USA

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Reign of Terror

margot-robbie-vanityfair16-07Both US political conventions are done and we’re moving onto the final three months of the campaign and the end can’t come soon enough. Granted, it seems like Trump is trying very hard keep things unintentionally entertaining unless you’re a staunch ABC (anybody but Clinton) voter. In that case, you have to be hope that independents are too busy laughing at you to vote at all.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Margot Robbie since Suicide Squad opens this week. Unfortunately, DC continues to struggle with movies. Perhaps they should stick to TV.

The Philippines is in a state of terror as the police embark on state sanctioned killing of drug suspects. (ABC News)

Why is Donald Trump going easy on Russia and Vladimir Putin? It could be because Trump’s businesses have financial ties to Russia while his advisors have business ties to Russia. (Time)

One of the great investors and business minds of any generation, Warren Buffet, explains how Trump once lost investors 90% over a period when everyone else made 150%. (CNN Money)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Electioneering

jenna-coleman-voguegala16-05So both conventions are done and now we just have to survive three months until the election. I’m not even in America and I wish they’d just get it over with. I’m already sick of hearing the same nonsensical and unhelpful stuff from literally everyone. My problem with politicians is they say they will do things but never how. The how is where political differences exist. My right-wing friends want to fix the economy by giving more money to businesses to spend. I think that they won’t spend a dime if it doesn’t help him but consumers will spend if you give them more money. See, that’s political philosophy that this campaign is lacking.

Anyway, it’s Sunday so it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick off with Jenna Coleman.

Six Michigan state employees have been charged in relation to the Flint water crisis. (USA Today)

A Federal court struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law after finding that it targeted black voters in an apparent attempt to disenfranchise them. (Washington Post)

The Koch Brothers have no idea what Donald Trump is on about when he says that he turned down a meeting with the billionaire political funders. (The Hill)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Both Sides of the Border

katy-perry-parkerinstitute16-02Who says that all the interesting news in America? We certainly have our share of noteworthy stories in Canada even if we don’t mention the pending Canada Post strike. For fun, there is even some big British stories in the links so we have the whole Commonwealth/colonial thing happening as well.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so we are obliged to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Katy Perry.

Iceland will be boycotting Israeli products until they end their occupation of Palestine. (PressTV)

His religious beliefs have been underplayed at the moment but is Donald Trump’s support showing there may be no need for religion in politics. (New York Times)

The FBI won’t be recommending charges against Hilary for her email dealings. (NYT)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Resurgence

jessica-alba-braun16-03For our pre-July 4th edition of the links, I think it’s only appropriate that we title this post after the new Independence Day movie. I haven’t seen it yet but the critical reception makes me think that I should wait until it lands on TV before I consider watching it. After all, the original Independence Day is a mainstay on TV so why not the sequel.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for the links. Let’s kick off with Jessica Alba.

The Baltimore Police Department is changing its Use Of Force policy for the first time in thirteen years to emphasize de-escalation and ask officers to intervene if other officers are stepping over the line. (Baltimore Sun)

I’m not sure if a podcast helping someone getting a new trial is a good thing or an indictment of the legal system that a random podcast might save a man. (NPR)

The UN says that disrupting internet access is violation of a human right. So everyone that extorts money for wifi should be reported to the UN. (Think Progress)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Summer is Coming

maisie-williams-tribeca16-02Despite the fact that the temperature is supposed to be in the mid-teens (Celsius) in my part of Canada on July 1st, make no mistake. Summer is coming. Everyone around here makes the same damn Ned Stark joke so I want to lazily spin it on its head. Considering that Ned’s head is no longer attached to his shoulders, I can’t imagine that would be difficult. By the way, this week’s Game of Thrones review drops tomorrow rather than the usual Friday post date.

Anyway it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Since Game of Thrones just wrapped up, let’s kick off with GoT star Maisie Williams.

