A woman who received a life sentence as a teenager after she fatally stabbed a pimp who sexually abused her will be released on parole after 19 years served, thanks to California Governor Jerry Brown who decided not to challenge the state parole board's decision to free her.

Today, in a Times piece called "Slaves of the Internet, Unite!," writer Tim Kreider wonders why editors feel comfortable asking writers to perform for free. In March, Gawker's Cord Jefferson considered the same issue, finding that writing "is an ambition that... is rigged to favor people who start off with money."

A new report in Der Spiegel says the the United States has been spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2002, and a different report (albeit from a less reputable source) says President Obama knew about it.

Chris Brown made it down to our nation's capital this weekend, and what did he do? Tour the White House? Check out the monuments? Debate the intricacies of DC pizza versus New York and LA?

Since its debut earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, Abdellatif Kechiche's eventual Palm d'or-winning Blue Is the Warmest Color has been one of the most discussed movies of the year. The three-hour French-language film features about 10 minutes of explicit lesbian sex over three scenes (including one that stretches on for almost seven minutes). Blue's sex caused it to be banned in Idaho, as well as unrest among its lead actresses, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux. (Seydoux told New York magazine that she was asked to do things in the movie that made her feel "like a prostitute.")

Police believe that an accident on Thursday at the North Carolina State Fair where five people were ejected from a Vortex ride was no accident at all — the carnival operator has been arrested and charged with tampering the ride to harm people.

A Pennsylvania man suspected of groping a fast-food worker was found after police followed his trail of curly fries.

Today's REALLY? Halloween costume comes to us from a tipster by way of Quincy, MA where some brainiacs decided to slap on some blackface and dress up as George Zimmerman shooting a bloody Trayvon Martin.

Now this just doesn't make any damn sense: A hunting group based in Dallas will be auctioning off a permit to kill an endangered black rhinoceros, to raise money to save the endangered black rhinoceros.

RIP Edna Krabappel. Marcia Wallace, whose four-decade career in television included roles in "The Bob Newhart Show," "Murphy Brown," and most famously, as Bart Simpson's divorced teacher on "The Simpsons" has passed away at the age of 70.

Probably not. But the story that's running in the half-reputable Panamanian newspaper Cronicas is pretty amazing. According to a Panamanian prostitute, The Biebs rolled up on a Panama City nightclub at three A.M. earlier this week, leaving with ten women, including one who later claimed he was "un papacito" in bed.

The New Orleans Advocate has the fascinating story of a platinum-haired kidnapper, conman, and former Capitol Hill escort who left a trail of broken hearts and empty wallets from Dallas to New York until he was rearrested this week in New Orleans.

Tired of waiting until the Spring to get your fill of Game of Thrones, the softcore porno/drama on HBO? Then perhaps you'd be interested in Game of Bones, the just-released porno spoof that probably features only slightly more boob.

Despite threats from government officials, more than 60 women drove cars in Saudi Arabia today in protest of a law that denies them the right to have a license.

There's probably no Safe Haven for this disaster.... when dressing as your favorite Orange Is the New Black character, it's just best to avoid blackface.

Hundreds of people are marching against government surveillance and in support of NSA-leaker Edward Snowden today in Washington, as European leaders continue to push for talks to curb U.S. spying efforts abroad.

A 60-year-old Maryland woman inadvertently funded the greatest joy of all — PUPPIES — when she left her wallet behind in her car while she was attending church services.

James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, a hip hop promotor and major cocaine distributor suspected of having a hand in multiple rap controversies including the 1994 Tupac shooting, was sentenced to life in prison yesterday.

I blame rap music.

There's a new twist in the already twisted 1996 murder investigation of JonBenet Ramsey — not only did a grand jury vote to indict her parents for child abuse resulting in the six-year-old's death, but the District Attorney in charge of the case ignored their finding and declined to prosecute.