Amazon's Jeff Bezos Invests in 'Business Insider'

Lauren Indvik2013-04-05 15:20:44 UTC

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has led a $5 million investment round in Business Insider, the six-year-old online media outfit run by former Wall Street analyst Henry Blodget.

The investment came about after a dinner Bezos and Blodget had some months ago. "We had dinner a while back," Blodget wrote in an e-mail to Mashable. "A few months later he expressed interest in investing. I said, 'Hell, yeah!'"

Previous investors RRE Ventures and Institutional Venture Partners also participated in the $5 million Series E round. The investment, Bezos' first in the company, brings total investment to more than $18.3 million, Blodget confirmed. He declined to state the company's valuation, writing, "That's double super-secret info. (I could tell you, but then they'd have to kill me.)" The exact amount of Bezos' contribution is unknown.

The investment is unusual — not least because Amazon is covered almost daily by BI reporters, including Blodget.

BI said it will disclose Bezos' investment on all posts concerning Amazon.

Bezos and Blodget have been acquainted since at least the late '90s. In fact, much of Blodget's early fame is attributed to a prediction he made in October 1998 about Amazon. Blodget, then a research analyst at Oppenheimer, forecast that the e-tailer's stock price would nearly double to reach $400 per share, which it did a month later, soaring 128%. (Blodget was later banned from working in the securities industry following a 2003 investigation by the SEC, which ruled that Blodget had issued statements on several Internet companies, not including Amazon, that "expressed views inconsistent with privately expressed negative views.")

BI draws 9 million unique visitors per month according to comScore (and 24 million, according to Blodget). The company is headquartered in Flatiron and employs about 100 people. It was co-founded 2007 with Kevin Ryan, who is also a founder and former CEO of both Gilt Groupe and DoubleClick. Ryan has served as chairman, and Blodget as CEO and editor-in-chief, of BI since its inception.

According to Bloomberg, the site lost $3 million on revenue of $10 million last year. It expects to bring generate more than $15 million in sales this year, though it may not turn a profit. Of course, Bezos himself has never been particularly focused on profits.

Image courtesy of Flickr, jervetston.

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'Jurassic Park' Stars: Where Are They Now?

Christine Erickson2013-04-05 19:38:21 UTC

It's been 20 years since Jurassic Park hit theaters. The first film in the franchise has just been revived for a 3D experience, and you can now relive the nightmares of your youth in HD.

If you were around the first time Jurassic Park released, you might be feeling pretty prehistoric yourself right now. The good news is you're not nearly as old as the stars of this film. (No, not Sam Neill, the dinosaurs!)

SEE ALSO: 'Jurassic Park 3D' Trailer Will Leave You Feeling Rapturous

What have these giant monsters been up to all of these years? A whole lot of nothing. The dinosaurs may have won the battle, but the joke's on them. We even survived a meteor!

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image via Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image via VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr, frogDNA

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image via Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Image via STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Chris Conroy

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr, happy via

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr dlanham

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Chris Blakely

Image courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc. and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Lisa Andres

Topics: Dinosaurs, Film, humor, Jurassic Park, Pics, Watercooler if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"watercooler","content_type":"article","top_channel":"watercooler","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Christine Erickson","age":"0","pub_day":5,"pub_month":4,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"04/05/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"No Lead Image"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/jurassic-park-stars-where-are-they-now/"],["image_src","http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QyL3RyZXhiZWZvcmUuNTA5MGIuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJNzIweDcyMCMKZQlqcGc/cdc23bae/a80/trex-before.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/jurassic-park-stars-where-are-they-now/"],["og:title","'Jurassic Park' Stars: Where Are They Now? [PICS]"],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QyL3RyZXhiZWZvcmUuNTA5MGIuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJNzIweDcyMCMKZQlqcGc/cdc23bae/a80/trex-before.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-04-05T19:38:21Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-04-05T19:38:34Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","It's been 20 years since the first Jurassic Park hit theaters. If you feel like a dinosaur, take a look at what the stars are doing now."],["keywords",["pics","humor","uncategorized","dinosaurs","film","watercooler","no-lead-image","jurassic-park"]],["twitter:title","'Jurassic Park' Stars: Where Are They Now?"],["twitter:description","It's been 20 years since Jurassic Park hit theaters. The first film in the franchise has just been revived for a 3D experience, and you can now relive the nightmares of your youth in HD. If you were a..."],["twitter:image","http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QyL3RyZXhiZWZvcmUuNTA5MGIuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJNTYweDc1MAplCWpwZw/d66ea6d6/a80/trex-before.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/jurassic-park-stars-where-are-they-now/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","photo"],["twitter:image:width","560"],["twitter:image:height","750"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/ZcXp1M"]]};

