TheConsider

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/did-homer-and-marge-really-break-up-on-the-simpsons-season-premiere-12121

Did Homer and Marge really break up on the 'Simpsons' season premiere?

Well, to paraphrase one Reverend Timothy Lovejoy: Short answer, “no” with a “but.”

Long answer: The Simpsons‘ much buzzed-about 27th (!) season premiere did, in fact, revolve around a plot that saw Marge and Homer deciding to test out a trial separation — and Homer finding love again with a fetching young pharmacist voiced by Lena Dunham.

But as the series’ official Twitter account implied this summer — shortly after news of Homer and Marge’s split caused a massive firestorm of controversy on the Internet — that separation was about as consequential as learning that Principal Skinner is actually an identity-stealing hoodlum named Armin Tamzarian. (Which is to say, not consequential in the slightest.) Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/climate-change-activist-takes-aim-at-the-most-irresponsible-companies-in-the-world-12119

Climate change activist takes aim at the 'most irresponsible companies in the world'

Three years ago, environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote an article for Rolling Stone that catapulted the divestment movement into popular conversation. But it was a fairly subtle article, slightly hidden in the magazine’s glossy pages

It didn’t even earn a cover photo, McKibben recalls. That spot went to Justin Bieber.

But, he said, it soon became the most shared article in Rolling Stone’s history. The piece’s popularity was a moment that helped start the global movement of fossil fuel divestment. And that movement has gained quick support, much to McKibben’s surprise.

See also: The social strategy that is super-sizing the climate movement Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/duck-boat-in-seattle-crash-didnt-have-recommended-fix-from-2013-ntsb-says-12117

Duck boat in Seattle crash didn't have recommended fix from 2013, NTSB says

A duck boat involved in a deadly Seattle traffic crash did not have an axle repair that was recommended for the amphibious vehicle in 2013, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Sunday.

See also: Duck Boat tourist vehicle collides with bus in Seattle, leaving at least 4 dead

NTSB member Earl Weener said investigators only recently learned that Ride the Ducks International issued the warning about potential axle failure and recommended a specific repair two years ago. But he said the boat involved in Seattle crash didn’t have the fix.

Member Weener gives the final media briefing on multi-vehicle crash involving a DUKW boat and a motorcoach in Seattle pic.twitter.com/TrWJEjUvID

— NTSB (@NTSB) September 28, 2015 Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/a-terrifying-sinkhole-gobbles-up-cars-and-caravan-in-australia-12115

A terrifying sinkhole gobbles up cars and caravan in Australia

Mother Nature is reclaiming her land piece by piece, or so it appears after she swallowed more than 200 metres of beachfront in Queensland on Sunday

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the freak event, but a car, caravan, camper trailer and tents have all been lost to the abyss.

The sinkhole, located at Inskip Point near Fraser Island in Queensland, is said to be three-metres deep and still unstable. At least 300 people have been evacuated from the area.

See also: Spectacular Lightning Show During Wild Weather in Melbourne

A further 160 campers have been evacuated from #InskipPoint as a precaution, bringing total to 300@7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/PmmC57zGG8

— Natasha Squarey (@NatashaSquarey) September 27, 2015 Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/fear-the-walking-dead-episode-5-was-the-shows-best-yet-12113

'Fear the Walking Dead' episode 5 was the show's best yet

Warning: Zombies and spoilers below.

The families split up in the last new episode of Fear the Walking Dead have a lot more to worry about by the end of this week’s penultimate episode

See also: 7 reasons we’re excited for the new season of ‘Once Upon a Time’

Specifically, they get news that the help sent to protect them is planning to pack up, mass kill their loved ones and get the heck outta town

But it was the road to this information that made for the most chilling episode of this series to date and one of the darkest episodes of The Walking Dead franchise yet

The discarded

The episode opened in the prison-like holding area where those forcibly loaded into the soldiers’ truck last week were taken Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/blood-and-oil-is-basically-revenge-meets-dallas-12111

'Blood and Oil' is basically 'Revenge' meets 'Dallas'

Welcome to oil country, where the scrappy survive, the rich get richer and hot dudes from your old favorite teen shows are all grown up and fight in the mud

Is there much else to ABC’s Blood and Oil? Not that you haven’t really seen before. But if the aforementioned is enough for you, invest in this ABC primetime soap that’s got all the ingredients to become your new favorite guilty pleasure

See also: 7 reasons we’re excited for the new season of ‘Once Upon a Time’

To back up: The story here centers on Gossip Girl alum Chace Crawford playing one half of a young married couple — Billy and Cody (Rebecca Rittenhouse) — who risks it all in the quest to go start a humble laundromat chain in North Dakota Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/last-man-on-earth-goes-darker-for-season-2-premiere-12109

'Last Man on Earth' goes dark(er) for Season 2 premiere

Well, that was a colossal bummer.

