Hot Tickets Lead to Inaugural Scalping

Craigslist users offer suites, invitations for kink

(NEWSER) - Frisky Democrats are angling for more than just ringside seats at tomorrow's inauguration—they're flooding Craigslist in search of a little side action, reports Gawker. One poster first thanks his congresswoman for tickets, then pleads: "I want to make this even better by getting kinky," hopefully in a foursome. But the "fun" isn't only reserved for Dems—one crestfallen McCain supporter seeks "payback from one deliriously happy Obama voter." More»

The principal lesson from the first year? 'Negroes aren't magic'

(NEWSER) - Jon Stewart marked the first anniversary of Barack Obama’s presidency—or the first 364 days, 23 hours—on last night's Daily Show , offering up a complicated math equation for how Obama could have dropped 18 points in the polls in a single year. From Gitmo to health care to the Nobel Prize ("somehow it's a minus"), "Add it all up, negative 24 points. Thank God for Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog," Stewart said. "Without those 6 points, Obama would be screwed." More»

Ceremonies fully funded by trinkets, donations

(AP) - Barack Obama's inauguration fundraisers had no problem capitalizing on a hot market for keepsakes. Obama-themed clothing, jewelry, rulers, and piggy banks raked in a grant total of $2 million for the inaugural committee. Even before the tchotchke change, the committee was already debt-free—the $53 million in individual donations disclosed earlier this week put total fundraising well ahead of the $50 million cost of the swearing-in. More»

Springsteen says ticket company's practice was a conflict of interest

(NEWSER) - The Boss called Ticketmaster into his office yesterday, and gave it a tongue-lashing it may not soon forget, Reuters reports. The ticket giant drew Bruce Springsteen's wrath for gouging fans Monday by redirecting them to its resaler, TicketNow, just minutes after seats for his "Working on a Dream" tour went on sale—offering tickets for hundreds of dollars above face value when seats were still available, reports Blomberg. More»

(NEWSER) - Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat has been mercilessly mocked by some, but lots of people want one of their very own. The Detroit millinery where Franklin has been a customer for 20 years has been flooded with calls for orders, the AP reports. But Aretha wannabes soon learn that the hand-molded $500 hat isn't for sale—it was custom-designed for her. Instead, customers can order a slightly different version for $179. More»