Link-Off

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Sunday Link-Off: A Sad Reality

candice-swanepoel-fantasybra13-01Happy Sunday, one and all. It’s time for the links. Or some links any way. I’ve been having bad luck finding good links that I like lately. Hopefully I can make up for that with Candice Swanepoel in Victoria Secret’s $10 million fantasy bra. Three questions: 1) Who thinks multi-million dollar lingerie is a good idea? 2) What happens if they break it? And 3) Can I get one jewel off it? Just one?

Daisy Coleman, the Maryville rape victim we mentioned earlier this week, wrote about her experience in her own words. (xoJane)

Rob Ford may think that he was done wrong by the press breaking and covering the crack scandal story but the Ontario Press Council says that the media has been doing their job correctly. (CBC News)

How did Jeff Bezos turn Amazon into the most powerful store in the world? A new book is trying to answer that questions. (Businessweek)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Finding A Way Out

gabriella wildeThis weekend we got a Sly and Ah-nold teaming up for Escape Plan. Given their solo features this year were duds, maybe a team-up can spark their box office fortunes. On the other end is the remake of Carrie. While there were formidable performances from the stars including Chloe Grace Moretz, the general consensus is that the remake was unnecessary and doesn’t add anything new to the table. Also featured in the movie is Gabriella Wilde, so let’s kick this all off with her. 

After the jump, Darren Aronofsky doesn’t want to tell the story of Noah from the Bible which worries the movie studio, Community returns in January, Batman mocks Superman and Stan Lee rants about 3D movies.  Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Shut Down that Never Ends

kim-cloutier-wacoal13-01It seems to be a quiet week in the world this week. I’ve been trying to dig up links but there isn’t much to link to but we still have the best links on the interweb. For now, let’s start the links with Lowdown Blog favourite Kim Cloutier.

While there seems to be some dissent between the Tea Party and more progressive GOP congressmen, the Democrats can’t capitalize because of a new rule the GOP enacted just before the shut down. (Gawker)

Along the same lines of my recent et geekera column, the NYT just realized that the news media is biased too. (New York Times)

It’s sad but American high school athletes getting preferential treatment from the legal system and getting away with rape is more common that we care to admit. (Kansas City Star)

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Sunday Link-Off: Should’ve Voted For Kodos

lauren-cohan-maxim13-06Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. I have to admit that Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. You have this great spread with comparatively few family visits. Sure, there’s still family visits but not as many as Christmas.

Even better, The Walking Dead is back today. Wait, I’m not sure that’s a good thing after last season’s finale. Oh well. At least the show still has Lauren Cohen on it.

A poll says that 40% of Americans say that the rollout of the Affordable Care Act’s health care marketplace hasn’t gone well. That same poll says that 7% of respondents attempted to use the marketplace. In other words, the media is creating the message. (Washington Post)

And while Obamacare is suffering a shaky rollout, the GOP have lost any opportunity to capitalize by continuing the lost cause that is the government shut down. (The Guardian)

An examination by The Economist shows that while politicians said that becoming protectionist would harm the global economy following the Great Recession, many went protectionist with their economies. (The Economist)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Slice and Dice

alexa vegaThe blood thirsty action hero Machete is back in Machete Kills! While the film is known for its rather ridiculous gory action, there is also no shortage of eye candy either. You can also catch Alexa Vega all grown up from the Spy Kids days in this film. 

After the jump, Coach Taylor doesn’t want more FNL, some S.H,I.E.L.D. related stuff, Quentin Tarantino explains why he liked The Lone Ranger and watch Harrison Ford and Benedict Cumberbatch struggle with Star Wars related questions.  Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Define “Essential”

alice-panikian-lasenza13-04It’s nice to start off the week with two racing recap posts. I quite enjoy writing those. By the way, have you checked out Freshly Pressed today? My latest gaming column from et geekera got picked up there.

Anyway, between motorsports stories, it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Alice Panikian.

