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Wednesday Link-Off: Memorial Day Hangover

kate-bock-gq14-01The one problem with doing linkdumps around holiday weekends is that the internet seems to shut down and it gets harder to find quality links. I’ve got a few links this week but not as many as usual. Hopefully, normal service will resume next time out.

For now, it’s time for the links. Since an American holiday caused these problems, let’s kick things off with Canadian model Kate Bock.

Good news, Toronto! Doug Ford says that Rob Ford is doing much better in rehab and is going to be a brand new man when he returns in a few weeks. (Globe & Mail)

A writer goes through his reasons for changing his mind about reparations to victims of slavery in America. (The Atlantic)

A recent study on the effectiveness of airport security showed that all those TSA scans decease terrorism on airplanes but diverts terrorist attention elsewhere. (Vox)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Shady Dealings

yara-khmidan-beachbunny14-01So, I was so out of it while drafting today’s Wednesday links that the original draft title Sunday Link-Off. Though maybe that wasn’t so much a case of being out of it as it was a case of wishful thinking.

Regardless of whether it’s Wednesday or Sunday, it still means that it’s time for me to bring you my semi-weekly set of links. Let’s kick things off with Yara Khmidan.

In news that I probably shouldn’t be surprised by the report that Silvio Berlusconi has ties to the Sicilian Mafia. (The Independent)

The next victim of the ongoing sanction war between Russia and the West? Space-based cooperation seems to be coming to an end after 2020. (Vice)

Just to remind voters that they hate voting, the Conservatives have passed the so-called Fair Elections Act. (Toronto Star)

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Sunday Link-Off: A Fresh Take

miranda-kerr-harpersbazaaruk14-01Happy Mothers’ Day to all the mothers reading today. Given our demographics (mostly male, generally under 35 and without children), I somehow doubt that any are reading but it’s nice to get the greeting out there.

With that out of the way, let’s get the links underway. Here’s Miranda Kerr. I think that’s an appropriate choice for the day.

People who follow international news have heard the name Boko Haram for years. Why are they only now becoming a big deal. (Mother Jones)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reportedly showing the signs of being drunk on power. (That’s the opposite of how Rob Ford is often found drunk.) He’s reportedly stopped taking advice. (Toronto Star)

The Globe and Mail is trying to negotiate with its union to get journalists to write advertorials. It’s bad enough when I’m covering the video games beat that half of the content is advertorial (to a degree). For a reputable, respected newspaper to want legitimate journalists to do it is reprehensible if you ask me. (The Albatross)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Whole World in His Hands

lake-bell-esquire14-01Another week, another set of links. Normally, this is the day I would remind Canadians to file their taxes but they until May 5th to file their taxes because Revenue Canada fell victim to the Heartbleed Bug. And even with that extra five days, I still have relatives who aren’t going to file on time. Figures.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Let’s kick things off with Lake Bell.

The so-called Fair Elections Act might have gone through some revisions but it could still use some work. (The Globe and Mail)

You’d think that the death of Net Neutrality would be a big deal. Naturally, it was ignored by the big US news shows. (Media Matters)

Donald Sterling’s lifetime ban from the NBA is surprising because it’s a much more stern move from new Commissioner Adam Silver than his predecessor would ever make. (Yahoo Sports)

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Sunday Link-Off: I Thought This Was Spring

tsanna-latouche-nordstrom14-05With it being the end of April, I thought that the weather would be warming up and I could start to wear short-sleeved shirts. However, I woke up yesterday and had to grab my winter coat and boots and brush snow off my car. So much for having a late spring. Any spring would be lovely. I think that we’re gearing up for two seasons this year: Winter and July.

Anyway, to celebrate a lovely Canadian winter, let’s lead off with a lovely Canadian model. Here’s Tsanna LaTouche.

Even with the changes proposed to the so-called “Fair” Elections Act, a number of serious concerns remain. Well, I suppose it could make elections fair for a certain party trying to get it into law… (The Globe and Mail)

The story of the Keystone XL pipeline is really a tale of two countries. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has championed it but Barack Obama has been working against him which I certainly won’t complain about. (Bloomberg)

While his international environmental record isn’t too bad, domestically, things aren’t too good for Barack Obama. A radioactive oil waste site was found in North Dakota. Isn’t that lovely? (Al Jazeera America)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Cold Hard Data

alyssah-ali-bloomingdales14-06I may have mentioned it before but the hardest part about these linkdumps is writing the intro. I’m never entirely sure what to say. Do I comment about the links to follow? Do I talk about the goings on of the last week? Do I talk about my personal life? I’m never quite sure. I do know that for the second straight Tuesday, snow was falling outside my window as I wrote this post. It’s just lovely April weather.

