The 2014 Formula One season doesn’t kickoff properly for another month-and-a-half but pre-season testing starts early as the teams try to get their heads around new engines, new energy recovery systems (ERS) and a new rules package for the cars. From the looks of last week’s test in Jerez, some teams are going to need all the time they can get to get sorted for this season.
Author: Steve Murray
Sunday Link-Off: Just Super
Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone! Hold on to your wallets today. Broncos -2 is probably going to see a lot of action on either side. I’d tell you what I’d bet but resident gambling guru Scott would say I have a gambling problem because I never win. He seldom loses so says he doesn’t have a problem. That’s how things work around here. Just like in sports, you’re judged on your win/loss record.
Anyway, it’s time for the links. Let’s kick off with Martha Hunt. (See what I did there?)
Justin Trudeau has a plan to completely overhaul the Canadian Senate. The only problem is that the way he wants to make the change may make it very difficult to make happen. (MacLean’s)
Ontario’s minimum wage is going to $11 per hour with an automatic annual increase based on inflation. But is that increase really enough? (Canadian Business)
Headline of the year all of time: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford defends fellow Canadian Justin Bieber. (Talking Points Memo)
Weekend Geek Links of the Week
This is the single most comprehensive look at how gamers deal with morality systems in games that you’ll ever read. Absolutely fascinating piece. [Journal of Games Criticism]
You know, I’d like to change my Twitter handle to something shorter but still easily identifiable as my own personal account. After reading the experiences the man formerly known as @N had when someone stole his PayPal and GoDaddy accounts to steal his Twitter handle, I think I’ll keep my undesirable handle. [The Next Web]
Remember last week’s etg post about Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition’s framerate? Well, turns out that the initial reports were mostly accurate. While the PS4 had a wider range of FPS than anticipated, the Xbox One version never climbed above 30 FPS and was outperformed by an average of over 20 FPS. [Digital Foundry]
The man behind the Black Mesa mod for the Source Engine got his hands on Valve’s new VR device. Here are his impressions. [Carlos Montero]
If it was Doritos, it would be the most cliche gamer snack ever but this is pretty close. In Japan, you can now get packets of Mountain Dew flavoured Cheetos. [FoodBeast]
With files from et geekera. For more from et geekera, follow on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr and RSS.
World of Warcraft Celebrates 10 Years and 100 Million Players
This fall, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft will have been around for ten years. Just ahead of its tenth anniversary, Blizzard announced that the flagship of the MMO genre reached the 100 million account milestone. Those 100 million players have created over 500 million characters in the world of Azeroth. Sure, WoW might not have as many players now as it did at its peak but it’s still the biggest game in MMOs.
For more about the last ten years of WoW, we have a handy infographic for you.
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. Well, five fails that aren’t from F1. We’ll have more F1 fails next week.
Wednesday Link-Off: The Politics of Failure
We’re just a few days away from the Super Bowl and can you feel the excitement in the air? Okay, neither can I. All I can feel is frozen. Mind you, I would like watching a game with snow and cold. It’s like the Snow Bowl edition of the Grey Cup. Fantastic setting for a football game.
Anyway, it’s Wednesday so that means that it’s time for the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Danielle Knudson.
It’s been a while since we had some good old-fashioned fact checking but Rob Ford’s speech to the Toronto Economic Club warranted it. It was for the stuck in an elevator story though. (Torontoist)
While the Americans are struggling with unemployment after the bank bailouts and economic crisis, Iceland letting banks failing has allowed their unemployment to get below 4%. (Bloomberg)
People often mock Republicans for living in a bubble and creating their own reality but Ted Cruz confirmed that on national TV this weekend. He went on Face the Nation and flatout lied about the government shutdown. Even veteran journalist Bob Schieffer couldn’t help but laugh at him. (Raw Story)
Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor Costume Revealed
The oldest man to take over the helm of the TARDIS gets an old-school costume that harkens back to the outfit that Jon Pertwee wore as the Third Doctor. Peter Capaldi’s Doctor has lost the bowtie, tweed, cuffed pants and boots for a more elegant looking ensemble that I’d be more than willing to cosplay in.
F1 Fails of the Week
Formula One teams have started unveiling their 2014 challengers ahead of the upcoming winter pre-season tests. There is a big shift in technical regulations for the upcoming year with smaller front wings, lower noses and revised cooling packages required for the new turbo V6 engines.
The first few cars unveiled aren’t exactly confidence inspiring. In fact, some of them are hilarious and ugly looking. So here are some F1 design fails. And you thought stepped nosed were bad.
Sunday Link-Off: Rumble
If it’s a Sunday, then it must be time for us to drop some links for you to read. Since there’s no football this weekend, there isn’t much for you to do, right? Wait. Pro… Bowl? Never heard of it.
Anyway, let’s kick it off with Canadian actress AJ Cook.
There’s no proven link between vaccinations and autism but there is a proven links between the decline in vaccinations and increased instances of preventable diseases. Fools who believe anything have brought this upon themselves. (Los Angeles Times)
Remember last year’s big maple syrup heist? Here’s a recap in illustrated form. (Modern Farmer)
The Lufthansa heist immortalized in Goodfellas has been solved. Did no one watch the movie? (New York Post)
Caption This: January 18 – 24, 2014
Inspired by the Globe and Mail’s caption writing person, we waste our time writing funny picture captions for some of the more interesting photos we come across when blogging. So here are some of the best pictures from the past week with a funny (-ish) caption. Continue reading
The Lowdown 