Author: Steve Murray

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Sunday Link-Off: Sports Bucks

michea-crawford-paindusucre12-01If you thought there was a lot to read on the blog last week, wait until you see we have what we have in store for this week. We have a review of the Mass Effect 3 Omega DLC, a look at the top Canadian racing driver prospects and our annual look at the Spike Video Game Awards and none of those are short posts. It’ll be a good week if you like long reads.  Anyway, let’s kick off the links with Canadian model Michea Crawford.

Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp says that it’s time Republicans stop worrying about ridiculous pledges they make to earn endorsements and worry about the electorate and being accountable to the voters. (New York Daily News) By the way, if you read the comments, you can see the Tea Partiers take issue with her common sense point of view in this column.

Forbes again released their list of the value of NHL franchises. The problem is that they seem to be making up the revenue numbers used for valuation and ignoring the fact that there’s a lockout. (mc79hockey)

You shouldn’t need any help figuring out why you should have Notre Dame football. If you do need help, here’s a Hater’s Guide to Notre Dame. (Deadspin)

After the jump, David Stern is drunk on his own power, the return of Iron Chef isn’t as successful as hoped and a modern Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. Continue reading →

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Entertainment Link-Off: Op-Ed

berenice-marlohe-omega12-07Once again, I draw in for Jackie for the entertainment links. Unfortunately, this weekend is a complete wasteland. Nothing noteworthy is opening this weekend. Okay, there’s that Killing Them Softly movie starring Brad Pitt which critics like and movie goers are lukewarm on. Since I don’t think she’s been featured in a set of the entertainment links, here’s Bond girl Berenice Marlohe. Continue reading →

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Join Us In Fighting Hunger on Freerice.com

One of my quieter December traditions is joining up with a group of Formula One fans to fight hunger in the world by answering quiz questions on Freerice.com. This website is operated by the United Nations World Food Programme. For every question answered, the WFP will donate ten grains of rice to the hungry thanks to advertising revenue.

This year, we’ve created our own Lowdown Blog group to work together as a team to feed the hungry. Even if you don’t join our team, you should sign up on Freerice to fight hunger and learn some new things in the process.

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Humour

Caption This: November 24 – 30, 2012

Inspired by the Globe and Mail’s caption writing person, we waste our time writing funny picture captions for some of the more interesting photos we come across when blogging. So here are some of the best pictures from the past week with a funny (-ish) caption. Continue reading →

1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

F1 Race Stars Review (or Bursting Your Bubble)

I have to admit that I was excited about the prospect of a Formula One inspired karting game. It was so un-F1 that how could it not be cool? You’d be powersliding cars around turns, firing weaponry straight out of Q Branch at competitors and racing on suped-up versions of real race tracks. That would be spectacular and would be on my must-buy list ahead of F1 2012.

Then I played the game. While Codemasters tried to balance between staying true to F1 and true to the karting genre, it didn’t quite work when it was all put together. What could have been a spectacular entry in the pantheon of Formula One racing games and karting games unfortunately turned out to be a bit of a dud. Continue reading →

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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. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Game On

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time for more links. I was almost too busy gaming to get this one done. Between Steam and the ME3 Omega DLC, my mouse and keyboard are getting a workout. So many games, so little time. Damn you, Steam. Damn you to hell. Anyway, even though she has nothing to do with video games here’s Canadian model and former pro wrestler Maryse Ouellet.

The possibility of higher tax rates doesn’t scare Warren Buffet, who is one of America’s richest men. He welcomes higher tax rates on the rich. (New York Times)

You might think that your password that contains capital letters, small letters, symbols and numbers will protect you from the evil of the internet. However, you’d be wrong. Your password may not save you. (Wired)

Ever want to be a writer? There’s never been a better time than the present. (Esquire)

After the jump, the Onion strikes again, a detailed look at the Wii U and winter videos. Continue reading →

1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Mass Effect 3 Omega DLC Preview

For the low price of only $15 (or 1200 Microsoft points or about 50% more than you paid for the last two ME3 DLCs), you can purchase the latest Mass Effect 3 DLC called Omega. In this DLC, Commander Shepard joins forces with Aria to take back the Omega space station. When BioWare first announced this DLC, they only talked about how the DLC would be twice as long as any other ME3 DLC. In the run up to release, more details were announced. We analyse those details and preview the DLC after the jump. Continue reading →

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F1 Brazilian Grand Prix: Once, Twice, Three Times a Champion

We all went into the Brazilian Grand Prix thinking that Vettel’s faster car and higher qualifying spot than Alonso meant that he’d cruise to his third-straight World Drivers’ Championship. That lasted until Turn Four and we were treated to the best race of the season as Vettel came from the back of the field to barely win his third Championship. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: GC100

Today will be fun at Lowdown HQ. We’ll be watching the final race of the F1 season and the Grey Cup with some NFL in between. If you’re a sports fan, today will be a good day. Just to troll a certain singer who is part of the Grey Cup halftime show, here’s Selena Gomez.

Since the NHL’s collective bargaining negotiations went nowhere last week, people are talking about the possibility of decertifying the NHLPA to give the players leverage in negotiations. Elliotte Friedman sat down with @SportsLawGuy Gabe Feldman to discuss what decertification actually means. (CBC Sports)

Nate Silver is so big now that even President Obama cracks Nate Silver jokes. I think he’s made it. (Talking Points Memo)

Speaking of Nate Silver, the anti-Nate Silver, Unskewed Polls’ founder Dean Chambers, is back. Instead of unskewing accurate polling, he’s unskewing election results based on what he perceives to be voter fraud in the election. (Mother Jones) Some people just don’t know when to quit.

After the jump, coverage of the 100th Grey Cup, a head-to-head-to-head game console comparison and Clarkson’s take on the new Toyota/Subaru/Scion sports car. Continue reading →