Why Is Girl Who Empathized With Adam Lanza Being Vilified?

She was suspended for writing a poem.

I’m trying to wrap my mind around what happened with Courtni Webb, the high-school senior who got suspended for writing a poem in which she said that she understands Adam Lanza’s actions.

Notable Words of 2012: From “Humblebrag” to “Eastwooding”

Plus: A plea to enter "douché" into the lexicon.

More words were created or repurposed in 2012 than ever before. Linguists and sociologists point to worldwide presidential elections, Hurricane Sandy, and the Olympics, as the inspiration for many of the terms and phrases that help to mark 2012. Some of these words will come and go like the events that created them, but I hope some of them stick around.

You Aren’t Watching TV if You’re Watching TV Without Twitter

A look at 2012 in tweets.

I probably don’t have to tell you that President Obama’s post-victory tweet was the most retweeted message of 2012, because you may have been one of the millions who shared it. This week, Twitter announced the number of users has grown to more than 500 million, up from 140 million just six months ago.

Google Offers More Evidence That We Can’t Survive Without Google

Video: Google’s ode to its top searches of 2012.

Google released its most popular searches of 2012 and accompanying film yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY_MUB8adEQ&feature=youtu.be The film is celebratory of human achievement—highlighting athletes, entertainers, politicians, amazing feats, survivors, and mostly, Google itself.

Thanks to Internet, We All Live in Glass Houses Now

And there’s a rock headed for your window.

This headline got me: “Internet Defends Man Accused of Reading Porn in Public. Things Get Ugly.” The story: A Japanese man was reading a gaming mag on a subway. A high-school girl mistook the mag for porn, and tweeted that she was on the tube with a creeper.

Your Feelings of Superiority Over Chinese Fooled by The Onion Are Unwarranted

Americans aren’t exactly the most subtle humans.

The Chinese state-run newspaper celebrated North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un being named the “Sexiest Man Alive,” with a 55-image spread, and accompanying text that read: “With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman's dream come true." The only problem is, he was named the world’s sexiest man by The Onion.

Collingswood Grocery Store Controversy: What’s Happening With National Market?

Some businesses just don’t play in the burbs.

Collingswood’s current controversy is the National Market, a space that is not really functioning as a market these days. For years now, all I’ve known about the place is that nobody goes there because, basically, there’s nothing inside but a lottery machine.

Jimmy Kimmel Has Taught Me to Trust No One

These election-related clips prove that anyone can lie.

Jimmy Kimmel has sent me into a tailspin of doubt. On Monday, Kimmel's Lie Witness News asked people if they’d voted (no polls were open that day in L.A.), and they emphatically answered yes. In other words, they lied.

Vote for Romney, He’ll Be Your Boyfriend

Some anti-Obama ad creators forget women have brains.

The first time I saw the Lena Dunham video about her "first time," I thought more about Lena than the ad. I thought LENA!!! What a smart cookie you are—what a brilliant move! The last time we saw you, you were sitting naked on a toilet eating a piece of cake! You are fabulous! And oh, so smart.