Author: Erik Hayden

Today in Research

Remote, Polluted Lakes; Comet Crossbow

AP Images

Discovered: remote polluted lakes, uninformed fish, a comet crossbow, clinical trial check-up and one place to be to find undiscovered invertebrates. 

By Erik Hayden

Dec 16, 2011

Jon Stewart Pleads with the GOP Not to Back Newt Gingrich

It was one of those opposition research kind of nights on The Daily Show, and the host delivered a simple message about Newt Gingrich to GOP voters: "Don't do this."

Comments | 12,652 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 15, 2011

Newt Gingrich Gets Reinforcements

With Newtmentum grinding to a halt, the candidate looks like he got some good news today: Politico is reporting that billionaire Sheldon Adelson will be donating $20 million to a pro-Gingrich super PAC to bolster his efforts in the face of Romney's attack ads. 

Comments | 553 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 15, 2011

Justice Department Finds Joe Arpaio's Office Discriminated Against Latinos

Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio got into even more hot water on Thursday: the U.S. Department of Justice issued the results of a three-year investigation finding that his office exhibited discriminatory policies toward Latinos and violated civil rights

Comments | 1,951 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 15, 2011

UC Berkeley's Middle Class Bid; Ivy League Early Admits

Today in academia: Berkeley's middle class bid, Ivy League admit numbers, Penn State's big donation, Riverside's protest rules, and Virginia Tech's parental notification policy.

Comments | 882 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 15, 2011

Today in Research

Hubble's Snow Angel; Ancient Viking Treasure

Discovered: Viking treasure, NASA's snow angel, a Pyramid of the Sun offering, distracted doctors and the latest sobering anti-smoking statistic.

Comments | 2,528 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 15, 2011

Jon Stewart Keeps Many Balls in the Air

It's the time of the year for new features, and Jon Stewart just launched one called "Balls of the Week," a dubious prize that went to Barack Obama for asking Iran for our spy drone back.

Comments | 2,332 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

Reporter Found Classified Haditha Massacre Documents in Baghdad Junkyard

In a chance incident, New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt stumbled upon hundreds pages of classified documents of U.S. Marines being interrogated about the Haditha massacre--documents that were supposed to have been destroyed but ended up strewn across a Baghdad junkyard.

Comments | 1,085 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

Fox News Uses an Obama Image to Identify Mitt Romney

The dutiful Media Matters researchers who stare at Fox News all day have flagged another humorous mistake made by the cable news network: Fox accidentally swapped Mitt Romney's face with Barack Obama's in an Iowa polling segment today.

Comments | 6,228 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

Gary Busey's Praise for Gingrich Wasn't His Final Answer

Gary Busey wants everyone to know that his endorsement of Newt Gingrich at a D.C. holiday party shouldn't be considered his official choice.

Comments | 236 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

An Impersonator at Harvard; Privatizing Student Dorms

Today in academia: a Harvard student impersonator, a huge CUNY gift, privatizing student housing, the free textbooks dream, and new protest "rules." 

Comments | 767 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

Today in Research

Coffee as Weight-Lifting Enhancer; Longevity Gene Questions

Discovered: a longevity gene caveat, coffee as workout enhancer, the golden age of bed bug science, a few reminders from science.

Comments | 1,218 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 14, 2011

The Daily Show Deciphers Gingrich's Poverty Plan

Last night, Jon Stewart huddled with Larry Wilmore to see if they could figure out GOP frontrunner Newt Gingrich's "ideas" about child labor laws: that underprivileged kids should clean bathrooms or do other work at their schools. 

Comments | 2,078 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 13, 2011

Matt Taibbi, Coiner of 'Vampire Squid,' Is Tired of Its Ubiquity

Matt Taibbi, who used the phrase "vampire squid" when referring to Goldman Sachs in a 2009 Rolling Stone article, was not proud of his creation in an interview with Dealbook's Kevin Roose.

Comments | 2,586 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 13, 2011

Now Even Donald Trump Drops Out of the Donald Trump Debate

The once-promising, but then progressively quite sad, prospects for the Donald Trump debate have completely withered away: Donald Trump is bowing out of moderating the Newsmax debate timed right before the Iowa caucuses.

Comments | 570 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 13, 2011

Boulder's Celebrity Speaker Wish List; An MBA 'Arms Race'

Today in academia: buying top MBA applicants, wishing for a celeb speaker, demanding to know how much for-profit CEO's make, and dealing with a rise in on-campus psychological issues.

Comments | 811 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 13, 2011

Today in Research

Walking Fish; Something to Blame for Forgetfulness

Discovered: a doorway effect, walking fish, thinking when leaning to left, ADHD meds get the all clear and cellphone distracted drivers get some vindication.

