Politics

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Sunday Link-Off: Freedom of Speeches

shay-mitchell-flare16-01We’re nearing the end of the chase for the Democratic and Republican Presidential nominations. It’s funny how negative that the two nomination campaigns have been and there’s still an actual election still to come for both parties to contest. How much more contentious can this get?

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that we have to do the links. Let’s kick off with Canadian actress Shay Mitchell.

“It’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president.” – President Jimmy Carter (The Antimedia)

Tuesday’s New York primary is the make or break for all the frontrunners. (MacLean’s)

In the ongoing battle of Tax Returns vs. Wall Street Speeches, Bernie Sanders released his tax return showing a combined income of $205,000. Hilary made $10.5 million from speaking engagements. (USA Today)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Playoff Politics

daisy-ridley-mtvmovieawards16-01bOkay, if politics had a playoff season, it would definitely be in the run between the conventions and the election. However, since the Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight, that’s an appropriate title for this post. I’d much rather try to survive playoff hockey than politics. 

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that we have to do the links. Let’s kick off with MTV Movie Award winner and occasional wearer of a Mark Hamill backpack Daisy Ridley.

As part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice, Goldman Sachs effectively admitted that it misled investors about mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the 2007 financial crisis. (Fortune)

Donald Trump has made tens of millions of dollars in charitable donations, that much is true. However, very little of his charitable contributions are his own money. (Washington Post)

As we push towards the Republican National Convention, could Donald Trump secretly be hoping to get bounced out of the nomination at the convention? (GQ)

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Sunday Link-Off: Panama

rihanna-vogue16-02bI’ve been uber busy IRL so I haven’t had a lot of time to do much writing lately so apologies up front about that. I spent yesterday doing some gaming so I’m hoping to have a Rise of the Tomb Raider review up this week or next. Reviews for The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode Two, StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops – Chapter One and RBI Baseball 16 should be following shortly. And it’s an F1 race weekend so you know we’ll have some coverage of that too.

But before we get to all that, we have to get through today. That means that we have to do the links. Let’s kick off with Rihanna. No, she’s not from Panama but I don’t think you’re too concerned about that.

In the wake of the Panama Papers on tax avoidance, British PM David Cameron is having to defend his now-challenged stance on being hard on tax evasion. (The Independent)

Cameron isn’t the only world leader who is tied to the Panama Papers. A trail of money worth up to $2 billion leads back to Vladimir Putin. (The Guardian)

You might be wondering what the big deal about the Panama Papers is. Well, so much is held in various tax havens worldwide what estimates peg Canadian tax revenue lost to tax havens at up to $7.8 billion per year. (Toronto Star)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Panama

leanna-decker-01Remember how excited I was for WrestleMania 32 on Sunday? How naive does that look right now? I might write up some brief thoughts on the state of the WWE after its biggest show and its biggest weekly TV episode of the year. For now, let’s talk about anything but.

So with that shorter than usual preamble out of the way, I think that it’s time that we do the links. Let’s kick things off with American model Leanna Decker.

The Trump campaign might look comfortably out front of the Republican Primary but they’re working the back rooms to pick up unbound delegates for the convention. (MSNBC)

The push toward basic income creates a stronger social safety net for people than a minimum wage. (Bloomberg)

The Panama Papers revealing the use of Panama as a tax haven for the wealthy might just help Bernie Sanders’s campaign for the White House since he is the one candidate not owned by the wealthy. (The Independent)

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Sunday Link-Off: Mania

becky-lynch-wwe16-06Happy WrestleMania Sunday! I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m actually not particularly excited for this year’s show. It’s probably for the best that my crew and I couldn’t all get time off from work to go to this show (with the exception of missing NXT, Evolve and Monday’s Raw which would have been awesome to see live). The WWE’s done the best they could but there are some seriously barely tossed together matches on the show.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that you’re here for the links. In keeping with that WrestleMania theme, let’s kick off with Becky Lynch who is one-third of the Women’s Championship match tonight.

One reporter dove into the heart of Trump supporters during the New Hampshire Primary to try to understand how he’s garnered so much support. (New Republic)

You can’t rig a ballot box but one man has been paid to hack the campaigns in many Latin American countries. You almost wonder when digital data analysis in North American elections will give way to this. (Bloomberg)

I think we’ve gone over this before but the Ghomeshi trial was supposed to change things for sexual assault victims in Canada. That probably won’t happen. (MacLean’s)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Media Matters

paige-vanzant-dwts16-01Watching The People v. O.J. Simpson made me think that stories are the most powerful resource that we have. Everyone loves a story. Whether it’s a TV show or just a conversation, we’re all interested in a compelling narrative. That’s what the media feeds us, be it in fiction or the truth played out in front of us in such a way to create an engaging story.