Don’t get me wrong — Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The Last Man on Earth has never been a particularly cheery comedy. The show takes place in a world where an unnamed virus has wiped out the vast majority of the population. Will Forte believes he’s the last person left alive — until he meets Kristen Schaal. And January Jones. And…

See also: ‘Last Man on Earth’ is network TV’s big risk that paid off

You get the idea. In its first season, Last Man grew a bit too fond of ending episodes by reinforcing that, yes, Forte’s Phil Miller wasn’t alone on the planet. Funny as it was — which, granted, was often really, really funny — the show also got stymied by plots that saw Phil acting progressively more and more selfish, cruel and generally terrible, with no real comic or narrative payoff Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/report-aussie-startup-success-atlassian-to-go-public-in-the-u-s-12107

Report: Aussie startup success Atlassian to go public in the U.S.

Continuing its quest for world domination, Australian software developer Atlassian plans to file for an IPO in the U.S., according to a recent report.

Based in Sydney and with offices in six countries, the company aims to make a public offering in America by the end of 2015, people familiar with the deal told the Wall Street Journal.

See also: The iPhone 6S Plus bend test you’ve been waiting for

Atlassian offers 15 popular tools for software developers and project managers, at companies large and small, including team chat platform HipChat and Jira, a work-tracking program.

Founded by Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes in 2002, the startup is regarded as something of a unicorn in the Australian startup scene, with a private valuation of US$3.3 billion, according to the Journal Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/6-things-i-wish-id-known-returning-to-work-after-maternity-leave-12105

6 things I wish I'd known returning to work after maternity leave

In the half-light of 5 a.m., I kiss my baby’s soft, pink cheek.

She should be the one crying her eyes out at this hour. Instead, it’s me who’s sobbing.

She doesn’t flinch at my kiss, and she sleeps peacefully while I sneak off, toss my suitcase into the car and head to the airport for a flight to Berlin. It’s my fourth business trip since returning to work. Leaving hasn’t gotten any easier.

Some of the issues are pretty obvious: It’s more difficult to fit breastfeeding and doctor visits into your schedule when you’re back at work. Some stats are less clear: According to a study by Procter & Gamble, it takes mothers an average of 3.8 months to get back into the swing of things after they return to work. So what’s the secret to getting back to work seamlessly? Is there one? Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/justin-bieber-asks-fans-to-stop-treating-him-like-an-object-12103

Justin Bieber asks fans to stop treating him like an object

Justin Bieber is in Australia at the moment, and he is trying to level with his fans on how he’d like to be treated. Pleading with fans via Snapchat, The Biebs asked they stop harassing him for photos if he’s not feeling the vibe.

The series of videos, taken while he sits in the backseat of a car driving around Melbourne on Sunday, is an appeal to fans to pretty much take it down a notch.

See also: Chvrches give Justin Bieber’s moody ‘What Do You Mean’ a synth sheen

“The way you ask or approach me when you want a photo with me is going to determine if I take a photo or not,” Bieber said. “Usually the chances are I’ll take a photo but if perhaps I don’t, or I’m not in the mood to take a photo that moment, please just respect me and just treat me the way you want to be treated.” Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/miko-grimes-wife-of-miami-dolphins-brent-grimes-arrested-outside-stadium-12101

Miko Grimes, wife of Miami Dolphins' Brent Grimes, arrested outside stadium

Miko Grimes, a Miami sports radio host and wife of Dolphins player Brent Grimes, was arrested outside of Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Sunday prior to the Dolphins’ game against the Buffalo Bills and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to local reports.

See also: NYPD releases video of ex-tennis star James Blake’s mistaken arrest

The ordeal was caught on video. (Warning: NSFW language)

According to authorities, Miko passed into a restricted area then yelled obscenities and head-butted a law enforcement officer, which led to her arrest Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-praises-digital-india-during-town-hall-with-indian-prime-minister-12099

Mark Zuckerberg praises Digital India during town hall with Indian Prime Minister

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Facebook hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday for a townhall Q&A with CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The event comes on day two of the prime minister’s visit to Silicon Valley, where he has met with investors and CEOs to encourage investment in his country. Speaking at Facebook’s headquarters, Modi took questions on his efforts to help bring more of the country online and the need to bring more businesses to India.

