Author: Connor Simpson

Yahoo! Just Bought Tumblr for $1.1 Billion

Reuters

That rumored $1 billion offer from Yahoo! to buy Tumblr? It's looking like a forgone conclusion at this point. But things are messy and speculative and there are already doomsayers predicting this is a bad idea for everyone involved. But mostly they're predicting it's bad for Yahoo!

By Connor Simpson

12:40 PM ET

Fred Armisen and Bill Hader Say Goodbye to 'Saturday Night Live'

Saturday Night Live said goodbye to two its biggest stars last night, both in spectacular fashion, and had all time performances from Kanye West. It was a night of teary goodbyes and awkward Ben Affleck jokes. Join us, please, as we send off Stefon and Ian Rubbish in style. 

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By Connor Simpson

10:28 AM ET

North Korea Tests Missiles for Second Day in a Row

North Korea fired a short range missile into the sea off its east coast on Sunday. It's the second day in a row the rogue nation fired short range missiles for no apparent reason. Seems a little wasteful, doesn't it? 

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By Connor Simpson

9:02 AM ET

What We Know About the Record Breaking Powerball Jackpot's Mystery Winner

The frenzy for last minute tickets is over. The numbers have been picked out. Somewhere, a single person is $590 million richer. Last night's record Powerball jackpot has a winner but we have no idea who that person is yet. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

Oxbow Upsets Orb's Bid for a Triple Crown at the Preakness

After completing a thrilling come from behind win at the Kentucky Derby, Orb was supposed to walk away with Preakness and charge onto the Belmont Stakes in pursuit of the elusive Triple Crown. Unfortunately a horse named Oxbow had other ideas. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

Sore Losers Can't Accept That France Legalized Gay Marriage

France finally became the 14th country to legalize gay marriage on Saturday when President Francois Hollande signed the bill that legalizes same sex marriage into law. But ugly protests that have marked the legal process will continue even now that the bill is passed. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

The New 'Anchorman 2' Trailer Says Hello But Not Much More

There are a lot of cool things reportedly in store for fans when Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues hits theaters on December 20. The new trailer isn't giving away any hints, though. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

The President's Umbrella Scandal Folded Before It Could Take Off

There was a brief moment where some conservative were trying to make a scandal out of the President's moment in the rain on Thursday. But unfortunately that scandal died before it could really take off.

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

Kanye Was Watching You Watch Kanye's New Video Last Night

So if Kanye West's weird behavior in the Saturday Night Live promos wasn't enough to pique your interest in tonight's season finale, last night he surprised the world be debuting a new song and video with projections on landmarks in 10 different cities around the world. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 18, 2013

Why Is North Korea Testing Missiles Now?

North Korea noticed the world stopped paying attention to them, and so, the country fired three short range missiles off the coast to out all eyes on them. Are we about to fall back into the endless stream of provocations and threats that seemed to die down?

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By Connor Simpson

May 15, 2013

Why Would Anyone Ever Switch from Spotify to Google's New Music Service?

Google unveiled its new streaming music service at their annual I/O developers conference on Wednesday. It has a very long name and some pretty cool new features. Whether it will actually do anything to upend your listening habits and the market for streaming music services, well, that's up for some immediate debate.

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By Connor Simpson

May 15, 2013

The Ultimate 'Star Wars' vs. 'Doctor Who' Nerd Fight That Wasn't

Who would win a fight, Darth Vader or Doctor Who? Nerds almost saw a dream grudge match go down over the weekend when there was a flare up at a science-fiction convention in Norwich, England, when members of two rival gangs fan clubs nearly came to blows. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 15, 2013

Joe Scarborough Is Outraged the White House Followed His Advice on Leaks

The MSNBC host is in high dudgeon because people who might leak confidential info to reporters will clam up because they fear a federal investigation into leaks that he called called for last summer.

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By Connor Simpson

May 15, 2013

Syria's Internet Is Offline Again

For the second time in as many weeks, the Internet usage in Syria disappeared mysteriously around 10 a.m. local time Wednesday with little to no warning. So, is it another case of the Assad regime trying to disrupt rebel communications or are they really having technical difficulties?

Comments | 818 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

Why Gosnell Didn't Get the Death Penalty

Dr. Kermit Gosnell will live. The 72-year-old Philadelphia physician struck a deal with prosecutors on Tuesday that will allow him to avoid the death penalty and stay alive. This is how he did it. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

Look at These Flippant Startuppers Trying to Rap

Rap videos from weird startup guys are nothing new, but the genre may have reached its ultimate nadir. Dave McClure's 500 Startups released this homage to Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" on Tuesday — and it's so tone deaf that you'll be begging for the bubble to burst.

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By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

Even MADD Doesn't Just Want to Drop the Legal Limit for Drunk Driving

In an effort to cut down on the number of alcohol related accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board wants to lower the legal limit for driving from a 0.08 to 0.05 blood alcohol content in all states. That doesn't mean post-dinner-out driving standards will be more exacting anytime soon, though — indeed, the fight is just now underway, and from some of the most unlikely of lobbyists.