Anyway, it’s Wendesday which means that we have to do the links. Since Dancing with the Stars is back (again), let’s kick off with UFC fighter Paige VanZant.

Gawker might be over $100 million poorer after the Hogan lawsuit but it may not be dead yet. (The Daily Beast)

Hilary Clinton, the candidate that wanted all the debates in the 2008 Democratic Primary, thinks that Bernie Sanders is too mean to debate in 2016. Has she seen what’s happening on the red side? (Mother Jones)

The important part of debates is that they’re effectively free press. However, the press’ parent companies are donating to the Clinton campaign. (Huffington Post)

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Sunday Link-Off: Wonderful Eastertime

alison-brie-alexa16-07bHappy / a solemn and dignified Easter Sunday to you all. I’m sure it will be spent in church and with family and not at all watching March Madness, miscellaneous pro sports and various eSports. I know that’s what I’m doing… The latter, not the former. I might mix some alcohol in there for good measure too.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that we have to do the links. Let’s kick off with Alison Brie.

It’s okay to believe the Ghomeshi victims, hate the verdict and still think it’s alright. However, there is a reason why the victims behaved that way to Ghomeshi that wasn’t explored in court. Here’s an examination here. (The Globe and Mail)

The National Enquirer, as reputable an organization as you’re going to get in the supermarket tabloids, is breaking another affair scandal. This one involves Ted Cruz. (Gawker)

Candidate Trump insists that he didn’t have anything to do with that story just days after threatening to spill the beans about Cruz’s wife. I’m sure he’d be quite understanding how the timing doesn’t look good. (Politico)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Delegating Madness

chrissy-teigen-si16-01Well, it looks like we’re ever closer to a Presidential battle between Hilary Clinton and former Clinton supporter Donald Trump. This could be one of the most interesting or infuriating campaigns in recorded history. If you thought 2012 was painful, this one will be worse. At least it’ll provide a lot of fodder for links over the next few months.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Chrissy Teigen.

A reporter on the Trump campaign got tossed aside by the candidate’s campaign manager when she asked a question that they probably didn’t like. (BuzzFeed)

Why is Ben Carson backing Donald Trump? Because he just might have offered Carson a job in his administration. (Gawker)

The relationship between Donald Trump and Chris Christie reminds one columnist of Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. (Trentonian)

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Sunday Link-Off: Spring Forward

kari-byron-fhm06-1bIt’s Daylight Savings Day (unless you’re in Saskatchewan). That means you’ve lost an hour of your life but you were probably going to waste it anyway. After all, that extra hour of sleep we get in the fall is just used for sleep. What good ever came of being asleep anyway?

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that we have to do some links. Since Mythbusters just wrapped up its run, let’s kick things off with Kari Bryon. Well, Kari Byron from ten years ago.

It’s been five years since the Japanese tsunami and the Fukushima power plant is just as dangerous now as it was then. (Newsweek)

The FBI’s claims that they can’t unlock an iPhone is “bullshit” according to Edward Snowden. (The Guardian)

It didn’t work in the election but the Conservatives are still pushing the Justin Trudeau is too young narrative. That’s why they’re polling stronger now than during the election. (Canada.com)

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Wednesday Link-Off: A Voice from the Past

olivia-wilde-oscars16-03Joining yours and mine. Adding up the layers of harmony. And so it goes, on and on… Final Fantasy fans know how that one finishes. I’ve had a long day writing before writing this post and could really use Square Enix hustling the FF9 PC release out the door. It would be nice to unwind with a game that I absolutely love. It’s like they’re Blizzard with the Soon™ release date.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick off with Olivia Wilde.

You can call them Generation Y’ers. You can call them Millennials. But you can definitely call them worse off than the generations the preceded them. (The Guardian)

The Washington Post is backing Hilary Clinton. Well, it appears that way after they ran 16 stories that are perceived to be negative towards Bernie Sanders. (Fair.org)

The German Vice-Chancellor said that Donald Trump is a “threat to peace and prosperity.” When one of the leaders of the free world says that, people may just listen. (International Business Times)

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