Comments | 767 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 13, 2011

Jon Stewart on Why Ron Paul Can't Break Through the Newt-Mitt Gridlock

Sure, like everyone else, Jon Stewart spent plenty of time discussing the $10,000 Mitt Romney bet with Rick Perry, but the host also returned to a familiar narrative: Ron Paul may have "killed it" at the debate, but what kind of press did he get from it?

Comments | 23,180 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 12, 2011

The Pentagon's Highest-Ranking Woman, Michele Flournoy, Steps Down

Michele Flournoy, the highest ranking female offiicial at the Pentagon, will be stepping down next February.

Comments | 3,385 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 12, 2011

Bugs at Princeton; Goldman Sachs Cancels at Penn

Today in academia: bug infestations at Princeton, a sexual harassment lawsuit at Columbia, Goldman Sachs cancels at Penn, adderall at Duke, and a philosopher 'fraternity rush.'

Comments | 1,268 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 12, 2011

Today in Research

The New Tiniest Frogs; A Climate Change Agreement

Discovered: new tiniest frogs, climate change solution is more talking, email habits, autism diagnosis and a drinking age gap.

Comments | 632 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 9, 2011

Exam Week at Virginia Tech; UNC Students Protest Bloomberg

Today in academia: exams tomorrow at Virginia Tech, gun activists at Plymouth State, UNC students protest Bloomberg, more students are applying earlier, and an irresistible list.

Comments | 620 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 9, 2011

Today in Research

Lab Rats Finally Get Their Due; How Cavemen Fought Bed Bugs

Discovered: giving rats their due, nostalgia for cave-dwelling, shrubbery as global warming data point, and shifting the burden of responsibility for eating cookie dough.

Comments | 1,177 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 9, 2011

Jon Stewart Grades the GOP Candidates' Love for Israel

Appraising the one-upsmanship seen among the candidates at the Republican Jewish Coalition forum, Jon Stewart handed out a few honors for the impressive moments and docked Mitt Romney for botching a Seinfeld joke. 

Comments | 3,912 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 9, 2011

Media Diet

Heidi Moore: What I Read

The Marketplace reporter talks about her Twitter philosophy, when she retweets, and how she filters financial news.

Comments | 6,219 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 8, 2011

Recruiting Student Progammers; Rift at Columbia

Today in academia: recruiting programmers, the homework-free week myth, a Columbia squabble, Biden's for-profit promoting brother, Harvard's action against instructor who wrote inflammatory op-ed.

Comments | 744 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 8, 2011

Rick Perry Turns Down the Donald Trump Debate

With each passing day the initially-hilarious notion of The Donald Trump Debate gets less humorous, today even more so after Rick Perry wisely declined the mogul's supposed invitation that couldn't be refused.

Comments | 1,733 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 8, 2011

Today in Research

Prehistoric Monster Shrimp; Why We Yawn

Discovered: sharp-eyed shrimp, when yawning is less contagious, checking in on the climate conference, and a way to figure out if you've got math skills.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 8, 2011

Jon Stewart's Theory on How a U.S. Spy Drone Wound Up In Iran

The downing of the super-secret RQ-170 drone in Iran resulted in plenty of head-scratching reports about how it happened, so Jon Stewart offered his own theories for why the aspiring nuke nation now has our spy technology.

Comments | 18,031 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 7, 2011

Canadian Reporter Asks White House Why U.S. Media Ignores Canada

Today, as both the President and Canadian PM announced a new border deal that will supposedly make crossing the border easier, more secure and better for trade all at the same time, a Toronto Star reporter asked White House officials why the U.S. media wasn't paying attention to its northern neighbors.

Comments | 1,352 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 7, 2011

Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years In Prison

Rod Blagojevich, who's managed to avoid jail time since infamously trying to sell then-congressman Obama's Senate seat, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday.

Comments | 4,827 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 7, 2011

Finals Season Battle Cry: Reclaim the Library!

Today in academia: commencement buzz, a finals season library protest, the skinny jeans ban, the latest ROTC on-campus arrival and mixing fake drinks for credit.

Comments | 1,177 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 7, 2011

Today in Research

How Far a Cockroach Can Jump; Bed Bugs Get More Disgusting

Discovered: how far cockroaches can jump, a lifespan myth debunked, glass half-full on cancer prevention and, yes, bedbugs get even more gross.

Comments | 2,174 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 7, 2011

Jon Stewart Can't Wait for the Donald Trump Debate

The potentially hilarious Donald Trump moderated GOP debate has had few contenders sign up so far, and Jon Stewart made it clear last night why they might be hesitant: Trump "can't ever let anything go."

Comments | 1,685 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 6, 2011

Alec Baldwin Confirms Some Sort of Altercation on an American Airlines Flight

Thanks to two heavily retweeted witnesses who said that he'd been kicked off a plane, the Internet has been full of speculation about what was going on with 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin on an American Airlines flight before he responded on Twitter.