Comments | 1,227 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

Freedom: BlackBerry's BBM Is Coming to the iPhone

Considering there's a large swath of people who hate iMessage for its frequent downtime and unreliability, you would think BlackBerry would be smart enough to launch its long-popular BlackBerry Messenger app for the iPhone. Oh, they're doing that now? And for Android, too? Good. Finally. Now here's how they're going to make money off you.

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By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

ESPN Hasn't Stolen the U.S. Open Rights from CBS... Yet

ESPN's upfront presentation on Tuesday had more soccer, more football, and more SportsCenter, but the Worldwide Leader refused to explain the most puzzling sport on its moneymaking lineup of contracts: tennis.

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By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

If U.S.-Trained Troops in the Congo Rape 6-Year-Olds, How Do We Train Troops?

Troops of the Congolese Army trained by a U.S. Special Forces team went on to commit mass rape and murder of women and children while fleeing rebel forces last year, according to a new United Nations report, raising questions not just about these particular atrocities but surrounding the United States's Africa Command operations in general.

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By Connor Simpson

May 13, 2013

Social Roulette Is the Best (and Scariest) Way to Delete Your Facebook Account

If you have suicidal Facebook tendencies — as in, you want off the social network but just can't bare to part with your photos, wall posts, and all those precious, precious likes — then you should probably try playing the new game Social Roulette. If you feel lucky.

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By Connor Simpson

May 13, 2013

Watch Barbara Walters Make Her Teary Goodbye to TV

The television news icon finally confirmed the news of her retirement on Monday's episode of The View with a heartfelt (if early) farewell in advance of her leaving behind the show — and more than a half-century of TV history — this time next year.

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By Connor Simpson

May 13, 2013

Yes, the '24' Comeback Can Still Work in the Binge-Watching Era

Perhaps the biggest news out of TV upfront week so far is Fox's decision to give Jack Bauer the zombie treatment with a 12-episode, time-skipping "limited series" return next summer. A lot has changed since 24; went off the air, but there's hard evidence that 24: Live Another Day won't fizzle just because primetime viewing habits have changed.

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By Connor Simpson

May 13, 2013

Everything You Loved About 'Arrested Development' Will Be Back

Did you hear? Did you hear?! It's almost here! The TV show that no one watched until after it was cancelled, Arrested Development, is less than two weeks away from returning for another flight on Netflix. Last night, they finally debuted the trailer that promises everything you love is returning. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

What We Can Expect from Google's New Mobile Game Hub

Are you an Android user who's been hoping for a service similar to the iOs GameCenter or XBox Live on your phone? Fear not, your wishes may be granted sooner than you think.

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Box Office Report

'Gatsby' Not Great Enough to Defeat 'Iron Man'

Welcome to the Box Office Report, where we're not ready for flapper girls to be a thing again. How depressingly 2010.

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

The Sunday Grind

Durbin: You're All Scared of Hillary 2016

Sen. Dick Durbin blamed Republicans fear of Hillary Clinton dominating the 2016 Presidential election on the obsession with turning Benghazi into a major scandal. He called the whole thing part of the "political show" in the election's build up. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Seth Meyers Is Officially Fallon's Successor on 'Late Night'

The New York Times' Bill Carter reports current Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers will replace Jimmy Fallon as the host of Late Night when Fallon moves to The Tonight Show.

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Things Are Getting Ugly for Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Turkish officials arrested nine Turkish nationals accused of having ties to Syrian intelligence forces for the brutal car bombings that killed 46 people in Reyhanli, a town on the border of the two countries where Syrian refugees have started living since the conflict began. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Minnesota Lawyer Pimped Himself to a Client

There's one way for a lawyer to cross the line from officer of the law to officer of pleasure: when he bills a client for time they spent having sex. A Minnesota lawyer logged time he spent getting intimate with a lady he was representing in a divorce case in his billable hours.

Comments | 3,478 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Kristen Wiig's Mom Is Way Worse Than Your Mom

So less than a year since her departure, Kristen Wiig made her triumphant return to Saturday Night Live last night to retread all the characters you knew and loved. But most importantly she stayed out of the way when she needed to let the new, very strong female cast shine. 

Comments | 3,273 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

So What Were Bloomberg Reporters Using Those Terminals for Anyway?

Investigations are being launched by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to see if their employees were spied on by Bloomberg reporters, too. But they may find Bloomberg reporters didn't always use the terminals to get scoops. They used them for fun on slow days, instead. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

Why the IRS Abruptly Apologized to the Tea Party

It came as a surprise when the Internal Revenue Service apologized, seemingly out of the blue, to a number of Tea Party groups for unfairly scrutinizing their tax exempt status on Friday. Now we know why the apology came when it did. 

Comments | 19,400 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

They're Going to Tear Down and Rebuild Sandy Hook Elementary

After weeks of deliberations, the task force assigned to figure out where to build the new Sandy Hook Elementary have finally concluded their search. They're going to demolish the old one and build the new school in the very same spot. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

Astronauts at the International Space Station Successfully Fixed Its Leaky Pump

Astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn completed the most impromptu spacewalk in NASA history ahead of schedule. The two men spent roughly five hours outside of the International Space Station repairing an ammonia pump used to cool the laboratory's engine system. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

Violence Doesn't Stop Pakistan from Voting on Election Day

Despite violence from the Taliban, citizens in Pakistan turned out in huge numbers on Saturday to vote in the country's historic first ever democratic elections.

