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Wednesday Link-Off: The Political Divide

lais-ribeiro-victoriassecret15-01I’ve come down quite quickly with some sort of flu but that didn’t stop me from watching the first 45 minutes of Alberta election results. When I left it, the NDP were poised to score a majority government. With 40 years of Conservative rule to end with the NDP taking over, Stephen Harper must be shitting himself at the possibility of such a revolution topping his Conservative’s Western power base.

Anyway, I need to wrap this up quickly because I feel like death warmed over. Kind of like the Alberta Conservatives. It’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Lais Ribeiro. I’ll get through the weird and random pictures from the Met Gala for the next linkdump.

The Baltimore sun got a fascinating behind the scenes look at the Baltimore PD’s Freddie Gray investigation. (Baltimore Sun)

A new poll suggests that the US is experiencing a massive racial divide after the events of the last few years in Florida, Ferguson and Baltimore, among other lower profile incidents. (Wall Street Journal)

The Governor of Texas has deployed the Texas State Guard to watch over a US Special Forces training exercise in case they try to take over the state. I’m not kidding. (NPR)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Power and Politics

taylor-swift-glamouruk15-01Politics isn’t an easy arena to be in. Unless you’re exceptionally popular or just happen to luck into it, chances are that more than half of your constituents will disagree with whatever you do or say. I can’t say that I can understand how someone could hate themselves so much to put up with it unless they legitimately think they can help people more than the next man. Of course, if you aren’t in it for public service, I won’t vote for you. I can think of plenty of politicians who I wouldn’t vote for.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Considering the controversial nature of politics, it’s only fitting that the controversial Taylor Swift opens up this post.

Amid the coverage of the Baltimore riots on Fox News, Shep Smith once again proves that he is the station’s only voice of reason. (Salon)

The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments to decide if gay marriage should be legalized in America. Support for it has increased by 50% since 1988. (Washington Post)

Watch out, Hilary! Bernie Sanders is coming for you! (VPR)

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Formula E Long Beach ePrix: Like Father, Like Son

formula-e-2015-long-beach-piquet-podiumThere are a lot of stories that you can write about Formula E drivers without having seen them actually turn a wheel in anger. You can talk about the redemption of former F1 drivers like Lucas di Grassi and Sebastian Buemi. There’s the retirement tour aspect with elder statesmen Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli and Stephane Sarrazin in the field. And there’s the family legacy stories with Nicolas Prost, Bruno Senna and Nelson Piquet Jr. running Formula E.

It’s the latter of which who starred in Long Beach for the first electric race on the famous street course. Thirty-five years ago, Nelson Piquet won his first Formula One Grand Prix at Long Beach. This weekend, Nelson Piquet Jr. won his first Formula E ePrix by dominating the race at Long Beach.

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Formula E Miami ePrix: The Heat of the Urban Jungle

formula-e-2015-miami-prostAfter two months off, the most electrifying electric motorsports series in the world was back in action last weekend. Following the two-round stint in South America, it was the first of two rounds in the United States of America as the teams took to the streets of Miami for the fifth round of the championship. While there was some hot weather, the hot action was left to late in the day when Nicolas Prost made a pass in the dying laps to score his first Formula E win.

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Wednesday Link-Off: More Equal Than Others

miranda-kerr-wonderbra15-14Orwell once wrote, “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” The frightening thing is how prophetic Orwell’s writing is today. I was actually just saying that Orwell’s 1984 is more relevant today than it was when it was published. The man was good and his books are just getting better with age.

And I realized something while putting this post together. I was supposed to do a Valentine’s themed picture to start the links. Let’s ignore that I forgot and just pretend I was on time with this photo of Miranda Kerr.

