Politics

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Sunday Link-Off: Happy New Year!

luana-mourato-moonbasa13-06And here we are for a set of the links and the first set of links of 2014. Well, okay. We had Wednesday’s year-in-review but does that really count? Anyhow, it’s time for the Sunday links. Let’s start a new year off with a new face. Here’s Brazilian model Luana Mourato.

A recent poll says that most Canadians aren’t happy with the direction of the country. The next election is shaping up to be very interesting. (The Globe and Mail)

No one is happy with The Affordable Care Act. The right hates it because they hate the government doing anything affecting citizens. The left hates it because it doesn’t do enough. (New York Times)

Speaking of the political right, 2013 was a big year for shaming women. That’s something that should change. (Al Jazeera America)

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Sunday Link-Off: ‘Twas the Weekend Before Christmas

jocelyn-chew-adoreme13-06We’ve almost reached Christmas. It’s the final weekend before Christmas and I’m having to scramble in a last-minute Christmas present because of a shipping snafu. The perils of online shopping. Apparently the thing I bought sold out weeks before I bought it but the site didn’t bother to tell me even though it said sold out when I went back last week to find a contact email. Bunch of amateurs. That’s why people try only to deal with the major retailers. At least they have their shit in order.

Anyway, it’s time to do the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Jocelyn Chew in her Christmas finest.

The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s prostitution laws as unconstitutional. People would have you believe this will lead to the downfall of society but ending the prohibition of alcohol didn’t lead to the streets being filled with drunks and alcohol 24/7. (Global News)

Maybe Obamacare isn’t a bad thing. The vast majority of hospital administrators think Obamacare will make health care better. (Washington Post)

I don’t know if you heard but that guy from Duck Dynasty was suspended for likening homosexuality to bestiality, among other things. Of course, this isn’t a perversion of the First Amendment. It’s not like he was imprisoned for what he said. It’s just business working as the free market that is championed by the political right works. (The New Republic)

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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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Wednesday Link-Off: Rise and Fall

amy-adams-vanityfair14-05It’s the middle of the week and I’m likely in the middle of a mountain of snow as you read this. The forecast is calling for a tonne of snow at Lowdown HQ so I’m expecting to be digging out for a whole. So much fun. Anyway, it’s time for the links. Here’s Amy Adams.

At one point in time, BlackBerry was the unquestioned king of the mobile sector. Now, they’re an afterthought. Here’s the rise and fall of BlackBerry. (Businessweek)

David Simon, the man behind The Wire, explains how capitalism has divided America into two nations. (The Guardian)

Rob Ford said some things that had people crying slander after an interview with Conrad Black. (Toronto Star)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Do as I Say, Not as I Do

camille-rowe-victoriassecret13-03You know, I almost forgot that I had to do the links for today. I’ve spent the last couple of days playing WRC 4 for review and WWE 2K14 just for fun that was slightly distracted. Well, we’re here now so I might as well occupy part of your morning. So let’s start with Camille Rowe.

It’s highly unlikely that Hilary Clinton won’t run for president but if she doesn’t, who will step up as the Democratic nominee. (Washington Post)

American education has a reputation for being poor but benchmark testing shows that some of it is fairly good but other states have terrible education. (The Atlantic)

European leaders are upset that the Americans are spying on them. So why are they shunning NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden? (Tech Dirt)

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Saturday Link-Off: Fashionably Early

gracie-carvalho-next13-12Hello there. Jackie and I have traded timeslots for the weekend. I’ve got a rare Saturday set of the Sunday links… If that makes any sense. Jackie will have the ELO tomorrow.

In the meantime, let’s start today’s links with Brazilian model Gracie Carvalho.

Critics say that Obamacare is a failure so far because people are having troubles signing up and signups aren’t as massive as they could be. An analysis of Massachusetts’ similar system suggest that slow-ish early adoption is par for the course. (The New Republic)

Sticking with the ACA, it looks like the biggest critic of the rollout that President Obama has right now is Jon Stewart. That’s not a name that you were expecting. (Washington Post)

The ACA rollout could also cause more problems for and with the Democrats in the near future. (Next New Deal)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Political Games

barbara-palvin-victoriassecret13-22Boom! Links! Pow! Barbara Palvin! Was that how the intermission promo from Blades of Steel went, right? Anyway, it’s time for the Wednesday links. Let’s get this post started.

Sandy Kohn, who works for Fox News, tried signing up for Obamacare. She figures that a few hours was justifiable to save thousands of dollars a year. (Fox News)

Meanwhile, the Republican Party is too internally divided to figure out how to move forward after seeming to lose the battle of public opinion over the government shut down. (Washington Post)

Senator Mike Duffy told all in the Senate last night. It looks like he wasn’t about burning bridges so much as napalming it with the Harper Government. (CBC News)

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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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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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