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F1 2017 Australian Grand Prix: Seeing Red

It’s only been 120 days between the final race of the 2016 Formula One World Championship and the start of the 2017 season but a lot has changed. The low-downforce, allegedly passing-friendly formula of 2009 has been replaced by a new high-downforce, high-speed aero formula. The caps have been taken off engine development. Tyres are wider and have been constructed to be more durable. Basically,…

F1 2017 Preview: Predictions

My predictions last season could have been a bit more correct. I hadn’t expected the massive improvement to the Renault power unit that allowed Red Bull to finish 2nd in the WCC. I also hadn’t counted neither Williams nor Force India really making significant improvements their 2015 cars into 2016 and I didn’t expect Haas to rack up points that early in the season. So watch as I go ahead and make…

F1 2017 Preview: Rules Changes

Never one to save teams money for too long, Formula One is undergoing another major rules change this season. Having introduced the hybrid V6s in 2014, the teams are now going through a major overhaul of the aero formula to increase the speed of the cars. While the cars look new, it may actually make the racing worse. (more…)

F1 2017 Preview: Drivers and Teams

Just because the blog has been quiet for the last couple of months doesn’t mean that we’re not still here at Lowdown HQ. Another Formula One World Championship season is about to begin and we’re not about to let it pass by without more news and analysis from F1 most insider outsiders. With a new aero formula changing the look of Formula One, this season has a good chance for upheaval. A new World…

Fails of the Week

Every so often, we take a look at the most epic fails from the week that was in the Fails of the Week. This week, we have five pictures, GIFs and videos that we think are the most epic fails of the week. (more…)

Franchise Hockey Manager 3 Review: Delay of Game

The challenge with putting out an annual franchise is that the development cycle is painfully short so big changes and improvements tend to lag a bit. You’re so busy working on getting a game out that factoring in feedback is a challenge unless you’ve already planned to integrate it in the next game. Look at the plethora of EA Sports games on an annual release cycle or the complaints of…

Wednesday Link-Off: Can’t It Just Be Christmas

It’s the last link-off before Christmas and all through the blog… You know, I try this rhyme every year and it’s a pain in the arse to rhyme something with blog. Maybe I should try rhyming something with “Lowdown HQ.” That “u” sound rhymes with other words. Remind me to try that next year. It might be worth an effort. Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that we’re here for the links. Since…

The Cost of Operating the Death Star (Infographic)

If there’s one way to create jobs, it’s through massive construction projects. Sure, the Imperial government spent scads of money to create those jobs but that might be nothing compared to the long-term costs of operating a Death Star. Maybe the Rebels were in cahoots with the Imperials to help them create construction jobs because X-Wings can’t melt main reactors. Anyway, with Rogue One: A Star…

We’re less than a week away from the Electoral College casting votes that almost certainly will cement Donald Trump as the President-elect of the US but it seems so odd that everyone will continue ignoring the potential issues of conflicts of interest and Russia’s hands in the Trump campaign, victory and now White House. The extra layer of review by the Electoral College is needed here but it’s…

The Logistics of the Death Star (Infographic)

I don’t know if you noticed but the first Star Wars anthology movie is coming out this week. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is hitting theatres on Thursday (or Friday depending on your location) and it’s a new telling of how the Rebels obtained the Death Star’s plans. But there’s more to the Death Star than a superlaser capable of exploding a planet nearly instantly. To find out more about the…

Fails of the Week

Every so often, we take a look at the most epic fails from the week that was in the Fails of the Week. This week, we have five pictures, GIFs and videos that we think are the most epic fails of the week. (more…)

Formula One: Champion Nico Rosberg Retires; Who Will Replace Him?

In one of the biggest surprises of a very topsy-turvy 2016 Formula One World Championship, the biggest twist hit us after the season concluded. World Drivers’ Champion Nico Rosberg announced his retirement from motorsport less than a week after clinching his championship. While Mercedes had a couple of days notice, it caught the F1 fraternity off guard. So what happens next at Mercedes and how…

Hotdogs of the World

I think we’ve gone over this before but I love to cook in my spare time. Despite that one misadventure on The Lowdown radio show, I’m actually okay at cooking. One of the things that I like doing during summer is barbecuing hot dogs. Now, a hot dog is simple enough but I like to kick it up a notch with some unique toppings so I’m always on the look out for new recipes and combinations to try.…

Wednesday Link-Off: Running the Country with Twitter

I know the title is only a quote from China’s equivalent to Twitter but that comment does feel a little on the nose. I mean, Team Trump took away his Twitter in the dying days of the Presidential campaign fearing what he would write on it. In the midst of his transition, I’m sure there are diplomats and folks at the State Department hoping that they’d take Trump’s phone away again. Anyway, it’s…

The History of the Land Speed Record (Infographic)

If you’re a car guy, you’ve probably heard the name Bloodhound SSC. It may have just been in passing but it’s almost certainly one you might have heard because the Bloodhound is a rocket car that is targeting the land speed record and the 1000 MPH barrier. However, we’ve come a long way in fast cars. Did you know that the first land speed record for a car was 30 MPH? I suppose every record has to…

Sunday Link-Off: Tweet Me a River

Remember when we all had a laugh about Donald Trump’s campaign taking away his Twitter? Now that he has Twitter back, his White House team should be looking to do the same before long. I’m sure they’ll control the @POTUS Twitter account but they really need to take away his cellphone before he causes some trouble. Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that you’re here looking for the links. Let’s kick…