Those two big spring movies, Indiana Jones and Sex and the City, aren't just marketing opportunities for the advertisers who paid for the privilege. (Indiana's clients include Harley-Davidson; Sex's include Mercedes and, um, a bajillion designers.) These cultural milestones are like the Super Bowl or the Oscars: Anyone can attach himself to the excitement, even without official sanctions.

And that includes eBay, which is churning out some marketing stats from bidding on the movies' items. For instance, did you know eBay moved 500 percent more Indiana Jones items than Sex and the City goods? And Manolos are selling better than Choos?

CONTINUED »

Everybody loved Moby. Then he got pompous with tea, and everybody hated Moby. Everybody loved John Mayer. Then he started blogging and sleeping with Jennifer Aniston, and now everybody hates John Mayer.

Everybody loved MySpace alternative Facebook. Then they introduced some sketchy advertising program, and everybody hated Facebook. Everybody loves Craigslist. So how come nobody, yet, really hates Craigslist?

All things that are good in life eventually face some type of backlash, but interestingly, Craigslist, despite collecting some $100 million in revenue (much of that profit), is an Internet company that's kept its legions of fans. And it's likely to continue doing so, even after eBay filed a lawsuit accusing it of trying to dilute its 28 percent interest in the company. (Ahem, that's the news peg.)

Normally, web nerds wouldn't take too kindly to a very profitable Internet giant – it goes without saying, Craigslist owns the very lucrative classifieds biz – trying to shun an investor. But then again, this investor is eBay, and they've launched a competing classifieds service, Kijiji, whose name is as bad as the rip off job its performed on Craig Newmark's namesake site.

So how does Craigslist continue to keep its legions of fans, including much of the media, on its side?

CONTINUED »

Ratings on all the networks, except NBC, may be dwindling, but the amount of swag fans are picking up on eBay shows good news for all the networks. Or at least some of their shows. On ratings happy NBC, The Office-related items have increased by 4%, while Heroes–related items have decreased by 28%.

But most important, what about Gossip Girl? Despite the crappy merch they offer in their contests, the goods on eBay show promise.

CONTINUED »

The stars of Sex and the City are having a hard time booking magazine covers — no editor wants them, we're told, because they just don't sell; SJP in particular. (Vogue and Marie Claire are said to be among those who passed.) And while they might be struggling for that type of press, it's not like it'll impact your decision to see the movie. Of course you will!

But what if you could attend the premiere and meet one of the show's stars? That's what an eBay charity auction is offering: With a high bid hovering at just over $15k, anyone with semi-deep pockets can buy their way into attending with porn starlet Kristin Davis, where you can ask her all about those nude photos going around.

Proceeds go to Oxfam America. Answers go to us.

Dan Rather’s 1972 Emmy for his coverage of the shooting of Governor George Wallace on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite sold on eBay for $2,500. Rather maintains that he had nothing to do with the sale.

On one hand, that’s more than the possibly fake Britney Spears tank top and jeans went for.

On the other hand, no one who could win an Emmy for news coverage has the means to buy one on eBay.

Guitar Hero III is already ruining the music industry, and now it has also ruined Christmas for one Canadian dope fiend/curious teenager

After catching his 15 year-old kid smoking pot with his “delinquent friends," a father in Montreal sold his son’s copy of Guitar Hero III on eBay for $9,100 to punish him.

This is just the kind of story that gets parents thinking they can control over their kids’ lives. Add this to the list of reasons we have a disregard for Christmas, right behind our Jewish heritage.

Update: You still have 4 days and 23 hours to bid on the Spring 2007 Versace gown (now priced at $1550) that Britney "damaged" nearly drowned in fried chicken grease during one of her many psychotic meltdowns.

Strangely, OK! reveals that the proceeds are going to towards M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and not to either O.A. (Overeaters Anonymous) or the A.S.P.C.C. (American Society for the Protection of Cruelty To Couture).

Earlier: Britney Spears Infamous ‘Fried Chicken Dress’ Can Be Yours

• Twelve weeks and counting for Us Weekly EIC Janice Min and boss Jann Wenner to reach a new deal before her contract runs out.

• Bravo buys TelevisionWithoutPity, tries to keep on screwing the freelancers.

• Meanwhile, Bravo's Project Runway re-ups with Tim Gunn as host. Nice negotiating with those rumors of begin too busy, Gunn!"

• That Page Six plugs corporate cousin HarperCollins is news now relegated to a footnote.

• Fox TV and Hearst team up for web videos you won't watch, be able to find.

• Salon gossip aggregator Scott Lamb tires of checking RSS feeds. So does that mean the celebrity category is or isn't saturated?

• Mr. Magazine names Relish the "Launch of the Year." We name Mr. Magazine the "Needs to Give Up That Hack Name" of the decade.

CONTINUED »

• Buy FuckedCompany.com. Then report on how stupid a mistake that was on FuckedCompany.com.

