Author: Connor Simpson

Have You Forgotten About 'The Wolverine'?

Between the billion dollar behemoth that is Iron Man and the hotly anticipated Man of Steel, it can be easy to forget there's a third superhero movie coming out this summer. So, with that in mind, this latest rock'em sock'em, robot ninja filled trailer for July's The Wolverine might pique your interest. 

By Connor Simpson

Feb 4, 2013

Soccer Has a 'Global Crime Syndicate' Problem

The E.U.'s joint police force announced the conclusion of a years-long investigation into soccer-match fixing on Monday, and the results are a little troubling — and the source of the scandal perhaps even more troubling still.

Comments | 962 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 4, 2013

Ahmadinejad Wants to Be Iran's First Astronaut

What monkey? Unfazed by questions about whether his country's space monkey mission was staged, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is pretty gung ho about being his country's first man sent to space.

Comments | 690 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

All the Places Answering 'What Time Does the Super Bowl Start?'

Every year, there's a shameless Google-grab sweepstakes to answer the age old question: What time does the Super Bowl start?

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

In Super Bowl Interview, Obama Speaks Out on Gay Boy Scouts: 'Yes'

Should the Scouts be open to gays? It's a clear-cut issue for the President. "Yes," he said during his pre-Super Bowl interview with CBS's Scott Pelley, in which he also spoke out about women in combat, raising rates, and, you know, football.

Comments | 1,923 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

One Washington School District Is Trying to Copyright Homework

One school district in Washington is looking to put a copyright on everything created by their employees or students, which means they would own new lesson plans, an app created in a computer science class, or even just your everyday homework.

Comments | 1,412 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

Box Office Report

People Enjoy Snuggling with 'Warm Bodies'

Welcome to the Box Office Report, where we've been crushing on hot zombies since before it was cool. (Hi, again, hot zombie from last Halloween.)

Comments | 637 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

The Sunday Grind

NRA's LaPierre Clashes with Fox News; Panetta Defends Hagel from 'Knives'

Wayne LaPierre got into it with Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace; Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey come to the aid of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel. 

Comments | 3,334 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

Mayor Bloomberg's Gun Control Super Bowl Commercial Goes After the NRA

Michael Bloomberg knows how to throw one heck of a metaphorical right hand. In his latest move in the fight for stricter gun control laws, the New York City Mayor's Demand a Plan initiative released their Super Bowl ad Sunday morning and it goes right after the NRA.

Comments | 10,518 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

The Monkey Uprising Has Begun in Saudi Arabia

We always knew this day would come. Someone call Charlton Heston. The real rise of the planet of the apes has begun in Saudi Arabia. A group of baboons are terrorizing a village with coordinated attacks on empty houses while they look for food.

Comments | 41,645 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 3, 2013

Former U.S. Sniper Chris Kyle Was Killed at a Shooting Range in Texas

Chris Kyle, a retired Navy SEAL who is recognized as the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, was shot and killed at a gun range in Texas on Saturday by a fellow former soldier who he was trying to help overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Comments | 5,190 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

A Guide to Super Bowl Party Small Talk

In the interest of helping you save face in front of your friends, we've broken down everything you might encounter in conversation this Super Sunday, from the game itself to the chicken-wing apocalypse.

Comments | 3,346 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

Chris Culliver Plans His Own Redemption

Chris Culliver's two biggest concerns right now are winning the Super Bowl and trying to recover from the media maelstrom following his homophobic comments on Media Day. After the Super Bowl, Culliver will start his attempt to redeem himself in the public eye. 

Comments | 1,910 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

Joe Biden to Iran: Call Me, Maybe

The U.S. is open to direct talks with Iran over this whole nuclear weapon fiasco, but only if Iran is serious about coming to the table, Joe Biden said at a Munich security conference Saturday.

Comments | 1,595 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

Harvard Forces Students to Get Jobs as Punishment for Cheating

Between 60 and 70 Harvard students were forced to withdraw from school on Friday in the ultimate conclusion of a cheating scandal that could have happened at any school, but withdrawing probably doesn't mean what you think it does.

Comments | 21,366 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

This Is the President Holding a Smoking Gun

Addressing the controversy that arose after people didn't believe the President when he said he shoots skeet at Camp David, the White House released this photo Saturday to hush up the non-believers. 

Comments | 5,363 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

China May (or May Not) Be Behind the Twitter Hack

You may not have heard, but roughly 250,000 Twitter accounts may have been compromised by hackers. And there's a small theory that -- if you read between the lines -- Twitter is implying the Chinese are to blame for compromising their security. 

