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The Hobbit’s Five Armies (Infographic)

hobbit-battle-of-five-armies-infographic-headerA six-movie saga that has spanned thirteen years in cinemas and 77 years since The Hobbit was first published is coming to an end this weekend. Yesterday was the North American release date for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the last movie in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit dual trilogy.

To celebrate the premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, we have not only a handy infographic with a look at the titular five armies but also an interactive flash graphic with the armies and a map.

By the way, SPOILERS! So many spoilers! Well, I suppose it’s a spoiler if you haven’t read the book.

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Stories Behind The Story

gillian-jacobs-flare14-02The way this week has gone, I think that we could use a little break. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to Tuesday and felt like I desperately need the weekend to come already. From a look at the news this week, I’d imagine a number of other people feel the same way.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. I don’t know when Community is back but that doesn’t mean that we can’t feature Gillian Jacobs.

While Sydney was gripped with a hostage crisis, the people of Sydney stood strong with the Muslims of the city. (The New Yorker)

Not everyone was civil about what was happening in Sydney. Uber gouged people looking for a ride in Sydney. (Gawker)

The key witness presented to the Grand Jury in support of Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting may have lied about everything. (Gawker)

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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 and videos that we think are the most epic fails of the week.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Sports

Formula E Punta del Este ePrix: Survive, If You Can

formula-e-2014-punta-del-este-buemi-victorySay what you will about all-electric racing technology that’s been rushed to the race track, spec cars, one-day race weekends and cramped little street circuits, Formula E knows how to put on a show. Once again, Formula E showed that you don’t need 700 horsepower to put on a show. All you need is low downforce and drivers willing to fight for position.

In a race that saw the safety car make its way onto the circuit four times for various incidents, it was Sebastian Buemi who survived the crashes and mechanical troubles that plagued the field to win his first Formula E race.

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Sunday Link-Off: Looking Forward and Back

emily-ratajkowski-yamamay14-03For the second week in a row, I’m actually not scrambling together the links at the last-minute. No complaints here because that gives me a little time to do some gaming. I’m thinking about spending some time with The Wolf Among Us, Titanfall and Infinite Crisis. Who wants reviews of all three? No, you don’t get a choice. I’ve got a few other tricks up my sleeve that you might be interested in too but I won’t spoil those.

Anyway, you’re not here to hear about what games I’m planning to play to keep me sane before my IRL job’s Christmas party yesterday. You’re here for the links. Let’s kick this one off with Emily Ratajkowski.

There’s an election coming up in Canada next year. What economic indicators should you be looking as we head to the polls? (MacLean’s)

Speaking of that election, our electoral system and the regional vs. national popularities of the three parties is going to make it easier for the Conservatives to re-form a government. It could hypothetically happen even if the Liberals win the popular vote. (ThreeHundredEight)

Model Beverly Johnson adds her name to the list of people accusing Bill Cosby of rape with this terrifyingly detailed account. (Vanity Fair)

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Entertainment Link-Off: All Good Things…

eliza taylor bello 1To the folks in North America, you can finally catch Exodus: Gods and Kings in theatres this weekend! It’s not a bad flick, but definitely not one of Ridley Scott’s finest. Meanwhile over in TV land, many shows are wrapping up the sweeps with their mid-season finales as they prepare to go on a break for Christmas and New Years. The 100 will air its midseason finale this Wednesday. It’s a good show and it certainly leaves you on edge. It also helps that Eliza Taylor is the star of the show. 

After the jump, Harrison Ford likes the Blade Runner 2 script, a bizarre crossover film was in discussion at one point, Bond is going over budget, movie trailers galore and listen to Jimmy Fallon and co. cover a classic song. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Tales from the Borderlands – Episode One Review: There Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

tales-from-the-borderlands-episode-one-headerI’ve never really been a big first-person shooter fan. Maybe it’s coming from a console background in my youth rather than PC but I was never really into FPSs. So I’ve never been into the Borderlands franchise. Sure, I’ve got some ten hours into the first game and my sister knows the franchise inside and out (she’s the FPS player in the family) but I’ve never been compelled to keep going with those games.

That being said, I’m a big fan of the last couple of years of content from Telltale Games. While I haven’t had time to get to The Wolf Among Us (though I hear it’s fantastic), The Walking Dead seasons have been absolutely fantastic so of course I’m going to pick up the next game from Telltale. So can a merger of genres and developers that may not necessarily work at first glance come together to make another Telltale and Gearbox classic?

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Man Lab Showdown: Taylor Swift vs. Selena Gomez

Normally when we put together a Man Lab Showdown, there’s some sort of topical theme that helps us pick the two combatants. In this instance, it’s a birthday and a friendship that has given inspiration to this month’s Showdown poll and I think that it just might go down as an all-time favourite among our readership.

In one corner is the birthday girl. Turning 25 on December 13th and having almost as many high-profile breakups that have spawned his albums is Taylor Swift. In the other corner is one of her best friends who most would think would be best served by having her own high profile breakup, Selena Gomez.

taylor-swift-selena-gomez-01

More pictures and the poll after the jump.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Man Lab

Man Lab: Ten Manliest Cocktails 2014

From talking to people around town, I’m probably a week late with this year’s cocktail power rankings. So if your first Christmas / “holiday” party was last weekend, hopefully you just referred to last year’s list. The classics don’t really go out of style. It’s just that some are more in vogue in a given year.

But here we are again. It’s always such a pleasure. Remember when you’re at a formal function to not crack open that bottle of Coors Light. It doesn’t look good when you’re in that suit and there’s an unfortunate stigma about a man drinking a generic glass of wine. That’s why we’re here to help you get out of your comfort zone and give you some drink ideas for your next unnecessarily formal function.

As we do every year, here is our list of the top ten manliest drinks that aren’t beer or wine that you get away with drinking at a formal function.

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Report

elizabeth-henstridge-gqmoty14-01The Newsroom catches a lot of flak, mostly from TV critics and Republicans, but it does illustrate an important point. Where would society be without news media doing actual reporting? Social media and crowdsourced reporting will only get you so far. Today’s link show the importance of a healthy fourth estate.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for the links. Since Agents of SHIELD wrapped up its first half last night, here’s Elizabeth Henstridge.

Have you wondered why beer prices are so terrible in Ontario? The Brewers’ Retail, AKA The Beer Store, has an amazing sweetheart deal with the Government of Ontario that gives them a ridiculously powerful legislated monopoly over beer sales. (Toronto Star)

The US Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the CIA’s torture practices. Here are seven key takeaways from it. (New York Times)

Fifty-four other countries, including Canada, were involved in a CIA program that ran alongside the torture program. They may not have been involved with the actual torture but it seems a bit close for comfort. (Vox)

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