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By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

Why Elon Musk Broke Up with Mark Zuckerberg's PAC

Tesla CEO Elon Musk decided to leave Mark Zuckerberg's immigration reform pushing political action committee FWD.us Friday evening because he doesn't agree with the group's habit of supporting politicians on both sides of the aisle, just so long as they support immigration. 

Comments | 22,197 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 11, 2013

Sorry, but 'Smash' and 'Happy Endings' Got Cancelled

In the dead of night, while you were sleeping or paying attention to other less trivial things, ABC and NBC announced the cancellation of Happy Endings and Smash, respectively. Feel free to use this space as a memorial for both shows. 

Comments | 14,458 Views

By Connor Simpson and J.K. Trotter

May 8, 2013

Ariel Castro Charged with Kidnapping & Rape, but His Brothers Got Nothing

The 52-year-old former schoolbus driver accused of holding and abusing three women in his Cleveland home, will face four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape, police announced Wednesday afternoon. Castro's two brothers, Pedro and Onil, have not been charged at this time.

Comments | 11,132 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 8, 2013

Charles Ramsey Has a Rap Sheet

He is the neighbor who helped save three women and apparently a child from living in captivity in brutal conditions in Cleveland. He also gave a couple interviews that led the Internet to turn him into a meme. Now it turns out that Ramsey has a few convictions to his name.

Comments | 7,489 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 8, 2013

Silvio Berlusconi Always Has a Get-Out-of-Jail Free Card

This we know for sure: Silvio Berlusconi is still guilty of tax fraud. But the former three-time Italian prime minister and long-time media baron may never see the inside of a jail cell, on account of being a wealthy political fat cat, and also because he's really old.

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By Connor Simpson

May 8, 2013

The 'NBA Jam' Theory of Sports Streaks Can't Debunk the Science of Superstars

A Yale biologist has managed to prove that players like Nate Robinson are "on fire" for a reason. But do actual sports teams really care about the phenomenon of heating up for a few games? The MLB and the NHL would say no — and so would Derrick Rose.

Comments | 1,012 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 8, 2013

The Ultimate 'Between Two Ferns' Video Mashes James Franco and Lonely Island

Would you count Edward Norton, James Franco, Zach Galifianakis and the Lonely Island guys among your favorite people? It's your lucky day! Because the Lonely Island troupe just premiered a new video and song inside a "Between Two Ferns" sketch that also stars James Franco. 

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By Connor Simpson

May 8, 2013

How on Earth Did an Italian Watchtower Not See This Giant Boat Coming?

A container ship lost control and took out the massive concrete and glass control tower overlooking Genoa, Italy's busiest port, on Tuesday evening, killing three people while another four were taken to the hospital for treatment and a few more are still missing.

Comments | 1,618 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 7, 2013

Aurora Shooter James Holmes Pleads Insanity

Lawyers for James Holmes have finally entered an official plea in the case: they're going going to mount a "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense, The Denver Post reports.

Comments | 598 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 7, 2013

Daft Punk Can't Wait for You to Hate Their New Album

Daft Punk, the world's most beloved DJs behind the most anticipated dance album of the year, aren't exactly anticipating that you fall in love with their new record, Random Access Memories. It doesn't sound like other Daft Punk records, which was deliberate, they say, because everything in electronic music sounds like knock-off Daft Punk right now

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By Connor Simpson

May 7, 2013

Confessions of Obama's Basketball Elbower, 'The Only Guy That Ever Hit the President and Never Got Arrested'

There had been whispers, of course — whatever happened to The Guy Who Famously Elbowed President Obama? — but no one ever landed the post-pickup-game interview. Until now.

Comments | 606 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 6, 2013

Tina Brown Really Wanted to Get Rid of Howard Kurtz Before the Collins Scandal

So it turns out Kurtz wasn't exactly fired by The Daily Beast just for his egregious Jason Collins story: Brown had been "putting together a file" of excuses to fire him, and the big gay cover-up heard 'round the media world let her dump Kurtz and his quarter-million-dollar contract, quickly and affordably.

Comments | 1,006 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 6, 2013

Led Zeppelin Wouldn't Reunite for Bill Clinton and Hurricane Sandy

The old British curmudgeons in Led Zeppelin were asked to reunite for last year's star-studded Hurricane Sandy benefit concert — by former President Bill Clinton, no less — and they said no. Here's how the Zep-for-Stones swap went down.

Comments | 1,384 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 6, 2013

Everything You Need to Know About the German 'Nazi Bride' Trial

The last remaining member of a neo-Nazi group — who's being called "the Nazi bride" by the German press, and probably soon the American tabloids — is now on trial for murder in a case that's remarkable as much for the horrible crimes as the retrograde justice for human-rights violations that were ignored for years.

Comments | 4,825 Views

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