The fall and rise of American inequality. (NPR)

And your leading House Republicans aren’t rushing to change things. Paul Ryan thinks that the poor need to comply with the tax code more strongly. Of course. They’re the ones who can afford tax loophole finding accountants. (Washington Post)

Meanwhile, in Canada, the Quebec Education Minister says that strip searches of high schoolers is allowed if they’re “respectful.” If that isn’t among the most ridiculous things you ever heard, I don’t know what is. (Montreal Gazette)

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Sunday Link-Off: Welcome to 2015

robin-holzken-beachbunny14-01It’s time for the first set of Sunday links of 2015. I’m a bit busy this week so I’m not going to guarantee what will be coming up this week apart from our review of the annual Doctor Who Christmas special. I’m working on a whole pile of video game reviews for et geekera so expect them here in the near future too. I’m hoping to get back into long form writing in 2015 so we’ll see what that brings us too.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. Since it’s a new year, let’s start with a new face on the blog. Here’s Dutch model Robin Holzken.

Happy 2015 everyone! Here’s a whole host of law changes that have come into effect in Canada already. (CBC News)

I think I’ve mentioned this a few times but there’s a federal election in Canada this fall. Right now, there’s no clear-cut frontrunner. (MacLean’s)

You thought your job was miserable at Christmas? Try working at Amazon. (Gawker)

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Sunday Link-Off: You Survived Christmas

kate-bock-maxim14-02We’ve gotten through Christmas, more or less, and have survived, again, more or less. Christmas survival is made a lot easier thanks to alcohol. It sure helps with putting up with relatives. Anyway, this is our second-to-last set of links of the year. We’ll be saving the year-in-review links for the December 31st links so it’s steady as she goes for today’s post.

So it’s time for the post-Christmas slash pre-New Year’s links. Here’s Canadian model Kate Bock.

A Syrian boy was stuck between a rock and hard place in dealing with ISIS so he volunteered to become a suicide bomber and surrendered himself to security forces to protect his family. (New York Times)

The Beer Store has managed to dodge any public pressure stemming from the revelations about how their monopoly is hurting the consumer. That’s probably because of the power of their lobbying efforts. (Toronto Star)

There is a conflict brewing in the city of New York between the NYPD, the mayor and the people of the city. (Talking Points Memo)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Stories Behind The Story

gillian-jacobs-flare14-02The way this week has gone, I think that we could use a little break. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to Tuesday and felt like I desperately need the weekend to come already. From a look at the news this week, I’d imagine a number of other people feel the same way.

Anyway, it’s time for the links. I don’t know when Community is back but that doesn’t mean that we can’t feature Gillian Jacobs.

While Sydney was gripped with a hostage crisis, the people of Sydney stood strong with the Muslims of the city. (The New Yorker)

Not everyone was civil about what was happening in Sydney. Uber gouged people looking for a ride in Sydney. (Gawker)

The key witness presented to the Grand Jury in support of Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting may have lied about everything. (Gawker)

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Wednesday Link-Off: The Report

elizabeth-henstridge-gqmoty14-01The Newsroom catches a lot of flak, mostly from TV critics and Republicans, but it does illustrate an important point. Where would society be without news media doing actual reporting? Social media and crowdsourced reporting will only get you so far. Today’s link show the importance of a healthy fourth estate.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for the links. Since Agents of SHIELD wrapped up its first half last night, here’s Elizabeth Henstridge.

Have you wondered why beer prices are so terrible in Ontario? The Brewers’ Retail, AKA The Beer Store, has an amazing sweetheart deal with the Government of Ontario that gives them a ridiculously powerful legislated monopoly over beer sales. (Toronto Star)

The US Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the CIA’s torture practices. Here are seven key takeaways from it. (New York Times)

Fifty-four other countries, including Canada, were involved in a CIA program that ran alongside the torture program. They may not have been involved with the actual torture but it seems a bit close for comfort. (Vox)

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The 25 Latest Reasons To Be Thankful For America

Today is Thanksgiving in America. Now, there are lots of reasons to be thankful for our neighbours to the south. There’s the day of football (even if the Lions are playing… though it’s occasionally generous to call my Lions a football team). There’s the big discounts on Black Friday that start today at some stores. And they once Rickrolled the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and I really wish something awesome like that would happen again.

As is our American Thanksgiving tradition from Lowdown Blog headquarters in Canada, here are 25 more of the great women of the United States.

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