Author: Alexander Abad-Santos

The Gay Boy Scouts Are Still Impossible

Reuters

What seems like progress from the top-down may reveal the problem with Boy Scouts from the inside-out: its first official coming out party is still a microcosm of discord on gay acceptance, especially in Christian America, no matter what polls say today or the Supreme Court declares in a few weeks. Here's a survey of the reaction so far.

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 5, 2013

Yes, It's Okay for Obama to Hug Kid President

Today in viral videos: Kid President gets the White House tour he deserves, remembering Roger Ebert, and the best fake social media sites created by the television industry.

Comments | 358 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 5, 2013

How to Talk About the Final Four

Because you probably didn't go to Wichita State, and because you'll probably find yourself talked out when it comes to Louisville's Kevin Ware, here's a (not particularly avid) fan's guide to the rest of the weekend in college hoops.

Comments | 358 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 5, 2013

Four Mystery NFL Players May Be Ready to Come Out of the Closet

According to Brendon Ayanbadejo, the outspoken gay rights advocate and now former Baltimore Raven, there are at least three more gay players ready to speak out than previously believed. The Baltimore Sun sort of buries the lead, but there is a vague plan in place for as many as four players to announce publicly that they are gay, and on the same day.

Comments | 4,853 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 5, 2013

Judge Opens Up Morning-After Pill Access for All Teenage Girls

Consider this a win for women's health advocates: U.S. District Judge Edward Korman has ruled that the U.S. government must make the "morning-after" pill available over the counter and available to all ages.

Comments | 714 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 5, 2013

The Avian Flu Containment Is Reaching 'Contagion' Levels of Precaution

Six people are dead from the H7N9 strain. The number of infected has grown to to 14. A new scare just hit Hong Kong. The U.S. has begun early research for a vaccine. And now China has slaughtered 20,000 chickens, ducks, geese, and pigeons to try and cut off the health risk at the source. So: Is it time to panic yet?

Comments | 714 Views

Roger Ebert, the Heart and Soul of the Movies, Has Died

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that its longtime film critic Roger Ebert, whose long battle with cancer couldn't take him away from the words he loved so much, has passed away at the age of 70.

Comments | 27,730 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 4, 2013

Michelle Malkin and Sean Hannity Are the Defenders Mike Rice Didn't Ask For

Even the Rutgers coach himself said after his termination that "There is no excuse — I was wrong." But that didn't stop Hannity and Malkin from making excuses and saying that the coach's treatment of his student-athletes wasn't that​ bad. 

Comments | 1,606 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 4, 2013

Today's North Korean Missile Threat Might Actually Be Scary

It's easy to take North Korea's constant proclamations of war with a grain or heap or silo of salt. But when intercepted internal communications reveal that they're planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile? Well, maybe we should take that a little more seriously.

Comments | 10,887 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 4, 2013

Anonymous Can't Stop North Korea, but They Can Turn Kim Jong-un into a Pig

As they say, one small step for world peace, one giant leap for Photoshop.

Comments | 14,424 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 2, 2013

The AP's Ban on 'Illegal Immigrant' Will Change How We Talk About Immigration

That faint sound you hear is Senate reporters from the AP, The New York Times, and beyond smacking their delete keys, rethinking their agenda setting aloud, and figuring out how we talk now, amidst a serious legislative discussion

Comments | 3,557 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 2, 2013

Florida DJs May Face Felony for April Fools' Water Joke Worse Than Rubio's

Florida country radio morning-show hosts Val St. John and Scott Fish are currently serving indefinite suspensions and possibly worse over a successful April Fools' Day prank. They told their listeners that "dihydrogen monoxide" was coming out of their taps. Dihydrogen monoxide is water.

Comments | 468,640 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 2, 2013

The NRA's New Plan for Even More Guns in Schools Doesn't Add Up

The National Rifle Association, the ongoing lobbying interests of which primarily exist for the promotion of buying more guns under the auspices of "safety," has apparently concluded that the way to keep schools safe is to bring more guns on campus, with its $1 million task force suggesting Tuesday that the government change laws surrounding gun-free zones and make the NRA's estimated $6.6 billion pipe dream a reality.

