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Wednesday Link-Off: The Shut Down that Never Ends

kim-cloutier-wacoal13-01It seems to be a quiet week in the world this week. I’ve been trying to dig up links but there isn’t much to link to but we still have the best links on the interweb. For now, let’s start the links with Lowdown Blog favourite Kim Cloutier.

While there seems to be some dissent between the Tea Party and more progressive GOP congressmen, the Democrats can’t capitalize because of a new rule the GOP enacted just before the shut down. (Gawker)

Along the same lines of my recent et geekera column, the NYT just realized that the news media is biased too. (New York Times)

It’s sad but American high school athletes getting preferential treatment from the legal system and getting away with rape is more common that we care to admit. (Kansas City Star)

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Sunday Link-Off: Should’ve Voted For Kodos

lauren-cohan-maxim13-06Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. I have to admit that Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. You have this great spread with comparatively few family visits. Sure, there’s still family visits but not as many as Christmas.

Even better, The Walking Dead is back today. Wait, I’m not sure that’s a good thing after last season’s finale. Oh well. At least the show still has Lauren Cohen on it.

A poll says that 40% of Americans say that the rollout of the Affordable Care Act’s health care marketplace hasn’t gone well. That same poll says that 7% of respondents attempted to use the marketplace. In other words, the media is creating the message. (Washington Post)

And while Obamacare is suffering a shaky rollout, the GOP have lost any opportunity to capitalize by continuing the lost cause that is the government shut down. (The Guardian)

An examination by The Economist shows that while politicians said that becoming protectionist would harm the global economy following the Great Recession, many went protectionist with their economies. (The Economist)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Define “Essential”

alice-panikian-lasenza13-04It’s nice to start off the week with two racing recap posts. I quite enjoy writing those. By the way, have you checked out Freshly Pressed today? My latest gaming column from et geekera got picked up there.

Anyway, between motorsports stories, it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Alice Panikian.

Can you really consider John Boehner the leader of the GOP in Congress when you consider that he can’t seem to keep anyone in line. (The Hill)

Congress sure has a weird idea of what’s considered essential. The Congressional gym is considered essential and is still open. (Think Progress)

It’s not just America that is having political intrigue with money. It cost the Ontario government $1.1 billion to cancel a gas power plant project in Oakville and Mississauga. How the hell does that happen? (Toronto Sun)

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Sunday Link-Off: Drugs and Shut Downs and Baseballs, Oh My

elyse-taylor-victoriassecret13-10It’s Sunday which means it’s time for some links. I’m hoping to have an F1 recap tomorrow for the Korean Grand Prix which already ran and isn’t getting replayed in Canada until 9:30 PM. They have a block of taped programming from 5:30 PM onwards but why would we show it at a convenient time for our audience? I really think TSN is the Canadian F1 fan’s worst enemy. At least Sportsnet hasn’t screwed over IndyCar fans. I’ll have the GP of Houston recap on Tuesday. Unless I decide to flip-flop posting dates.

Anyway, like I said at the top, it’s time for the links. Let’s start this post with Australian model Elyse Taylor.

The Globe & Mail put together a lengthy, detailed and fascinating report about how BlackBerry went from the top of the smartphone world to dead in the water. (Globe & Mail)

Toronto mayor Rob Ford frequently visited Alexander Lisi. Now, Lisi has been charged with drugs offenses which can’t be good for the mayor. (Toronto Star)

This week, we also found out that the Toronto police had Rob Ford under surveillance using a Cessna airplane. (Toronto Star)

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Sunday Link-Off: Changing the Story

sunny-leone-askmen13-01With another Sunday, it’s time for another set of the links. I haven’t started writing this week’s blog posts yet so I don’t know what to tell you to expect apart from the F1 Power Rankings on Thursday. In the meantime, let’s start this post with Sunny Leone.

It takes something massive for US politicians to all agree on something but they all agreed that they didn’t like Vlad Putin’s op-ed in the New York Times. (USA Today)

Remember how gung-ho people were about gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting? The gun lobby have managed to end any chance on gun control happening. (The Atlantic)

Anthony Weiner finished last in the Democratic primary for the New York mayoral election. It wasn’t all for naught. Ex-sexting flame Sydney Leathers made an appearance at his election party. (Politico)

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Sunday Link-Off: Foreign Relations

emily-ratajkowski-nastygirl13-14It’s the end of the week which means that it’s time for the links. I’m starting to worry that I’m spreading myself a little thin since I’m struggling for ideas for posts. I’ll figure something out. I usually do.

For now, it’s time for the links. Since Blurred Lines has been declared the song of the summer, here’s Emily Ratajkowski who starred in that music video.

The GOP is so hell-bent on killing the Affordable Care Act that they’re threatening to shut down government to get rid of it. I think they’ve lost all touch with reality. (New York Magazine)

Old white men on news TV tend to be the worst. This includes Lawrence O’Donnell who you’d think wouldn’t be bad because he’s on MSNBC but he can be idiotic like the rest of the old white men on TV. (New Republic)

Sir Stephen Fry wrote a powerful letter to the IOC explaining why they shouldn’t just let Russia persecute homosexuals. (Gawker)

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Sunday Link-Off: Cracking News

jessica-stam-oysho13-01Well, the week might have started quietly but it sure as hell ended interestingly. After all, it’s not every day that the mayor of Canada’s biggest city gets caught in a crack scandal. Right, so it’s time for the end of the week links. Let’s start with Canadian model Jessica Stam.

It’s not often that a Canadian news story garners international attention but here we are all talking about Rob Ford smoking crack on camera. He’s the gift that keeps on giving to the Canadian news media. (Gawker and Toronto Star)

With the owners of the video holding it for ransom, crowdfunding efforts are popping up left and right to buy it and post it online. (National Post)

If you haven’t heard of Rob Ford, you’ll probably enjoy this comparison of mayoral quotes from Toronto’s Rob Ford and Springfield’s “Diamond” Joe Quimby. (Slate)

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Wednesday Link-Off: State of the Union

kate-upton-si13-17Alright, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue came out yesterday and Kate Upton was on the cover. That means that we are sort of obligated to feature her today.

A day after I give Esquire a hard time over its content over on et geekera, they turn around and do a pretty good profile of the man who shot Osama bin Laden. (Esquire)

One of the big stories to come out that Esquire profile is the state of benefits for veterans. Regardless of what the truth is for the shooter, Obamacare is still a good deal. (Wonkblog)

Last night’s GOP response to the State of the Union was made by Marco Rubio. Is he the future of the Republican Party? (Washington Post)

After the jump, was the Battle of Hoth a strategic blunder, how to find Matt Damon in Morocco and zombies invade Montana. Continue reading →

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Learn About The Debt Ceiling in a Short Video

Now that President Obama has been sworn in for a second term as the President of the United States, gear up for another fight between the President and Congress over the debt ceiling.

It’s not, as the Republicans or Fox News would have you believe, a means to limit future spending. The debt ceiling caps the total debt that the US Government can have in order to pay bills already incurred. It’s not like the limit on your credit card but the extent of money on the line of credit you use solely to pay your credit card.

To help you learn what the debt ceiling is actually about and to explain Congress’ role in the budget and debt ceiling fights, we found this handy video for you to watch. Continue reading →

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Another 25 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 Cowboys and Jets are playing). There’s the big discounts on Black Friday. And, very smartly, they reelected President Obama to a second term in office. In a follow-up of our last two Thanksgiving features, here are 25 more of the great women of the United States. Continue reading →