Author: Steve Murray

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Sunday Link-Off: All About the Economy

angie-harmon-rizzoliandisles16-11If you want to get people riled up, just talk anything that could be even tangentially related to politics. Of course, nothing in politics should be more divisive than economic policy. Do you put money in the hands of the 99% so they buy to drive the economy or the 1% so they invest to drive the economy? It seems like a simple question but that’s the most important debate in politics.

Anyway, it’s Sunday so we have to do the links. Let’s kick off with Angie Harmon.

Can a whole political party not have any clothes? The same Conservative Party that tried to end door-to-door mail delivery says that they’ll protect door-to-door mail delivery from the government. (Press Progress)

The Trans-Pacific Partnership was a small factor in last year’s Canadian federal election. What role will it play in 2016 US Presidential Election. (The Intercept)

It looks like the world loves Canadian economic policy. (The Economist)

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Entertainment, Link-Off

Entertainment Link-Off: Dog Days of Summer

anna-kendrick-aubrey-plaza-mikeanddave16-11Is it just me or is summer really a dead time for movies. Since I’ve taken up temporary residence on Saturdays doing the entertainment links, I can’t think of massive summer blockbusters apart from family movies. Where are the big budget action movies? Where are the superheroes?

On the plus side, The Secret Life of Pets opens this weekend. Critics really seem to like it but not to the same extent that Pixar’s Finding Dory was adored by critics. The other big release is Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates which is getting middling reviews.

Anyway, it’s Saturday night so it’s time for the links. Let’s kick off with the lead pair from one of this weekend’s movies. Here are Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Review: The Last Crusade

uncharted-4-headerNaughty Dog has a reputation for making a trilogy of games (and sometimes a racing game) for a franchise on a console generation and moving onto a new IP. They did it with Crash Bandicoot on the PS1 and Jak & Daxter on the PS2. Their PlayStation 3 trilogy was the blockbuster Uncharted franchise (along with the amazing The Last of Us). However, in their first effort on the PlayStation 4, Naughty Dog went back to Uncharted for one more adventure with Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Uncharted: Fortune Hunter Review: Gold on the Run

uncharted-fortune-hunter-headerIt’s not unusual to see big game franchises get mobile spin-offs as part of their lineup. Square Enix has mobile games for Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider and Hitman. Nintendo is working on a move into that sector. EA has a whole host of mobile titles too. Now, Sony is dipping its toes into the mobile sector with a puzzle game based Uncharted that’s more of a booster pack for Uncharted 4’s multiplayer than a new entry in the franchise.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Both Sides of the Border

katy-perry-parkerinstitute16-02Who says that all the interesting news in America? We certainly have our share of noteworthy stories in Canada even if we don’t mention the pending Canada Post strike. For fun, there is even some big British stories in the links so we have the whole Commonwealth/colonial thing happening as well.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so we are obliged to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Katy Perry.

Iceland will be boycotting Israeli products until they end their occupation of Palestine. (PressTV)

His religious beliefs have been underplayed at the moment but is Donald Trump’s support showing there may be no need for religion in politics. (New York Times)

The FBI won’t be recommending charges against Hilary for her email dealings. (NYT)

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Fails of the Week

Every so often, we take a look at the most epic fails from the week that was in the Fails of the Week. This week, we have five pictures, GIFs and videos that we think are the most epic fails of the week.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Sports

F1 Austrian Grand Prix: Here We Go Again

In racing, it’s not who leads the first lap, the halfway lap or even the most laps. Nico Rosberg led the most laps of the Austrian Grand Prix but he didn’t taste the winner’s champagne. In fact, he turned out to be a villain of Maldonado-ian levels after the chequered flag flew. A last lap collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton while defending the lead left Rosberg worse for wear, as is often the case when this occurs, and handed the win to Hamilton.

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Sunday Link-Off: Resurgence

jessica-alba-braun16-03For our pre-July 4th edition of the links, I think it’s only appropriate that we title this post after the new Independence Day movie. I haven’t seen it yet but the critical reception makes me think that I should wait until it lands on TV before I consider watching it. After all, the original Independence Day is a mainstay on TV so why not the sequel.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for the links. Let’s kick off with Jessica Alba.

The Baltimore Police Department is changing its Use Of Force policy for the first time in thirteen years to emphasize de-escalation and ask officers to intervene if other officers are stepping over the line. (Baltimore Sun)

I’m not sure if a podcast helping someone getting a new trial is a good thing or an indictment of the legal system that a random podcast might save a man. (NPR)

The UN says that disrupting internet access is violation of a human right. So everyone that extorts money for wifi should be reported to the UN. (Think Progress)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Movies and Music and TV, Oh My

margot-robbie-vogue16-01We’re getting into the middle of summer which should be full with all sorts of news and interviews about upcoming movies and TV shows because we’re running up to summer blockbuster movies and a few months from the start of the fall TV season. Unfortunately, it’s the holiday weekend on both sides of the weekend so we’re a bit short on news. The result is a hodgepodge of everything I find interesting. So the status quo, then.

So this weekend, theatres see three big releases. The Legend of Tarzan opens at the lowest Rotten Tomatoes rating of the weekend as we wonder how many Tarzan movies Hollywood has made over the years. The Purge: Election Year might turn out to be decent political satire in hindsight depending on this year’s US Presidential election. And the top movie of the weekend is Steven Spielberg’s The BFG but critical reception says don’t expect an Oscar.

Anyway, let’s kick off the links with Margot Robbie who stars as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Motorsport Manager Review: Checkered Flag

motorsport-manager-mobile-headerThis September, Motorsport Manager is coming to Steam as a rather impressive looking and much enhanced port. It’ll be the same style of game at its core but will turn the graphics up to 11 and make some aspects of the simulation much more realistic including production of parts, rules charges, calendar changes and more. While the underpinnings of Motorsport Manager won’t change, a lot of it will be upgraded from the mobile game.

But what about that mobile game? I’ve been playing it for a while now and while it’s not quite Football Manager levels of complex, it’s certainly the best management game for motorsport fans I’ve ever played.

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