Comments | 2,776 Views

By Connor Simpson

Feb 2, 2013

Punxsutawney Phil Says Spring Is Coming

Did you know it's Groundhog Day? Were you aware that when you awoke Saturday morning a decision would be made that would effect things as dramatically as the seasons? That Winter's fate would be left to a small creature? 

Comments | 1,530 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

And There Goes a Year's Worth of Progress for Gay Rights in the NFL

Just when the NFL was starting to shed its homophobic reputation and look like an accepting place for gay athletes, one San Francisco 49ers player had to come along and ruin all of that — and all under the Super Bowl spotlight.

Comments | 8,331 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

What We Know About the Creep Who Abducted a Kid from His School Bus

We're a full day into the ongoing Alabama hostage situation, and the child is safe as far as authorities know, but more details have trickled out about the unstable man behind the disturbing crime, including accounts that he was a "survivalist" with anti-American views. 

Comments | 3,110 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

Real-Life 'Jaws' Casually Enjoying an Off-Season Hamptons Vacation

A great white shark named Mary Lee is being tracked 45 miles off the coast of Montauk, but this hardly the stuff of Montauk monsters. Here's why the rich kids shouldn't panic.

Comments | 15,020 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

This Georgia Highway Tornado Looks Terrifying

As a giant storm system passed through the American Southeast on Wednesday, a massive tornado touched down in Adairsville, Georgia, flipping cars and trucks across a major highway and killing at least one person while injuring numerous others.

Comments | 6,861 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

Rick Ross Wants His Own Secret Service

Just days after his SUV was the target of a drive-by shooting, rapper Rick Ross decided he needs his own version of the secret service -- an armed security detail working 24 hours a day to protect him from another attempt on his life.

Comments | 3,109 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 30, 2013

Teenage Girl Shot in Chicago a Week After Performing for the Inauguration

Well, this is a heartbreaker. A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed yesterday in Chicago, a week after she traveled to Washington, D.C., where she performed with her high-school band at ceremonies for President Obama's inauguration.

Comments | 3,621 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 29, 2013

The Grim Realities of X-Games Danger May Be on the Edge of Turning Deadly

The fate of a 25-year-old snowmobiler may transform into an awakening in the world of extreme sports, where the X Games have proved a catalyst for the evolution of dangerous, Evil Knievel-style activity invented almost on the fly.

Comments | 4,297 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 29, 2013

Delay of First Female Execution in Years Brings Back Debate Over Juries and Race

With five hours to spare and ongoing questions of racial bias in her jury selection hanging in the balance, a Texas judge granted reprieve to the first woman scheduled to be executed in the U.S. since 2010.

Comments | 1,258 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 29, 2013

Meanwhile, in North Dakota, Gun Raffles Are the New Bake Sales

Showing the least amount of self-awareness on guns this side of the NRA, the West Fargo Hockey Association in North Dakota decided it would be a great idea to raffle off 200 guns to raise money.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 29, 2013

Hillary Clinton's Book News Didn't Stop the Twitter Bombs on Her Town Hall

Clinton held her final online Global Town Hall before leaving Foggy Bottom on Tuesday morning, and while she did answer some tough questions — and confirmed a new memoir! — there sure were a lot of Twitter questions from frustrated conservatives.

Comments | 1,450 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

What Old Valleywags Think About the New Valleywag

Nick Denton surprised some when he revealed he was relaunching Gawker's old tech rumor blog Valleywag this morning, as reported by Business Insider's Alyson Shontell. We asked a pair of old Valleywag editors what they think of the resurrection. 

Comments | 1,935 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

The First Hillary Clinton Super PAC Is Here

If you (and President Obama) thought everyone was getting a little too excited about a potential Hillary Clinton 2016 run, these longtime Clinton supporters are getting a head start by launching their Super PAC now.

Comments | 862 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

Roger Goodell Ignored All New Orleans Questions in His Reddit AMA, Except One

With the Super Bowl just days away and the so-called Bountygate scandal still bubbling over, New Orleans Saints fans were really excited for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's AMA on Reddit this afternoon. He wasn't as excited to answer their questions.

Comments | 3,064 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

Scott Brown's Twitter Rant Will Not Stop Haunting Him

The now former Senator got a little carried away responding to critics on Twitter over the weekend, which shouldn't be a big deal, but apparently it is when you're expected to run for a vacant Senate seat and now everyone is taking his "whatevers" so seriously.

Comments | 1,342 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

The Six Degrees of Separation Between Joseph Goebbels and Daimler and BMW

You won't believe how easy it is for someone to connect Nazi propaganda mastermind Joseph Goebbels to the luxury car manufacturers Dailmer and BMW.