Anyway, let’s start off today’s set of links with Canadian model Alyssah Ali.

Why are things in Ukraine not getting any better? Because the Russians are trying to destabilize things to take control of the country while blaming the Ukrainian government and its allies for causing the trouble that Russia themselves are causing. (New York Times)

Don’t listen to the anti-vaccine whack-jobs. Vaccines save lives. (Mother Jones)

Have you ever wanted an inside look into the live of the paparazzi? Okay, probably not. But I still found this profile of one Hollywood pap interesting. (Rolling Stone)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The More Things Change

michea-crawford-marksspencer14-01I know that technically this is a short week but I feel like it’s gone long already. Well, the return of winter to Canada isn’t helping matters. I know we’re all about winter up here but even we can have enough after six months.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Michea Crawford.

The Yanks feel that Russia hasn’t learned their lesson about interfering in the Ukraine. Another round of sanctions is quickly making its way down the pipe. (The Daily Beast)

Meanwhile, things in eastern Ukraine have gotten so bad that it looks like war might break out as both Russian and Ukraine military armed forces are on the move. (Bloomberg)

I forgot that Rob and Doug Ford’s Ford Nation show made the switch to YouTube. Well, now that it’s there, Jimmy Kimmel made his much-anticipated guest appearance. (Toronto Star)

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Sunday Link-Off: Harper Strikes Back

jessica-pare-esquire14-02It’s the beginning of another week which means that it’s time for us to give you another set of links. I’d like to think of the start of this post as Canada-centric while it finishes a more nationally agnostic. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be something for everyone in here.

But let’s start off with something Canadian. Since Mad Men is back on Sunday, here’s Jessica Pare.

The Fair Elections Act is going to cripple democracy in Canada but most Canadians aren’t arsed about the impending death of their democracy. Why are they so apathetic? (CBC News)

In news that should surprise no one, an upcoming UN report will suggest that Russia did everything in its power to make sure the secession of Crimea happened as they planned. (Foreign Policy)

A retiring SEC lawyer used his farewell speech to denounce the commission’s soft stance on traders who caused the recent financial crisis. I don’t think he’ll find many people off of Wall Street who will disagree. (Bloomberg)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Russian Armed Farces

miranda-kerr-wonderbra14-02Well, the Crimean referendum went about as well as everyone expected seeing as it was a giant farce. That wasn’t even the only farcical election of the last week but that’s a different and funnier story.

Anyway, let’s get today’s links on the road. And we kick things off with Miranda Kerr who is the subject of rumours for a couple of obvious reasons.

It seems as though Vlad Putin is drunk on power and that may guide him to make increasingly reckless decisions. (Foreign Policy)

By the way, Ukraine is not backing down from Putin and may be gearing up for war over Crimea. (Kyiv Post)

And the US have followed up the alleged referendum in Crimea by slapping several prominent Russian businessmen / Putin allies with big sanctions. (Business Insider)

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Sunday Link-Off: The Lost

Well, this was an odd week. A Malaysian airliner has disappeared off the face of the earth and no one knows where it is and whether it actually crashed or not. Things in Crimea could spark a war because neither Russia nor NATO want to back down over this farcical “referendum.” Basically, I’m rebuilding the bunker again. It’s been a while since I mentioned that, hasn’t it?

Anyway, I think Jackie focused on the wrong movie star at the start of his ELO. He has Kristen Bell. I have Scarlett Johansson.

The Crimean referendum is a farce and doesn’t give voters an option to not vote to join Russia. Good luck having anyone besides Russia consider this a legitimate exercise in democracy. (Reuters via Huffington Post)

Former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych didn’t just up and run away. He planned his departure well in advance. (Kyiv Post)

A former Politico writer explains what it’s like going from covering a Presidential campaign to being thrown into the depths of retail hell. (The Atlantic)

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