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Return to the Movies With Vintage 'Siskel and Ebert' Outtakes

Annie Colbert2013-04-05 23:42:46 UTC

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both loved the movies, but that was where the pair's similarities ended.

For 13 years, Siskel and Ebert exchanged banter and thumb-ratings. The duo's entertaining sparring paired with an undeniable passion for films made their television show a must-watch for movie lovers. The passing of Roger Ebert on Thursday — 14 years after Siskel's death — has the Internet feeling nostalgic for vintage clips of the opinionated duo.

A YouTube clip first posted in 2008 shows some classic behind-the-scenes bickering between the film critics. Prepare for a flashback to the early days of Siskel and Ebert by pushing play above.

Do you have a favorite memory of Siskel and Ebert? Share it in the comments.

Mashable composite. Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Hocus Focus Studio

Topics: Entertainment, Film, roger ebert, Television, Videos, YouTube Video Lead if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"entertainment","content_type":"article","top_channel":"entertainment","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Annie Colbert","age":"0","pub_day":5,"pub_month":4,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"04/05/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"YouTube Video Lead"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/siskel-ebert-outtakes/"],["image_src","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzViL1Npc2tlbEViZXJ0LjljM2Q5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/476bce29/86f/Siskel-Ebert.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/siskel-ebert-outtakes/"],["og:title","Return to the Movies With Vintage 'Siskel and Ebert' Outtakes"],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzViL1Npc2tlbEViZXJ0LjljM2Q5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/476bce29/86f/Siskel-Ebert.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-04-05T23:42:46Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-04-05T23:42:56Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both loved the movies, but that was where the pair's similarities ended. For 13 years, Siskel and Ebert exchanged banter and thumb-ratings. The duo's..."],["keywords",["entertainment","videos","television","film","roger-ebert","uncategorized","tv","youtube-video-lead"]],["twitter:title","Return to the Movies With Vintage 'Siskel and Ebert' Outtakes"],["twitter:description","Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both loved the movies, but that was where the pair's similarities ended. For 13 years, Siskel and Ebert exchanged banter and thumb-ratings. The duo's entertaining sparring ..."],["twitter:image","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzViL1Npc2tlbEViZXJ0LjljM2Q5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTU2MHg3NTAKZQlqcGc/2b564d5a/86f/Siskel-Ebert.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/siskel-ebert-outtakes/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","player"],["twitter:player","https://www.youtube.com/embed/OkwVz_jK3gA#!"],["twitter:player:width","435"],["twitter:player:height","245"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/YYprSP"]]};

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Rutgers Athletic Director Resigns After Viral Abuse Video

Sam Laird2013-04-05 18:30:38 UTC

A shocking video of coaching abuse that went viral on the sports web then leaked into the national mainstream news cycle this week has claimed its second high profile professional casualty — but this may not be the last.

Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti resigned on Friday, two days after the university fired head basketball coach Mike Rice.

Rice became a source of national outrage and scorn after ESPN's Outside the Lines broadcast a video of him shoving players, throwing basketballs at them and denigrating them with homophobic slurs during practices this season. Here's the video:

Pernetti became a secondary villain in the story when it was revealed that he had actually seen the footage months ago. Rice was suspended for three games and fined $50,000 in November for reasons cryptically defined as violations of athletic department policy.

But harsh backlash from fans, media and high profile athletes including LeBron James after the video's public release apparently led to Rice's firing. Pernetti was criticized for not firing the coach until the video became a source national embarrassment, as opposed to simply dismissing Rice in November for his abusive treatment of players.

The plot thickened on Friday, however, when Pernetti said in his resignation letter to Rutgers president Robert Barchi that he had wanted to fire Rice back in November, but was held back by university bureaucracy.

