crosses on the final leg of the Northern Cross pilgrimage to Holy Island, in Berwick Upon Tweed, England, on Friday. The pilgrims walk around 100 miles through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders during Holy Week. Image via Scott Heppell/AP.

Dutch Man Charged With Cyberbullying Amanda Todd

Michelle Dean · 04/18/14 10:00AM

Amanda Todd's cyberbully has reportedly been found. A 35-year-old Dutch man who was arrested in January for indecent assault and child pornography is now suspected of having been the man who tormented Todd, who committed suicide at 15 years old in 2012.

Sad: The Prison Telephone Industry Can't Extort People as Much Now

Hamilton Nolan · 04/18/14 09:46AM

The prison telephone industry is right up there with... well, the private prison industry, when it comes to the most repugnant manifestations of capitalism. The good news is, the industry is currently getting screwed by government regulation. Government regulation works!

Jane Goodall Answers Our "Silly" Questions

Rich Juzwiak · 04/18/14 09:45AM

All I needed to know was that Dr. Jane Goodall was available for interviews, and I was there, even if it was only for 10 minutes, even if it was in the Midtown Buca di Beppo.

Lindsay Lohan Reveals Why She Wrote the "Fuck List" in the First Place

Jay Hathaway · 04/18/14 09:30AM

Lindsay Lohan's alleged handwritten list of everyone she's ever had sex with made huge waves in the gossip press—In Touch alone milked it for 5 stories, dragging out the revelation of a few famous names—and that's probably exactly how Lindsay wanted it. She's now using the story to tease the season finale of Lindsay.