Sunday Link-Off: Meanwhile, in Canada

danielle-knudson-nelly15-07You know, I’m getting worse and worse at time management. I’m trying to write stuff for The Lowdown and et geekera while holding down a job and trying to have other hobbies. That’s why today’s SLO comes in three hours later than normal. I didn’t get this done until an hour before it went live. And now, it’s immediately on to the next post(s). There ain’t no rest for the wicked.

Anyway, it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Canadian model (though not the democratically voted Hottest Canadian) Danielle Knudson.

The Jian Ghomeshi scandal might be finally coming to an end. The CBC has issued its internal report and cut ties with their now former head of radio and HR director. (Toronto Star)

The Harper Government’s so-called anti-terrorism legislation will undergo its final vote in the Commons this week. People aren’t happy. (Sun Media)

Political discourse is dead in America. The problem is that it’s not much better in Canada. Yes, I realize that right-wingers will find this link following the previous to be ironic. (National Post)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Awaken

anna-kendrick-glamouruk15-06Hello Saturday crew. Steve in for Jackie this week. I certainly lucked into a good week to cover the entertainment beat. Between a new Star Wars trailer, a new Batman v Superman trailer, news for both movies and Gwyneth Paltrow’s food stamp experiment, this was an entertaining week to be a fan of entertainment and pop culture. Oh, I almost forgot that Game of Thrones premiered this week. We might have reviewed this week’s episode.

Anyway, it’s time to cut the preamble and get down to business with this week’s Entertainment Link-Off. Since we have a few links about her in here, let’s kick this post off with Anna Kendrick.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Not the Onion

kristen-bell-naturalhealth15-01I know that there are some people and even major news agencies who get tricked by satirical news agencies like The Onion but with some of the news stories that come out are so out there that you can understand how these satirical stories can be mistaken for real. Some of the stories in today’s linkdump fall along those lines but we do have some serious stories in here too.

Anyway, it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick off with Kristen Bell.

Remember the Secret Service’s prostitution scandal of 2012? Well, the DEA had them beat. They’ve been having sex parties with prostitutes since 2001. (Associated Press)

Former Ontario deputy minister of education Ben Levin plead guilty to child pornography charges. The problem is that he’s admitted to more than just simple child porn and not been charged. (National Post)

After a 15-month pilot project, Hamilton Police have launched a program that will see mental health workers join police on the frontlines when they receive calls that may involve a mental health issue. (CTV News)

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Sunday Link-Off: You Link or You Die

emilia-clarke-hollywoodreporter15-05Okay, today’s linkdump is a little late because I had a busy day yesterday. I had no idea that curling once a year was that hard on your quads. I do DDP Yoga and do a lot of squats and leg exercises with that but it doesn’t help me much today. So I’m not sure if we’re lucky that the post is late or if it’s up at all since movement is exceptionally difficult.

Anyway, it’s Sunday so it’s time for the links. Since Game of Thrones is back tonight (YES!), here’s Emilia Clarke.

Darren Sharper was an NFL star. Now, he’s a convicted serial rapist. (At least that’s what I think you call someone who pleas out.) The problem is that he could have been stopped years before he was. How did the investigation fail so badly? (Pro Publica)

Ron Paul might be the internet’s favourite Paul but Rand is trying to catch up. He has a pretty smart stance on the War on Drugs. (The Hill)

While this story about a female teacher having sex with a student and getting a sweetheart plea deal is interesting and all, the real important part is talking about the double-standards with regards to sex with minors. (IJ Review)

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Entertainment Link-Off: See You Again

deborah ann woll nylonThere’s no new big contender at the box office this weekend as Fast and Furious 7 continues to dominate. Meanwhile at home on your TV screens, there are plenty to look forward to. Game of Thrones and Silicon Valley return on Sunday. Over on Netflix, there’s the premiere of the new Daredevil series. You can catch former True Blood star Deborah Ann Woll in the superhero series too! Bonus! 

After the jump, a few tidbits on superhero related stuff, no more Simpsons DVDs, Jon Snow makes a poor dinner guest and catch the teaser trailer for Wong Fu Productions’ new movie! Continue reading

Wednesday Link-Off: The Media of Failure

olivia-wilde-shape15-01It’s not just the politics of failure that have failed. It’s the news media of failure that has failed as well. Try as everyone might to make it work again, they have a long way to go to get there. If only they could fail at being failures but it seems as though politicians and the news media can only get failure right.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. To change things up, let’s kick this off with Olivia Wilde.

