bill-clinton

Vinod Khosla's Brazilian ethanol venture uses slave labor, just like most Valley startups we know

Jackson West · 03/28/08 03:20PM

The Brazil Renewable Energy Company, or Brenco, was the target of the Brazilian Labor Ministry's slave-labor investigation unit last month. Brenco produces ethanol from sugarcane, which is more carbon-efficient than corn-based ethanol but incredibly labor-inefficient — cane farming is some of the hardest work on Earth. How did the company, backed in part by Vinod Khosla's VC firm, address this inefficiency? By paying workers less than a dollar an hour, packing them cheek-to-jowl in substandard living conditions, preventing them from leaving the unsanitary housing on their free time, feeding them poorly, and (rather ironically for an ethanol manufacturer) banning alcohol.

The Dutiful Political Wife

Rebecca · 03/10/08 04:14PM

Dear Silda Wall Spitzer,

So. Today was awkward, huh? Your husband of 20 years cheated on you with a prostitute. A high class prostitute, sure, but still someone he paid money to for sex. And for a woman like you, a Harvard trained lawyer who never wanted to be a political wife anyway, standing silently by while your husband sort of apologized for cheating must have taken everything you had. We want you to know, it's okay to be mad.

Documentary Welcomes Back The Bi 90s

Rebecca · 03/07/08 12:59PM

Bi The Way, a new documentary about that beloved 90s trend of being bisexual, proves that the decade is back in a big way. And only nine years after we said goodbye to the trends of worrying about AIDS and listening to the Black Crowes before reviewing them! The movie even features 90s talking head Michael Musto. Free weeklies may be out, but the Village Voice columnist is back since his Lindsay Lohan as Marilyn Monroe spread this week. (Fortunately, filp-flops and socks were never in, so we don't need to worry about that coming back.) Nearly NSFW trailer and proof that the 00s are recycling the 90s, which is also very 90s, after the jump.

Burkle Still Bill's Best Bud

Pareene · 02/22/08 02:42PM

Former president Bill Clinton cut all ties to his ultimate A #1 bro Ron Burkle because of the fear that the "supermarket magnate" would taint his wife's presidential campaign, what with various sleazy allegations about him floating around the internet. Burkle, who secretly owns Radar, likes to fly around with models and other young women on his private jet, a pastime Bill has also enjoyed. He also has ties to the Sheikh of Dubai! But the thing with the girls is obv more damaging. So, understandably, it was reported all over the place that Bill was no longer doing business with Burkle. But, as the New York Sun explains, he actually hasn't stopped a damn thing.

Our Bill Said What?

Pareene · 02/20/08 06:00PM

Kudos to the AP for turning this traditional "odd news" staple story of a couple receiving a crude message on their restaurant bill into a trenchant bit of political commentary (with a dash of cigar-joke), thanks to the hilariously crude algorithms that apparently decide which contextual news videos to cycle through. Click to figure out what the hell we're actually talking about.

Bill Clinton's Red Face of Courage

Pareene · 02/18/08 05:20PM

(Please forgive the lack of a "YouTube has changed the nature of modern campaigning" think piece here, as we are not Howard Kurtz.)

Momentum

Pareene · 02/11/08 10:28AM

"On top of it all, Mr. Obama beat out Bill Clinton for a Grammy, winning the spoken word award for the audio-book version of his memoir, 'The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.'" [NYT]

Bill Clinton

cityfile · 02/03/08 10:48PM

The scandalous 42nd President of the United States, Bill's wife, of course, is Hillary Clinton. You're probably familiar with his daughter, too, Ms. Chelsea Clinton.

Why Was Bill Clinton At 4 Times Square Yesterday?

Pareene · 01/29/08 10:41AM

Bill Clinton (and his posse) showed up at Conde Nast HQ yesterday afternoon. No one knows why! Except maybe one of you guys—so theories and speculation welcome. Hey, maybe it has something to do with September's Vanity Fair conspiracy that no one has mentioned again, once, since then? Or maybe not! But: "a good many top-level Condé Nasters had left for the annual publishers' meeting Monday and Tuesday in Florida." So maybe he was just there to criticize Joanne Lipman. [WWD]

Bill Clinton Canvasses Nobu

Pareene · 01/28/08 04:04PM

"Saw Bill Clinton at 2:30 this afternoon leaving Nobu 57. He shook hands, posed for pictures and kissed babies. He was in good spirits and even listened to this woman droll on and on about being from Arkansas."

