Watching Video on Televisions Is Too Much Effort Now

Adrian Chen · 08/01/11 05:09PM

In the beginning, humans had to physically rouse themselves from their couches to change the channel on the TV. Then, there were remotes. Now, our laziness has evolved to the point where we just stare at our phones.

Maya Rudolph Gets Bigger

Richard Lawson · 08/01/11 04:50PM

It seems that NBC has realized that Maya Rudolph is funny and would like to see more of her. Also today: John McClane rides again, as does Lucy Liu, and Darren Criss is going to set Broadway aflame.

New Infinity Math Is So Over Your Head, Just Forget It

Hamilton Nolan · 08/01/11 04:36PM

New math! Fancier chips! Higgs Boson! Humongous fungus! Acid bases! Sea monster! Asteroid pictures! Fecal bleed! And everyone's best friend is dropping in for the summer! It's your Monday Science Watch, where we watch science—not that you would understand!

Koch Bros' Group Being Completely Evil Ahead of Wisconsin Recall

Jim Newell · 08/01/11 04:22PM

Americans for Prosperity, the political action group funded by right-wing billionaires Charles and David Koch, is patriotically mailing out absentee ballot applications for the upcoming Wisconsin recall elections against Republican state senators. But guess what? The registration forms that AFP has been sending out have... the wrong ballot submission date! Good heavens, how could they miss such a "typo"?

Most Major Newspaper Editors Don't Even Use Twitter

Hamilton Nolan · 08/01/11 04:10PM

We've poked fun in the past at former New York Times editor Bill Keller's infrequent and bizarre use of the Twitter. But aren't there more ways we can make fun of newspaper editors, related to Twitter? Yes! Yes!

Rick Perry Not Running Yet, But His Ads Are

Jim Newell · 08/01/11 03:39PM

Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks to have a fine chance of winning the Republican presidential nomination if he runs, which he probably will, no? Just look at this "teaser" SuperPAC ad that his rich Texas supporters are running for him in Iowa. It is happy happy happy. Balanced budgets! Millions of jobs! Corn, being husked! Rick Perry will do all of these things for America, when he rules it as his fiefdom.

Here Are America's Top Party Schools

Brian Moylan · 08/01/11 03:33PM

When looking at the Princeton Review's annual college rankings, no one (cool) cares about academic ratings or student to faculty ratios, or any of those silly stats. No, all those people care about is which schools have the most kicking ragers in the whole country. Here they are.

Most of Newt Gingrich's Twitter Followers Are Fake

John Cook · 08/01/11 03:05PM

Yesterday Newt Gingrich laid out a new argument for why he should be the GOP presidential nominee: He's got the most Twitter followers. But according to a former Gingrich staffer, he bought them.

Facebook Makes Room for Your Unborn Child

Ryan Tate · 08/01/11 02:54PM

Facebook has an official field for your "expected child," complete with due date and name. This is to prevent people making Facebook profiles for fetuses, which is against policy, and very hard to sell advertising against. [Daily Mail via Frisky]

Gawker Now Working Birthday Parties

John Cook · 08/01/11 02:45PM

For some strange reason, Fox News can't let go of this month-old post demonstrating—without naming him—that a figure in a White House photo was probably the CIA analyst who tracked down Osama bin Laden. Here's Mike Huckabee over the weekend: "Doesn't their name say it all? Gawker? What do you think of when you think of Gawker? Do you think, 'Oh that's the person I want to invite to my son's birthday party?'" Probably not. But for what it's worth, Gov. Huckabee, we don't really want to go to your son's birthday party, either. Mostly to avoid the dog-slaughtering.

Insurers Will Soon Be Required to Cover Birth Control

Jim Newell · 08/01/11 02:39PM

The Obama administration announced on Monday that health insurance plans must cover birth control with no copays, among other reproductive health care services, as preventative care for women. The requirement will apply to health care plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012. The announcement comes just a month after Health and Human Services released a recommendation that sought to expand preventative services for women under Obama's health care law.

Arianna Huffington Snaps Up Oprah Castoff

Hamilton Nolan · 08/01/11 01:48PM

In your oppressive Monday media column: the Oprah to HuffPo career path, The New Yorker is digitally famous, the 48-hour magazine returns, PBS expands to England, and Peter Lauria goes to Reuters.

Like Crazy: The Sweet/Sad Love Story of the Year

Richard Lawson · 08/01/11 01:23PM

Here's a trailer for Like Crazy, the Sundance Grand Jury winner that bowled over critics with its bittersweet tale of young love. Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones play college seniors who meet, fall for each other, and then are torn apart by time and place.

Kids Still Hate Rebecca Black

Matt Cherette · 08/01/11 01:21PM

Back in April, the Fine Brothers played Rebecca Black's "Friday" for a bunch of kids and recorded their reactions. Not surprisingly, the children hated the song. But what about "My Moment," Black's new single and message for the naysayers? Surely they'd appreciate it more, right? Not so much, as you'll see in the clip above.

More Airbnb Horrors Emerge

Ryan Tate · 08/01/11 01:17PM

Meth pipes. Attempted identity theft. Apartments fraudulently rented out from under the real owner. Fresh horror stories have emerged about Airbnb, hot on the heels of customer "EJ's" tale of ransacking last week.