The House’s Benghazi Report says that there was no wrongdoing on Hilary Clinton’s part. That’s not going to stop it from being a Republican talking point but she has something to fire back with. (New York Times)

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has joined CNN to add his insight on the reality TV star turned Presidential candidate despite his relatively hostile relationship with the press. (Washington Post)

Despite fears of the foolish, the legalization of marijuana hasn’t led to the downfall of society. In fact, their teen marijuana use is lowest in America. (Foundation for Economic Education)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: White Hat

emilia-clarke-jenna-coleman-mebeforeyou16-02Is a story really an insider story when it was extracted by less than kosher means? If the facts can’t be obtained any other way, maybe it’s for the greater good. Anonymous is pretty divisive but you have to admit their hactivism doesn’t make them villains. While the law doesn’t seem to take too kindly to White Hat Hackers, there’s definitely a need for them out there if they’re serving the public good.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that we usually do the links. Let’s kick off with Emilia Clarke and Jenna Coleman.

Hackers got into Hilary Clinton’s campaign servers and the Democratic National Committee’s servers and went from there to hack info from all sorts of politically affiliated groups. (Bloomberg)

The real damage might be done by Guccifer 2.0 who found and posted all sorts of Clinton campaign docs. Maybe Bernie should stick around until the convention in case he’s needed. (Washington Examiner)

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is being accused of using his Foundation as a political slush fund. (The Daily Beast)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Vigilante

You know, I’m getting pretty bad at remembering to finish off blog posts. The whole of the links were done but I forgot to actually write the intro and hit publish. The good news is that I’m working on a bunch of stuff for next week so something will be ready to publish if I remember to hit publish. For example, E3 is coming soon so expect those previews and recaps starting Sunday.

Recently uncovered documents suggest that the Edward Snowden did try to whistleblow through the proper channels but was ignored by the American government. (The Liberty Conservative)

It’s not just Flint. Up to 33 other US cities might have high levels of lead in their drinking water. (The Guardian)

The incoming President of the Philippines sure sounds like he’s going to encourage vigilantism. (The Journal)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Sunday Link-Off: Death and Taxes

jennifer-lawrence-harpersbazaar16-01As I’m writing today’s links, I’m watching the F1 Spanish Grand Prix. Tomorrow’s write-up will be pretty good considering all that’s happened during this race. All Formula One needed to make things interesting was to get the Mercedes out of the way. Granted, we already knew that but it certainly a refreshing race.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for the links. Since there’s another X-Men movie coming soon, let’s kick things off with Jennifer Lawrence.

Donald Trump isn’t going to release his tax returns until November. That’s kinds of a big deal. (Vox)

Are the media the ones to blame for Bernie Sanders’s populist movement failing next to Trump/Clinton’s elitist? (Salon)

Speaking of unreleased documents, Hilary still hasn’t released her Wall Street speeches. (Death and Taxes)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

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)

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Link-Off

Wednesday Link-Off: Make Donald Drumpf Again

sophie-turner-oscars16-03bIf you don’t watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, you probably don’t know why people keep talking about Donald Drumpf. Well, Oliver did a feature story on Trump’s candidacy (which we have in the post) which included research for a Trump biography that mentions his original family name was Drumpf. So will he be running as future President Trump or Drumpf?

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Sophie Turner who stole the show on the Oscars red carpet.

The Flint water crisis isn’t a new problem. Staff in Governor Snyder’s office were talking about bottled water programs twelve months ago. (Detroit Free Press)

Joe Scarborough is considered too Trump friendly for MSNBC. Yet he’s come out strongly against Trump for pretending to not know about the KKK and its leader. (Washington Post)

I’m writing this last night and assuming this won’t need a re-write: Donald Trump has pretty well wrapped up the Republican Presidential nomination. The Democrats aren’t the only ones concerned by this. Many Republicans are considering alternatives to voting red in November. (Bloomberg)

Continue reading →