The 2016 challengers for the Formula One World Championship turned their first wheels in anger around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for one of two pre-season tests ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. While the whole picture can be gleaned from testing, we probably did somethings in terms of pace and reliability.
Month: February 2016
Sunday Link-Off: The Big Prize
Did you come here looking for Oscars coverage? Well, here’s Magary’s annual Hater’s Guide to the Oscars. The most of the rest of this post will be about politics. After all, when you have people battling it out to be the leader of the free world (that isn’t Angela Merkel), it’s kind of the fight for the real big prize.
Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for the links. Let’s kick things off with Jennifer Garner.
Who ordered Flint to switch to water from the Flint River? It doesn’t look like Flint City Council did. (M Live)
Here’s the first I’ve heard of this frighteningly apt comparison. Donald Trump is quite a bit like former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. (Quartz)
About 38% of Florida voters think that Ted Cruz could be the Zodiac Killer. I give up on this election… And the electorate. (UPI)
Entertainment Link-Off: Blades of Glory
It’s time for the weekly links to a random selection of links related to movies, TV and whatnot! In cinemas this weekend, you got the CGI heavy Gods of Egypt (which looks awful) and the all-star action thriller Triple 9 (which is almost fresh on RT). However if you prefer to stay at home, there’s the release of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny on Netflix. Reviews have not been too kind and even I’m hesitant on checking it out until I saw Ju Ju Chan on the red carpet for the show’s premiere.
After the jump, what it’s like not to be a white man in Hollywood, stunt performers should get Oscar nods, Captain America: Civil War might not have an ending that will satisfy everyone, and there will be no more Bones to pick with FOX. Continue reading
2015 in Movie Product Placement
Just in time for the Oscars, it’s time for us to do another look back at the year that was in movies. While most people have spent the last couple of months talking about which were the best (or worst) movies of 2015. We have a handy little infographic that takes a different approach to looking at last year’s movies.
As an occasional Kickstarter contributor, I get daily emails from the website and they tend to crow, justifiably, about award nominated movies that were funded through their website. Not all movies are crowdfunded, though. For the big blockbuster films that routinely cost in the $200 million range to make, studios are turning to product placements to fund movies in case the box office, Blu-Ray sales and Netflix can’t make ends meet for them. Which movies and companies are getting the most money, exposure and value from product placement in movies? That’s what this infographic tries to answer.
TPP and Your Digital Rights
Every now and then, we bring up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade agreement between a number of countries who border the Pacific Ocean. The problem with the TPP isn’t just that it’s a trade deal that’s supposed to benefit the masses. Experts say that the supposed trade benefits of the TPP are largely fictitious. No, the real heart of the TPP is in new strict intellectual property laws that will cripple your digital rights. The fine folks over at the EFF explain how in a handy infographic.
Wednesday Link-Off: On the Sidelines
It’s been a while since we’ve done a sports-heavy set of the links but that’s what we have today. Don’t worry. They aren’t very fluffy stories about sports. From a look at how sports stories grew TMZ to sports media stories and more, it’s our usual sorts of stories but related to sports rather than politics.
Anyway, it’s Sunday which means it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick off with Canadian model Kate Bock.
Apple and the FBI are fighting over what seems to be something as simple as decrypting an iPhone. The FBI really wants a backdoor built into the iPhone. (Krebs on Security)
Another week, another article about whether the Republican Party can survive a Trump candidacy. (The New Republic)
Here’s a lengthy look inside the might that is TMZ. (The New Yorker)
The World’s Biggest Car Shows (Infographic)
Last week, I got a chance to check out the Canadian International Auto Show in downtown Toronto. I thought that it would be just a bunch of cars in a convention centre. While there weren’t many outlandish concept cars at the Toronto auto show, they did have quite a few cars from the big manufacturers setup on stages that you would expect from one of the big international auto shows.
Anyway, if you want to travel for your own major auto show adventure, our friends at Select Car Leasing have put together a handy infographic to show you the best car shows in the world and what to expect at them.
Facebook Fails of the Week
Every so often, we look at the most spectacular fails that the internet has to offer. Well today, we look at the most spectacular fails that Facebook has to offer. This week, we have five of the best fails Facebook has to offer.
Sunday Link-Off: Life in the Fastlane
It’s been an interesting week for me though I’m sorry that I let the blogging get a little lax as a result. I had a work trip that didn’t leave me any free time for most of last week and I came back to a bad cold/flu. I’ve spent most of the weekend either sleeping or laid up. It’s not exactly what one would call a fun time but I’m here with the weekend links so that’s got to count for something.
Anyway, it’s Sunday so you’re here for the links. Let’s kick things off with one of three SI Swimsuit cover girls, Ronda Rousey.
The opposition is trying to do their job and stop Canadians’ honeymoon with Prime Minister Trudeau and the governing Liberal Party. That’s only resulted in a recent poll giving Liberals 49% of potential votes in a hypothetical election which would result in them winning 70% of seats. (Toronto Star)
I live on the border of the US. Before the bottom fell out of the dollar, a lot of people crossed the border to shop for damn near everything, exchange and duties be damned. That’s because competition among American business still made things cheaper over there. That same competitive spirit doesn’t exist as strongly among businesses. (CBC)
If you were to ask me if I would pack up The Lowdown and et geekera if BuzzFeed Canada offered me a full-time job analyzing video games, I would strongly consider it. They wouldn’t do that because I’m a white man and they aren’t interested in white men. (Mediaite)
Entertainment Link-Off: Long Road Ahead
I’m back! It’s been a few weeks but I finally got proper internet access to start posting the ELO’s again! While I’ve been gone, I still managed to check out the new releases in theatres. Deadpool is a must see, while Zoolander 2 is a bit of a misfire. Anyway, let’s get on with the links! Kicking this ELO off with Elodie Yung. She’s set to appear in Gods of Egypt soon and also she’ll be playing Elektra in season 2 of Daredevil premiering next month.
After the jump, The Rock tackles more earthquakes, Leo’s Oscar campaign has turned into a video game, plenty of Deadpool related links, a look at the hints in 10 Cloverfield Lane, there’s way too much walking on The Walking Dead and Melisandre (from Game of Thrones) makes an interesting baby shower guest…
The Lowdown 