Bill Clinton And Gina Gershon

Nick Denton · 01/23/08 04:05PM

The Wall Street Journal, in the newspaper's excellent investigation into the ties between Bill Clinton and Ron Burkle, explains why the former president is disentangling himself from the supermarket billionaire, as Gawker mentioned last month. Clinton will put some distance between his wife, the leading Democratic candidate in 2008, and politically toxic associates of the Yucaipa owner such as the Sheikh of Dubai and the official Chinese news agency. But is that all?

Never Forget 1-17-98

Pareene · 01/14/08 03:45PM

Has it really been a whole decade since a plucky young intern stole the President's—and the nation's—heart with her devil-may-care attitude about workplace sex and that irresistible smile? Thanks, Matt, for reminding us of a simpler time. We appreciate also your placement of the story beneath the Hillary nonsense and above the inexplicable "CHELSEA SPEAKS!" headline. [DRUDGE]

First Black President Reminds Nation Of Second's Race

Pareene · 01/14/08 09:54AM

Hey, suddenly the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination is about race! The Clintons said a couple iffy things about Barry Obama and Martin Luther King, and then—more importantly—spent the weekend denying and apologizing. Bill (whose "first black president" title was bestowed on him by author Toni Morrison) called Al Sharpton! Now Obama, whom the media sorta treated as post-racial, is "the black candidate." Daniel Radosh rightly wonders if this wasn't perhaps deviously intentional (linking Obama to Al Sharpton is a pretty easy way to boost his national negatives). At the least it was an accidental opportunity the Clintons brilliantly seized upon. Aren't we all excited to have them back? We can't wait for Mike Bloomberg to enter the race so Hillary can announce that despite the great work of all those Jews, it was the gentiles who beat the Nazis. Then Bill can apologize to Jackie Mason. [NYT, Radosh]

Bill Clinton Wants You (To Vote For Hillary)

Maggie · 01/10/08 11:33AM

You have to love the two eagle-eyed guys behind Bill Clinton keeping an extra-careful watch on that handshake as the former president greeted college students this week in Hanover, N.H.. You never can be too careful, you know. Hey! Girl whose face we can only see half of! Don't look into his eyes! [The Dartmouth]

Burkle Bites Back With Clinton Freak Show Friends Feature

Pareene · 12/18/07 04:30PM

Last week, HuffPo reported that Bill Clinton might allegedly be CUTTING ALL TIES with his good buddy and fellow chaste admirer of the female form, Ron Burkle. Today, Radar, which is secretly owned by supermarket magnate Ron Burkle, ran a hilarious gallery of Bill Clinton's most unattractive friends and acquaintances with no news peg except, you know, "Bill Clinton's sure been in the news a lot lately, you guys noticed?" Weird, wild stuff.

Clinton's Funky All-Stars [Radar]

Pareene · 12/12/07 06:02PM

BREAKING!!!! Bill Clinton has "severed business ties" with his longtime friend, secret Radar owner, supermarket mogul and alleged creep Ron Burkle. Apparently taking money from a dude who has been sued for various shady reasons by his entire family (among others) and who probably spends all his free time flying around on his private jet getting danced-at by models isn't the greatest move if your wife is running for president. This must be hard for Bill, considering the strength of their friendship. By the way, this is all according to "sources who know both men": There are also some denials! But it looks like there'll be an open seat on Air Burkle, hugely influential horndogs of America! [HuffPo]

Clinton spokesman denies Googler wedding rumor

Owen Thomas · 12/08/07 02:01PM

Phil Singer, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, says neither she nor Bill will be at Larry Page and Lucy Southworth's wedding being held today on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. That's a shame. Richard Branson's Caribbean getaway is a lot warmer than Iowa, HIllary. And there are worse places to hit people up for campaign donations. Maybe she's just trying to avoid a photo op with the Bushes?

Tony Snow And Waverly Inn Chef Will Explain Magazines

Joshua Stein · 10/19/07 01:10PM

Former White House spokesbot Tony Snow will be the keynote speaker at the American Magazine Conference in Boca Raton, Florida at the end of the month. Men's Health editor David Zinczenko, the AMC 2007 chairman, is super jazzed about it. But should he be? Former keynote speakers included former President Bill Clinton, former future presidents Barack Obama and John McCain. Tony Snow was a regular guest host for the Rush Limbaugh Show and frontman for the band "Beats Workin'." He did, as Zinczenko made sure to mention, survive the cancer that God so unjustly gave him. Who else is speaking in Boca, and why?