Tag Archives: CBC

A thought or two on “Air”, especially after “Blackberry”

Posted on May 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

It was weird seeing “Air” just after seeing “Blackberry”. In some ways, they have much in common. Ultimately, they are very different.

In terms of commonality, they are both business stories set in the end of the 20th century about two two revolutionary products made by a bunch of white guys. They are both films that have likely have a hard time getting made in this era of superhero movies and blockbusters. (“Blackberry” benefits from being associated with the CBC, just like “Air” had a better change being  on Amazon Prime.) As much as anything, they are nostalgic films, at least for viewers like me.

Despite those common traits, they are fundamentally very different films. “Air” is very American: the main characters take risks, but nothing is insurmountable and they succeed. “Blackberry” is more Canadian: the main characters take more and more risks until they’re struck down by their limitations. “Air” is a safe middle of road film: “Blackberry” has more of an edge. In “Blackberry”, the main characters undergo a dramatic arc: in “Air”, the characters are hardly changed at the end of the film.

I liked “Air” for lots of reasons and I’d recommend it to people. But I loved “Blackberry”. “Blackberry” I could easily watch again: “Air”…once was enough.

P.S. Here’s a good piece in Time on Ben Affleck, the director and star of “Air”. Worth reading.

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Posted in film

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Should we grow a victory garden for the war on COVID?

Posted on April 16, 2023 | Comments Off on Should we grow a victory garden for the war on COVID?

It’s an intriguing idea.

If you are not familiar with the idea, let me explain with this quote pinched from one of the links below: “Victory gardens are gardens grown by civilians during times of widespread food insecurity. The gardens were encouraged by the Canadian government during the world wars, as a way to feed both civilians and troops.”

In time of high inflation brought on to some degree by the pandemic, such a garden might help in several ways. But heck, if you want to stick with growing flowers to lift your spirits, that’s ok by me too.

For more on this, see these two pieces over at CBC.ca: How you can start your own ‘victory garden’. Also: It’s not too late to grow vegetables for your victory garden.

If you need more help on growing your own seedlings, check out that piece at Lifehacker.

Onward to victory over the pandemic, and inflation, and more!

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Posted in cool

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The one problem with moving to Nova Scotia, especially if you are older

Posted on November 26, 2021 | Comments Off on The one problem with moving to Nova Scotia, especially if you are older

Halifax bridge

I must say, the thought of moving back to Nova Scotia appeals to me. I think of it often. I was born and raised there and still consider myself a Nova Scotian (although I will also say I a Cape Bretoner from Glace Bay. I am proud of all three). It’s a beautiful place and I have family there. I love it.

The one big problem, though, is this one: Nova Scotia doctor wait-list hits record high, topping 81,000 | CBC News.

I realize this problem is not unique to Nova Scotia. Finding a doctor in Toronto, never mind rural parts of Ontario or other parts of the country, is not easy. But it has always seemed to be a problem in Nova Scotia. I use to hear it all the time from my parents. They always felt fortunate when they could get a good doctor.

I also realize I am looking at the problem from a distance. People living in Nova Scotia now may disagree. But if you are thinking of moving (back?) to Nova Scotia, consider that.

(Photo by Harjinder on Unsplash)

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Posted in Canada, capebreton

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How would proportional representation have shaped the last Canadian election’s results?


Changing the way Canadians get to decide who forms the government federally has been a hot topic for some time. Before the last election, the government tried and failed to implement reform. There hasn’t been much talk about it recently, but it is a subject for debate that is not going to go away.

If you have an opinion about this one way or another, I recommend you review this: How would proportional representation have shaped this election’s results? | CBC/Radio-Canada.

The CBC ran the results of the last election through alternative forms of representation and analyzed the results. It is fascinating to see how representation changes, depending on the format followed. Kudos to the CBC for a superb visual representation.

I think reform is needed. I am still in favor of having a local MP and having the ability to have him or her voted out of office by the constituents of the MP’s riding. But I am also in favour of the percentage of each party’s MP aligning with the percentage of national votes that they received. Obviously I need to think about it some more.

In the meantime, take a look at what CBC has done, and decide for yourself.

(Image via Owen Farmer)

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Posted on August 22, 2020 in new!, politics

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Some thoughts on the end of the CBC mail robots

Posted on October 3, 2017 | Comments Off on Some thoughts on the end of the CBC mail robots

mail robot
According to Haydn Waters, a writer at CBC, the mail robots at the corporation are being discontinued. Instead:

Mail will be delivered twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) to central mail delivery/pickup locations on each floor.”

What gets lost in alot of discussions of robots, AI, etc., taking all the jobs is that the drivers for the decisions is not technology but economics. If there is no economical need for robots and other technology, then that technology will not just appear. There is nothing inevitable about technology, and any specific technology is temporary.

Of course there will be more use of robots and AI and other technology to replace the work people may currently do. The key to finding work will be to continually improvise and improve on the tasks one has to do to remain employed. That’s something humans do well, and technology will struggle with for some time in the future, AI hype not withstanding.

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Posted in IT, new!

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