Why Comcast Is Buying Time Warner Cable and Other Fascinating News on the Web

The Comcast-Time Warner Cable Deal

In an apparent quest to consolidate consumer frustration, Comcast has announced that it is acquiring Time Warner Cable for a cool $45 billion. As Om Malik correctly points out, this deal is less about TV and more about Internet pipes. Will the Feds approve the deal? Regulators advised that the merger is important, and will be considered in the order it was received.

+ One sentence and six charts to explain why Comcast is buying Time Warner Cable.

+ The WSJ has a pretty incredible chart showing how we went from having thirty cable providers to having just three huge operators.

+ Comcast and Time Warner Cable are two of the most hated names among consumers. So is it time for a new name?

+ It’s impossible to make an accurate list of something as subjective and broad as the 50 best tweets about the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger. At least that’s what I thought until I saw three of my tweets on the list.

Catching Some Rays

The largest solar plant in the world just went live in the Mojave Desert. “The plant consists of three 459-foot tall towers each with tens of thousands of robotic, garage-door sized mirrors that angle sunlight toward a water boiler sitting atop them”

+ A key question: Is Keystone worth the fight? Either way, it serves as a case study for how an issue can rise above the din and become a nonstop topic of political debate.

Natural Selection

“There’s going to be a lot of people for whom this is going to mean nothing, but for the few it does impact, it means the world.” Facebook used to give members two gender choices when it came to selecting their gender. Now they have more than fifty options.

+ Slate takes a crack at listing all the different genders you can be on Facebook.

+ “Approximately one hour after Justin Carter posted a sarcastic comment on a Facebook thread, his life began to unravel.” From the Dallas Observer: The Facebook comment that ruined a life.

Coke Isn’t It

Young people are consuming about the same amount of caffeine as they were a decade ago. But they are drinking a lot less soda. They seem to be getting wired on coffee products.

+ To Stop the Coffee Apocalypse, Starbucks Buys a Farm (but the effort might not be nearly venti enough to make a difference.)

Five Ring Circus

U.S. speedskaters are having a terrible Olympics. And it could be because of the suits they’re wearing (yes, the top secret gear that was supposed to give them an unprecedented edge).

+ It’s amazing to contrast the tight gear worn by speedskaters and the loose clothing worn by some of the mogul and freestyle skiers. (Sometimes, too loose.)

+ Here a photos of Olympians getting some serious air.

Where the One Percent Are Pitied

It’s really time for us to stop focusing on the one percent. It’s the .01 percent who really know how to live.

+ In NYC, the race towards the $100 million apartment.

+ San Francisco’s class war, by the numbers.

+ “As the former mayor of Fort Lee, I have some personal insight into New Jersey corruption. In 1974, I turned down a $500,000 bribe from developers linked to the mob to rezone 17 acres adjacent to the George Washington Bridge right where the access lanes were closed this past September.” The former mayor of Fort Lee is here to explain why New Jersey is so corrupt.

+ L.A. officials told the city’s garbage men not to nap on the job. That decision could cost them $26 million.

All Hail Caesar

There was an era when it seemed like everyone in comedy said they were inspired by Sid Caesar. The “comedian of comedians” passed away at the age of 91.

+ Here’s Sid Caesar on how the remote control ruined everything. He had no idea how ruined things could really get.

+ Mental Floss: 32 famous people rejected by SNL.

Grin and Bear it

You know how you’re not supposed to use fluoride toothpaste on your kids’ teeth until they’re are least two years-old? Well now you are. Ultimately, every health directive ever uttered gets reversed.

Love Hurts

“According to the industry’s trade group, some 145 million Valentine’s cards are sold in the U.S. every year. Those cards are ridiculous not just because of the sappy sayings on their covers.” In other words, Valentine’s Day is an environmental travesty.

+ If that’s not a good enough excuse to get out of getting a card for someone, try blaming the weather.

+ San Francisco came in dead last on Facebook’s ranking of the best cities for those looking to get into a relationship. (We’re just more into beta testing out here…)

The Bottom of the News

Blockbuster. Mister Donut. Even Friendster. Brands that might be dead in their home countries still live on across the globe.

+ Why writers are the worst procrastinators. (I meant to include this yesterday.)

+ You know marijuana gives you the munchies. But do you know why?