Comments | 2,660 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

Fox News Paid Sarah Palin Nearly $19,000 Just to Say President Obama's Name

Now that Palin and Fox News are broken up, Smart Politics wanted to measure whether or not the network got its money's worth by calculating how much Palin was paid per word. We wanted to see how much she made just for mentioning the president.

Comments | 22,236 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 28, 2013

Randy Quaid May Be on the Run Again Now That Canada Doesn't Want Him

Canada rejected Quaid's bid for refugee status, leaving the renegade actor and his wife out in the not so proverbial cold as they await appeals and the rest of us await the couple's next star-whacker conspiracy. 

Comments | 6,858 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

Former Israeli Leader Shows Signs of Consciousness After Seven Years in a Coma

Former Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon has spent the last seven years in coma, but doctors say he's starting to show "significant brain activity."

Comments | 2,137 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

Forget Paul Ryan, Martin O'Malley Has the Best Abs on the Hill

During the election the only thing more sought after than Mitt Romney's tax returns was a picture of Paul Ryan's abs. Neither appeared. But forget him and look at the rippled chest of Martin O'Malley, the owner of the best abs in Washington.

Comments | 3,494 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

Box Office Report

'Hansel and Gretel' Are So Hot Right Now

Welcome to the Box Office Report where we never miss an opportunity to make a lazy Zoolander reference. (Still waiting on that sequel, Ben Stiller!)

Comments | 1,849 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

The Sunday Grind

Ryan Doesn't Know About 2016; Feinstein Believes in Assault Ban

Paul Ryan mades his return to the Sunday talk shows on Meet the Press this morning; Dianne Feinstein spoke on the "uphill climb" her assault weapons ban bill faces; and Republicans and Democrats teased the upcoming immigration reform package.

Comments | 611 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

The Lonely Island Returns to Offer Some Free Life Advice

Adam Levine's stint hosting Saturday Night Live was memorable not for anything he did, but the returns that came with him. Andy Samberg and the Lonely Island guys came back for the first time since the star left the show at the end of last season. 

Comments | 1,830 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

Obama Responds: What Ever Happened to Hope and Change?

One way to celebrate a redesign is to unleash an interview with President Obama featuring a wide range of answers from Congress to football to guns, which is exactly how The New Republic introduced the world to their new look. 

Comments | 2,357 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

CNN Wants to Treat Ann Curry Right

NBC is mistreating Ann Curry again, according to a new Page Six report. But buried at the bottom is a shining ray of hope also known as former NBC chief Jeff Zucker. 

Comments | 4,047 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 27, 2013

Hundreds of Teenagers Killed in Brazilian Nightclub Fire

After a band member decided to let off a firework inside a crammed Brazilian nightclub early Saturday morning, the packed venue quickly caught fire and a fun night out turned into something much more terrifying. 

Comments | 3,176 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

You Will Not Stop Watching Vinepeek

You might not be sold on Twitter's new short video app Vine, but we challenge you to try and stop watching Vinepeek. You won't. You'll be stuck for 20 minutes before mustering the will power to look away. 

Comments | 13,716 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

No, Anonymous Doesn't Have Access to U.S. Warheads

If you were skimming the news this morning, we could understand why you might be confused and thinking that the hacking collective Anonymous has access to real U.S. warheads. Stop worrying, they don't. 

Comments | 12,414 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

Why Tom Harkin Retiring Is a Big Deal

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin announced he won't be seeking re-election in 2014 on Saturday, opening up a race for a precious Senate seat in one of the biggest battleground states in the country. You think the race in Massachusetts is exciting? Wait until Iowa heats up. 

Comments | 1,247 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

Soccer Riot Sentencing Sparks More Riots in Egypt

After 21 people were sentenced to death by an Egyptian court for their roles in deadly soccer riots last year, violence erupted outside of the Port Said courtroom and resulted in ever more deaths.

Comments | 944 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

What's Next for the Manti Te'o Story

We've heard from duped Notre Dame star Manti Te'o himself. We're going to hear from the accused mastermind, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, next week. What's next in this strange, beautiful and truly weird adventure? 

Comments | 5,345 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 26, 2013

Scott Brown Doesn't Care What You Think

Is Scott Brown running for John Kerry's old Senate seat? No one knows, yet. But we do know Brown is feeling a little thin skinned lately, and that he isn't getting along with people being mean to him on the internet. Except you, Matt: you're great.

Comments | 4,421 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 24, 2013

J.J. Abrams Will Direct New 'Star Wars' — but Ben Affleck Almost Did?

One of the choices was obvious, and the other was, well, Ben Affleck, but Disney and Lucusfilm executives have apparently chosen King of the Nerds J.J. Abrams to direct Star Wars: Episode VII.

Comments | 7,003 Views

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App