See also: Mark Zuckerberg responds to Internet.org criticism: ‘We fully support net neutrality’

During the Q&A, Zuckerberg reiterated the importance of getting more of the world online, the goal of the Facebook-backed Internet.org initiative, though he avoided mentioning the program by name. The initiative, which rolled out in India last year has become a source of controversy in the country in recent months. Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/psa-never-use-your-lighter-at-a-gas-station-even-to-kill-spiders-12097

PSA: Never use your lighter at a gas station, even to kill spiders

Well, that escalated quickly.

A man at a gas station attempted to kill a spider by burning it with a lighter, however, he quickly learned that gasoline is extremely flammable — which is why stations have all those warning signs about lit cigarettes and open flames around.

Luckily for the man, he managed to escape without injury and the fire was promptly put out. He probably did kill the spider in the end. Mission accomplished.

via GIPHY

The iPhone 6S Plus bend test you’ve been waiting for

Taylor Swift and Steven Tyler perform ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing’

A sick dog’s heartwarming road to recovery

Double vision Halloween makeup will melt your friends’ brains Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/facebook-looks-to-assert-itself-as-a-force-for-social-good-12095

Facebook looks to assert itself as a force for social good

Throughout much of its 11-year history, Facebook has been used as a tool to raise awareness and donations in times of crisis, whether it be for the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan in 2011 or for this year’s ebola crisis

Now, Facebook is looking to play a more active role in those efforts.

Naomi Gleit, a longtime Facebook manager, revealed Sunday that the social network has created a team “dedicated to and committed to social good” during a panel discussion at Mashable’s annual Social Good Summit in New York

Facebook’s social good team, which numbers in the dozens, is less focused on activism and on-the-ground work than building a new suite of products that tap into the social causes and personal needs of its community. Even those efforts can have a tremendous impact when you consider every feature has the potential to tap into a community of nearly 1.5 billion people Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/bryce-harper-jonathan-papelbon-brawl-in-nationals-dugout-12093

Bryce Harper, Jonathan Papelbon brawl in Nationals' dugout

The Washington Nationals’ postseason hopes came to an end yesterday when the New York Mets clinched the National League East division championship. And just one day later, Washington topped a frustrating campaign with a dugout brawl between star outfielder Bryce Harper and closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Cameras caught Papelbon jawing at Harper after Harper didn’t fully run through a fly out. Papelbon, who is currently appealing a three-game suspension from a beaning incident last week, continued to jaw at Harper until the two finally came to blows.

Jonathan Papelbon attacking Bryce Harper? Jonathan Papelbon attacking Bryce Harperpic.twitter.com/T2qof97Ymh

— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) September 27, 2015 Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/downton-abbey-recap-gone-baby-gone-12091

'Downton Abbey' recap: Gone baby gone

Note: This post contains information about the latest episode of Downton Abbey, which has started airing its final season in the UK. American viewers can watch the final season starting Jan. 3 on PBS.

Downton‘s final season premiere served to tie up the season 5’s loose ends. Carson and Hughes have settled on the terms of their marriage; at long last, Anna and Bates have seen the last of the London coppers; and everybody is generally finding their footing in a new era at the Abbey.

See also: ‘Downton Abbey’ cast and crew document the #LastDaysofDownton with some choice selfies

The second episode is all about babies Read more…

New Post has been published on http://www.theconsider.com/fiorina-audience-unscathed-after-stage-collapses-at-campaign-event-12089

Fiorina, audience unscathed after stage collapses at campaign event

Surging GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and attendees at a San Antonio event on Sunday afternoon got more excitement than they bargained for when the stage curtain structure collapsed around the candidate.

See also: Carly Fiorina soars to second place behind Trump in new poll

And the stage just collapsed on @CarlyFiorina in San Antonio. Everyone appears OKpic.twitter.com/PFzWtui4ks

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) September 27, 2015

Thankfully, according to reporters on the scene, no one was injured and the event continued.

Update: everyone is okay after stage backdrop fell at Carly Fiorina Event. She is now talking questions @NBCDFW

— Julie Fine (@JulieFineNBC5) September 27, 2015 Read more…