Technology

1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Tech Wars

The new TV season kicks off tomorrow. To celebrate, here’s Chuck (and Mass Effect 2) star Yvonne Strahovski.

Let’s kick off the links with this great, in-depth Q&A with Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play man and the voice of baseball Vin Scully. (Big League Stew)

A lot has been made over the Reggie Bush scandal and there are very few voices of reason. Fortunately, Sir Charles Barkley is here to set the record straight: Everybody gets paid. (Out of Bounds)

Have you seen the new Twitter yet? I opined about it in this week’s Humanoids column but here’s a more in-depth look at how it works. (Lifehacker)

After the jump, a look at the new F1 video game, scads of tech links, and Ken Block’s Gymkhana. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Fail The King

I’ve been meaning to run this for a while but here’s Katy Perry from a recent issue of Esquire UK. I hope the US version was paying attention.

The big sports media story of the week was this Arash Markazi story about a night in the life of LeBron James in Las Vegas. (Google Docs)

Why was it such a big story, you might ask? Well, ESPN pulled the story from its website for the dumbest reason on record. (Deadspin) I’m actually shocked by this reason. I didn’t think that anyone from ESPN would pull their lips off LeBron’s ass long enough to dictate a statement.

Though that story might be the highlight of LeBron’s week. Here’s a hypothetical look of when LeBron meets up with Jay-Z for the first time since The Decision. (Food Court Lunch)

After the jump, profiles of a couple legends, a StarCraft II review, and a Bieber fail. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: It’s Madness

I was thinking of featuring Alison Brie on Saturday but she’s too good to pass up. Now go watch Community tomorrow night.

Good news: The AP says that Canada is going to open a can of whoop ass on the world in Vancouver. Bad news: We’ve been jinxed by the AP. (Associated Press)

Another look at Twitter from the perspective of someone who doesn’t have it or much in the way of advanced technology. Still, it’s a good read. (New Yorker)

Speaking of technologically related things, cell phones might be slowly killing you. (GQ) It’s a good thing that I never use my cell and pay $40 a month for that paper weight.

After the jump, super sizing March Madness, Super Bowl Manning-ness, and William Shatner awesomeness. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Noughties or Nice?

The SLO was off last week for a Tiger Woods themed affair. To make up for that, here’s our favourite gal Blake Lively.

Our web address isn’t eye-poppingly pretty but it isn’t anywhere near as bad as some of the trainwrecks out there on the net. (Independent Sources)

I don’t think we’re on Facebook but neither were the characters from Star Wars. But what would it have been like if they had been on Facebook. (College Humor)

Let’s close the opening tech theme by mentioning that there are more tweets than people now. To use a description that Jim Chapman taught me, that’s a non-story. (Mashable)

After the jump, some decade retrospective lists, bloopers and a new way to handle bullies. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Weekend Link-Off: Happy Halloween

olivia-munn-halloween-2It’s time for a very spooky linkdump. Actually, my intro is as scary as it gets. Well, Olivia Munn is scary hot. That’s for sure.

With the Maple Leafs getting only 4 points out of a possible 22 from their first 11 games, it’s no wonder that Make Believes fans are bailing on their club. (LA Times)

Minor league hockey is getting into the Halloween spirit. An ECHL team is wearing special uniforms for Michael Jackson Appreciation Night. Yes, they’re wearing one white glove with the kit. (Icethetics)

I’d be willing to bet that there will be a lawsuit over ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy’s new book. The NBA should be running scared of some of the accusations in there. (Deadspin)

After the jump, the future of email, geeky ways to celebrate Halloween, and the best costume you’ll see all day. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray News

Not News of the Week

Welcome to the tenth edition of the Not News of the Week: Your weekly reminder that if it’s not worth talking about, then it’s definitely not news.

The Palin family feud is officially underway. Levi Johnston, the guy that knocked up Sarah Palin’s then 17-year-old daughter, is spilling the beans on the secret life of the former governor of Alaska and 2012 presidential hopeful. Johnston says Palin’s reputation as a outdoorsy person is all hype as he’s never seen her touch a fishing pole and claims she can’t identify guns, let alone knows how to fire one. He also tries to debunk the myth that Palin was a good family woman saying that the family rarely talked or ate dinner together and Sarah and Todd’s marriage was teetering on the brink of divorce. Even if these accusations aren’t entirely true, they’re still going to hurt Palin’s planned presidential campaign. That and the fact that she’s, as McCain campaign workers so eloquently put it, inept, ignorant, and egocentric. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Technological Disasters

megan-fox-gq2008-10We had a video a while back showing that Megan Fox was a CGI creation. Definitely the greatest use of advanced technology ever.

I wasn’t kidding when I said David Beckham was picking fights in his return to the LA Galaxy. A British tabloid hired a lip reader to prove that I was right. (News of the World)

How many times do I have to tell you that creating more advanced robots will only lead to disaster? A Japanese doom-bringer has created robots to throw baseballs and swing a bat. I can’t see how these skills could be used to take over mankind. (ABC/AP)

And I’m not the only one that thinks robots are going to kill us all. Even real scientists think that we’re creating mechanical monstrosities that will kill us all. (New York Times)

After the jump more on Erin Andrews, trouble for stick men and the greatest hole-in-one ever. Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Twitterific

09_danica-patrick_8Another week, another linkdump.  To celebrate the beginning of Indy 500 practice, here’s Danica Patrick.  You might have heard of her.  After the jump, a guy in a sweater learns not to mess with Larry Merchant when he’s conducting an interview.