Can you really consider John Boehner the leader of the GOP in Congress when you consider that he can’t seem to keep anyone in line. (The Hill)

Congress sure has a weird idea of what’s considered essential. The Congressional gym is considered essential and is still open. (Think Progress)

It’s not just America that is having political intrigue with money. It cost the Ontario government $1.1 billion to cancel a gas power plant project in Oakville and Mississauga. How the hell does that happen? (Toronto Sun)

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Sunday Link-Off: Drugs and Shut Downs and Baseballs, Oh My

elyse-taylor-victoriassecret13-10It’s Sunday which means it’s time for some links. I’m hoping to have an F1 recap tomorrow for the Korean Grand Prix which already ran and isn’t getting replayed in Canada until 9:30 PM. They have a block of taped programming from 5:30 PM onwards but why would we show it at a convenient time for our audience? I really think TSN is the Canadian F1 fan’s worst enemy. At least Sportsnet hasn’t screwed over IndyCar fans. I’ll have the GP of Houston recap on Tuesday. Unless I decide to flip-flop posting dates.

Anyway, like I said at the top, it’s time for the links. Let’s start this post with Australian model Elyse Taylor.

The Globe & Mail put together a lengthy, detailed and fascinating report about how BlackBerry went from the top of the smartphone world to dead in the water. (Globe & Mail)

Toronto mayor Rob Ford frequently visited Alexander Lisi. Now, Lisi has been charged with drugs offenses which can’t be good for the mayor. (Toronto Star)

This week, we also found out that the Toronto police had Rob Ford under surveillance using a Cessna airplane. (Toronto Star)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Breaking Gravity

lacey-chabert-maxim13-01Howdy gang. I’ve drawn in for Jackie this week to cover the entertainment beat.

There are two big wide releases this week. Runner Runner stars, but is not directed by, Ben Affleck. Unfortunately, when you don’t get Ben involved behind the camera, it doesn’t always work out well as this one’s received mixed to poor reviews. Your other option is Gravity starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. It’s received near universal critical acclaim which is down to the brilliant direction of Alfonso Cuaron. I won’t be seeing it in theatres because I just can’t take Sandra Bullock seriously. I blame Speed 2… and most of her career.

Anyway, let’s get on with the links. Let’s start with Lacey Chabert who is apparently still making movies which is something that I didn’t know.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Shut ‘Er Down

alyssa-miller-simons13-01It’s time for the first linkdump of the month of October. The start of October means that it’s time for the start of hockey. The US Government was so excited for a full NHL season that they closed down to watch the first games of the season. Anyway, let’s start this set of the links with American model Alyssa Miller. I think that’s only fitting.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the American Government has been shut down. This is all because of partisan politics over the meaning of the words “constitutional” and “the will of the American people.” (Politico)

If you’re not in America and wonder what the heck is going on, here’s a quick get up to speed guide. (CNN)

What would a story about the government shutdown look like if it was written like a story about a foreign government? (Slate)

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Sunday Link-Off: The Real Story

lizzy-caplan-gq13-04It’s the end of the week so it’s time for links. Before we get started, don’t forget that there’s still time to sign up for the Lowdown Blog Hockey Pool. Well, Breaking Bad is ending tonight. I don’t watch that so I don’t have to worry about replacing it. But if you’re looking for something new, Alan Sepinwall says that Masters of Sex, starring Lizzy Caplan, is a good watch. Sepinwall is a bit trolly, though, so take that recommendation with a grain of salt.

Qatar’s efforts to run the 2022 World Cup has been nothing but controversial but this takes the cake. An investigation had found that the Qatari organizing committee has been using what amounts to slave labour to get ready for the World Cup. (The Guardian)

Did video games drive Aaron Alexis to his shooting at the Navy Yard? Not even close. The FBI found a note from Alexis saying that low-frequency radio waves drove him to it. (Talking Points Memo)

Reuters’ Next was supposed to be a big consumer offering from Reuters but was cancelled as a result of just one person leaving. (BuzzFeed)

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