Anthony Weiner defends real estate agent

 

Broker who spilled the beans to Page Six about the Wiener’s search for cheaper digs is excused by the famed photographer.

When The Observer reached Mr. Morgan on the phone this afternoon, he defended his decision to talk to the press given that he was the broker for the apartment, not for Mr. Weiner. “He doesn’t have a broker, I would never call Page Six about a client of mine,” said Mr. Morgan. “I don’t even know him. I met him for like 5 minutes. I spoke to his wife, who was lovely.”

Reached for comment, Mr. Weiner more or less agreed with Mr. Morgan’s observations about his obligations.

“He’s right,” Mr. Weiner wrote in an email. “He had no obligation not to be a slimey broker. I’m sure he is a perfect representative of the values at citi habitats.”

Aw, isn’t that nice?

Rube Awakening

Atonement day

Oh I hope it’s true. Upper East Siders claim DeBlasio’s refusing to plow their neighborhood. I think it far more likely that ineptitude, rather than a desire to punish the wealthy is behind the snowbanks – liberals don’t do well at  organizing snow removal, as John Lindsey could have told you, but if the rich liberals who voted this man in are really receiving their just deserts, my cup runneth over.

Norwegian curling team sets out to conquer the world

Should be no contest. Here’s what they’re offering, and if these guys don’t displace football from the hearts of all Americans, I guess nothing will.

The Manly Men of Oslo

Best we can do

Wuss Patrol

I think they’re gorgeous, and they all have state health insurance!

 

Warren Buffet on how to become a billionaire: be perfect

Hit sign, win suit

Guess the outcomes of the NCAA basketball tournament exactly, win a billion. Since I know exactly nothing about basketball except that the tallest guy is often the center, I should be at an advantage here, untroubled by trying to guess intelligently.

If I weren’t already independently wealthy, I’d give it a try.

Well, a president like Obama, maybe, but otherwise …

Closed to enemy hikers

Governor Christie: “Bridgegate helps make me readier to be president.”

I think we’ve done the arrogant, bullying narcissistic thing to death – we need a break.

Smart diplomacy

Jap dolphins, si; windmills blocking my view? Gedouttahere!

Our new ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy: qualifications, money and name) slams them for killing dolphins. For some reason, Japanese are offended at a foreigner, even a Kennedy, telling them how to conduct their affairs.

In office just two months, U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy took to social media this weekend to condemn an annual dolphin hunt in western Japan portrayed by opponents as needlessly cruel.

“Deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing. USG opposes drive hunt fisheries,” Kennedy tweeted in both English and Japanese. “USG” refers to the U.S. government.

The message seemed to catch both officials and public here by surprise. Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga defended the dolphin hunt at a regular press conference Monday as “in accordance with the law.”

But Japanese social media were less circumspect.

“The drive hunt is a traditional fishery that was established long before the foundation of the United States of America,” said one message posted in response. “Isn’t it inhumane to kill millions of cows and sheep for consumption?” asked another.

Kennedy’s dolphin tweet could complicate relations between two vital allies, says Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University of Japan, in Tokyo.

“There are far more important questions between the U.S. and Japan. The key to the dolphin business is getting Japanese to oppose it. But will this help? Or on the contrary, will it start a nationalistic reaction against meddling by a (foreign) country,” says Dujarric.