There’s always more on the Brian Williams situation but he was just the biggest face of the ongoing self-destruction of NBC News under Comcast’s ownership. (Vanity Fair)

A report on Rolling Stone’s University of Virginia rape story had shown a systematic failure of their reporting and editorial processes. (NPR)

Inside the strange money-making world of Twitter parody accounts. I can’t believe that’s a thing. (Vice)

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Sunday Link-Off: Wonderful Easter Time

camille-rowe-expressswim15-05So the prank I mentioned in the last linkdump was a glitter bomb I had mailed to a coworker. The office admin forgot that I tipped her off and told the victim that the envelope was suspicious. So he didn’t fall for it, cut a slit in the side of the envelope and left it on my desk. I fully intended to get him back but allegedly accidentally dumped it on someone else for his participation in a prank some 16 months ago. It’s the slowest of slow burns.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for me to watch some Formula E. I guess we can do some links too. Here’s Camille Rowe.

Former Prime Minister Paul Martin has taken a look at the Canadian economy and the Harper government’s budget plans and only sees disaster in the near future. (CBC News)

Nuclear talks between Iran and the west has resulted in a tentative agreement that is being lauded as a breakthrough. Naturally, the Republicans aren’t happy with it. The question may now become whether they can be trusted with keeping the world’s peace or if they are just going to oppose anything the Democrats would do with no regards for the consequences. (The Guardian)

Happy Easter, Christians. Your religion is being used as a cover for homophobia. (Think Progress)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Diverging Paths

nathalie emmanuelIt’s Easter weekend! While some will partake in religious activities, others will simply overindulge in the abundance of chocolate available. Alternatively, you can head out to the theatres to check out Furious 7. Yes, it’s the seventh installment of the franchise and surprisingly it hasn’t gone dull at all. The action is over-the-top but it is entertaining. Also, without spoiling anything, I have to say it is a very fitting and respectful way to send off the late Paul Walker. Anyway, let’s kick off the latest Entertainment Link-Off with a newbie to the Fast/Furious franchise, Game of Thrones star Nathalie Emmanuel.

After the jump, a tease of the new Wong Fu Productions movie, the Arrow becomes Casey Jones, Helen Mirren can drive fast cars, listen to the cast of The Flash sing the Firefly theme song, and Deadpool is definitely rated R.  Continue reading

Wednesday Link-Off: The Fool or the Fool Who Follows Him

Keep your eyes open and don’t believe anything that happens today. It’s April Fools’ Day which means that you’re likely to see or be victim to a prank or bad joke or two. I’m working on something but I’m not holding out hope that it’ll go well. Call me a terrible person but I’m hoping that a coworker’s attempted prank doesn’t go well today if only because it’s terribly unoriginal and generic.

Anyway, today is Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Here’s Christina Hendricks.

Despite what Republicans in the Senate may want, two-thirds of Americans support the nuclear deal with Iran. (Washington Post)

You’ve probably never heard of feticide but it’s a relatively new law that reproductive rights activists are up in arms about. You would be too if you knew a woman in Indiana was sentenced to 20 years in prison for having a miscarriage. (NBC News)

There’s a time and place for certain things. Outside a building explosion is not the time or place for taking selfies. (New York Post)

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Sunday Link-Off: Press Play

paige-wwe15-01It’s the big day! WrestleMania: Play Button (because numbers make WrestleMania sound old) is today in Santa Clara with the pre-show starting at 5:00 PM EDT, matches starting at a rumoured 6:00 PM EDT and the show proper starting at 7:00 PM EDT. That’s some five hours of wrestling. Holy crap, that’s way too much.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. Since WrestleMania is today, I think it’s appropriate to lead this one off (or maybe we should say start the card) with Paige.

The Harper Government tried promoting Canadian energy in the US. It cost them $24 million in advertising. (CBC News)

The state of Indiana has passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Basically, it allows people to use freedom of religion as a defense in legal matters. Yes, this includes invoking your religion to discriminate against people you don’t like. (BuzzFeed)

You’ve heard of Alcoholics Anonymous but you haven’t heard the scientific criticisms. Many doctors question the efficacy of the faith-based program. (The Atlantic)

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