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Sunday Link-Off: Back in the USSR

anna-kendrick-oscars14-04Well, just when you think that things were calming down in the Ukraine, business is picking back up. I don’t know if we’re looking at a rekindling of the Cold War or the start of something much worse but Putin’s foreign relations policies seem to be as if the last 25 years didn’t happen.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time to do the links. Let’s start with one of our favourite women, Anna Kendrick.

The so-called Fair Elections Act introduced by the Conservative government would be anything but. A look at the Act would indicate that it would be among the worst things that could happen to Canadian democracy. (Canada.com)

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger gives his analysis on the crisis in Ukraine and what the best solution should be. (Washington Post)

Since people have been talking about international law in relation to the situation in the Ukraine and Crimea, where does international law actually stand on this situation. (CBC News)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Going Back to Cali

kristen-bell-oscars14-01Usually I do a little preamble at the start of the link-off but I’m going to cut it short because your attention should not be at the top of the post but the bottom. All the Rob Ford stuff is at the very end. There are recaps of his Jimmy Kimmel appearance, a TMZ story and the whole Kimmel interview. Just click through and go scroll down.

With that out of the way, let’s get the rest of the links going. Here’s Kristen Bell who certainly attracted some attention at the Oscars.

Things in the Ukraine keep deteriorating as Vlad Putin says one thing and does the complete opposite. The world is dealing with a dangerous man who is still in the Cold War mindset. Has he lost touch with reality? (The New Republic)

Bitcoin might be an interesting idea but there are still bugs to work out. Like when a major exchange goes down and causes chaos in the market. (Venture Beat)

Disney has cut funding from the Boy Scouts of America over their anti-gay policies. If only companies did that with the Olympics over Russia’s anti-gay policies. (Associated Press)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Gone but Not Forgotten

Even though the 2014 Sochi LOLympics are gone, I’m not done reinforcing the fact that they’re an absolutely farce. However, since there are other things happening in the world, it’s not a solely LOLympic edition of the Wednesday links.

So let’s get this show on the road by starting with likely SI Swimsuit rookie of the year Samantha Hoopes.

A Duke University freshman became a porn actress to help her pay tuition. She learned some things about herself and society in doing so. (XO Jane)

Arizona’s Republican Governor says that she will veto the state’s anti-gay bill. Granted, she cites economic reasons for planning to veto but it’s still a win for people who aren’t assholes. (Business Insider)

Bonnie Ford examines the dichotomy of these LOLympics. Everything was fine on the surface but terrible when you looked away from sports. (espnW)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Almost Time to Go Home

So with the SI Swimsuit Issue out yesterday, I’ve been wondering if I can say that I was right. I did predict a group cover, even if I called it an “All-Star Cover.” I think I should get double points because I had Kate Upton ranked second on the list and she was on the back cover.

However, today’s set of links isn’t going to feature any of the Swimsuit cover girls. Let’s start this off with the living legend Heidi Klum.

Russia isn’t the only place the world that hates gays. The Kansas government has created a law that allows business owners to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Not only is the law terrible but their reasoning is too. (The Dish)

Just because I’m boycotting the Sochi LOLympics doesn’t mean that others are. Some folks are tripping over themselves to praise these Olympics and Vlad Putin. (Toronto Star)

An Italian transgender former-MP was arrested for protesting that it was okay to be gay at the LOLympics. It is okay to be gay. Just not in Russia (or Kansas). (The Daily Beast)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Best of Times, The Blurst of Times

anais-pouliot-victoriassecret14-04Before any accuses me of breaking my Olympic boycott, I insist that stories embarrassing to the IOC and the Sochi Organizing Committee are in keeping in the spirit of the boycott. I am not supporting them with the Olympic links in this post.

Alright, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Since it’s the run up to Valentine’s Day, here’s a Valentine’s Day themed shoot from Canadian Victoria’s Secret model Anais Pouliot.

Occupy Wall Street protester Cecily McMillan is facing seven years in prison for being beaten unconscious by the NYPD. You can’t call it “the American justice system” because clearly there is no justice. (The Sparrow Project)

Michael Sam has a very good chance of being the first openly gay athlete in a major American team sport after coming out this weekend. Hopefully that doesn’t drop him right out of the upcoming NFL draft. (Outsports)

While we’ve been focusing on Russia’s domestic issues that have made these games morally unbearable, Putin’s backing of the Syrian government has allowed for them to slaughter thousands of innocent civilians. Why is Russia allowed to host these Olympics despite their near cartoonish villainy. (The New Yorker)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Not So Super Bowl

sarah-stephens-newyorker14-01So… That was allegedly a Super Bowl. At least Bruno Mars wasn’t as bad as he could have been. And I was outscoring Denver against the spread for the first 44:59 of the game. What a sad game.

Anyway, it’s the middle of the week which means that it’s time for the links. Let’s start with Aussie model Sarah Stephens.

Woody Allen’s daughter, Dylan Farrow, talks about how her famous father molested her as a child. And Hollywood is honouring this man? (New York Times)

Gun violence in schools doesn’t seem to be on the decline. An examination of the personalities of the men involved tend to indicate some common social and psychological factors. No, it’s not video games. (Al Jazeera America)

The Conservative government is planning to introduce the “Fair Elections Act” which will allow the wealthy to make more political donations, restrict the investigative authority of the Chief Electoral Officer and tighten voter ID laws. In other words, it’s fair to Harper. Everyone else? Too damn bad. Welcome to Harper’s America Canada. (National Post)

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Sunday Link-Off: Rumble

aj-cook-maxim14-03If 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)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Warming Up Winter

nadine-leopold-victoriassecret14-07You know, I hate winter. I’ve come to this conclusion after my car wouldn’t start even with CAA’s help and my snowblower brake completely in the span of about two weeks. Why does technology hate me so? Maybe why does the weather hate me so.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. It’s a new year so let’s start with a new face. Here’s Austrian model Nadine Leopold.

How sensitive is the pro-gun movement to criticism? One of the top writers of Guns & Ammo was fired because we questioned whether the Second Amendment was really in danger. (New York Times)

What’s the best way to resign from city council in America? In Klingon. (Mediaite)

We all know that drugs have side effects but a new epilepsy drug might actually have the beneficial side effect of reopening the ability for your brain to learn language and music. (Raw Story)

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Sunday Link-Off: The Calm Before The Storm

emily-ratajkowski-fredericks13-01We’re just a couple of days away from New Year’s Day and we’re going to do the year in review links then. Until Wednesday, we have a normal set of links. Let’s start with Emily Ratajkowski.

You may not have heard but the world’s newest country is on the brink of civil war. So what’s happening in South Sudan. (Al Jazeera)

Noam Chomsky thinks that America has become a plutocracy. Considering that political interests are driven by donors and lobbyists, he’s probably not wrong. (Raw Story)

Have all the hoaxes on the internet that have been reported as real news broken the internet? (Esquire)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Downfall

alejandra-alonso-womenssecret13-01It’s one week until Christmas and I still have Christmas shopping to do. Okay, the shopping is actually done but five business day shipping has turned into 10+ now. What a ripoff. Fortunately for me, Amazon has overnight shipping just in case and I’m confident they won’t screw it up.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. Let’s kick things off with Alejandra Alonso.

The Boston Globe examines the lives of Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombers. (Boston Globe)

A former Boston assistant district attorney got himself arrested so he could see what the American justice system was actually like. The results may surprise you but probably shouldn’t. (The Atlantic)

No, Kanye, you’re nothing like a police officer or military personnel. An Ohio police chief sets the rapper straight. (Clash Daily)

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