Comments | 1,955 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 2, 2013

The New York City Mayoral Race Already Has a Bribery Scheme

In order to get on the ballot as a Republican, doomed Democratic State Senator Malcolm Smith needed approval from GOP county chairs. He did not have that, and this morning he was arrested along with several others for allegedly bribing to pay off those chairs and trying to rig New York City's mayoral election.

Comments | 711 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

Here's President Obama Missing a Lot of Easy Jump Shots

Today in viral videos: The First Baller goes 2-for-22 at the White House Easter Egg Roll, Vampire Weekend meets Steve Buscemi, an epic sax-off, and a bulldog who is guaranteed to make your Monday. 

Comments | 1,418 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

'Olympus Has Fallen' Brings Out the Anti-Asian Slurs from Its Audience

It isn't exactly this year's finest film, or its most successful, or even the only disaster flick involving the destruction of the White House. But it might be the most controversial so far when it comes to crass remarks from moviegoers. Hollywood jingoism, it seems, has given way once again to social-media racism.

Comments | 52,246 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

The Star of MTV's 'Buckwild' Is Dead in a Backwoods Mystery

One of the most prominent cast members of MTV's reality show has been found dead along with his uncle and another unnamed person in a vehicle in Sissonville, West Virginia, the backdrop of the popular (if controversial) show.

Comments | 8,502 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

Barbara Walters Will Not Retire in the Gossip Pages

Declaring that "the paparazzi guys... will be the last to know" about her retirement, legendary journalist Barbara Walters turned her non-denial denial of rumors about her retirement into a dismissal of rumors in general on The View Monday.

Comments | 354 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

What KKK Member Elwin Wilson Learned Before He Died

On Monday Elwin Wilson, a reformed Ku Klux Klansman, will be laid to rest. His life was notable for the hate therein — cross burnings, cantaloupe throwing, and, most famously, the beating of John Lewis — until around four years ago, when Wilson began apologizing, making his history, after he died last week, worth another look.

Comments | 21,419 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 1, 2013

Louisville's Kevin Ware Is OK and His Surgery Went Fine

You didn't have to watch the Cardinals's reserve guard suffer one of the most gruesome leg injuries in college sports history Sunday, but surely you heard about the emotional news — now there's some good news.

Comments | 5,825 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 29, 2013

The Best and Worst Teammates for the NFL's First Openly Gay Player

A big week for gay rights in Washington was a big one for the entertainment world, too, and it looks like the NFL could have its first gay player come out of the closet in time for Week One of the new season. Here's a rundown of the locker rooms where the NFL's mystery man might feel welcome — and less so.

Comments | 11,444 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 29, 2013

And Now Let's Go to Balki Bartokomous with the Weather

Today in viral videos: Balki Bronson Pinchot hijacks the forecast, Savannah Guthrie's middle finger that wasn't, a dopey wisdom teeth murderess, and more.

Comments | 880 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 29, 2013

Sasha and Malia's Spring Break Will Not Ruin the Republic

Sasha and Malia's trip to the Bahamas or Idaho or wherever they are is expensive, lavish, and depending on who you ask perhaps a bit wasteful—just like Bush daughters' trip to Argentina and the Carters, Fords, and Eisenhowers' trips to Europe, or any other First Family member moves with a full retinue of security.

Comments | 1,757 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 29, 2013

Lil Wayne Is Pretty Chill About Almost Dying and TMZ Almost Killing Him

This is the first time the world is hearing about Weezy's brush with death from the rapper himself, and his version of the hospitalization heard around the world cuts against what we were told at the time.

Comments | 8,041 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 29, 2013

Rep. Don Young Is Sorry You Didn't Say 'Wetback' as Much as He Did Back in the Day

Old Congressman Donald Young has half-apologized for using the term "wetback" to describe Latino migrant workers, insisting that he knows "that this term is not used in the same way nowadays" — as if the term wasn't always considered a slur.

Comments | 2,977 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

Lana Del Rey Visits the Chelsea Hotel

Today in viral videos: Lana Del Rey resurfaces to cover Leonard Cohen, the perks of being a Justin Timberlake superfan, and a parakeet that tucks itself in at night. 

