If I’m not getting the usual fare at the grocery store, I often find it damn well near impossible to find things. For example, this weekend, I was looking for tomato paste. I would have thought it would be next to the crushed tomatoes (kinda necessary for sauce). Instead, it was down at the other end of the aisle next to the pasta sauce. I’m sure there was a reason for why some items in a grocery store are in a particular place. To find out, I found this handy infographic about the science of grocery shopping.
Author: Steve Murray
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: Have You Felt It
I know Jackie gave his quick thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens yesterday but I don’t think I’m capable of doing it quickly. Our review podcast could either be 30 minutes or 3 hours depending on how much we argue about. I think we’ll both agree that we loved it and will be going multiple times. We’ll let you know when to expect the review.
Anyway, that’s a problem for a future date. For now, we’ve got to focus on some links. Let’s kick things off with Erin Heatherton.
America’s Omnibus budget bill also included the dreaded CISA, Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. I hope you don’t value your privacy. (Engadget)
Fox News’ “fair and balanced” slogan might get mocked but it’s not off the mark when it comes to the Republican primary. They’re giving a good grilling to the frontrunners. (The Fix)
Carly Fiorina was near the head of the GOP polls for a little bit. Now, she might be talking her way out of any chance. She has a pretty poor relationship with the facts. (Salon)
Everything Wrong with Star Wars in 140 Minutes
Everybody had their own way to celebrate the start of a new era of Star Wars. We’re doing a bunch of Star Wars themed posts capped off by our The Force Awakens review podcast. We’ll definitely do one. It’s just a matter of synchronizing our schedules halfway around the world.
The folks over at CinemaSins did their usual thing to celebrate The Force Awakens. They did the Everything Wrong With videos for all six Star Wars movies (no love for Clone Wars?) in nine videos and over two hours worth of sins. The funny thing was that I thought this was fantastic and I’m a massive Star Wars fan.
The Jar Jar Binks Sith Theory Explained
This theory has been floating around the internet lately but intrepid YouTuber Vincent Valentine (probably not the same one from Gaia) has compiled the evidence that fans have put forward for this one. With The Force Awakens hitting today, fans are suggesting that the big villain of the prequel trilogy was actually Jar Jar Binks. When you go over the evidence, there’s actually a pretty compelling case for suggesting that Jar Jar was more than he seemed.
Wednesday Link-Off: Use the Force
I’m not sure whether I should start this post by saying after a ten-year wait or a thirty-two-year wait. It’s been ten years since the prequel trilogy ended but we’re 32 years past the conclusion of the original trilogy that The Force Awakens picks up from. I’ve basically sequestered myself from all things Star Wars since the trailer in October so I’m going in nearly blind. As I mentioned earlier this week, we’re planning a movie review podcast at some point soon to talk Star Wars.
There are no Star Wars links in today’s set of links. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t start with Daisy Ridley who stars in the new movie.
A former Romney staffer got into a Donald Trump focus group and found his party completely broken. (The Daily Beast)
Ted Cruz is vaulting up the Republican primary polls but is he any better than either Trump or Carson? (Rolling Stone)
For the next few weeks, the battle will be between Trump and Cruz. I’m still hoping that Rubio surges up the polls. He seems like one of the more sensible candidates now that Christie skewed hard right to make up for getting along with Obama post Hurricane Sandy. (Vox)
Star Wars Merchandise Fails of the Week
Instead of our normal Fails of the Week, since it’s Star Wars Week on the blog, it’s a special edition of the Star Wars Fails of the Week. While I’m sure we could have just put up Episodes I and II along with George’s changes to the original trilogy and called it a day, I thought I’d go for something more epic. Today is the weirdest, wackiest and failiest pieces of Star Wars merchandise. It’s not just Disney stuff either. LucasFilm had some odd merch too.
Dark Lords of the Sith: An Infographic
It’s almost here. We’re just a couple of days away from the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. No, I don’t know what we have planned for it in terms of a review. Maybe Jackie and I will do a special Lowdown podcast to review it. Maybe we’ll just do dueling written reviews. We’ll have something but that’s for after the movie.
Before the movie, we have to have a little bit of a Star Wars celebration. For today’s entry into a hastily planned and assembled Star Wars Week, we have a handy little infographic that looks at the Sith in the current canon. There was quite a bit more famous Sith of the past before the Disney retcon. Now, we’re down to just seven canon Sith Lords.
Sunday Link-Off: Gone in 13 Seconds
Did anyone tune into UFC 194 expecting an absolute war between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo? We got an epic but I don’t think you could call a one-punch, thirteen-second fight a war. I figured that Aldo would keep Conor out of reach with leg kicks until they went to the ground. Maybe that was the plan but I don’t think that you can enact it in 13 seconds.
Anyway, it’s Sunday which means it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s change things up for today and kick off the post with Heidi Klum. She may be in her 40s but there’s still an easy 13 seconds joke to be made here.
Following the Trump plan to ban Muslims from America, President Obama used his weekly address to warn that such public discrimination against Muslims only serves to help ISIS. (The Hill)
Interestingly, a recent poll suggests that nearly two-thirds of Americans are scared about Trump in the White House. I’m thinking of moving if he’s elected and I don’t even live in America. Tierra del Fuego seems like a sufficiently isolated part of the world. (New York Post)
“America does have a cybersecurity problem – but the NSA is part of it.” (The Guardian)
Doctor Who: Hell Bent Review
Another season of Doctor Who has come and gone. With an emphasis on longer stories, the individual episodes of Doctor Who have been very up and down this season. While I don’t think that Hell Bent was as strong as last week’s Heaven Sent, it serves as a fitting sendoff to what Steven Moffat wants us to feel about Clara.
The Lowdown 