The reaction was pretty entertaining to follow but the reaction to the reaction means that the internet will have a happy ending. After enormous public backlash and pressure following the announcement of React World and the discovery of numerous trademarks, The Fine Bros and Fine Bros Entertainment announced that they would be rescinding their trademarks and cancelling React World.
Author: Steve Murray
Wednesday Link-Off: Outta Nowhere
It’s a very et geekera week around here on the blog this week. Yesterday was the Fine Bros React World story and tomorrow will be the follow-up. The story is on etg today in case you wanted to click over there. Friday, I’ll have a game review up on the blog. Not sure which review will be up since there are three on etg that haven’t been posted here yet but I’m thinking the most recent of the three is going up this week.
Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means you aren’t here for me to do a planning meeting. You’re here for the links. Let’s kick things off with the Modern Family duo of Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter.
Bernie Sanders made history on Monday night by becoming the first non-Christian to win a delegate in a Presidential primary. Not too bad but maybe he can do just a little better. (Mic)
In near records, Bernie’s near-draw with Hilary came off the back of the 18-29 vote which he won by 70%. (Washington Post)
It’s not just Flint that has lead in the water. Many other cities in Michigan have lead in the water too. (Detroit News)
The Internet Reacts Badly to The Fine Bros Licensing React Videos
They pitched it to the world as if they were doing this great service to their fans and YouTube creators alike. When YouTube mega stars The Fine Bros announced the creation of “React World” to allow users to license their format for a share of the revenue the video generates, it turned out that almost no one agreed with their self-assessment.
Over the last week, the Fine Bros and their team have been in complete damage control mode as they try to quell the internet uproar over the brotherly duo and their company trademarking “react” and apparently claiming ownership of reaction videos on YouTube.
Formula One: 2016 Pirelli Wet Tyre Test
We’re still three weeks from the drivers and teams of Formula One arriving in Barcelona for their two weeks pre-season testing but that doesn’t mean that F1 cars aren’t on track. Last week, Pirelli invited Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren to the Paul Ricard Circuit in France and turned on the sprinklers to have the teams test various prototype wet tyre compounds for the 2016 season.
Sunday Link-Off: Hey Now! You’re an All-Star!
Well, I don’t know about the rest of you but I’ve had a busy couple of weeks. I’m sure you’ve noticed that by the content on the blog. I’m still playing Rise of the Tomb Raider for review. I’ve started writing my Until Dawn review as promised on the last podcast. I’m also doing a story on the Fine Bros react bullshit and will run that on here because it’s a big deal to the YouTube world. So I’m still writing but it’ll be a bit hit and miss.
Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that you’re here for the links. Let’s kick things off with Emily Ratajkowsi.
Another charity has been accused of being a waste. Wounded Warriors has been accused of blowing millions on admin expenses and executive. (CBS News)
Saudi Arabia is supposed to be helping matters in the Middle East but a UN report says that they’re busy bombing civilians when they’re supposed to be fighting rebels in Yemen. (The Guardian)
Add the World Bank to groups who don’t see a benefit to the TPP. They say that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will have a minimal impact on Canada, Australia and the US. Oops. (Tech Dirt)
Entertainment Link-Off: The Replacements
Good day, denizens of the interweb. I’m here to cover off Jackie who’s gone walkabout in the Outback. Something like that. I don’t quite understand these Australian customs to be perfectly honest. Anyway, I’ve drawn in to cover the entertainment links for the next couple of weeks.
Hollywood is still abuzz with the racial implications of the Oscar nominations and that’s a story that likely won’t go away until weeks after the awards are actually given out. Considering the poor slate of new releases this weekend (Kung Fu Panda 3, a Fifty Shades parody and Hollywood trying to figure out how much star power Chris Pine has), no wonder it’s still the big story on the silver screen.
Anyway, you don’t click to read my banter. You click here for the links. So let’s kick things off with Rachel McAdams.
Latest Nintendo NX Rumours Suggest It Could Be Separate Handheld and Console Devices for $200
Nintendo’s next generation console, codenamed the NX, might be closer than you think based on recent rumours. Over the last week, there have been rumours about everything from what form the NX will take, how much it will cost, when we might see it, how powerful it will be and what Nintendo is planning to put on it.
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture Review: Going Walkabout
Some people call them walking simulators. The people in marketing prefer to call it interactive storytelling. The one thing that we can all agree on is that games like Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture are among the most divisive in gaming. Rapture itself has review scores ranging from 100% to 25% and is on best, worst and blandest games of 2015 lists.
I have a mixed history with walking simulators myself. While I loved The Stanley Parable, I had Gone Home figured out in about a half-hour but had to walk the experience through to the end. Where will Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture fall on the walking simulator spectrum?
Wednesday Link-Off: The Great (Missed) Debate
Sorry I’m late with today’s set of links. I’ve spent the last couple of evenings playing Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC for review. Square Enix just moved the embargo date from Thursday to today so I can what I was playing. And, yes, it’s good. Probably better than 2013’s reboot but I’ve got about two-thirds of the game still to go.
Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Kate Beckinsale.
In sort of the inverse of the California ballot initiative requiring legislators to wear their donors on their sleeve, President Obama is contemplating an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to disclose who they donate to. (New York Times)
Donald Trump thinks he can shoot people and not lose any support. That might be true but would he no longer be eligible to hold office if convicted. (The Hill)
And Trump is planning to pull out of tomorrow’s GOP debate because Fox News has Megyn Kelly assigned as a moderator. Maybe it’s for the best because Trump can’t improve his standing in the debates. (Daily Intelligencer)
Steven Moffat to Leave Doctor Who in 2017
In my review of 2015’s Doctor Who Christmas special, I speculated that the episode was written in a way to end the story of River Song and that might be a sign that showrunner Steven Moffat is winding down his time at the helm of Doctor Who. One month later, it turns out that I was right.
The BBC has announced that Moffat will be leaving his post as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who at the completion of a twelve episode season in Spring 2017.
The Lowdown 