It might be the cynic in me but I have a hard time believe a lot of promises in advertising. It’s generally a case of if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It turns out that I’m not the only one who feels this way. This infographic shows there are a great many who have a hard time believing what they see in ads. Continue reading
TV
Wednesday Link-Off: Happy New Year
Well, I’d like to say that I had a better start of 2013 linkdump for you but the internet’s pretty much been shutdown since, well, Christmas. I do have a few links but it’ll be a pretty short post. Anyhow, let’s start with Genevieve Morton.
If you live in a Canadian border town, you’ll probably have been the victim of random roaming charges because your phone picked up the stronger American signal. It’s not just happening to you. It happens to a lot of people and the cell phone companies aren’t too worried about being proactive about it. (CBC News)
Scientists believe that garbled text messages could be a sign of serious neurological issues such a stroke. (CNET)
You might not consider pickpocketing a form of magic but the way the world’s greatest pickpocket, Apollo Robbins, does it, it may just be. (The New Yorker)
After the jump, a look inside NBC’s Sunday Night Football, new year’s resolutions for video game journalists and Stephen Harper style. Continue reading
Sunday Link-Off: Ending 2012
As the year comes to an end, we’ve reached the last linkdump of 2012. I probably should have made this the year-in-review post but there were almost no other links to choose from for last Wednesday’s linkdump apart from the year-in-review links. Mind you, this linkdump isn’t looking too long either. Anyway, start the last linkdump of the year with Nina Agdal. You’ll be seeing her again when I do the annual SI Swimsuit cover odds post.
The courts may have bounced Toronto mayor Rob Ford out of office but it certainly hasn’t solved all of Toronto’s problems. (MacLean’s)
The most interesting story of the US Presidential election may have come two months after the vote. Tagg Romney says his father, Mitt, never really wanted to be President. (Daily Kos)
Wikipedia has finished up its annual fundraising drive. The problem is, though, how Wikipedia uses the money. They don’t seem to need all of it. (The Register)
After the jump, why it’s okay to not lower expectations, plenty of oral histories and some best of 2012 videos. Continue reading
The History of Doctor Who Theme Music (Updated for the 50th Anniversary)
Any true Brit or Anglophiles know the cultural impact of Doctor Who. The show is one of the iconic pieces of British culture and science fiction. The show has been on-air since 1963 and has aired 790 episodes and one TV movie. Each of those episodes has started with the iconic Doctor Who theme song originally composed by Ron Grainer. Unlike your standard TV show, however, the Doctor Who theme has undergone some dramatic revisions. As Doctor Who reaches its 50th Anniversary in 2013, here is a look back at the history of the Doctor Who opening music, updated through this week’s Christmas Special. Continue reading
Sunday Link-Off: Sports Bucks
If you thought there was a lot to read on the blog last week, wait until you see we have what we have in store for this week. We have a review of the Mass Effect 3 Omega DLC, a look at the top Canadian racing driver prospects and our annual look at the Spike Video Game Awards and none of those are short posts. It’ll be a good week if you like long reads. Anyway, let’s kick off the links with Canadian model Michea Crawford.
Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp says that it’s time Republicans stop worrying about ridiculous pledges they make to earn endorsements and worry about the electorate and being accountable to the voters. (New York Daily News) By the way, if you read the comments, you can see the Tea Partiers take issue with her common sense point of view in this column.
Forbes again released their list of the value of NHL franchises. The problem is that they seem to be making up the revenue numbers used for valuation and ignoring the fact that there’s a lockout. (mc79hockey)
You shouldn’t need any help figuring out why you should have Notre Dame football. If you do need help, here’s a Hater’s Guide to Notre Dame. (Deadspin)
After the jump, David Stern is drunk on his own power, the return of Iron Chef isn’t as successful as hoped and a modern Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off: Op-Ed
Once again, I draw in for Jackie for the entertainment links. Unfortunately, this weekend is a complete wasteland. Nothing noteworthy is opening this weekend. Okay, there’s that Killing Them Softly movie starring Brad Pitt which critics like and movie goers are lukewarm on. Since I don’t think she’s been featured in a set of the entertainment links, here’s Bond girl Berenice Marlohe. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off: Behind The Scenes
With Jackie on assignment these next two weeks (I’ve always wanted to say that), I’m your pop culture guru for the next two editions of the Entertainment Link-Off. It’s hard enough finding links for one linkdump when the interweb is basically shut down for American Thanksgiving. I had to fill two linkdumps on about 48 hours notice but I think you’ll be happy.
Anyway, there are three big wide releases this weekend (well, by this weekend I mean on Wednesday). There is the heavily hyped Life of Pi which is the best reviewed movie of the weekend but still looks like a low rent version of Castaway. Alternatively, you could watch the star-studded animated Rise of the Guardians. Or if you want to rot your brain, you can go see Red Dawn. Rather than promote those movies, here’s former Chuck, now Dexter star Yvonne Strahovski. Continue reading
Wednesday Link-Off: The Home Stretch
All three US Presidential debates are done and now we wait for people to vote. With any luck, they won’t all vote for tax cuts for the 1% and tax hikes for the middle class (i.e. voting Romney). Anyway, let’s kick off with Canadian actress Emily VanCamp.
The third Presidential election debate was on Monday. The pundits are in agreement that President Obama took home a solid win. (Daily Kos)
Now that the debates are behind us, what did we learn from them? (Washington Post)
Some reporters make their names during elections. Here’s a look at some of the young journalists who have come to prominence during this election cycle. (iPolitics)
After the jump, debate fact checking, Chevy Chase blows up again on the set of Community and the James Bond mega mix. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off: TKO
Danger, Will Robinson! I’ve drawn in to cover the entertainment and pop culture beat for Jackie. This actually seems like an interesting weekend for films with three big new releases. Ben Affleck’s Argo is about a recently declassified CIA operation but I can’t see anyone but the critics loving it. Seven Psychopaths would be my choice for the weekend because you can never get too much Walken and Harrelson. Unfortunately, the top new film at the box office will likely be Here Comes The Boom starring Kevin James. I doubt it’ll be two hours of Kevin James getting his ass kicked so I’m unlikely to find much enjoyment from the film. However, it does also star Salma Hayek. Small victory, I suppose. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off: A History…
Welcome, my friends, to the show that never ends. The Entertainment Link-Off rolls on with me in place for Jackie this week. I promise that I’ll keep most of the politics out of it this time. The state of discourse in the US Presidential Election is bad enough that we all need a reprieve from the lies, mud-slinging and general bullshit at some point.
Anyway, it’s been an interesting week in the world of entertainment. Most networks chose to have their premieres this week so that means that primetime TV is only slightly less of a wasteland than it was during the summer. Hollywood is doing a bit better this week. Opening over the weekend are Looper starring JGL and Bruce Willis (yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker), Hotel Transylvania (which thankfully spares us from Adam Sandler in drag), Won’t Back Down and Pitch Perfect which stars blog favourite Anna Kendrick.
After the jump, the history of James Bond movies, the history of Cheers, some news on NBC prime time shows and the worst movie death scene ever. Continue reading
The Lowdown 