• Candace Trunzo's Star magazine cuts 10% from its rate base, leaving just 1.35 million readers wondering when Bonnie Fuller is jumping.

• NYT shareholders should refrain from voting to show their power, recommends advisory firm ISS. Yeah, that'll show the Sulzbergers!

• TV networks ban eBay advertising auction scheme, pissed they didn't think of it first.

• MSNBC delves into Top Model territory.

• Life magazine's EKG registers another blip.

• Blog growth growing, says Technorati. Blog growth slowing, says Technorati.

• V Cast subscribers can now watch Cartoon Network on their phone … if only those stoners that watch Adult Swim could figure it out, then Verizon would be in good shape. [Star Pulse]

• Matthew Broderick didn't realize that when he went to a childhood creativity luncheon, he would be asked about creativity. What he does know is that his son is gay. [Page Six]

• All it takes to be Tommy Lee's replacement is the knowledge of how to operate the "boobie" cam and a Starbucks resume. [SFG]

• The Italians worship Sophia Loren. They love her so much, they thought they'd give her a show at their museum just to point out that she's getting old. [Houston Chronicle]

• Calista Flockhart finally admits she had a little problem putting food in her mouth, chewing and swallowing. We think Nicole Richie looks a lot better. [The Mirror]

• Only in the UK would a guy put his mother-in-law up for sale. On eBay off all places. [Sun]

We were as shocked as you to see this on eBay:

Not because fashion assistants with access to entire closets are trying to unload their swag bag goodies for a chance to break through the poverty line, but because this is the only item currently available when searching for "olympus fashion week" (and its variants).

No tickets to Zac Posen's show? No tickets to the Project Runway faceoff? We must say, we're a little disappointed in you folks.

"Olympus Fashion Week" Search [eBay]
LACOSTE CANVAS BAG FROM OLYMPUS FASHION WEEK 2006 [eBay]

Ebay is a wonderful place. Not only can you buy videos of Brittney Spears and Kevin Federline's honeymoon, it is also the place to go should you ever want to purchase a historical landmark.

And at only half a mil, the original Hollywood sign was sold on the world's favorite auction site. Proving once again that in L.A., everything and anything is for sale.

More disastrous financial news for Hollywood [Fishbowl LA]
Related: Own a piece of Britney & Kevins marriage while it lasts

With an opening bid of just $3,000, 80 supposedly unseen pictures of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline from their honeymoon in Fiji can be yours. And with their marriage crumbling, you know these collector's items are gonna go fast.

Very private photos of Britney and Kevin Federline on their honeymoon in Fiji. A true must have for Britney and Kevin fans. No photo copies, 80 real pics on CD.

Leslie Sloane Zelnick's PayPal account is awaiting your funds.

Exclusive BRITNEY SPEARS honeymoon pictures, Never seen [eBay, via Cityrag]

You probably heard over the weekend that Peter Braunstein – everyone's favorite (alleged) writer-cum-rapist – dished out more than $500 since August on eBay, with purchases ranging from an expired police badge to, ahem, nearly nine pounds of potassium nitrate. Yes, that's enough to blow up a small building.

Among gulagmeister's purchases:

• ONE BADGE/I.D./ HOLDER/WALLET CASE/LEATHER LIKE/ NEW.
• ONE Nip/Tuck: The Complete First Season (2004, DVD)
• ONE OBSOLETE POLICE BADGE
• 8.8lbs Potassium Nitrate (saltpeter) HighGrade
• ONE SET OF FIREFIGHTER BUNKER TURNOUT GEAR PANTS

But if there is one thing we can say about Braunstein is that he's a good eBayer.

One hundred percent positive feedback? Surely there's goodness in there .. somewhere.

Fake Fireman A 'Bomb' Buyer [NYP]
gulagmeister [eBay]

• Michael Jackson has a creative way to fill in the missing A-listers from his charity single: record songs with people who have no choice, like kids Prince Michael, Paris, and "Blanket." [NYP]

• Joan Rivers doesn't read blogs — or wear clogs. [Queerty]

• At least one pink blogger is "making it," proving Us Weekly isn't the only one who can earn a buck showing stars are just like us. [NYT]

• Kate Hudson doesn't like it when you call her too fat, or too skinny. She'd rather you not talk about her weight or eating habits at all, unless you get off on getting sued. [Reuters]

• She supposedly spent the weekend getting married to Arun Nayar, but Liz Hurley also watched Estee Lauder dump her 10-year fragrance face contract in favor of Gwyneth Paltrow. [Evening Standard]

• What's better than ex-NYT exec editor Howell Raines' ex writing a tell all? Having her title it Touched By Ink-Stained Hands. [Page Six]

• The sample sale of all sample sales, 7th on Sale, is coming to the masses after nearly a decade hiatus. Even the common folk will be able to get their hands on cheap couture thanks to open auctions on eBay. [News & Observer]

• The only rag that didn't credit ELLEgirl when they practically stole shots of Nicole Richie at the mag's photo shoot? Star, natch. [WWD]