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.
Author: Steve Murray
Sunday Link-Off: The True Story
There have been two stories dominating the North American news cycle this week. The Americans are trying to sort out the economy and are arguing over how to make money off of corporate taxes. That economic concern is preventing them giving aid to Israel in their battle in Gaza. Even through the stories are on opposite sides of the world, they’re still connected.
Anyway, it’s time for the links. Since it’s a holiday weekend here in Canada, let’s start with a Canadian model to start this post. Here’s Anais Pouliot.
Legalized tax dodging is a billion dollar industry in America. Corporations can dodge taxes but if you’re a person who attempts to dodge taxes, hellfire and brimstone will rain down upon you. (Think Progress)
The Democrats are trying to close that loophole but the GOP say that if tax rates are lowered, they wouldn’t have to close that loophole. Yeah, let’s decrease the revenue from all the corporations and politely ask them to stay to increase our tax base. That makes perfect sense. Idiots! (Washington Post)
And the elected members of the United States government are getting along so well, they can’t even figure out how to deal with the situation in Israel and Gaza. (Politico)
The Crew Beta Impressions: No Cars Go
As part of Ubisoft’s ongoing corporate strategy to introduce new franchises in new genres, they’ve decided to take on Need for Speed with their take on the street racing genre with The Crew. While it seems to borrow elements from the Need for Speed franchise, the emphasis on story missions, car customization and co-op play sets it apart from the only rival in the arcade street racing game genre.
Having spent a few days with the closed beta and a few years with Need for Speed games, can Ubisoft’s offering compete with EA’s resident racing series?
Man Lab Showdown: Emilia Clarke vs. Jennifer Lawrence vs. Candice Swanepoel
For the first time, the Man Lab is going to help the world settle the age-old question of which hottest woman in the world is actually the hottest woman in the world. With various outlets claiming that their readers have picked the definitive winner, we’re going to settle the matter with a Man Lab Showdown three-way dance.
In one corner is the AskMen’s most desirable woman, among several dozen other titles on Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke. In the second corner is FHM’s sexiest woman in the world, and twice Man Lab Showdown champion, Jennifer Lawrence. And, finally, the folks at Maxim were able to sign Candice Swanepoel to a photo shoot as their hottest woman in the world. That’s better than they usually do.
Hit the jump for the photos and poll.
BioWare Reveals First Mass Effect 4 Details
While BioWare doesn’t want anyone to call the fourth Mass Effect game Mass Effect 4 and are keen to emphasize that this is a new story for the franchise, Mass Effect 4 won’t be a complete departure from the status quo for the series. At San Diego Comic Con, BioWare used their Mass Effect panel to reveal the first details of the next game in the franchise.
Wednesday Link-Off: Power and Politics
It’s the middle of the week which means that it’s time for the links. It seems as though Wednesday comes sooner every week. I’m used to not being busy with my life at this time of year but life has a way of getting in the way. But if life didn’t get in the way, we probably wouldn’t have interesting links to pursue.
So let’s get started with those links. First, here’s Canadian model Danielle Knudson.
The GOP like to blame President Obama for all the country’s ills but a Democratic president has historically been good for the US economy. (Vox)
The New York Times editorial board have come out in favour of the US Government repealing the ban on marijuana. Old-timey attitudes and false beliefs make it hard for me to believe that it would happen in this Presidency but maybe it’ll happen eventually. (New York Times)
Neil DeGrasse Tyson proves that if you’re smart, you aren’t in politics. His political views are smarter than anything politicians say. (The Daily Banter)
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, videos and GIFs that we think are the most epic fails of the week.
F1 Hungarian Grand Prix: Even a Blind Circuit Designer Finds a Nut
Sometimes, all you need is a little luck to put on a good race. A combination of changing conditions, multiple safety cars, tyre strategy and DRS made for the best Hungarian Grand Prix ever and the best finish to a race this season since the last time the guy who won this race won a race. That man would be Daniel Ricciardo. Just like his maiden win at the Canadian Grand Prix, Ricciardo made a late charge through the field to pick up well-deserved surprise win.
Sunday Link-Off: All The Write Stuff
No, that title isn’t a typo. I’m just back to making bad puns. What else do you expect from me on the weekend? I know! Links! And since today is Sunday, it’s probably a good idea to bring you the links. We start with some writing and transition to the downfall of sensibility in the NFL and the confused sustainability priorities of the NHL.
But before we get to all of that, let’s kick off with South African model and blog favourite Genevieve Morton.
TMZ might be the biggest player in celebrity gossip today but no one is entirely sure how it became a seemingly overnight success story. Here’s a look at the gossip site’s history. (BuzzFeed)
And since I just ran a BuzzFeed link, one of their lead writers is a serial plagiarist. (Our Bad Media)
After a couple of days of controversy, BuzzFeed undertook an internal review and let Benny Johnson’s for plagiarizing over 40 times. (BuzzFeed)
Grid Autosport Review: Pedal to the Metal
While they started as a bit more of a racing sim company, Codemasters transition to the pseudo-sim (not a hardcore racing sim but far from a simple arcade racer) has come with massive critical acclaim. The launch of the Dirt series from the Colin McRae Rally franchise and the transition of the sim TOCA Race Driver series to Grid were met with praise from critics and gamers alike.
Then 2012 happened. Someone at Codemasters went a little crazy and decided that more arcade-style racing games were what Codies needed to get to the next level. The result was Dirt: Showdown, F1 Race Stars and Grid 2 all being released in quick succession. The pseudo-sim gameplay had been replaced with arcadey minigames, shallow gameplay, and a disregard for proper racing and the laws of physics, respectively.
While the F1 franchise motored on, the rest of Codemasters’ IP floundered without a direction. The company’s move from sim to arcade was backfiring with critics and fans. So Codies did something rare for the games industry: They listened to their fans. The gamers who were fed up with the direction of Codemasters would get their way with the latest iteration of the Grid franchise. Getting away from the arcade/floaty driving style of Grid 2, Grid Autosport would be a return to the more sim style of racing that Grid and the Race Driver franchises were known for.
The Lowdown 