Guns N’ Roses sued for copyright infringement

Condé Nast to close four titles – Condé Nast, the 100-year-old publisher of magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, will shut four titles in a cost-cutting move amid one of publishing’s worst advertising declines. Gourmet, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, and Cookie will cease publication as the company focuses on titles “with the greatest prospects for long-term growth” [financialtimes]

GH Mumm unveiled the GH Mumm F1 box “Limited Edition” last month at the Pavilion Visconti of Milan, in conjunction with the Grand Prix in Monza in 2009. The packaging is made of exclusive materials such as the carbon interior trim in black velvet and gold plate. The GH Mumm F1 box “Limited Edition” will be available only in Italy and exclusively on order for €5,000 ($7,300). Now THAT’S what I’m talking about! [bornrich]

Brad Pitt Floating Houses – Brad Pitt’s charitable foundation created an environmentally friendly floating house designed to be practical, safe and aesthetically consistent in New Orleans neighborhoods. In periods of intense flooding, the concrete-covered polystyrene house breaks away from its moorings and floats, anchored with two 12-foot guideposts. [inhabitat]

UK’s Ministry of Defence leaks “How To Stop Leaks” document – Red-faced defence officials have been left squirming after an internal guide to preventing leaks popped up on the internet. The Defence Manual of Security sets out tactics for preventing Chinese and Russian intelligence services from using blackmail or hi-tech gadgets to obtain sensitive information. It describes ways of countering the threat from ’subversive or terrorist organisations’ and journalists. The three-volume, 560,000-word guide – marked ‘Restricted’ – was released on the Wikileaks website. [metro]

The David Letterman Playbook: How To Handle a Sex Scandal Like a Pro – David Letterman has been pretty much on the up and up dealing with the sex scandal currently rocking his world. For a guy who completely ballsed it up and who is dealing with it so soon after getting married – he simply has not put a foot wrong. Learn from a pro. [popeater]

Airbrushed Images Could Carry Warnings, Fines in France – A law has been proposed in France that would see digitally enhanced images carry a warning to viewers that the image has been retouched to change the physical appearance of a person.The proposed statement may eventually apply to political campaigns, billboards, photos on packaging, art photos, and press photographs as well as advertisements in magazines and newspapers. [telovation]

Tila Tequila Tweets Own Death – Tila Tequila’s life’s been a bit hectic as of late, but we had no idea how hard she was taking it all: she’s been tweeting about taking her own life because “God spoke to me and told me I am needed up there.” [ace]

Guns N’ Roses sued for copyright infringement – Rock band Guns N’ Roses is in legal hot water after being accused of stealing material from a German electronic music producer. A copyright infringement lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court claims the song “Riad N’ the Bedouins,” from the group’s latest album, “Chinese Democracy,” used two of Ulrich Schnauss’ recordings. [nydailynews]

SA Son Hires Hitman To Kill Mom. Killer Tells Mother – The spokesman for a special crime-fighting unit called the Hawks (obviously) said Tuesday that police have arrested 20-year-old Zander Botha and are holding him on a 1,000 rand ($135) bail in Free State province. Hawks spokesman Musa Zondi said police believe Botha had promised the hit man a cut of his mother’s life insurance policy. Zondi said the plan hit a snag when someone tipped off Botha’s mother. [salon]

Paris Fashion Week – The Chanel show began with a cockerel crowing in the Grand Palais (which was dressed like a barn). Lily Allen rose from the floor, dressed in sequins, and sang It’s Not Fair as Natalia Vodianova danced in the front row. The goody bags contained orange nail polish – and SO MUCH MORE! Check all the action and catwalk photos here. [vogue]

Polanski loses first round in extradition battle – Roman Polanski lost the first round Tuesday in his battle to avoid extradition to the U.S. for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl. Already locked in a Zurich cell for the last dozen days, Polanski learned he will remain incarcerated for an extended period as the Swiss Justice Ministry rejected his plea to be released from custody. Sucks. [yahoo]

Explore the New York City Which Could’ve Been With the “Phantom City” iPhone App – NYC is where what-could’ve-beens live. But if it’s the architecture related musings that intrigue you, then you can at least find answers to the wonder-what-would’ve-been-on-this-street-corner. Walk around NYC with the Phantom City app running and you’ll see designs and dreams. [gizmodo]

Woman Mauled to Death by Pet Black Bear – Idiot. A woman whose husband was keeping exotic animals including lions, cougars and tigers without a valid license was mauled and killed by a 350-pound pet black bear Sunday night. I don’t feel worry for these people. It reminds me of that twat that used to visit the bears and has his own show. He said they understood him. No didn’t – they ate him. All of him. Only his hat was found. For me, these people are in the same league as people who die breaking their own world records. [foxnews]

Mel Gibson’s drunk driving conviction erased – Los Angeles – Actor Mel Gibson’s criminal record was cleared on Tuesday when a judge granted his request to expunge a pair of drunken driving convictions stemming from his 2006 arrest in the California community of Malibu. [iol-tonight]