All sorts of coaches, managers, owners, and players are on Twitter.  Hell, even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is on Twitter.  Some sports leagues even have twittering policies.  Or would it be tweeting policies? (USA Today)  Did I mention that I’m on twitter at twitter.com/TheSteveMurray.  And did I mention you can subscribe to The Lowdown Blog news feed by clicking here?

Speaking of Twitter, it turns out that it’s more of a fleeting thing for folks that sign up for it.  Mind you, I’d like a 40% retention rate for visitors over here. (CBC)

Since we’re talking so much about Twitter, here’s your one stop shop for Twitter updates from sports personalities. (AthleteTweets.com)

This could be the greatest blog in the history of Canada. (Don Cherry Jacket Watch)

Grapes may condone hockey fights but I’m not sure what he’d think of softball brawls. (Busted Coverage)

Some athlete’s would be better than others for a night on the town.  Amazingly, I think this bunch could make things end worse than my last night out.  By worse, I mean the tab. (Fat Pickled)

An interview with the guy responsible for the seemingly endless playbooks in the Madden NFL video games. (Sports Prose)

As shocking as it seems, we missed Star Wars Day on Monday.  To make up for the lack of geektacular goodness, here’s Geek Tyrant’s best Star Wars stories of the last year. (GeekTyrant)

My business school education tells me that laying someone off is best done on Wednesdays.  Firing a reporter while he’s at the game might be pushing it, though. (The Big Lead)

The internet may be ending soon… again.  Plan accordingly. (Times Online)

Some blogs and blog writers are getting book deals and are actually getting paid for it.  How I envy them. (New York Times) Continue reading →

1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: New Time, Same Channel

mandy-moore-details4I’ve decided to move my weekly link dumps up to Wednesdays and let Jackie have free reign on Saturday. I figure the change in programming can only serve to make this more irrelevant. Headlining the post isMandy Moore for no real reason. After the jump, my favourite soccer/shoe commercial ever.

Blame Vince McMahon for all of societies ills?  If I was a journalism school graduate, I would say why the hell not. Since I actually have some common sense, I like this article. (Bleacher Report)

The new Presidential CrackBerry is coming soon to a White House near you. (Daily Telegraph)

A list that Jackie would appreciate: We all know that China has lots of knock-offs of popular brands, but they don’t put much effort into coming up with new names. (Daily Mail)

Women take note: Experts say that faking it in the bedroom is a bad thing. (Edmonton Sun)

Haven’t we watched enough movies to learn this just won’t end well?  IBM is creating a supercomputer to play Jeopardy against real people. (New York Times)

The US Supreme Court decides that Freedom of Speech does not apply to network television. (BBC)

Since we talked about the NFL draft last weekend, here’s how much an undrafted free agent can expect to make in the NFL. (CNBC)

General Electric has announced a new disc technology.  It can store 500 GB and uses hologram technology. (PC World)

Anderson Silva, the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, has his next opponent: Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. (Yahoo) Continue reading →

4 Comments Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Weekend Link-Off: When All Else Fails…

eliza-dushku-allure

Keeping with last week’s theme and going with the best from the week.  By request, Eliza Dushku from her recent appearance in Allure magazine.  This wasn’t as good as her recent Maxim spread.  After the jump, when live TV goes wrong.

Speeding is perfectly alright.  Sex while driving is fine as well.  Doing both at the same time… Well, the Norwegians won’t look too kindly on that. (BBC)

Your testify moment of the week:  Jamie Foxx gives Miley Cyrus some much needed career advice when he finds out that she plans on ruining Radiohead. (Zap2It)  He later apologized because he has no marbles. (Major League 2 reference)

Unreality found 20 of the strangest looking USB drives available. (Unreality)  Although, I still think that getting a real USB finger is more cool than a USB finger on a keychain. (MacQuarie National News)

A British television personality and automotive journalist decides he’s going to make a garden plot for a major botanical show… out of plasticine.  This can only end well. (Daily Telegraph)

An ant species in the Amazon has developed into an all-female species that doesn’t need sex to reproduce.  I think I speak for the male gender when I say that this idea has absolutely no merit and should be immediately disregarded by everyone. (BBC)

Experts say that Twitter will cripple you.  They’re just jealous that they don’t have any followers. (Daily Telegraph)

The world’s most rediculously famous dog heads to the White House.  And people care why? (National Geographic)

The Octomom wants to trademark the name “Octomom.”  It’s all yours.  Nobody cares about you anymore. (Zap2It)

How not to fire a nurse: A Wisconsin hospital pulls a nurse out of surgery to lay her off. (Wisconsin State Journal)

They should be glad they didn’t have to pay the overdue fine on that one. (CBC) Continue reading →