This paragraph from the letter involves some serious buck-passing and has already turned a harsh lens upon Barchi:

As you know, my first instincts when I saw the videotape of Coach Rice's behavior was to fire him immediately. However, Rutgers decided to follow a process involving university lawyers, human resources professionals, and outside counsel. Following review of the independent investigative report, the consensus was that university policy would not justify dismissal. I have admitted my role in, and regret for, that decision, and wish that I had the opportunity to go back and override it for the sake of everyone involved.

Pernetti's resignation was lamented on Twitter by at least two high-profile alumni of the Rutgers athletic department, NFL twins Jason and Devin McCourty:

So RU made Pernetti resign but they are going to keep this clown as president...He still hasn't taken ownership in his role (D-Mac)

— Jason+Devin McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) April 5, 2013

Highly doubt Rutgers finds an AD that was better than Pernetti! (J-Mac)

— Jason+Devin McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) April 5, 2013

RU made @tim_pernetti a scapegoat (D-Mac)

— Jason+Devin McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) April 5, 2013

Should Pernetti have resigned, or is he taking an unfair fall here? Give us your take in the comments.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Topics: college sports, Entertainment, Sports if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"entertainment","content_type":"article","top_channel":"entertainment","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Sam Laird","age":"0","pub_day":5,"pub_month":4,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"04/05/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"Default"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/rutgers-atheltic-director-resigns/"],["image_src","http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzVlL1Blcm5ldHRpR2V0LmIwMzQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/a4293bba/5d7/PernettiGetty.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/rutgers-atheltic-director-resigns/"],["og:title","Rutgers Athletic Director Resigns After Viral Abuse Video"],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzVlL1Blcm5ldHRpR2V0LmIwMzQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/a4293bba/5d7/PernettiGetty.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-04-05T18:30:38Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-04-05T18:43:29Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","Rutgers' athletic director stepped down after video of the school's basketball coach abusing players went viral. But his resignation opens more questions. "],["keywords",["college-sports","uncategorized","entertainment","sports"]],["twitter:title","Rutgers Athletic Director Resigns After Viral Abuse Video"],["twitter:description","Rutgers' athletic director stepped down after video of the school's basketball coach abusing players went viral. But his resignation opens more questions. "],["twitter:image","http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1LzVlL1Blcm5ldHRpR2V0LmIwMzQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTU2MHg3NTAKZQlqcGc/8780a690/5d7/PernettiGetty.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/rutgers-atheltic-director-resigns/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","photo"],["twitter:image:width","560"],["twitter:image:height","750"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/XtYNCT"]]};

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App Protects Busy Brains From Distracting Phone Calls

Annie Colbert2013-04-06 01:32:59 UTC

Nothing shatters that moment of being in the zone like the buzz of your cellphone. Productivity, torpedoed.

A new app aims to keep you squarely in the zone by monitoring your brain waves to determine the optimal time for you to receive a phone call. Good Times tracks your noggin activity and directs calls straight to voicemail when levels are high. The app was inspired by and created from the Necomimi Cat Ears, a pair of feline-like ears that move based on your brain activity and heart rate.

The app's creator, Ruggero Scorcioni, took home the $30,000 first prize at a recent AT&T hackathon. Now Scorcioni just needs to work on an app that sends mom an "I'm sorry" text for directing all her calls straight to voicemail.

Image via iStockphoto, ryccio

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9 Great Apps and Gadgets to Help Your Garden Grow

Camille Bautista2013-04-05 10:45:40 -0700

We weren't all born with green thumbs. For those of us that need a little help, technology can be our saving grace when it comes to gardening.

Whether you've never picked up a shovel or have a blooming back yard, we've rounded up a collection of great apps and gadgets to help you grow a garden. Some apps serve as a digital catalog for your favorite flowers, while others recommend seeds and equipment for beginners.

For those who prefer virtual greenery, you can tend to your plants on screen, or have tech do all the work for you with smart flower pots like Click & Grow or Wi-Fi sensors that monitor your soil stats.

Check out our gallery of garden gadgets and let us know in the comments if you use other apps or devices.

