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Aja Romano

Aja Romano

Former Senior Culture Writer

    Latest articles by Aja Romano

    Culture
    Saying goodbye to AIM, the instant messenger that changed how we communicateSaying goodbye to AIM, the instant messenger that changed how we communicate
    Culture

    Before the dawn of social media, AIM was the chat client for a generation. After 20 years, it’s shutting down.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Twitter’s new thread feature takes us one step closer to longform tweetingTwitter’s new thread feature takes us one step closer to longform tweeting
    Culture

    Lots of people say they want short tweets. But that’s not always how they’re using the site.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Saturday Night Live takes on Trump, Franken, and sexual harassment in an awkward episodeSaturday Night Live takes on Trump, Franken, and sexual harassment in an awkward episode
    Culture

    SNL mostly dodged its longtime writer Al Franken, and seemed tired of its own sexual harassment jokes.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    J.K. Rowling is “genuinely happy” Johnny Depp is in the Fantastic Beasts films. Fans are not.J.K. Rowling is “genuinely happy” Johnny Depp is in the Fantastic Beasts films. Fans are not.
    Culture

    Depp, who faces allegations of domestic abuse, plays the villain Grindelwald — but his casting and the role are complicated.

    By Aja Romano
    Politics
    MSNBC won’t cut ties to Sam Seder after all: succumbing to alt-right outrage was a “mistake”MSNBC won’t cut ties to Sam Seder after all: succumbing to alt-right outrage was a “mistake”
    Politics

    A smear campaign targeting Seder accused him of joking about rape in a satirical tweet from 2009.

    By Aja Romano
    Internet Culture
    This is just to say we have explained the plum jokes in your Twitter feedThis is just to say we have explained the plum jokes in your Twitter feed
    Internet Culture

    How William Carlos Williams’s famous poem about plums in the icebox became a meme.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    28 of December’s best streaming debuts28 of December’s best streaming debuts
    Culture

    Recent movies, new TV series, and classics: These are the streaming offerings most worth your precious viewing hours.

    By Genevieve Koski, Alex Abad-Santos and 5 more
    Technology
    The FCC asked for net neutrality opinions, then rejected most of themThe FCC asked for net neutrality opinions, then rejected most of them
    Technology

    The internet should have made it easier to fight for net neutrality. Instead it helped kill it.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Is Melania Trump’s White House Christmas aesthetic angelic or horrific? Depends whom you ask.Is Melania Trump’s White House Christmas aesthetic angelic or horrific? Depends whom you ask.
    Culture

    For some, the first lady’s attempt to ring in the holidays was The Nightmare Before Christmas.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    David Cassidy was the rare breakout pop star in a decade full of rock godsDavid Cassidy was the rare breakout pop star in a decade full of rock gods
    Culture

    The ’70s were short on fresh-faced teen idols. Partridge Family star David Cassidy was an exception.

    By Aja Romano