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.
Author: Steve Murray
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)
League of Legends is Shutting Down Dominion
As much as I love playing support on Summoner’s Rift, I love playing support on the Howling Abyss and Crystal Scar. While the supports have a very defined role in 5v5 League of Legends play, a well-played support can really mess up plans in the other game modes.
Sadly, your time on the Crystal Scar is coming to an end. Riot has announced that on February 22nd, they will be disabling the Dominion game mode and removing Crystal Scar from the custom games menu.
Is Microsoft Making a Mistake Pushing the Microsoft Store on PC Gamers?
How many of you have heard of the Microsoft Store? I don’t mean a physical retail location like the Apple Stores. I mean a digital store. If Steam’s operating system stats for its users are to be believed, about 34% of you might have heard of it since the Microsoft Store is only available to Windows 10 users.
I bring this up in the wake of the recent announcement that Microsoft is launching Quantum Break on PC alongside Xbox One. While Quantum Break will be the first game in Microsoft’s own renewed push towards making Windows a prominent gaming platform, the vast majority of PC gamers won’t be able to play it. That’s because Quantum Break won’t be coming to Steam but will be a Microsoft Store exclusive.
Life is Strange Review: My So-Called Life
Life is Strange started as a simple episodic digital release but today gets the full retail treatment. The Life is Strange: Limited Edition hits shelves today with an art book, developers’ commentary and a licensed soundtrack. While I’d love to get my hands on that, I’ve already played the game and named it et geekera’s Game of the Year for 2015. However, I only reviewed the individual episodes. This review is for the first “season” of Life is Strange.
Basic Guide to PC Graphics Options (Infographic)
One thing that is wildly inconsistent in PC gaming is the quality of tooltips on the graphics options menu. You have games like StarCraft II which tell you which piece of hardware is being drawn on the most by a particular option and you have other games that just leave you to guess what the options mean, assuming they have any. Fortunately, in the case of the latter, I found this handy little infographic that explains some of the more prominent graphics options in PC gaming.
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.
The Lowdown 