Who is in charge of decision-making at Groupon? Because not only did the discount site turn down $6 billion from Google last year, they also produced the worst Super Bowl ad of 2011. And cast Timothy Hutton in it!

In your vacationmongering Monday media column: Americans just can't get interested in Afghanistan, a systematic approach to the NYT's "Most Emailed" list, Groupon is the future of shitty "journalism" jobs, and a look at the newspaper industry's year.

Google is reportedly buying online discounter Groupon for $2.5 billion. It's about time; the two companies have been flirting on Twitter for months. Get a room, already!

Gilt Groupe, the bargain luxury e-tailer, is expanding further into Groupon's local shopping business. Emailed coupons still seem like too much trouble for Gilt's upscale customers, but apparently the grinding recession has even the rich looking for deals.