Comments | 1,413 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 6, 2011

RNC Urges Republicans to Lay Off Personal Attacks on Obama

A couple GOP strategists, Ari Fleischer and Nicholas Thompson, have some words of advice on how best to attack the president: stick to branding him a flip-flopper and skip the personal critiques because people actually like the president as a person. 

Comments | 915 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 6, 2011

A Lifetime of Free Tuition; Goldman Sachs Cancels On Campus Event; Drunk Profs

Today in academia: employers aren't happy, free tuition for life, where the professors party, Goldman Sachs gets avoided, and lots of incidents of SAT irregularities.

Comments | 914 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 6, 2011

Today in Research

The Diamond Planet Quest; 'Magic Mushroom' Science In Vogue

Discovered: diamond planets, crocodiles and nuclear plants, a psychedelic revival and the random facts about the left-handed. 

Comments | 1,870 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 6, 2011

Jon Stewart Gives a Fitting Pokemon Farewell to Herman Cain

Jon Stewart is sorry to see any Pokémon-quoting candidate suspend his campaign, so to memorialize Herman Cain's run coming to an end, he cued up his own inspirational moments from Pokémon: the Movie 2000

Comments | 3,095 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 5, 2011

Dan Quayle Will Endorse Mitt Romney as the Most 'Credible' Candidate

With Newtmentum still chugging along, Mitt Romney has unveiled a secret weapon to halt his sluggish pollingan endorsement from former vice president Dan Quayle?

Comments | 878 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 5, 2011

Meet the New Possibly Earthlike Planet: Kepler-22b

It's several times larger than Earth and 600 light years away, but a newly discovered planet, Kepler-22b, is also said to be 72 degrees--and NASA's Kepler mission has named it as a planet that's just enough like the one where humanity currently resides.

Comments | 24,150 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 5, 2011

Well-Paid College Presidents; Obama to Chat About Steep Tuition; Pepper-Spray

Today in academia: Finals season begins, the highest paid college presidents, Oxford's many trademarks, and Obama's scheduled chat about steep tuition. 

Comments | 738 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 5, 2011

Today in Research

The Citizen Scientist Movement; When Gossip Is Good

Discovered: citizen scientists, when gossip is good, ominous global warming stats to skip over, and some more terrible things about apple juice.

Comments | 670 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 2, 2011

Cain Guessing Game Update: He'll Say Something on Saturday

What it means, no one seems to be quite sure, but Herman Cain will announce something he thinks is "major" on Saturday in Atlanta. 

Comments | 517 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 2, 2011

Donald Trump Agrees to Moderate a Potentially Hilarious GOP Debate

It's an announcement that feels perfectly appropriate for this election cycle: Donald Trump has agreed to moderate a debate sponsored by Newsmax right before the Iowa caucuses.

Comments | 10,863 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 2, 2011

The Dumpster Diving Professor; Jay-Z's Georgetown Course

Today in academia: dumpster diving, infomercials, cheating scandals, changing UPenn's name and the sociology of all things Jay-Z.

Comments | 1,248 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 2, 2011

Today in Research

StarCraft Is a Gift to Science; Medical Handwashing Mysteries

Discovered: a 'dirty secret' of science, StarCraft's research value, how exercise effects the depressed, and three's a trend when it comes to doctor hygiene studies.

Comments | 2,707 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 2, 2011

Jon Stewart on Why the Government Is a Lousy Loan Shark

Jon Stewart tried to keep the tone light in his appraisal of a Bloomberg News report showing that the cost of bank bailout during the financial crisis was much bigger than anyone thought, but there seemed to be palpable outrage when he quipped: "Our government is the world's dumbest loan shark."

Comments | 2,076 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 1, 2011

Our Military Dogs Are Suffering PTSD

When we think of dogs serving in the military, the conjured images might be of the formidably enhanced heros that assisted the Navy SEAL team take out bin Laden--maybe not the estimated 5 percent of K9's who, like many soldiers, are also suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Comments | 1,916 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 1, 2011

The GOP's Talking Points to Spin Occupy Wall Street

GOP pollster Frank Luntz has advice for Republicans on how to talk about Occupy Wall Street: don't use the word "capitalism," shift the class war conversation to one on "hardworking taxpayers" and never use the word "bonus" to talk about executive bonuses. 

Comments | 2,218 Views

By Erik Hayden

Dec 1, 2011

Plenty of Applicants to Penn State; Not Many M.B.A.'s Are At Non-Profits

Today in academia: Penn State reports more applicants this year, M.B.A's are forgoing non-profit work, ROTC is getting comfortable at Yale, and some schools that don't leave students with as much debt.

Comments | 1,901 Views

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