Comments | 1,405 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

Barbara Walters Is Ready to Retire

The ABC News icon, who broke barriers for women in broadcast journalism and became one of the most revered interviewers and relaxing presences in television history over the course of more than a half-century on the air, is set to retire next May.

Comments | 1,228 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

Steubenville Can't Stop Feeling Sorry for the Steubenville Rapists or Their Coach

The locals facing house arrest for threatening the victim online now have company in public shame — a prominent figure in town is calling into question the verdict and the victim's consent, while fans of Big Red continue to support a coach who may have known about the whole thing.

Comments | 11,341 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

CNN's New Katie Is Not Erin Burnett

Insiders has long said Erin Burnett was on the inside track to become Jeff Zucker's new morning show host once it became clear that Soledad O'Brien was out and Chris Cuomo would fill one side of the couch, but on Thursday the pick came in, and the new face of your cable mornings is... Kate Boulduan.

Comments | 6,406 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

The U.S. Flew a Couple B-2 Bombers Over Korea Because It Can

So we know North Korea has a habit of puffing its chest and it feels like Kim Jong-Un's country declares the annihilation of its enemies seemingly every other day now. But with the U.S. announcing that they're practicing stealth bombing runs over the Korean peninsula, it's a sign that the U.S. is taking those threats seriously.

Comments | 8,480 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 28, 2013

Nelson Mandela Hospitalized for a Lung Infection

The 94-year-old former president of South Africa was admitted to the hospital for the third time in four months late Wednesday night after suffering a recurrence of a lung infection which had the Nobel Peace Prize winner in the hospital for nearly three weeks this past December. 

Comments | 175 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

A High-School Sex-Ed Teacher Is Being Punished for Saying the Word 'Vagina'

Tim McDaniel, an 18-year vetaran of the biology department at the public school in Dietrcich, Idaho, might have to figure out how to teach the miracle of life to his high-school students without saying the word "vagina" after a group of unhappy parents found the word offensive

Comments | 35,052 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

Umbrella Takes on Jeffrey Toobin at the Supreme Court, Umbrella Wins

Today in viral videos: an umbrella goes attacks America's favorite legal analyst, pandas wrestle each other, and everything that's wrong with The Hobbit

Comments | 1,228 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

Word from the Supreme Court on DOMA: 'Looking Good' for Gay Rights — Maybe

The Supreme Court sounds like it maybe be ready to strike DOMA down, but new questions from Justices Anthony Kennedy and Sonia Sotomayor may leave a more sobering reality for advocates of gay rights: After this week's historic proceedings, the Court may not punt on California's Prop.8, and there may not be a sweeping overall ruling on the two same-sex marriage cases.

Comments | 10,331 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

Florida's War on Bongs Has Arrived

Two bills currently sit in the state's House of Representatives and Senate, both ready to enact harsh penalties on whomever might want to help you get high or sell you that purple alien-headed glass pipe you never knew you needed. Really, Florida?

Comments | 6,244 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

Oscar Pistorius and His Brother Have Had Enough of Their Homicide Cases

It's a very busy week for the troubled Pistorius clan in dramatic legal proceedings that aren't going away anytime soon and that continue to shed light beyond the obvious celebrity drama in South Africa.

Comments | 875 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 27, 2013

Anderson Cooper Mentioned as a Matt Lauer Replacement at 'Today'

Anderson Cooper, Vanderbilt scion and part-time Michael Phelps swim buddy, is being approached by NBC to replace Matt Lauer by the end of this year, reports Deadline's Nellie Andreeva: "I hear NBC toppers recently reached out to CNN’s Anderson Cooper to replace Lauer on the show before the end of the year."

Comments | 1,925 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 26, 2013

Yes, the NIH Spent $30,000 to Study Fat Latino Kids Who Drink a Lot of Soda

Latinos! Kids! Soda! Cue the coverage of government spending in a time of sequester — and possibly some race-baiting photos to accompany said coverage. But let's take a few minutes to study this study with a little pre-emptive explaining.

