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Culture Archive

Archives for January 2015

Technology
Netflix Will Start Blessing Some Internet TVs With Its LogoNetflix Will Start Blessing Some Internet TVs With Its Logo
Technology

Or, an alternate headline: Some TV sets will help Netflix market its streaming service.

By Peter Kafka
We lost our son to football and brain disease. This is our story.
Features

Debra Pyka and Jeffrey Chernach talk about the death of their son Joseph — and their discovery that he had CTE.

By Debra Pyka and Jeffrey Chernach
Technology
CES Snapshot: More Roku TVs, and 4K on the WayCES Snapshot: More Roku TVs, and 4K on the Way
Technology

Roku’s new hardware partners are Best Buy’s Insignia brand and appliance maker Haier.

By Lauren Goode
Explainers
Downton Abbey explained for people who don’t watch Downton AbbeyDownton Abbey explained for people who don’t watch Downton Abbey
Explainers

Here’s what you need to know to start watching series five of the British drama.

By Brandon Ambrosino
Culture
A show as weird as medieval musical Galavant shouldn’t be as boring as it isA show as weird as medieval musical Galavant shouldn’t be as boring as it is
Culture

ABC’s new series flounders under the weight of too much exposition and a bland lead.

By Emily St. James
Culture
This year’s American Girl Doll is an entrepreneur. But they just call her a baker.This year’s American Girl Doll is an entrepreneur. But they just call her a baker.
Culture

Why can’t she be a coder, or a CPA, or launch her own news site? For that matter, why can’t she just be an “entrepreneur”?

By Kelsey McKinney
Technology
The most popular stuff on the web isn’t journalism and that’s fineThe most popular stuff on the web isn’t journalism and that’s fine
Technology

There’s nothing new about these trends.

By Matthew Yglesias
Culture
Rihanna’s leaked track is the best song of 2015Rihanna’s leaked track is the best song of 2015
Culture

Instantly, even without knowing who’s singing, that voice stands out — Rihanna.

By Kelsey McKinney
Culture
Madonna photoshopped facial bondage on Nelson Mandela to promote her new albumMadonna photoshopped facial bondage on Nelson Mandela to promote her new album
Culture

Madonna loves to create outcry. She sure did that on Friday.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
The 30 most popular movies of 2014The 30 most popular movies of 2014
Culture

The year’s box office was off substantially from 2013’s box office.

By Emily St. James
TV
Comcast’s rental cable modems are a rip-off. It’s much cheaper to buy your own.Comcast’s rental cable modems are a rip-off. It’s much cheaper to buy your own.
TV

Comcast has recently begun raising cable modem rental fees from $8 to $10 per month. Yet I was able to buy my own for less than $40.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
Why Paranormal Activity was one of the most successful movies ever made, in one chartWhy Paranormal Activity was one of the most successful movies ever made, in one chart
Culture

What ultimately matters is how much a movie makes in profit.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Dr. Oz’s medical reality show broadcast a patient’s death without permissionDr. Oz’s medical reality show broadcast a patient’s death without permission
Culture

A new ProPublica investigation reveals the hazards of medical reality TV.

By Julia Belluz
Culture
Movies, music, books and TV shows to to watch for in 2015Movies, music, books and TV shows to to watch for in 2015
Culture

2014 is over! It’s time to start looking forward to the many beautiful pop culture jewels 2015 will bring us.

By Kelsey McKinney