Image courtesy of Flickr, antonychammond

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What The Facebook Phone Almost Was

Neha Prakash2013-04-05 15:16:37 UTC

Facebook announced their "phone" Thursday and it turns out the much-anticipated product was more of a psuedo-operating system called "Home."

Mark Zuckerberg presented to the world the result of years of prototypes and trial periods (we assume). So, what was on the drafting table pre-Home?

Dartanion London has the scoop — it's the first "leaked" promo of what he says was originally called the "FacePhone" or the "PhoneBook." Features of this parody phone included filtered messages to only show sponsored texts, a constantly changing keypad so you were never sure of how to dial, and absolutely free calling (only if the other person also had a Facebook phone).

Sounds pretty spectacular right? Must be, since it was worked on by the same guy who invented the Myspace pager.

But we guess Zuck didn't love this version, so he axed it to go with "Chat Heads." (Yes, seriously, we couldn't even make that one up).

Image courtesy of YouTube, Dartanion London.

Topics: Facebook, Facebook Home, parodies, Share as Post, Videos, YouTube, viral video, Watercooler, YouTube Video Lead if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"watercooler","content_type":"article","top_channel":"watercooler","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Neha Prakash","age":"0","pub_day":5,"pub_month":4,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"04/05/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"YouTube Video Lead"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/facebook-phone-parody/"],["image_src","http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QwL2ZicGFyb2R5LjBjOWQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/6e5c71cc/0de/fbparody.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/facebook-phone-parody/"],["og:title","What The Facebook Phone Almost Was [VIDEO] "],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QwL2ZicGFyb2R5LjBjOWQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/6e5c71cc/0de/fbparody.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-04-05T15:16:37Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-04-05T15:16:51Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","Here's the leaked promo of the original Facebook phone called the \"FacePhone\" or the \"PhoneBook\" complete with sponsored texts and an ever changing keypad. "],["keywords",["facebook","viral-videos","parodies","facebook-phone","uncategorized","share-as-post","watercooler","videos","viral","youtube-video-lead"]],["twitter:title","What The Facebook Phone Almost Was"],["twitter:description","Facebook announced their \"phone\" Thursday and it turns out the much-anticipated product was more of a psuedo-operating system called \"Home.\" Mark Zuckerberg presented to the world the result of years ..."],["twitter:image","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA0LzA1L2QwL2ZicGFyb2R5LjBjOWQ0LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTU2MHg3NTAKZQlqcGc/a9d3c822/0de/fbparody.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/04/05/facebook-phone-parody/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","player"],["twitter:player","https://www.youtube.com/embed/xcUUuXj28L8"],["twitter:player:width","435"],["twitter:player:height","245"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/10CtGC3"]]};

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Vine Launches Trending Hashtags

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Animal Planet Sets Up Cockroach Cam

Samantha Murphy2013-04-05 08:59:15 -0700

The Internet loves a good kitten and puppy cam, but isn't that so, like, five years ago? Okay, not really. We'll gladly watch 24/7 live footage of adorable creatures crawling on top of each other.

But what about all the misunderstood species in the animal kingdom? Are they not worthy of live webcams?

Now, thanks to Animal Planet, we'll be able to watch all-day video streams of more than 11 species, from cutesy kittens and calves to ants... and oh yeah, cockroaches. That's right, the network is going rogue with its latest digital initiative, giving us an unfiltered peek into the versatile worlds of animals and insects.

The cockroach cam is set up in partnership with the Audubon Butterfly Garden in New Orleans. The site urges you to "pull up a chair, relax and enjoy dinner time with these critters." Yech.

"While feelings may be mixed on these creatures [cockroaches] that have inhabited our planet since the Cretaceous period, viewers will be mesmerized by their activity and surprise setting inspired by the southern home of Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium," said parent company Discovery Communications.

This week, the network announced the launch of Animal Planet L!ve, which builds on the success of its previous live cams, including one for sharks. The following USTREAM cams are now available in HD for your viewing pleasure: ants, belugas, calves, chicks, cockroaches, butterflies, kittens, penguins, puppies, Japanese sea nettles, wild birds and a cam set up in a Pacific Reef.

The webcams can also be accessed via tablets, smartphones and connected TVs.

Image via iStockphoto, April30

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