Comments | 1,047 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 26, 2013

Nike Tells Tiger Haters to Shove It with 'Winning Takes Care of Everything' Ad

The sponsor pushed out its latest Tiger Woods comeback ad last night on Facebook, where it's been shared more than 8,000 times, with messages of support and messages of disgust and general argument because, well, Nike's message is simple — and brazen.

Comments | 1,744 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 26, 2013

Apparently UNC Thinks 'Rape Is Like Football'

After the case in Steubenville and an ongoing situation in Torrington, the stories of three women who say they were raped at the University of North Carolina, including a new federal investigation looking into the school's response, bring to light a potentially very troubling sign rape culture in our schools may be more widespread than we thought.

Comments | 2,789 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 26, 2013

First Word from the Supreme Court on Prop 8: The Justices Are Hedging

As word streamed out from a confusing day, the tea leaves pretty much read that the Proposition 8 ban will likely not be struck down — and that the key justice, Anthony Kennedy, may push for the Court to dismiss Prop. 8 or hand it back to the lower courts in California, wary of "uncharted waters." Ladies and gentlemen — and ladies and ladies, and gentlemen and gentlemen — the Supremes aren't ready to rule yet.

Comments | 14,561 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 26, 2013

How to Follow Today's Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing, Voraciously

Here's a guide to keeping track of the historic proceedings, beginning with today's oral arguments on Hollingsworth v. Perry (aka Proposition 8) with expectations high and low, conclusions fast and slow, on social media and by way of a drinking game — with coffee, but still.

Comments | 21,328 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 25, 2013

Kate Upton's Boobs Are Too Busy for This Kid's Prom Proposal

Today in viral videos: We applaud one young man's legendary YouTube plea to the deity that is Kate Upton, the lowdown on the microbes all over your body, and an exit strategy in case everything doesn't work out.

Comments | 6,441 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 25, 2013

Torrington Can't Stop Defending a Star Jock Accused of Raping a 13-Year-Old

Even after pleas from their school officials and a week of national shame, the students of Torrington High in Connecticut are still taking to social media to defend one of the rape suspects who was the star of their football team.

Comments | 4,526 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 25, 2013

The Supreme Court Just Doubled Down on Affirmative Action

In a surprise move that compounds the conversation on race and college admissions in America, the Supreme Court decided on Monday to hear the case of Michigan's Proposal 2, perhaps signaling that an already emotional ruling on affirmative action this week could give way to a more sweeping decision soon. As if the justices didn't have a busy enough week already.

Comments | 5,569 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 25, 2013

The Real 'Today' Show Is Run by the Unpopular Bully Matt Lauer

A long story in New York magazine offers the most in-depth look at the Today show ratings disaster that has created Lauer's weeks-long attempt at image rehabilitation, and it's now clear that the defining moment that brought the morning show crashing down to Earth — the exit of Ann Curry — was something like high school.

Comments | 12,275 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 25, 2013

What John Roberts's Lesbian Cousin Knows About a Huge Week in the Court

In what may be the most personal preview of the Chief Justice's emotional opinion on cases that may come down to many more legal specifics than that, his cousin is speaking out on her attendance at the Supreme Court's hearings on Prop 8 and DOMA.

Comments | 2,435 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 22, 2013

True Fact: People Like to Watch People in Movies Run

This week in viral videos: the silliest running scenes in movie-making history, some unnecessary censorship that gives us the giggles, and animals who have learned to smile and entertain you. 

Comments | 867 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 22, 2013

For Better or Worse, Anonymous Is Getting Involved in Another Rape Case

The hacker collective which turned the national spotlight onto a then little-known football town called Steubenville has now shifted its eyes onto Torrington, Connecticut and the a rape case involving two 18-year-old football players, two 13-year-old girls, and the student body of Torrington who bullied the alleged victims. 

Comments | 12,135 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 22, 2013

Colorado's Prison Boss Murder Now Has Ties to a Dead White Supremacist

On Thursday, police exchanged fire with Evan Spencer Ebel, a 28-year-old member of a white-supremacist prison gang and a parolee in the Denver metropolitan area. According to The Denver Post, Ebel might have been ordered to place a hit on Colorado Department of Corrections chief Tom Clements, who was murdered on Tuesday night. 

Comments | 2,946 Views

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